Top of Mind Summit 2026:
Catalyzing Health Innovation.
Connecting Leaders.
September 28-29, 2026 | Pittsburgh, PA
About Top of Mind Summit
Since 2017, UPMC Enterprises has hosted its annual Top of Mind Summit as an exclusive, invitation-only conference for C-suite health care leaders, investors, and industry innovators to explore the future of digital health and life sciences.
The in-person experience facilitates high-value networking, thought-provoking dialogue, and real-world perspectives from a variety of industry experts.
Hosted in Pittsburgh, PA — a thriving center for advances in health care, digital innovation, and life sciences — Top of Mind Summit also offers a chance to experience a city driving the future of medicine.
Highlighted Speakers
Mary Beth Jenkins
UPMC Health Plan
Vanessa Almendro Navarro
City of Hope
Mark Atalla
Department of Health and Human Services
Erich Huang
Advocate Health
Jeffrey Solomon
TD Bank U.S.
Joel Yuhas
UPMC
Summit Program
Day 1: Monday, Sept. 28
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Registration
11:00-11:15 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
PANEL
Future-Proofing Health Systems: The Outlook for an Evolving Industry
As health care faces many headwinds, including policy changes, technological disruption, financial pressures, and consumer demands, health systems find themselves at a critical inflection point. This fireside conversation with two senior leaders of UPMC offers a candid look at the opportunities and challenges shaping the next era of health care. As one of the nation’s largest integrated payer-providers, UPMC is well positioned to remain resilient and continue as a leader in care delivery, financing, research, and innovation. Discussion topics will include emerging trends in care delivery models, the strategic value of aligning financing and clinical operations, and the organizational shifts required to thrive in an increasingly complex health ecosystem.
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00-1:45 p.m.
PANEL
The AI Balancing Act: Advancing Innovation While Building Trust
The future of AI will be shaped not only by technological breakthroughs but also by evolving regulations, industry standards, and societal expectations. Yet many of those rules are still being written. Join health care, technology, and policy leaders for a discussion on how organizations can innovate confidently in an uncertain environment, manage risk without stifling progress, and prepare for a future where adaptability may be as important as innovation itself.
1:45-2:30 p.m.
PANEL
A Winning Model: Where AI is Proving its Value
AI’s advancement in health care is not even, with some use cases demonstrating value while others have not. In this session, speakers will explore the emerging winners and laggards in the race to harness AI across the health care ecosystem. This session will unpack where AI is truly delivering value and where it’s falling short, with a focus on clinical applications, back-office functions, and biotech. Panelists will discuss the strategic, operational, and financial factors influencing AI adoption while sharing how health systems, investors, and innovators can separate signal from noise and strategically position themselves for success.
2:30-3:00 p.m.
Coffee Break
3:00-3:45 p.m.
PANEL
Elevating the Clinician Voice in Technology Adoption
The challenge is no longer a lack of health care innovation. It is determining which innovations can deliver meaningful value and how to bring them to patients more quickly. Forward-thinking health systems are reimagining how clinical leaders, innovators, and operational teams work together to evaluate emerging technologies and accelerate adoption. Hear how health systems are developing new pathways to assess breakthrough solutions, strengthen clinician engagement, and help shape the future of health care delivery.
3:45-4:30 p.m.
PANEL
From Ideas to Investment: The Venture of Finding and Funding the Next Big Thing
Health care innovation depends on more than great ideas. It requires the right mix of resources, partnerships, and market timing to turn promising concepts into scalable solutions. In this panel discussion, leading venture capital investors will share how they identify breakthrough health care technologies, evaluate founders and business models, and determine which innovations are most likely to deliver clinical, operational, and financial impact. Attendees will gain an insider’s perspective on emerging investment trends, the characteristics that distinguish successful startups, and how health systems, entrepreneurs, and investors can work together to accelerate adoption and growth.
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Break
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Shuttle to Phipps Conservatory
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Off-site Dinner – Phipps Conservatory
Day 2: Tuesday, Sept. 29
7:30-8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:00-8:30 a.m.
KEYNOTE
Transforming Human Health: The Convergence of Biology, Engineering, and Data
Health care stands at a pivotal moment. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, advanced therapeutics, digital health, biomaterials, precision medicine, and real-world data are accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Yet the challenge remains: how do we transform scientific discovery into scalable solutions that improve outcomes, increase access, and reduce the cost of care?
This visionary keynote will explore the next era of health care innovation through the lens of four decades of scientific discovery and entrepreneurship. Attendees will gain insight into the innovation ecosystem required to bring breakthrough ideas from laboratory research to real-world impact. The address also will highlight the importance of collaboration among researchers, health systems, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and technology leaders to accelerate the translation of science into meaningful patient outcomes.
8:30-9:15 a.m.
PANEL
The New Innovation Ecosystem: How Collaboration Is Reshaping Health Care
In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, innovation is no longer a solo endeavor. This panel will explore how leading health systems are forging strategic partnerships — with venture capital firms, pharmaceutical companies, technology innovators, and even peer institutions — to drive greater patient access to the latest treatments, technology, and models of care. From accelerating digital transformation to advancing precision medicine and improving care delivery, panelists will share real-world examples of how these collaborations are driving meaningful change.
9:15-10:00 a.m.
PANEL
From Breakthrough to Bedside: How Health Systems, Investors, and Industry Scale Transformational Technology
Transformational innovations in health care are not built through capital alone. They require clinical validation, operational expertise, real-world data, and trusted partners capable of scaling promising solutions into routine care. Increasingly, health systems are the critical bridge between invention and impact.
In this discussion, leaders from health care, venture capital, life sciences, and technology will examine how health systems can accelerate commercialization and adoption by serving as partners in innovation, instead of only customers. Through use cases and lessons learned, panelists will explore how cross-sector collaboration helps transform promising ideas into scalable solutions that improve patient outcomes, expand access, and shape the future of care delivery.
10:00-10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break
10:30-11:15 a.m.
PANEL
Real-World Data, Real-World Impact: Why Health Care Can’t Afford to Ignore It
As the health care industry shifts toward value and more personalized care, real-world data (RWD) has emerged as a critical asset for every stakeholder. This panel will explore why harnessing RWD is no longer optional but essential for creating more tailored pathways and positive patient outcomes. Experts will discuss the strategic imperative for health systems, life sciences companies, and technology partners to use RWD to accelerate research, improve clinical decision-making, and drive operational efficiency. The conversation will also address the challenges of data quality, interoperability, and equity — and what it will take to unlock the full potential of real-world evidence in transforming care.
11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
PANEL
The Aging Revolution: Preparing for Longer Health Spans
Advances in health and medicine are reshaping what it means to grow older. Longer health spans and larger aging populations are creating both exciting opportunities and unprecedented challenges for health care stakeholders. This panel brings together leaders from health care delivery, insurance, and technology innovation to explore how we can collaborate and adapt to support longer, healthier lives while managing the associated costs.
Panelists will discuss the implications of an aging population on care delivery, workforce demands, chronic disease management, and resources, while highlighting emerging breakthroughs in digital health, technology, and preventive medicine. Attendees will gain insights into how cross-sector collaboration can help transform aging from a health care challenge into an opportunity to improve outcomes, enhance quality of life, and redefine the future of health and wellness.
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Conclusion | Networking & Lunch
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