97th IHA Annual Meeting

Community Choice Convention Center, Des Moines
Tuesday, Oct. 6 and Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

This year’s program reflects who we are and where we are going: United by our purpose to reimagine healthcare in Iowa for life-changing outcomes, guided by a strategy that emphasizes leadership, innovation and collaboration, and strengthened by a culture that encourages engagement and shared progress. Together, we will build on decades of care while embracing a future filled with new possibilities.

This two-day event will bring together Iowa healthcare professionals to learn from industry experts. Conference attendees will learn how to develop fiscal management strategies, drive innovation, enhance quality excellence, address workforce challenges and strengthen thought leadership in healthcare policy.

We look forward to seeing you as we help shape the future of healthcare in Iowa!

Keynote Speakers and Sponsors

Schedule of Events

12:30-3:30 p.m. | Transforming Stress into a Leadership Advantage: Building High-performing Healthcare Teams

Rebecca Heiss, Ph.D., CEO and Founder, Icueity, Greenville, South Carolina

3:45-5:15 p.m. | Manage Your Professional Development as a Healthcare Leader

Moderator: Sam Schone, FACHE, Market Director, Operations & Service Lines, MercyOne Des Moines & West Des Moines

Panelists: Tim Chwirka, Healthcare Consulting Manager, Huron Consulting Group, Des Moines; Bryan Garter, MHA, MPH, CHFM, FACHE, Director of Operations – North Liberty, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City and Nicole Roth, MBA, FACHE, Specialty Clinic Manager, Pella Regional Health Center

8:30-8:45 a.m. | Welcome | Grand Ballroom

Chris Mitchell, President and CEO, Iowa Hospital Association, Des Moines

8:45-9:45 a.m. | Opening Keynote: The Confidence Cycle | Grand Ballroom

Juan Bendana, Bestselling Author and Confidence Coach, Miami

9:45-10:15 a.m. | Awards | Grand Ballroom

10:15-10:45 a.m. | Networking Break with Exhibitors | Main Concourse and Exhibitors Hall

10:45-11:45 a.m. | T1: The Hidden Price Tag: How Poor Quality Drains Revenue | Room 320

Doug Johnson, RN, BSN, CPHQ, LSSBB, President, Consulting Remedy, Raton, New Mexico

10:45-11:45 a.m. | T2: Federal Managed Care Update: Holding Health Plans Accountable | Rooms 312-313

Noah Isserman, Director, Health Insurance and Coverage Policy, American Hospital Association, Washington, D.C.

10:45-11:45 a.m. | T3: American Hospital Association Federal Update | Rooms 314-315

Travis Robey, JD, Vice President of Political Affairs, American Hospital Association, Washington, D.C.

10:45-11:45 a.m. | T4: Acclimate and Cultivate: How Great Leaders Keep Their People Longer | Rooms 316-317

Shelonda Darling, Senior Retention Strategist, Magnet Culture, Louisville, Kentucky

10:45-11:45 a.m. | T5: Leading in the Age of AI: The Leadership Skills Healthcare Needs Next | Rooms 318-319

Jefferson Stovall, Founder, Captain Tomorrow, Washington, D.C.

Noon-1 p.m. | Tuesday Lunch (registration is required) | Grand Ballroom

Noon-1 p.m. | PAC Luncheon (Invitation only) | Mezzanine Boardroom 3

Featuring Rep. Pat Grassley, Speaker of the House

1:15-2:15 p.m. | T6: Healthcare is for Healing: Implementing Comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention Programs | Room 320

Lynn Van Male, Ph.D., CTM, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University; U.S. Veterans Health Administration; Managing Director, Threat Management and Enterprise Security Risk Management, Kroll Associates; and Private Consultant, President and Sole Proprietor, Lynn Van Male, Seattle

1:15-2:15 p.m. | T7: From Vision to Funding: Why Experience Matters in Rural Health Transformation Program Grant Writing | Rooms 312-313

Maggie Finley, PhD, Senior Consultant, Grants Management Services, Forvis Mazars, Springfield, Missouri

1:15-2:15 p.m. | T8: Rising Cancer Rates in Iowa | Rooms 314-315

Mary Charlton, Ph.D., M.S., Director and Principal Investigator, Iowa Cancer Registry and Professor of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City; and Jacob Oleson, Ph.D., Professor and Departmental Executive Officer of the Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City

1:15-2:15 p.m. | T9: Stabilizing the Healthcare Workforce: From Reactive Decisions to Long-Term Strategy | Rooms 316-317

Erin MacKenzie, Vice President of Solution Engineering, Medical Solutions, San Diego

1:15-2:15 p.m. | T10: Building an AI-ready Organization: Turning Curiosity into Capability | Rooms 318-319

Jefferson Stovall, Founder, Captain Tomorrow, Washington, D.C.

