Thursday, April 20

7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Field trips to local research, clinical and educational sites.

9-11 a.m.

Reporting on medical studies

Medical studies are usually full of jargon and impenetrable statistics, and they often don't tell the whole story. In this session, you'll learn from the team behind HealthNewsReview.org how to identify hype in press releases and studies, and from the AHCJ medical studies core topic leader how to read clinical trials with confidence. We'll review statistics, and discuss how often studies are wrong. #AHCJstudies

• Tara Haelle, AHCJ topic leader/medical studies; independent health journalist

• Kevin M. Lomangino, managing editor, HealthNewsReview.org

• Ivan Oransky, M.D., distinguished writer in residence, New York University Arthur Carter Journalism Institute; co-founder, Retraction Watch; columnist, Stat; editor at large, MedPage Today

Grand A

Cinematic technique in reporting and writing

Ten key tips for producing stories that engage readers from beginning to end, that build around a central focus or purpose, and that employ the best of fiction/screenplay storytelling techniques in the service of accurate journalism. #AHCJcinematic

• Jacqui Banaszynski, Knight chair in editing, Missouri School of Journalism

Grand B

Security for journalists: Protecting your work and your sources

In an era of mass surveillance and government opacity, even those reporting on health care policy and science need to be wary of spying, and equipped to communicate privately with sources. Bring your laptop and phone to this workshop for hands-on training in encryption, secure drop boxes, secure email and texting, and other ways to stay safe. #AHCJsafe

• Geoffrey King, attorney; lecturer, University of California, Berkeley

• Olivia Martin, digital security fellow, Freedom of the Press Foundation

• Moderator: Sabriya Rice, business of health care reporter, The Dallas Morning News

Grand D

11:15 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.

Using the tools you have, Part 1: The basics of smartphone video

Online and social media platforms provide journalists with new ways of telling stories beyond the printed word. But journalists don’t have to invest in high priced professional video cameras or audio equipment to tell a multimedia story. This session will be a primer on how to use smartphones to create multimedia stories that either accentuate their written stories or act as stand-alone content online. Smartphones offer great stills and video, as well as apps that can maximize what you capture and other tools that help you do it all. The session will cover the gear and strategies needed to produce the best product possible using a smartphone and how to think through stories. #AHCJvideotools

• Eliene Augenbraun D.O., Ph.D., multimedia managing editor, Nature Research Group

• Barclay Palmer, executive producer for video, IBT Media

• Patricia Salber M.D., founder and host, The Doctor Weighs In | Video

• Moderator: Linda Marsa, independent journalist

Grand A

Science of stress

Stress is defined as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” And when stress happens, the human brain can take the brunt. Dr. Amit Sood of the Mayo Clinic has combined his South Asian heritage and Western medical practice into an academic exploration of the science of stress and resilience and the elusive secrets of contentment and focus — a speciality that has made him a TEDx speaker and a sought-after adviser to tech companies, where everyone burns out. This presentation and extended Q&A will dive deep into what research shows about the neurobiology of stress and resilience and offer insights into a scientifically validated approach to mind-body medicine. #AHCJstress

• Amit Sood, M.D., professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic

• Moderator: Maryn McKenna, contributor, National Geographic; senior fellow, Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, Brandeis University; author

Grand B

Gene editing: A primer for journalists

This panel brings together top experts to dive into the basics of gene editing, with a focus on CRISPR-Cas9, the breakthrough genome-editing tech that can act as molecular scissors on animal, plant and human cells. CRISPR has been making headlines for its potential applications altering patient genes – say to treat melanoma. Yet, if used on germ line cells, it could alter the genome for an individual’s kids, grandkids and beyond, with unknown repercussions. We will wade into the complexities of gene editing’s ethical and regulatory landscape. We’ll discuss the state of research, its many potential applications and why discoveries in this field are transforming the way we think about basic human biology and how to help patients in need of medical care. #AHCJCRISPR

Special gene editing track sponsored by The Hastings Center

• Josephine Johnston, L.L.B., director of research, The Hastings Center

• Chao-Ting Wu Ph.D., molecular biologist, Harvard Medical School Department of Genetics

• Moderator: Dina Fine Maron, editor, Health and Medicine, Scientific American

Grand D

1:45-3 p.m.

