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, September 28
10:00-11:00 AM
Registration
11:00-11:15 AM
Welcome Remarks
11:15 AM-12:00 PM
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 PM
Lunch
1:00-1:45 PM
PANEL
Taming the Tech: Will Policy Constraints Harm AI’s Promise
AI is rapidly transforming health care, business, and society, policymakers are racing to establish guardrails that promote safety, privacy, accountability, and trust. But could that regulation also slow innovation and limit AI’s potential to solve some of our most pressing challenges? This panel brings together industry leaders, innovators, and policy experts to explore the evolving balance between responsible oversight and technological progress. Panelists will examine how emerging regulations may influence AI development, adoption, investment, and competitiveness, while discussing strategies to ensure that governance frameworks protect the public without stifling innovation. Attendees will gain insight into the opportunities, risks, and unintended consequences shaping the future of AI.
1:45-2:30 PM
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 PM
Coffee Break
3:00-3:30 PM
FIRESIDE
Accelerating Breakthrough Technology to Patients
UPMC has embarked on a mission to ensure its patients have access to the most cutting-edge technologies and treatments. With the Health Technology Assessment Program (HTAP), clinical leaders are spearheading a new process for evaluating the latest breakthroughs in months, rather than years. Attendees will gain insight into the opportunities ahead with HTAP and how UPMC’s innovation engine can continue to shape care delivery, patient outcomes, and the next generation of health solutions.
3:30-4:00 PM
FIRESIDE
From Ideas to Investment: 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.
4:00-5:30 PM
Break
5:30-6:00 PM
Shuttle to Phipps Conservatory
6:00-9:00 PM
Off-site Dinner – Phipps Conservatory
Day 2: Tuesday, September 29
7:30-8:00 AM
Continental Breakfast
8:00-8:30 AM
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 AM
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 AM
PANEL
From Breakthrough to Bedside: How Health Systems Drive Scale
Great health care innovations are not built through capital alone. They require clinical validation, operational expertise, real-world data, and trusted partners capable of bringing new solutions into routine care. Increasingly, health systems are emerging as the critical bridge between invention and impact. In this discussion, leaders from healthcare, venture capital, life sciences, and technology will examine how health systems can accelerate commercialization and adoption by serving as innovation partners—not just customers. Through case studies 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 AM
Coffee Break
10:30-11:15 AM
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 AM-12:00 PM
PANEL
The Longevity Revolution: Preparing Healthcare for an Aging Future
As populations age and advances in longevity reshape what it means to grow older, healthcare organizations face both unprecedented challenges and exciting opportunities. This panel brings together leaders from healthcare delivery, academic research, and technology innovation to explore how health systems can adapt to support longer, healthier lives. Panelists will discuss the implications of an aging population on care delivery, workforce demands, chronic disease management, and healthcare costs, while highlighting emerging breakthroughs in longevity science, digital health, AI, and personalized care. Attendees will gain insights into how cross-sector collaboration can help transform aging from a healthcare challenge into an opportunity to improve outcomes, enhance quality of life, and redefine the future of health and wellness.
12:00-1:00 PM
Conclusion | Networking & Lunch
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