2:15-2:45 p.m. | Networking Break with Exhibitors | Main Concourse and Exhibitors Hall

2:45-3:45 p.m. | T11: Building Trust, Delivering Care: A Session on Trauma-informed Care | Room 320

Ebony Williams, DHA (c), M.S., CSM, NBC-HWC, Epic Project Lead, Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore

2:45-3:45 p.m. | T12: Closing the Gap: Revenue Integrity as the Key to Denials Management | Rooms 312-313

Rachel Pugliano, Director; and Michelle Roehl, Manager, Eide Bailly, Fargo, North Dakota

2:45-3:45 p.m. | T13: Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements: Preparation and Lessons for Hospitals and Health Systems | Rooms 313-314

Moderator: David Stark, Chief Government Affairs and Philanthropy Officer, UnityPoint Health, West Des Moines

Panelists: Meghan Chaffee, JD, Chief Advocacy and Legal Officer, Nebraska Hospital Association, Lincoln, Nebraska and Anna Casteel, Bureau Chief for Medical Assistance Policy and Program Management, Iowa Health and Human Services, Des Moines

2:45-3:45 p.m. | T14: From Badges to Belonging: Redesigning Healthcare Onboarding for Lasting Retention | Rooms 316-317

Connie Fiscus, MHA, Founder and CEO, Sunflower People and Culture Solutions, Ankeny

2:45-3:45 p.m. | T15: Introducing the IHA AI Toolkit: Practical Resources for Responsible AI Adoption | Rooms 318-319

Nagesh Badaria, Managing Director, Huron Consulting Group, Chicago; Alene Cuellar, Managing Director, Huron Consulting Group, Madison, Wisconsin; Abhay Nadipuram, Chief Legal Officer and John Richardson, Senior Director, IPOP and Data Analytics, Iowa Hospital Association, Des Moines

4-4:30 p.m. | House of Delegates (official delegates only) | Rooms 314-315

New members and officers of the IHA Board of Officers and Trustees will be introduced, and the incoming IHA Board Chair will address the voting delegates representing IHA member hospitals and health systems.

4-5 p.m. | Iowa Organization for Nursing Leadership Wine and Cheese Reception | Grand Ballroom Foyer

This reception is open to members of the Iowa Organization for Nursing Leadership, Iowa Association for Healthcare Quality, Behavioral Health Affiliate of Iowa and Iowa Trauma Coordinators

Join fellow leaders for this social event. The Iowa Organization for Nursing Leadership reception provides participants with the opportunity to share their learning experiences and connect with colleagues.

4-5 p.m. | Information Technology Work Group Networking Social | Room 321

Join your information technology peers for this reception to network and discuss opportunities and challenges your organization faces.

4:30-6:30 p.m. | IHA Annual Meeting Reception | Hilton Cloud Ballroom

Join IHA members from across the state at the Hilton Cloud Ballroom for a night of celebration with food, fun and friendship.

7:30-8:30 a.m. | RICHA Breakfast and Meeting (RICHA Members Only) | Room 402

8:30-8:40 a.m. | Welcome | Grand Ballroom

Chris Mitchell, President and CEO, Iowa Hospital Association, Des Moines

8:45-9:45 a.m. | Opening Keynote: The Eight Essential Elements of a World-class Team Culture | Grand Ballroom

Robyn Benincasa, Two-time World Champion Adventure Racer, San Diego Firefighter, and CNN Hero, San Diego

9:45-10:15 a.m. | Hospital Heroes Awards | Grand Ballroom

10:15-10:45 a.m. | Networking Break with Exhibitors | Main Concourse and Exhibitors Hall

10:45-11:45 a.m. | W1: Finding Uniqueness in Your Employees | Grand Ballroom

Amelie Karam, Generational Specialist, Keynote Speaker and Consultant, San Antonio

10:45-11:45 a.m. | W2: An Overlooked Liquidity Lever for Hospital Leaders: Pursuing Affirmative Legal Claims | Rooms 312-313

Greg McPolin, Managing Director, Burford Capital, New York

10:30 a.m.-Noon (90-minute session) | W3: Service-line Development Panel Discussion | Rooms 314-315