The state(s) of cancer in America

Disparities in mortality and clusters of cancers among U.S. counties, combined with $115 billion in spending on cancer, raise issues in the contentious debate on cost, quality, access, and the value of health care in America. A faculty member from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation will present compelling findings from recent studies and the implications for stakeholders, including policy makers, advocates, and federal, state, and local health officials. #AHCJstates

• Ali Mokdad, Ph.D., professor of global health, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington

Grand A

Science of vaccines

The Ebola epidemic led to a vaccine in just over a year – much faster than in the past – and dozens of scientists are frantically working on a Zika vaccine as mosquito season in the U.S. rapidly approaches. As scientists perfect vaccines for these and other diseases, such as dengue, malaria, HIV and herpes, journalists need a foundation in understanding the different ways vaccines are developed. How does a conjugate vaccine differ from a recombinant one, and what's a DNA vaccine? What's a typical timeline for development, and what obstacles might vaccinologists encounter along the way? Why is it so difficult to make vaccines for STDs? This panel will address these questions and more to give journalists a strong foundation in the science of vaccines so they know what questions to ask researchers and how to make sense of studies on new and existing vaccines. #AHCJvaccines

Special science basics track sponsored by Mayo Clinic

• Keith L. Knutson, Ph.D., professor of immunology; Mayo Clinic

• John T. Schiller, Ph.D., deputy chief, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute

• Moderator: Tara Haelle, AHCJ topic leader/medical studies; independent health journalist

Grand B

Gene editing: Parenting in the genomic age

Until recently, prenatal testing for expectant parents meant a microscopic examination of fetal chromosomes that could reveal Down syndrome and a handful of other abnormalities. With the advent of more sophisticated DNA testing, parents face a growing number of choices that include having their own genomes sequenced at relatively modest cost. This trend is expected to grow, presenting parents with tough choices when a fetus is discovered, for example, to be at risk of a late-onset adult disease or be eligible for genetic enhancement, such as conferring athletic ability. What should be tested for? Who decides? Does more choice make for better parenting? Would a society with fewer people with genetic disabilities be good, problematic, or something in between? #AHCJprenatal

Special gene editing track sponsored by The Hastings Center

• Eli Adashi, M.D., reproductive endocrinologist, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School

• Teresa Blankmeyer Burke, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, Gallaudet University

• Josephine Johnston, L.L.B., director of research, The Hastings Center

• Moderator: Paul Raeburn, independent journalist

Grand D

3:15-4:15 p.m.

Using the tools you have, Part 2: Taking video stories to the next level with DSLR

This session will cover the nuts and bolts of producing video with a DSLR, including how to gather and assemble the elements: editing; uploading from the field; additional gear, such as tripods or other equipment to keep your smart phone steady; which editing apps are the best, easiest to use, and least expensive but still do the job; which apps are best to insert photos or voice over narrations; downloading the video to your desktop for editing. If time allows, panelists will use a walk-through example from a participant’s phone. Panelists will include experts in video and audio who will be able to walk participants through the process of producing a short video story. #AHCJmultimedia

• Heidi de Marco, multimedia reporter/producer, Kaiser Health News

• Katti Gray, multimedia journalist

• Moderator: Andrea K Collier, multimedia journalist

Grand A

Science of dementia

Special science basics track sponsored by Mayo Clinic

The search for treatments for Alzheimer’s disease has been marked by one frustrating failure after another, leading scientists to look for new clues. Some are trying to leverage genetics to better understand the molecular pathways that lead to disease, to identify new drug targets and biomarkers that might be used to personalize Alzheimer’s therapies in the same way that cancer therapies are individualized. Others are looking for subtle cognitive changes that might signal brain changes that occur decades before the first symptoms of dementia, to aid efforts to prevent the disease. This panel will look at some of the most promising research advances, while helping you learn the difference between amyloid plaques and tau tangles. #AHCJdementia

