Governance Programming

Networking Lunch in the Sponsor Hall with Conversation Starter Tables 
Tuesday, February 10 | 11:45 AM-1:00 PM

Join a Conversation Starter table for meaningful discussions with other conference attendees. Each table will feature a designated host to guide conversations on critical rural health topics, such as mental health support in rural settings, leadership strategies for rural hospitals and leveraging technology in resource-limited areas. Simply grab your lunch, choose a table with a topic that interests you, and join the conversation to exchange ideas, share experiences and gain practical insights from fellow attendees dedicated to rural health care. This is a great opportunity to connect and collaborate with others addressing similar challenges in rural communities.

General Session: Rural Health Care in Crisis: Where Do We Go from Here? 
Monday, February 9 | 1:45 PM-3:00 PM

Jamie Orlikoff, President, Orlikoff & Associates, Inc., National Advisor on Governance and Leadership to the American Hospital Association, and health care governance expert

Paul Gauguin’s 1897-98 painting, “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” poses fundamental questions about the human experience — our origins, our identity and our future. These questions are not only philosophical but also deeply relevant to the current state of rural health care in America, where rural hospitals are experiencing an urgent and growing crisis. Many facilities have already closed their doors, and hundreds more — possibly over 700 — are at risk of closure. These closures are driven by a range of financial and other challenges, both new and old. Recent policy changes, such as those introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will radically reshape the landscape for rural health care providers and present unprecedented challenges. This presentation will address the crisis facing rural hospitals across America, their effects on the ability of rural hospitals to survive and serve their communities, and the many leadership challenges and approaches in this period of profound uncertainty.

AHA Town Hall: Washington Update 
Tuesday, February 10 | 9:30 AM-10:30 AM

Moderator: Rick Pollack, President and Chief Executive Officer , American Hospital Association
Panelists: Travis Robey, Vice President, Political Affairs, American Hospital Association
Shannon Wu, PhD, Director, Payment Policy, American Hospital Association

Join the AHA for a discussion on the latest activity taking place on Capitol Hill. This session will focus on the health care policies Congress is currently considering, the Trump administration’s priorities and the current political landscape. It will also provide insights into AHA’s advocacy priorities, helping rural health care leaders navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Beyond the Boardroom: Driving Impact Through Philanthropy
Monday, February 9 | 10:15 AM-11:15 AM

Alice Ayres, President and Chief Executive Officer , Association for Healthcare Philanthropy 
Donna Budak, Division Vice President of Philanthropy , CommonSpirit Health, St. Luke’s Foundation, Houston 

Join this interactive session designed to help board members strengthen their role as philanthropic leaders within their organizations. Attendees will explore the connection between board engagement and fundraising performance, informed by data and real-world examples from high-performing health care organizations. The session will outline the key responsibilities of board members as strategic advisors, ambassadors and champions of philanthropy, while creating space for personal reflection and peer exchange. Participants will learn practical strategies for donor engagement, storytelling and advocacy that build support without requiring a direct financial ask. Each attendee will leave with a personalized action plan to enhance their board leadership and support long-term sustainability and innovation at their organization.

The Rural Community Hospital of the Future: Tapping into the Power of AI
Monday, February 8 | 11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Steve Berkowitz, Founder and President , SMB Health Consulting 

Artificial intelligence is advancing at a rapid pace, presenting both opportunities and challenges for rural and community hospitals. This session will explore how these hospitals — distinct from larger institutions — can strategically adopt AI tools to improve care delivery, enhance operations and support clinical teams. Attendees will learn how to navigate the pace of AI innovation, develop an implementation strategy that preserves the human connection in care and apply AI-enabled solutions in areas such as documentation, clinical decision-making, operational efficiency and workforce well-being. The session will also highlight how AI can strengthen the community medical home and improve care management across the continuum.

Interactive Governance Clinic
Tuesday, February 10 | 8:15 AM-9:15 AM

Jamie Orlikoff, President, Orlikoff & Associates, Inc., National Advisor on Governance and Leadership to the American Hospital Association, and health care governance expert

Bring your thorniest governance issues to one of the nation’s preeminent health care governance experts in this perennial favorite interactive session. You’ll gain practical solutions and proactive ideas for improving governance performance. This session will be very interactive and no issue is off the table, so come prepared to talk, to question and be challenged!

From Strength to Strategy: A Rural Hospital’s Proactive Path to Partnership
Wednesday, February 11 | 8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Chris Benson, Managing Director , Juniper Advisory 
Jim Heckert, Member, Board of Trustees, CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico, Alamogordo, N.M. 
Lillian Montoya, Senior Vice President, CHRISTUS Health New Mexico; President and Chief Executive Officer, CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, Santa Fe, N.M.
Reuben Murray, Chief Executive Officer, CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico, Alamogordo, N.M.

In a time when many rural hospitals pursue partnerships only as a last resort, this session highlights a rare example of proactive alignment. A high-performing and financially stable rural hospital proactively chose to pursue a partnership, not out of necessity, but from a position of strength. Attendees will examine the board’s strategic reasoning, the governance structures that preserved local voice and the vision that guided a forward-looking affiliation process. The session will highlight the value of early partnership, showing how rural hospitals can secure stronger outcomes, more favorable terms and meaningful reinvestment by exploring alignment opportunities before financial pressure takes hold. Through this case study, participants will see how innovation, governance and timing can mean the difference between reactive survival and proactive transformation. You’ll leave with practical strategies for leading their own organizations through affiliation on their own terms.

Achieving High Reliability and Just Culture in Rural Health Care: A Practical Roadmap for Boards and Leaders
Wednesday, February 11 | 9:15 AM-10:15 AM

Bernie Adams, Chief Quality Officer, North Country Healthcare, Whitefield, N.H. 
Darrell Bodnar, Chief Informatics Officer, North Country Healthcare, Whitefield, N.H. 
Tiffany Haynes, Chief Nursing Officer, North Country Healthcare, Whitefield, N.H. 

This session offers a practical roadmap for rural health care leaders and board members to build high-reliability organizations and foster a just culture of safety. Drawing on the experience of a fully independent rural health system, speakers will outline how Lean Six Sigma principles, strategic goal alignment and system-wide engagement can produce measurable improvements in patient safety and quality — without requiring significant financial investment. Participants will learn how a disciplined approach to cascading goals, data transparency, board engagement and staff training led to dramatic reductions in harm and sustained quality gains. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable tools and templates — including process maps, KPI dashboards and board-level reporting structures — to strengthen safety culture, increase accountability and drive continuous improvement across their organizations.

Reimagining Rural Board Leadership: Practical Steps to Sharpen Governance and Strategy
Wednesday, February 11 | 9:15 AM-10:15 AM

Siri Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marshall Medical Center, Placerville, Calif. 
Kara Witalis, Principal Owner, Witalis, LLC

In today’s complex health care environment, effective governance is a strategic necessity — especially for rural and independent health systems. This session explores how one rural hospital reimagined its board structure, operations, and focus to elevate performance and meet the challenges of tomorrow. Presenters will walk through practical changes that enhanced board engagement, streamlined meetings, clarified roles and strengthened alignment between the board and executive leadership. Participants will gain actionable strategies — such as restructuring committees, revamping meeting materials and aligning governance modes — that can be implemented without additional burden. Whether your board needs a refresh or a full transformation, this session offers a practical roadmap for achieving greater focus, trust and strategic leadership.