Moderator: Mikaela Kienitz, MSN, FACHE, CEO, Boone County Hospital, Boone

Panelists: Kevin Kincaid, CEO, Knoxville Hospital and Clinics; Bob Kroese, CEO, Pella Regional Health Center; Peter George, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Cardiovascular Service Line, UnityPoint Health, Des Moines; Greg Kennedy, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Oncology Service Line, UnityPoint Health, Des Moines; and Caitlin Larson, RD, LD, CDCES, Vice President of Specialty Clinics, Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics, Clarion

10:45-11:45 a.m. | W4: Regulatory Year in Review for the C-Suite | Rooms 316-317

Michael Chase, JD, Partner, Baird Holm, Omaha, Nebraska

10:45-11:45 a.m. | W5: Interviewing Skills for Event Review | Rooms 318-319

Sarah Ennis, Founder and President, SparkPoint, West Des Moines

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Wednesday Lunch (registration is required) | Grand Ballroom

1:00-2:00 p.m. | W6: Guiding Principles for Patient Experience Excellence | Grand Ballroom

Stacy Palmer, CPXP, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Beryl Institute, Nashville, Tennessee

1:00-2:00 p.m. | W7: Inside Expectations of the MAC Mindset: What CEOs and CFOs Must Know About Medicare’s Escalating Documentation Expectations Before the Trust Fund Crisis Hits in 2033 | Rooms 312-313

Glenn Krauss, BBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, C-CDI, C-DAM, C-PA, CEO, Core-CDI, Duluth, Minnesota

12:30-2:15 p.m. (90-minute session) | W8: Developing Mentoring and Coaching Skills | Rooms 314-315

Moderator: Sarah Ennis, Founder and President, SparkPoint, West Des Moines

Panelists: Amanda Bireline, M.S., BSN, RN, Chief Operating Officer, Cass Health, Atlantic; Sarah Eisenman, M.O.L., Human Resources Leader, Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics, Clarion/Belmond; Molly Kucera, MBAHC, RN, BSN, CNAMB, CNOR, Director of the Ambulatory Surgery Center, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City; John Meyer, Ed.D., MBA, BSN, RN, Director, Office of Rural Health, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City

1:00-2:00 p.m. | W9: Thanks for the Cash, Government: It Doesn’t Come Without Strings | Rooms 316-317

Alissa Smith, JD, Partner, and Matthew Gillespie, JD, Attorney, Dorsey and Whitney Law Firm, Des Moines

1:00-2:00 p.m. | W10: Managing Change: Using Communication to Prepare Teams for Operational Success | Rooms 318-319

Eileen Wixted, Principal & CEO, Wixted and Company, West Des Moines

2:00-2:15 p.m. | Networking Break | Grand Ballroom Foyer

2:15-2:25 p.m. | Welcome | Grand Ballroom

Chris Mitchell, President and CEO, Iowa Hospital Association

2:25-2:45 p.m. | Leadership Development Program and IONL awards | Grand Ballroom

2:45 p.m. | Closing Keynote: Brilliance Under Pressure | Grand Ballroom

Todd Henry, Bestselling author, Adviser, Keynote Speaker, Cincinnati

View Full Agenda

Convention Center Maps

IHA Leadership Awards

The Iowa Hospital Association presents awards at Annual Meeting to recognize significant achievements in hospital or health system administration and governance. The award recipients are hospital CEOs and trustees whose passion has significantly improved their hospitals and communities.

The awards are:

Excellence in Governance Award – Recognizes an outstanding trustee or board member who has significantly contributed to the hospital or health system through leadership and a commitment to excellence.
Excellence in Leadership Award – Presented to an Iowa hospital or health system CEO who has demonstrated notable achievement in the administration of the organization and who has contributed to the broader areas of health care or health policy.

2026 Leadership & Advocacy Award Winners

Hospital Hero Awards

Rising to every challenge

We are grateful for the unsung heroes in our hospitals across Iowa. You serve patients with expertise and compassion. Your strength, professionalism and dedication to patients – and to each other – are nothing short of heroic. For all that you’ve done, and for all that you do every day, we thank you.

The Iowa Hospital Association's Hospital Hero Awards recognize employees who have demonstrated courage in crises or have selflessly served their hospitals and communities throughout their careers. On Wednesday Oct. 7th we will recognize 10 hospital employees who exemplify the passion and purpose of the community hospital mission.