• Dorene M Rentz Psy.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital; associate professor of neurology, Harvard Medical School

• Nilufer Taner, M.D., Ph.D., neurogeneticist, Mayo Clinic

• Moderator: Gideon Gil, managing editor for enterprise and partnerships, Stat

Grand B

Gene editing: Modifying disease-carrying organisms

Special gene editing track sponsored by The Hastings Center

Field tests of genetically modified mosquitoes are set to begin in Florida this year, raising hopes of reducing or eliminating transmission of insect-borne infections such as the Zika virus. Tests conducted in Brazil have reduced populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes by 90 percent, according to Oxitec, the company that created the mosquitoes. One scientist has proposed GM mice as a way to curb Lyme disease on Nantucket. This session will discuss the technologies being used to modify disease-carrying organisms, including gene drives. What are the potential benefits and harms to humans? What about the possible impact on ecosystems and the environment? How should human values be considered by scientists and policymakers in addressing these questions, as the National Academy of Sciences committee on responsible use of gene drives recommended this year? #ahcjgeneediting

• Gregory Kaebnick, Ph.D., research scholar, The Hastings Center

• Moderator: Bonnie Rochman, independent journalist

Grand D

4:30-5:15 p.m.

Newcomer welcome

First-time conference attendees are invited to meet members of AHCJ's board of directors and learn how to make the most of the conference.

• Karl Stark, assistant managing editor, business, health and science, The Philadelphia Inquirer; president, AHCJ board of directors

Grand B

5:30-7 p.m.

Kickoff roundtable: Violence as a public health emergency

As we’ve become more effective in preventing or treating classic infectious diseases, homicide and suicide have continued to climb the causes-of-death ladder. If behavior modifications can greatly reduce the toll of heart disease, cancer and stroke, reason public health professionals, then addressing the behavioral and situational issues behind violent and suicidal actions also can result in saved lives. Our guest speakers study, explain and implement efforts to change the underlying conditions that foster and spread violence, whether it be guns on the street, bullying in schools, abuse in relationships or the taking of one’s own life. They believe there are public health interventions that can turn the tide. #AHCJviolence

• Georges Benjamin, M.D., executive director, American Public Health Association 

• Rachel A. Davis, M.S.W., managing director, Prevention Institute

• Gary Slutkin, M.D., chief executive officer, Cure Violence

• Moderator: Andrea K. McDaniels, health and medicine reporter, The Baltimore Sun

Grand D

7-8:30 p.m.

"Welcome to Orlando" reception

Poolside

Friday, April 21

The Exhibit Hall will be open 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for networking and finding new resources.

7-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast buffet available

Sponsored by University of Florida Health

Grand C
Exhibit Hall

9-10:20 a.m.

Drug costs: Intersection of business, public health and policy

Americans overwhelmingly think something should be done to bring down drug prices. But what? From Medicare negotiating with drugmakers to importing drugs from Canada, we’ll look at the potential solutions, including their shortcomings. Two physicians – a top former George W. Bush administration official and a leading drug price researcher – weigh in along with a patient advocacy group founder. He eschews pharma funding and is speaking out on the issue while nearly all other groups stay silent. #AHCJdrugprices

• Peter Bach, M.D., director, Center for Health Policy and Outcomes, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

• Mark McClellan, M.D., professor and director, Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University

• David Mitchell, founder, Patients for Affordable Drugs

• Moderator: Jayne O'Donnell, health care policy reporter, USA Today

Grand B

Caring for transgender patients

Transgender Americans are increasingly likely to seek medical care, including to help them transition to the gender with which they identify. This panel will talk about those options, the barriers patients face, and the challenge of fairly and accurately covering the issue. #AHCJtrans

• Laura Arrowsmith, D.O., physician for transgender care, South Wind Women's Clinic; board member, National Center for Transgender Equality

• Courtney Crowder, staff writer, Des Moines Register

• Gina Leigh Duncan, transgender inclusion director, Equality Florida

• Moderator: Tony Leys, staff writer, Des Moines Register

Salon 1

Freelance: Can you afford to write a book?

