The final day of Nashville Healthcare Sessions crescendoed to a perfect finale!
Key topics hit all the right closing notes, including women’s and family health, strategic investments in the aging sector, the integration of physical and behavioral health, lessons in compassionate caregiving for dementia and harmonizing retail, pharma, and clinical care for improved metabolic health outcomes. The curtain may be closed for Sessions, but it has been raised on the evolving healthcare landscape, setting the tempo for a future rich with collaborative progress.
A standing ovation to our speakers, attendees, partners, sponsors, and team for making this year’s Sessions a resounding success.
Mark your calendars today for Sessions 2025, taking place September 29-30, 2025 right here in the Healthcare City. We look forward to having you join us next year!
2024 Healthcare Sessions Conference: Day Three
In case you couldn’t attend the last day of Sessions, we’ve got you covered! Below is a recap of the key highlights and discussions from today.
Transforming Women's and Family Health at Maven Clinic
A conversation between Nancy Brown, General Partner, Oak HC/FT and Kate Ryder, Founder & CEO, Maven Clinic
In light of Maven Clinic’s recent $125 million raise, Brown and Ryder gathered to discuss the future of women’s healthcare and the opportunities for innovators and investors. The conversation underscored Maven Clinic’s vision for transforming maternal health and fertility, with a focus on improving clinical outcomes and reducing healthcare costs—factors that have made Maven Clinic a top choice for employers and health plans alike. Ryder highlighted the company’s commitment to value-based maternity care, along with long-term plans to broaden its impact by expanding offerings into menopause and pediatrics. With a strong focus on high user engagement, a seamless consumer experience, and the integration of AI, Maven Clinic continues to lead the way in revolutionizing women’s and family healthcare.
Basic things like virtual care, where it’s just putting a provider in someone’s pocket—that’s a game changer for a lot of patients.” – Kate Ryder, Founder & CEO, Maven Care
Charting a Course for Innovations and Investments in Aging
A conversation with moderator Cindy Baier, President & CEO, Brookdale Senior Living, and panelists Lauren Brueggen, Partner, Heritage Group, Shawna Gisch, CEO, Health Solutions, Optum, and Tim Hingtgen, CEO, Community Health Systems
As the aging population grows the need for partnerships in healthcare becomes more urgent. Industry leaders emphasized the challenges of navigating the healthcare sytem for older adults noting the need for better coordination and personalized care solutions. The rise of telehealth and remote monitoring solutions are top of mind as viable tools in reducing cost and improving access to care as the oldest baby boomers prepare to turn 80 in 2025. Overall a shift is needed towards value-based models of care emphasizing reducing hospitalizations and improving patient outcomes.
"We need to focus on care at the right time and sometimes that time is at home." Lauren Brueggen, Partner, Heritage Solutions
Orchestrating the Integration of Behavioral and Physical Health
A conversation with moderator Chris Hunter, CEO, Acadia, and panelists Deepak Prabhakar, MD, MPH, FACPsych, Chair Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services, Henry Ford Health and Jeremy Mercer, Vice President of Growth, Optum
Focusing on the pivotal role of behavioral health in delivering holistic healthcare, this conversation highlighted how untreated behavioral health conditions not only fuel a public health crisis but also significantly increase overall healthcare costs. Integrating behavioral and physical health was underscored as a crucial step toward improving both patient outcomes and the quality of care. The conversation emphasized the effectiveness of patient-centered approaches in addressing the whole person, which has been shown time and again to drive better health outcomes. Despite this knowledge, an important challenge remains—a significant portion of the population still lacks adequate access to specialized behavioral health services. Speakers stressed the importance of empowering providers and preparing the next generation of professionals through innovative strategies like data analytics and stronger care networks. These tools not only enhance access to care but also help sustain patient engagement, a critical element in delivering comprehensive, long-term healthcare.
"Follow the youngsters. They are not slicing and dicing their care. They are asking for help and going where the care is." – Jeremy Mercer, VP of Growth, Optum
Compassion in Caregiving: What Dementia Can Teach Us About Healthcare
A conversation with Dr. Anurag Gupta, CEO, Tembo Health, Paul Kusserow, Chairman, Amedisys Home Health & Hospice
Dementia is one of the fastest growing and most expensive diseases in America with diagnosis and treatment often happening 5 years after symptom onset. Disproportionally affecting high risk populations, dementia's complexities create significant burdens on families. The panelists cited the need for Medicare expansion to cover in home care as necessary to better treat patients with comorbidities struggling with the current state of healthcare. Lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding drugs and alcohol, staying active and maintaining strong support systems are crucial, but so are partnerships between care providers and early intervention and diagnosis.
"We have to address the emotional toll dementia takes on patients and family caregivers in this disease process." – Dr. Anurag Gupta, CEO, Tembo Health.
Tuning Up for Change: Bridging Clinical, Pharma, and Retail in Metabolic Care
A conversation with moderator Dr. Lee Kaplan, Professor of Medicine and Chief, Section of Obesity Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, and panelists Dr. Angela Fitch, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Knownwell, Dr. Michael Kyle, SVP, Chief Medical Officer, Currax Pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Marc Watkins, Chief Medical Officer, Kroger Health
Obesity is a growing public health crisis in America, and interventions are not a standard benefit on many commercial insurance policies. Nationwide, about half of adults and about a fifth of children are considered obese by BMI metrics. Many Americans are left without obesity coverage and policy has been slow to catch up to the need. Now, advocates are pushing to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act within Medicare. New drugs are also exploding onto the scene proving to be effective but expensive. While prevention remains key, it should be balanced with treatment, with more affordable and equitable options critical to making a real impact on this critical now chronic disease.
“We all should be doing lifestyle intervention. We live in a world that doesn’t create natural healthy environments by default." – Dr. Angela Fitch, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Knownwell
Your VIP Backstage Pass at Sessions 2024!
Hear from Sam Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare as he shares his core thesis on healthcare today.
Hear from Mike Uchrin, CEO & Co-Founder at Monogram Health, who will discuss where he believes the best opportunities for collaboration across sectors, providers, and diverse groups.
Hurricane Relief Resources
Tennessee is the Volunteer State, with a long history of helping our neighbors in need. A lot of your organizations have relief funds set up. Please let us know how people can contribute to those funds and we'd be happy to add you to this growing list.