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

healthconnectsouth-280-white

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

healthconnectsouth-280-white

“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:

  • “I’m still buzzing about the outstanding content from Health Connect South Gathering 2023 and the opportunity to reconnect with fellow colleagues Antrell Tyson, Esq. Jonathan Watkins, MPA, FACHE, to meet new colleagues Elise Lockamy-Kassim and Catherine Anderson, and to hear fascinating perspectives on cost and transparency in healthcare.”

  • “How often do we witness healthcare conferences and healthcare leaders focusing on ‘health’ improvements and not necessarily on ‘healthcare’? This year's Health Connect South annual conference did just that. We focused on innovation, disruption, AI, finances, equity, accessibility, and many more factors that contribute to having an impact on our health.”

  • “Being a small company, it's crucial for us to carefully choose the events we attend. HealthConnectSouth continues to be a top choice for COR. This event brings together decision-makers, innovators, and emerging leaders to engage in meaningful discussions, and exchange best practices. This event allows us to identify areas of improvement, build valuable partnerships, and explore new avenues for optimizing healthcare.”

  • “Health Connect South was a great event! I enjoyed hearing from the panelists and receiving insight on the future of healthcare. Thank you to Wellstar Health System and all the other sponsors for making this event possible!”

  • “An inspiring day at Health Connect South! Connecting with friends, exploring innovative approaches to challenges, and diving deep into the future of healthcare. Grateful for the conversations and connections that make events like these truly enriching.”

  • “A forum distinguished by its assembly of representatives from all cadres of public health, clinical, and management. There were insightful panels engaged in comprehensive discussions on pivotal aspects of health and healthcare industry. It emphasizes the significance of networking, community building, and fostering dialogue.”

2025 Sponsor Opportunities Booklet thumbnail

Download
2025 Sponsor Booklet

Our 2025 Featured Speakers

View Videos of our 2025 Panel Discussions

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Administrator

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Tom Price, MD

Tom Price, MD

23rd Secretary Health and Human Services

Corwin Harper

Corwin Harper

President

Kaiser Permanente Georgia

Candice L. Saunders, FACHE

Candice L. Saunders, FACHE

CEO & President

Wellstar Health System

Shane Jackson

Shane Jackson

President

Jackson Healthcare

Joon Lee, MD

Joon Lee, MD

CEO

Emory Healthcare & EVP Health Affairs, Emory University

Neil L. Pruitt, Jr

Neil L. Pruitt, Jr

Chairman & CEO

PruittHealth

Caylee Noggle

Caylee Noggle

President & CEO

Georgia Hospital Association

Jonathan Simons, MD

Jonathan Simons, MD

Chief Science Officer and Medical Director

Marcus Foundation

Russell T. Keen, EdD

Russell T. Keen, EdD

President

Augusta University

Kristy Klein Davis

Kristy Klein Davis

President & CEO

Georgia Health Initiative

Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, MPH, FACP

Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, MPH, FACP

President and Executive Medical Director

The Southeast Permanente Medical Group

Deep Shah, MD

Deep Shah, MD

Owner/Operator and Physician

Gwinett Clinic

Darcie Johnston

Darcie Johnston

Principal Deputy Director

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Wayne C. Glasgow, PhD

Wayne C. Glasgow, PhD

Senior Vice Provost for Research

Mercer University

Tim Lieuwen, PhD

Tim Lieuwen, PhD

Executive Vice President for Research

Georgia Tech

Matt Hanley, MD

Matt Hanley, MD

President & CEO

Northeast Georgia Health System

Kathryn Lawler

Kathryn Lawler

Chief Executive Officer

St. Joseph’s Mercy Care

Charles Elliott

Charles Elliott

Head of Industry Architects

Google

Mary Klotman, MD

Mary Klotman, MD

EVP for Health Affairs, Duke University

Dean, Duke University School of Medicine

Tim Denning, PhD

Tim Denning, PhD

President & CEO

Georgia Research Alliance

Austin Poole

Austin Poole

General Partner

BIP Ventures

Alexander Despo

Alexander Despo

Director

Union Square Advisors, LLC

Cheryl Preheim

Cheryl Preheim

Anchor 11Alive News

NBC Atlanta

Thomas J. Engels

Thomas J. Engels

Administrator Health Resources and Services Administration

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Joselyn Baker

Joselyn Baker

President

Grady Health Foundation

Moses Ike

Moses Ike

Principal

Catalyst by Wellstar

Bob Crutchfield

Bob Crutchfield

Managing Director

1824 Health Ventures & Mainsail Venture Funds

Chris Lee

Chris Lee

Chairman, CEO & Co-founder

Huxley Medical

Jesse Goodwin, PhD

Jesse Goodwin, PhD

Chief Innovation Officer

Medical University of South Carolina

David C. Hess, MD

David C. Hess, MD

Dean, Medical College of Georgia

Augusta University

Donald Mueller

Donald Mueller

President & CEO

Siskin Children’s Institute

Sweta Sneha, PhD

Sweta Sneha, PhD

Founder & Chair Digital Health Transformations

Kennesaw State University

Greg Jungles

Greg Jungles

HealthTech Startup Catalyst

Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)

Vicki Lewis

Vicki Lewis

President & CEO

Coffee Regional Medical Center

Chris Spears

Chris Spears

Founder

Orderly Wellness

Joni Collins, DMS, PA-C, CAC

Joni Collins, DMS, PA-C, CAC

Founder

Twelve Twenty Eight

Jimmy Childre, Jr., FACHE

Jimmy Childre, Jr., FACHE

Former Chair and CEO

Washington County Regional Medical Center & President, Childre Ford, Inc.

Ellen Donahue-Dalton

Ellen Donahue-Dalton

Chief Growth Officer

VillageMD

Paul Weintraub

Paul Weintraub

Senior Vice President

Coker

Kristin Higgins, MD

Kristin Higgins, MD

Chief Clinical Officer

City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta

Josh Hargraves, MD

Josh Hargraves, MD

Divisional President

ApolloMD

Steve McCune, MD

Steve McCune, MD

Oncology Service Line Physician Lead

Wellstar Health System

Debora Bruno, MD, MS

Debora Bruno, MD, MS

Thoracic Medical Oncologist & Medical Director of Clinical Research

City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta

Lynn Durham, EdD

Lynn Durham, EdD

President and CEO

Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE)

Dean Anason

Dean Anason

Editor-in-Chief

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Shannon Sale

Shannon Sale

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer

Grady Health System

Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD

Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD

CEO & Founder

Rimidi

Sumayah Rahman

Sumayah Rahman

Director of AI & ML

Cedar

Jeff Myers

Jeff Myers

President & CEO

Vitruvian Health Care System

Rick Lambert, MD

Rick Lambert, MD

Senior Advisor

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Jeff Arnold

Jeff Arnold

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman

Sharecare

Alex Krinsky

Alex Krinsky

Senior Director, Healthcare Partnerships

CLEAR

Travis Smith, DO

Travis Smith, DO

Senior Advisor

HRSA/IOA

Matt Pearson

Matt Pearson

Head of Healthcare BD

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Chad Purcell

Chad Purcell

Chief Information Officer

Georgia 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.

We have a passion for connection
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

map of us showing where attendees came from
map of us and international showing where attendees came from

36%

CXOs, Executive Directors
and Senior VPs

21%

Dean, Professors, Researchers
and Grad Students

22%

President, Principals, Directors,
Senior Directors and Regional VPs

21%

Physicians, Managers,
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.

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Together, health advances.

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