Writing a book is a tricky business decision. This panel will offer practical tips for writing a book including crafting a timetable to help you decide how much time you’ll need to write, report, and publicize, how to finance yourself in the meantime and tips to make sure it adds, rather than detracts, to your career and finances. #AHCJbook

• Maryn McKenna, contributor, National Geographic; senior fellow, Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, Brandeis University; author

• Amanda J. Moon, director, Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux

• Moderator: Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn, independent journalist and author

Salon 3

Telehealth: Will it transform the way care is delivered?

Insurers, health systems and start-up companies have been launching telehealth products that provide care through smartphones and tablets to address urgent medical needs. But what about drones? How are consumer demands driving innovation in telemedicine? What are the barriers obstructing this fast-moving trend? How is this changing how providers treat patients? Hear from experts from growing telehealth systems about how telehealth is changing the delivery of health care now and into the future. #AHCJtelehealth

• Gina Altieri, senior vice president and chief of strategy integration, Nemours Children's Health System

• Italo Subbarao, D.O., M.B.A., senior associate dean and chief operating officer, WIlliam Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Sarvam TerKonda, M.D., medical director, Connected Care, Mayo Clinic

• Moderator: Mark Taylor, independent journalist

Salon 10

Birth and death: Maternal mortality in America

After declining in the 1990s and early 2000s, Cesarean section rates are again climbing in the U.S. Worse, the rate of death in childbirth has doubled in the last 25 years. Who is getting all these C-sections, and why? Why is the maternal mortality rate going up instead of down? Come hear a midwife, a doctor, and a public health expert explain what they think is going on, and how to turn it around. #AHCJmaternity

• Eugene R. Declercq, professor, community health sciences, Boston University School of Public Health

• Jennie Joseph, founder and executive director, Commonsense Childbirth Inc.; midwife, The Birth Place Center

• Lance Lang, M.D., chief medical officer, Covered California

• Moderator: Duncan Moore, independent journalist

Salon 12

10:40 a.m.-noon

Hospital quality: The quest for reliable measures

Hospital rating systems are ubiquitous – and often disagree. In this session, hospital quality experts will explain how to use ratings when reporting on your community’s hospitals. They’ll discuss why important aspects of quality, such as patient-reported outcomes, are absent from ratings. And you’ll learn why many medical societies possess – but rarely disclose – information on which hospitals are good or bad, and what you can do to gain access to this closely guarded information. #AHCJratings

• Kevin J Bozic, M.D., M.B.A., professor and chair, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas Austin

• Robert Cima M.D., professor of surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

• Don Goldmann M.D., chief medical and scientific officer, Institute for Healthcare Improvement

• Moderator Ben Harder, chief of health analysis, U.S. News and World Report

Grand B

Covering addiction recovery: The science and the experience

Lots of column inches and air time have been devoted to covering the opioid epidemic. Often, that coverage focuses on the acute phases of addiction, detox, and even overdose. But recovery is – hopefully – the next chapter in the story, one with its own phases and individual trajectories. One person’s recovery doesn’t look like another’s, What are the options? And what happens to the brain in recovery? Hear from treatment and addiction specialists, people in recovery, and a brain scientist. And come away with ideas for covering recovery in your community. #AHCJrecovery

• Patrick Dean, M.D., psychiatrist, Orlando VA Medical Center

• John F. Kelly, Ph.D., Elizabeth R. Spallin associate professor of psychiatry in the field of addiction medicine, Harvard Medical School; founder and director, Massachusetts General Hospital Recovery Research Institute

