Session Descriptions and Speaker Bios
Pre-Conference Session: Re-Strategizing the Strategist's Role in a World of AI
This 90-minute interactive session will give strategists of all levels the opportunity to explore, recognize and strategize how their current roles may evolve with the use of AI. Using a Strategic Foresight framework, participants will examine shifts in industry and technology, challenge existing conceptions of the strategist’s role, and explore career scenario planning to better prepare for multiple possible futures. Through interactive discussion, personal career design and a “live lab” using an AI tool, participants will consider what will change, what will be new, what strategists will be held accountable for, and why their role is imperative to ensuring AI is successful. Participants will leave with a broader understanding of industry and role changes, insights from their peers, and practical tools and techniques to continue designing and managing their own careers as AI reshapes how strategists think, work and lead.
Liz Vogel, Founder, The Byrnes Group
Liz Vogel is the founder of The Byrnes Group and an organizational development strategist and futurist with four decades of experience helping senior leaders and organizations navigate change, growth, and reinvention. Her career spans healthcare, technology, global business, and public service, including serving as CEO of a state regional healthcare organizationand Senior Director of Organizational Development at Moffitt Cancer Center. Liz has led enterprise transformation, healthcare product development, executive strategic foresight, and culture-change initiatives, including introduction of global technologies. She brings a distinctive perspective to the evolving role of the strategist—connecting emerging technologies with the human judgment, organizational readiness, and change leadership required to use them well. Liz holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychology, is certified in strategic foresight, with a focus on adult development and reinvention.
Road to Nowhere? Health Care Reform after the 2026 Elections
What will the 2026 elections mean for the future of U.S. health care policy? This session will examine the evolving political and policy landscape, what the election results could mean for health care reform, and the implications for health systems navigating an increasingly complex environment.
Jonathan Oberlander, PhD, Professor of Social Medicine and Health Policy & Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jonathan Oberlander is professor of Social Medicine in the School of Medicine and professor of Health Policy & Management in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Oberlander’s research and teaching interests include health care politics and policy, health care reform, Medicare, and American politics and public policy.
Oberlander speaks regularly on US health care, trying to translate the complexity and technical detail of health policy into something more understandable and accessible. He has commented on health care politics for a number of media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, the BBC, CBS News, and PBS.
Oberlander holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from Yale University, and a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
David Cato, PT, MBA, Vice President, Chief of Operations, Florida Market, Cleveland Clinic
David Cato has been serving as the Chief of Operations for the Cleveland Clinic Florida Market since August 2021. In this role, he oversees the planning, direction, and efficient operations of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Market. David works collaboratively with the health system team to achieve financial, operational, quality and safety, and strategic goals. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Florida, David spent fifteen years at Lee Health based in Fort Myers, FL and was most recently their Chief Officer Outpatient and Hospital Operations & Post-Acute Care, and prior to Lee Health spent more than eight years in the Shands health care system at the University of Florida. David has served in many executive, administrative and clinical roles throughout his career.
David has facilitated teams to establish new sites of care across the continuum of healthcare to enhance access to quality care to the communities served. David has more than 25 years of experience in enhancing patient care, access, strategic growth, and operational efficiency. David holds a degree in physical therapy and an MBA from the University of Florida. Additionally, he is actively involved in community service, with his continued commitment on the state of Florida Special Olympics Board of Directors, and Clinical Director for the Special Olympics’ state events.
Tiffany DiTullio is a seasoned executive and community leader with more than two decades of experience spanning healthcare, nonprofit leadership, business development, community engagement, philanthropy and organizational strategy. She currently serves as Vice President of Partner & Community Relations at Salinas Valley Health, where she provides executive leadership and strategic oversight across Marketing & Communications, Community Engagement, Community Funding and Grantmaking, Community Well-being and Career Pathways. She leads a cross-functional team of more than 40 employees and oversees an annual budget of approximately $10 million.
Tiffany is particularly recognized for her ability to bring diverse people and organizations together around a shared vision. As Executive Director of Blue Zones Project Monterey County, she led the implementation and certification of a $27 million countywide well-being initiative, successfully achieving countywide certification—the first in California and, at the time, the largest certified community in the United States. Her work centered on building broad based coalitions, engaging community members and organizations, and creating opportunities for collaboration that could accelerate and sustain positive change.
Throughout her career, Tiffany has built and led initiatives focused on improving community well-being and expanding opportunity. At Salinas Valley Health, she has designed and implemented countywide worksite wellness initiatives, cultivated partnerships with major employers, higher education and community organizations, and led high-impact community outreach and engagement efforts. Her work has also included launching the Salinas Valley Health Farmers’ Market and Fresh Produce Rx Program, supporting community health needs assessment efforts, and developing partnerships that connect healthcare, business, education and community organizations.
Prior to joining Salinas Valley Health, Tiffany served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, where she provided organizational and fiscal leadership, partnered with the Board of Directors on governance and strategy, led organizational restructuring and operational improvements, and expanded membership and fund development.
Tiffany’s leadership has been recognized through numerous community and professional honors, including the 2023 Spirit of the Community Award from the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community Leader Volunteer Impact Award, and multiple leadership and service recognitions from Salinas Valley Health and Salinas Downtown Rotary.
A lifelong advocate for community collaboration and service, Tiffany has held leadership and volunteer roles with organizations including Salinas Downtown Rotary, California Rodeo Salinas, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Palma High School, Community Foundation for Monterey County Women’s Fund, Hartnell College Foundation WELI, National Charity League, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Salinas Valley Half Marathon.
Tiffany earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Chico. She lives in Salinas with her husband, Reno, and their two children. Outside of her professional and community commitments, she enjoys hiking, running, reading, stand-up paddleboarding and spending time with her family.
Brian L. Freeman, FACHE, SVP, Rural Area President, Advocate Health
Brian L. Freeman, MHA, FACHE is a strategic healthcare leader known for driving performance, elevating safety, and strengthening community-responsive care. He has 32 years of healthcare experience in rural settings. Brian currently serves Atrium Health, a part of Advocate Heath, as Senior Vice President, President Rural Area.
Mr. Freeman holds an MHA from Pfeiffer University and a BS in Radiologic Technology from Queens University and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. His community service includes board service and leadership with numerous community organizations.
Chriss Papayannis, MBA, Vice President Advisory, Realty Trust Group
Chriss Papayannis is a healthcare real estate executive who has spent his career at the intersection of strategy and execution. Before joining Realty Trust Group, he led real estate for Cleveland Clinic's Florida market — including a period of interim enterprise leadership — and built WellSpan Health's first centralized corporate real estate function.
His work spans capital planning, ambulatory development, portfolio strategy, and nine-figure transaction structures, giving him a firsthand view of why sound strategies stall and what it takes to carry them through approval, funding, and delivery.
Chriss serves on the SESHSMD Education Committee and advises health systems across the Southeast on enterprise real estate and capital decisions.
Jonathan Waller, MHSA, Vice President of Strategy, University of Florida Health System
Jonathan Waller is Vice President of Strategy at UF Health, a nearly $7 billion integrated academic health system serving communities across Florida. He leads enterprise strategy, growth, business development, and market planning across the clinical enterprise.
Previously, Jonathan held strategy roles at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Deloitte, and The Chartis Group, advising healthcare organizations on growth, transformation, and long-term strategic direction.
He also serves as a Staff Lecturer at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and as National Parliamentarian for the National Association of Health Services Executives. Jonathan is committed to advancing health system strategy while developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.