Global Health Connector returns to ViVE 2026 in Los Angeles on 23 February with a special Partner Programme.
Our Partner Programme, taking place on Monday, February 23 (2:00–3:30 PM PT), brings partners together for a focused afternoon of keynote framing, fireside conversations, and targeted discussions centered on “CollaborAction.”
The agenda spans connected U.S. health innovation ecosystems, the evolution of women’s health across the lifespan, healthy aging and longevity as system-level opportunities, and Cancer care Innovation & collaboration.
You will also have the opportunity to meet the Global Health Connector team onsite at Booth 2430 from 23–25 February.
Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
This session will introduce the Global Health Connector Partner Programme as a pragmatic, relationship-driven platform designed for CollaborAction, focused on ecosystems, near-term collaboration opportunities, and momentum through 2025–2027. The framing will emphasize ViVE as a working session rather than a showcase, grounded in partner discovery, market access, and ecosystem alignment.
Nicole Althaus - US Ambassador, Global Health Connector
Kimberly Wells - Ascension St. Thomas - VP of Women’s Services
This fireside conversation with Kimberly Wells of Ascension St. Thomas will explore how women’s health is evolving from fragmented, episodic care into a more connected, whole-person ecosystem designed to guide women to the right care across specialties and life stages. Drawing on Ascension’s system-wide experience, the discussion will highlight the role of holistic referral pathways, cross-specialty collaboration, and human-centered design in improving access, continuity, and outcomes. Kimberly will also share how Ascension is fueling women’s health innovation through its annual convening, bringing together clinicians, innovators, and partners to accelerate scalable impact.
Eric Thrailkill - Executive Director US, Global Health Connector
This segment will provide a structured overview of the U.S. ecosystem strategy within Global Health Connector, highlighting how regionally distinct innovation hubs are increasingly operating as a connected national market. The discussion will reference active and emerging collaborations across BioSTL (St. Louis), MATTER (Chicago), Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI), and the Florida High Tech Corridor, with Nashville positioned as the convening and connective hub. The focus will be on how international and domestic partners can engage these ecosystems through coordinated entry points rather than fragmented outreach.
Jon Warner - U.S. Ambassador, Global Health Connector
Eliad Josephson - Natel Inc. / HLTH
Paulo Machado - Founder of Health Innovation, Inc.
This session will focus on healthy aging as a system-level challenge encompassing care delivery, digital enablement, community integration, and quality of life. Attention will be given to where ecosystems can collaborate on pilots, sandboxes, the evolving role of digital diagnostics, at-home care, and scalable models rather than isolated point solutions.
Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Eric Thrailkill - Executive Director US, Global Health Connector
Stephen Konya - Chief, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)
Santosh Mohan - Vice President, Innovation and New Ventures at Advocate Health
This segment will outline the emerging collaboration between Global Health Connector and CancerX, focusing on data-driven cancer innovation, an accelerator program, translational research, and cross-ecosystem cooperation. The discussion will frame cancer as a unifying domain where diagnostics, therapeutics, AI, and care navigation intersect, and where U.S. - international collaboration is both necessary and actionable. The goal is to signal direction, partnership intent, and next-step engagement rather than detailed program design.
Eric Thrailkill - Executive Director US, Global Health Connector
Lori Odom - Senior Vice President of Economic Development and International Business, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Sam Davidson - Chief Executive Director, Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Dr. Doug Slakey - HCA Healthcare Health Systems Science Endowed Chair and Professor Founder, Belmont Collaborative for Health Systems Innovation Belmont University, Thomas F Frist Jr. College of Medicine
The closing segment will spotlight the Nashville healthcare ecosystem as a national and global convening platform—anchored by scale healthcare operators, academic medicine, innovation infrastructure, and growing international connectivity. With Nashville confirmed as the host city for ViVE 2027, this session will position the city as a soft-landing zone for U.S. expansion, pilot deployment, and cross-border collaboration. The discussion will emphasize how partners can engage Nashville not just as a location, but as an operating ecosystem.
Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