• Daniel P. Logan, M.D., D.A.B.A.M., F.A.S.A.M., F.A.C.E.P., adjunct assistant professor, Addiction Medicine Division, Department of Psychiatry University of Florida College of Medicine

• Moderator: Ben Allen, editorial lead, WITF's Transforming Health project

Salon 1

Immunotherapy in cancer and beyond

For the second consecutive time the American Society of Clinical Oncology has named immunotherapy as the clinical advance of the year. What is immunotherapy and how has it evolved over the decades? What are its applications in cancer and other diseases, and what are its benefits, risks, limitations, and future promises. A panel representing science, medicine and journalism will help provide context and perspective covering this field. #AHCJimmunoTx

• Daniel M. Keller, Ph.D., president, Keller Broadcasting, Inc.

• Keith L. Knutson, Ph.D., professor of immunology; Mayo Clinic

• Duane A. Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., Phyllis Kottler Friedman professor, Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery; director, Cancer Therapeutics and Immuno-Oncology – University of Florida Health Cancer Center; co-director, Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute University of Florida Academic Health Center

• Moderator: Eric Rosenthal, special correspondent, MedPage Today

Salon 3

Health care reform under a new administration

Repeal? Replace? Repair? Rebrand? It turns out it’s harder than it looks to get rid of an 8-year-old law that covers 20 million Americans and affects just about every aspect of health and medicine. This panel looks at the early efforts of the GOP attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and what steps they are likely to now take as they try to create a smaller, more market-oriented, less-regulated system. We’ll talk about some of the ideas Republicans have put forth, such “selling insurance across state lines” or “continuous coverage and Medicaid “caps” or block grants. And we will look at ways may be able to use the additional flexibility states have been promised. #AHCJreform

• Doug Badger, health policy consultant

• Mark McClellan, M.D., professor and director, Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University

• Karen Pollitz, senior fellow, health reform and private insurance, Kaiser Family Foundation

• Moderator: Joanne Kenen, AHCJ topic leader/health reform; health care editor, Politico/Politico Pro

Salon 10

Why a social worker may be the MVP of the clinic

The move toward value-based care is leading some medical providers in the direction care used to be delivered decades ago: house calls. But the new house call often involves a social worker, rather than a doctor or nurse. The idea is to make sure the whole patient's needs are addressed, including meals, pain management, transportation – whatever the patient needs to live the fullest life possible. Learn about the new directions in the role of social workers and come away with ideas for stories about that role.

• Mary Ann Burg, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., professor of social work, University of Central Florida

• Gabrielle Jackson, Aledade

• Moderator: Bryan Thompson, rural health and agriculture reporter, Kansas News Service

Salon 12

1:40-3:50 p.m.

Freelance PitchFest

Editors from some of the top magazines, newspapers and websites are coming to Orlando to meet you! Bring your best ideas to the AHCJ Freelance PitchFest. This session has been created to give you an opportunity to sit down and discuss your ideas one-on-one with editors from selected publications. Read more about the event and what each editor is looking for.

• Betsy Agnvall, Staying Sharp editor, AARP

• Aurora Augilar, managing editor, news, Modern Healthcare

• Jennifer Bleyer, senior editor, Psychology Today

• Jonathan Block, content editor, Medshadow

• Erin Boyle, senior editor, HealthCentral.com

• Sue Byrne, executive editor, HealthAfter50.com

• David Corcoran, senior editor, Undark

• Dina Fine Maron, editor, health & medicine, Scientific American

• Gideon Gil, managing editor, enterprise and partnerships, Stat

• Emily Gurnon, senior content editor, health and caregiving, PBS Next Avenue

• Tod Jones, managing editor, U.S., Costco Connection

• Katherine Lagomarsino, managing editor, Genome

• Lindsay Lyon, senior editor, consumer advice, U.S. News & World Report

• Amanda Moon, senior editor, Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux

• Peggy Peck, vice president/ editor-in-chief, MedPage Today

• Scott G. Phillips, editor-in-chief, Rural Health Quarterly

• Emily Silber, assistant editor, Proto, Time Inc.

