We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our attendees, speakers, and sponsors for making Health Connect South 2025 such a success.
The meaningful connections, world-renowned speakers, and incredible venue would not have been possible without your support.
We’re already looking ahead to next year—let us know what topics, speakers, or experiences you’d like to see at future events! Please also remember the challenge on connections: let’s all follow through and turn these new connections into real impact.
Thank you

A heartfelt thank you to all of our attendees, speakers, and sponsors for making Health Connect South 2025 such a success.
The meaningful connections, world-renowned speakers, and incredible venue would not have been possible without your support.
We’re already looking ahead to next year—let us know what topics, speakers, or experiences you’d like to see at future events! Please also remember the challenge on connections: let’s all follow through and turn these new connections into real impact.
Thank you

“One of the region’s most influential health care conferences, underscoring the city’s role as an important health care hub in the Southeast.”
The Atlanta Business Chronicle
Read what our attendees will tell you:
Download
2025 Sponsor Booklet
2025 Sponsor Booklet
Our 2025 Featured Speakers
View Videos of our 2025 Panel Discussions

Dr. Mehmet Oz
AdministratorCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Tom Price, MD
23rd Secretary Health and Human Services

Corwin Harper
PresidentKaiser Permanente Georgia

Candice L. Saunders, FACHE
CEO & PresidentWellstar Health System

Shane Jackson
PresidentJackson Healthcare

Joon Lee, MD
CEOEmory Healthcare & EVP Health Affairs, Emory University

Neil L. Pruitt, Jr
Chairman & CEOPruittHealth

Caylee Noggle
President & CEOGeorgia Hospital Association

Jonathan Simons, MD
Chief Science Officer and Medical DirectorMarcus Foundation

Russell T. Keen, EdD
PresidentAugusta University

Kristy Klein Davis
President & CEOGeorgia Health Initiative

Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, MPH, FACP
President and Executive Medical DirectorThe Southeast Permanente Medical Group

Deep Shah, MD
Owner/Operator and PhysicianGwinett Clinic

Darcie Johnston
Principal Deputy DirectorU.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Wayne C. Glasgow, PhD
Senior Vice Provost for ResearchMercer University

Tim Lieuwen, PhD
Executive Vice President for ResearchGeorgia Tech

Matt Hanley, MD
President & CEONortheast Georgia Health System

Kathryn Lawler
Chief Executive OfficerSt. Joseph’s Mercy Care

Charles Elliott
Head of Industry Architects
Mary Klotman, MD
EVP for Health Affairs, Duke UniversityDean, Duke University School of Medicine

Tim Denning, PhD
President & CEOGeorgia Research Alliance

Austin Poole
General PartnerBIP Ventures

Alexander Despo
DirectorUnion Square Advisors, LLC

Cheryl Preheim
Anchor 11Alive NewsNBC Atlanta

Thomas J. Engels
Administrator Health Resources and Services AdministrationU.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Joselyn Baker
PresidentGrady Health Foundation

Moses Ike
PrincipalCatalyst by Wellstar

Bob Crutchfield
Managing Director1824 Health Ventures & Mainsail Venture Funds

Chris Lee
Chairman, CEO & Co-founderHuxley Medical

Jesse Goodwin, PhD
Chief Innovation OfficerMedical University of South Carolina

David C. Hess, MD
Dean, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta University

Donald Mueller
President & CEOSiskin Children’s Institute

Sweta Sneha, PhD
Founder & Chair Digital Health TransformationsKennesaw State University

Greg Jungles
HealthTech Startup CatalystAdvanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)

Vicki Lewis
President & CEOCoffee Regional Medical Center

Chris Spears
FounderOrderly Wellness

Joni Collins, DMS, PA-C, CAC
FounderTwelve Twenty Eight

Jimmy Childre, Jr., FACHE
Former Chair and CEOWashington County Regional Medical Center & President, Childre Ford, Inc.

Ellen Donahue-Dalton
Chief Growth OfficerVillageMD

Paul Weintraub
Senior Vice PresidentCoker

Kristin Higgins, MD
Chief Clinical OfficerCity of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta

Josh Hargraves, MD
Divisional PresidentApolloMD

Steve McCune, MD
Oncology Service Line Physician LeadWellstar Health System

Debora Bruno, MD, MS
Thoracic Medical Oncologist & Medical Director of Clinical ResearchCity of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta

Lynn Durham, EdD
President and CEOGeorgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE)

Dean Anason
Editor-in-ChiefAtlanta Business Chronicle

Shannon Sale
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative OfficerGrady Health System

Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD
CEO & FounderRimidi

Sumayah Rahman
Director of AI & MLCedar

Jeff Myers
President & CEOVitruvian Health Care System

Rick Lambert, MD
Senior AdvisorSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Jeff Arnold
Co-Founder & Executive ChairmanSharecare

Alex Krinsky
Senior Director, Healthcare PartnershipsCLEAR

Travis Smith, DO
Senior AdvisorHRSA/IOA

Matt Pearson
Head of Healthcare BDAmazon Web Services (AWS)

Chad Purcell
Chief Information OfficerGeorgia Department of Community Health
Health Connect South could not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.
We have a passion for connection
and collaboration.
and collaboration.
We have a passion for connection
and collaboration.
and collaboration.
The mission of Health Connect South is to serve the health community as a platform to promote regional health collaborations. Through our collective work, we seek to define and advance the Southeast’s role in the future of health. Serving as a gateway between health industry silos, we seek to facilitate unique and meaningful partnerships. Together, health advances.
Health Connect South is known for our signature annual gathering, which has become the largest healthcare gathering in the Southeast to hear and talk about “the new” in health, the current challenges, and possible solutions.
The content of our gatherings draw from the incredible pool of premier healthcare institutions in the Southeast, including; The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), The American Cancer Society, leading Research Universities, Governmental and Industry leaders and top-ranked Health Systems.
The platform for health leaders
Attendance map and attendee breakdown


36%
CXOs, Executive Directors
and Senior VPs
and Senior VPs
21%
Dean, Professors, Researchers
and Grad Students
and Grad Students
22%
President, Principals, Directors,
Senior Directors and Regional VPs
Senior Directors and Regional VPs
21%
Physicians, Managers,
Research Coordinators and Other
Research Coordinators and Other
Health topics are broad to create interdisciplinary partnerships
But information is specific to tackle current health challenges. And we explore where healthcare is going now and in the future.
