HIMSS 2026 Conference Kicks Off with Focus on Digital Health Transformation

The annual HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) 2026 conference kicked off with its executive summit titled “Navigating the Headwinds of Healthcare Change: Using Digital Health Transformation as a Strategic Lever,” on Monday, March 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees gathered for breakfast to hear the opening remarks by Harold (Hal) F. Wolf III, digital health transformation leader, president and CEO of HIMSS.

Wolf discussed the pressures healthcare faces today, including financial strain and the complexity of current policies. Our challenge is to refocus all our precious resources and bring them together to support our workloads, Wolf said.

Wolf went on to mention current and growing workforce shortages. “We're up against massive shortages in allied professions.” Which is why digital health is so important, he said. “We're going to spring forward by helping our workforce take advantage of digital health resources and solutions.”

An important element in keeping the current workforce from leaving, Wolf advised, is offering professional development tools. This was concluded from a 2025 survey.

Before handing the microphone to keynote speakers, David Banks, president and CEO of AdventHealth, and former Google executive Jenny Wood, Wolf shared this advice with healthcare leaders: Speak about digital health transformation in ways that will help you gain the information and knowledge to go back and impact the change management you have in front of you. In the end, this is about advancement for everyone.