• Ingrid Strauch, senior editor, Everyday Health

• Blythe Terrell, senior editor, science and health, FiveThirtyEight

• Peter Wehrwein, editor, Managed Care

• Ingrid Wickelgren, managing editor, Spectrum

• Coordinator: Jeanne Erdmann, independent journalist

Grand A

1:40-3 p.m.

Do workplace wellness incentives work?

Employers that offer health insurance are more frequently engaging staff in wellness programs that incentivize healthy behaviors and aim to reduce health-related costs. While the intention is good, not everyone agrees employers should be privy to such personal information and some question whether the practice can become discriminatory. This panel provides an overview of the types of programs employers are using and in what ways, the laws that govern them, and discusses what is known - and not known- about wellness program effectiveness. #AHCJworkwell

• Stephanie Pronk, senior vice president for national health transformation, Aon

• Matthew Rae, senior policy analyst, Health Care Marketplace Project, the Kaiser Family Foundation

• Harald Schmidt, Ph.D., research associate, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics; assistant professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy

• Moderator: Sabriya Rice, business of health care reporter, The Dallas Morning News

Grand B

How age-friendly is your city?

Is your city prepared for the coming age wave? Many older adults want to age in their own homes and communities but it’s not always easy. Multiple barriers exist that prevent older adults from fully enjoying their later years. Panelists will discuss societal, physical and mental health benefits of age-friendly environments, how cities can become more inclusive of their older adult population, and ideas for reporting on this trend. #AHCJaging

• Rosemary Laird, M.D., executive medical director, Florida Hospital for Seniors program; Director, Florida Hospital's Centre for Senior Health

• Barbara Peters-Smith, aging reporter, health and fitness editor, Sarasota Herald Tribune

• Moderator: Liz Seegert, AHCJ topic leader/aging; independent health journalist

Salon 1

Traumatic brain injuries: The future of veterans’ treatment, recovery

Each year, more than 20,000 service members are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. The rise of improvised explosive devices, car bombs and suicide bombers during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan put soldiers at increased risk. Though most injuries are diagnosed as mild concussions, many are more severe and leave veterans with lasting health issues. This panel will explore advances in treatments for traumatic brain injuries and how veterans are coping. #AHCJTBI

• Howard Altman, senior writer/military affairs, Tampa Bay Times

• T. Patt Maney, Okaloosa County judge; retired Army Reserve brigadier general

• Steven G. Scott, D.O., director, Tampa Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center

• Moderator: Julio Ochoa, editor, Health News Florida, WUSF Public Media

Salon 3

MACRA: The ins and outs of physician payment reform

With the uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act, MACRA is fast becoming the vehicle for adoption of value-based payments, as well as the continued advancement of health information technology. Congress passed MACRA overwhelmingly in 2015, and it went into effect in January, resulting in huge changes in how the vast majority of physician are paid. We'll discuss the different payment “tracks“ that physicians can choose and how this choice will affect patient care. We'll also look at how MACRA will shape the adoption of health IT for years to come. #AHCJMACRA

• Todd D. Grages, president and chief executive officer, Methodist Physicians Clinic

• Anders Gilberg, senior vice president, Government Affairs Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)

• Randi Terry, director of information services, Munson Healthcare

• Moderator: Rebecca Vesely, AHCJ topic leader/health information technology; independent journalist

Salon 10

Taking on diabetes

Advances in research and new medical technologies are transforming how doctors treat diabetes patients. While the rate of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes has begun to fall in the U.S., more than 100 million Americans continue to live with diabetes or prediabetes, racking up tens of billions of dollars in health care costs. We’ll explore the ways new technologies and research are tackling this massive problem. Can telehealth and psychologists help kids with Type I diabetes stay on track? What is it about certain people’s biology that makes losing weight impossible no matter how much they exercise? How could advances in developing artificial pancreases transform patients’ lives? #AHCJdiabetes

• Matthew Benson, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist, Nemours Children's Health System

• Yogish Kudva, M.B.B.S., endocrinologist, Mayo Clinic

• Steven R. Smith, M.D., chief scientific officer, Florida Hospital Research

• Moderator: Misty Williams, editor/writer for health care policy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Salon 12

3-4 p.m.

Exhibit Crawl

Join us for snacks and prize drawings. Must be present to win.

Grand C

4:20-5:30 p.m.

Do public exchanges have a future?

As the Trump administration and the Republican Congress weigh changes to the Affordable Care Act and insurers flee public exchanges, we talk to health plans and the nation's largest state health exchange. The panel will focus on what has worked and hasn't worked and what may be needed to stabilize the individual insurance market from plans that have stayed in, shifted strategies and will be dealing with the new administration and the future market for health coverage. #AHCJexchanges

• Pat Geraghty, chief executive officer, GuideWell and Florida Blue

• Doug McKeever, chief deputy executive director, Covered California

• Mario Schlosser, chief executive officer, Oscar Health

• Moderator: Bruce R. Japsen, health care columnist, Forbes

Grand B

Beyond medicine: Social, spiritual and artistic elements in health care

Health providers are incorporating non-interventional therapies to help patients heal mentally, spiritually and physically. Hear from experts about programs providing spiritual and emotional support, how connecting patients with animal therapy can help ease suffering from mental and physical disabilities, and what visual, literary and performing arts can bring to health care. You can learn and ask questions to help put together your own story ideas that look beyond traditional medicine. #AHCJbeyond

• Sheri Kittelson, M.D., assistant professor and medical director, palliative care; Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Florida Health

• Mänette Monroe, M.D., M.Ed., assistant professor of pathology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine

• Tina Mullen, director, Arts in Medicine, University of Florida Health Shands Hospital

• Moderator: Stephanie O'Neill, independent journalist

Salon 1

How cancer patients are changing clinical trials

More than 12,000 clinical studies of cancer tests and treatment are recruiting patients, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Many people with cancer are eager to get access to experimental care and, increasingly, they want a say in how the research studies are designed and conducted. How are patients with cancer influencing clinical research? #AHCJcancer

• Christopher R. Cogle, M.D., professor of medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine

• Sally Church, Ph.D., editor, Biotech Strategy Blog; executive producer, Novel Targets Podcast

• Frances Visco, president, National Breast Cancer Coalition

• Moderator: Scott Hensley, host, NPR's Shots blog

Salon 3

The science of toxic stress: Early childhood experiences and brain development

For all the impressive advances in medical science, it turns out that ZIP code, not genetic code, often has the most to say about health and longevity. In many American cities, a child with the luck to be born in an affluent neighborhood can expect to live 10 to 20 years longer on average than a child in a less fortunate part of town. A major reason: the toxic stress experienced by children born into lives of struggle, be it direct abuse and neglect, or simply living in poor neighborhoods where violence is never far away. Panelists discuss the toll of toxic stress on children’s physical and emotional health, including brain imagery that shows dramatic differences. We conclude by considering the latest research into how this “terrible lottery of birth,” as one of our experts has described it, could be addressed. #AHCJtoxic

• Melissa A Bright, Ph.D., assistant research scientist, Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida

• Mark A Cavitt, M.D., medical director of pediatric psychiatry services, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

• Daniel R. Taylor, D.O., associate professor, Drexel University College of Medicine; director of community pediatrics and child advocacy, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

• Moderator: Charlotte Sutton, health and science editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Salon 10

5:40-6:30 p.m.

Membership meeting

AHCJ members are invited to come hear about the organization's latest efforts and ask questions of your elected board.

Grand B