As waves of change wash over hospitals and health systems, our focus remains the same. The Missouri Hospital Association’s 104th Annual Convention will double down on the core strengths and values that make our work exceptional — People: The Point of Care.

Registration is open for this year’s convention, taking place Wednesday, Nov. 4, through Friday, Nov. 6, at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.

With MHA’s tiered members-only rates, the sooner you register, the more you save. A super-saver rate of $400 is available to members through Thursday, Sept. 10, and this year, convention registration is coupon eligible.

This year’s convention lineup features general- and breakout-session speakers who will shape our understanding of where innovation is occurring, helping us lead in ways that reflect and mobilize our team’s passion and purpose. Don’t miss these keynote sessions.

• “The Economy and Health Care’s Next Chapter” — Esther George, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
• “Patient Safety in the Era of AI: New Help and New Hope” — Laura L. Adams, senior advisor for the National Academy of Medicine
• “Radical Humility: Be a Badass Leader and a Good Human” — Urs Koenig, founder of the Radical Humility Leadership Institute
• “Reality-Based Leadership: Ditching the Drama and Turning Excuses Into Results” — Cy Wakeman, founder of Reality Based Leadership

Beyond the sessions, convention is a time to engage, synthesize and convert inspiration into action as well as network with peers from across the state at the MHA Member Appreciation Reception, Celebration of Achievement Awards Dinner, Education Partner Marketplace Social and more.

MHA’s convention is approaching fast, so here’s what to do before you go:

• Review the agenda.
• Learn about the speakers.
• Check out networking events.
• Reserve your hotel room.
• Register for convention.

As always, this convention wouldn’t be possible without our generous education partners. Be sure to connect with them at the Education Partner Marketplace.

Make a plan to attend MHA’s 2026 convention and bring your team. Register now!

This statewide event will bring together health care leaders who are accountable for advancing workplace safety, providing an opportunity to share best practices, lessons learned and actionable strategies for creating safer health care environments. MHA is looking for real-world examples that demonstrate measurable outcomes, practical implementation strategies and multidisciplinary collaboration.

If you have led or participated in a successful worker or environmental safety initiative, consider submitting a presentation proposal. MHA also welcomes nominations of teams, programs and speakers with hands-on experience addressing workplace safety challenges.

Hear directly from featured speaker Rachel Druckenmiller, CSP, founder of Unmuted, LLC, on why this year’s event is one you won’t want to miss.

There’s still time to register and join hospital and health care leaders from across the state for this premier event. Be sure to reserve your hotel room by today, Wednesday, May 27, to take advantage of the reduced MHA group rate.

This year’s program highlights include a keynote by Rachel Druckenmiller, who will present UNMUTED, offering practical strategies to overcome burnout and amplify team contribution. David Corbin will address workplace violence and psychological safety, reframing the executive role in an era of rising threats. Industry strategist Nate Kaufman will deliver insights on the future of care delivery, value-based risk and real-world trade-offs. Additional sessions will explore rural health transformation and ToRCH Care, board governance, payer pressures, workforce pipelines and more. The program concludes with an inspiring keynote on The Eclipse Mindset from astrophotographer Jon Carmichael, reminding leaders how preparation, audacity and perspective turn moments of uncertainty into breakthroughs.

We hope you'll join us for two days of candid conversation, strategic clarity and meaningful connection.

MHA’s 2026 Leadership Forum will take place Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19, in Chesterfield, Mo. Register now to take advantage of the $450 early-bird rate through Friday, April 17.

This annual forum brings together hospital and health system leaders to step back from day‑to‑day pressures, refocus on shared priorities and explore new approaches with nationally recognized leadership experts who understand today’s health care realities.

Participants will gain fresh ideas, practical strategies and a valuable opportunity to strengthen alignment across leadership teams to advance patient care and organizational performance. Hospital leaders are encouraged to bring their trustees, executive teams and clinical leaders to help shape the future of health care in Missouri.

Scholarship recipients will participate in the AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship, a yearlong program that pairs fellows with executive mentors and culminates in a capstone project.  

Nominate a rising leader expected to advance to senior roles in the next five to 10 years and share this opportunity with emerging professionals in your network. 

In 2025, MHA provided educational programming to 7,219 hospital team members, health care partners and stakeholders.

One of MHA’s biggest events each year is its convention. Craig L. Leonard, a trustee of NKC Health in North Kansas City, Mo., was one of more than 680 attendees at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention.

“From the thought-provoking keynote sessions to the powerful networking moments, the MHA Annual Convention reignited my passion for people-centered care. I left inspired, informed and proud to be part of Missouri’s outstanding hospital community,” Leonard said.

To help improve care quality at Missouri’s hospitals, 21 Green Belts and 2 Black Belts were awarded to health care staff through Lean Six Sigma training, and 24 Certifications of Health Care Emergency Preparedness Professionals were presented through education offerings provided by MHA last year.

Additionally, MHA offers training for professional development in many health care-related careers, including nursing and human resources.

Leah McRoberts, BSN, R.N.-BC, a core staff nurse at MU Health Care in Columbia, Mo., attended the From Staff Nurse to Charge Nurse training.

“I've been a nurse for 15 years,” McRoberts said. “I still gained some valuable insight and tools to help me be the best charge nurse for my unit.”

Diane Coletta, a senior vice president of human resources at Compass Health Network, attended MHA’s Health Care Human Resources Conference.

“I love the wealth of knowledge in the room and depth of information provided at this conference. The group size provides an ideal opportunity to network and learn best practices from others,” Coletta said.

MHA also offered these exclusive webinars in 2025.

• DSS-hospital child welfare programming — 689 participants
• Compliance with Patient Safety Structural Measure — 240 participants from 80 hospitals
• ICD-10 Z-Code payer engagement — 474 participants

MHA provides expert-led learning opportunities, peer networking and professional development that strengthen teams and improve care. Learn more about the value of membership and how MHA is a trusted partner of Missouri’s hospitals.

The Missouri Hospital Association is proud to announce the graduating class of the 22nd Annual Health Care Leadership Series, a comprehensive leadership training curriculum designed to assist hospitals in developing effective internal leaders.

In 2025, a total of 44 leaders from 19 hospitals and health organizations completed the series.

“In health care, standing still means falling behind. Professional development ensures leaders evolve as fast as the system demands,” said Daphney Partridge, MHA's vice president of education. “The Health Care Leadership Series gives future leaders the tools they need to help their hospitals successfully navigate the significant challenges they face.”

Congratulations to the following graduates!

Shuttle service will be offered for convention attendees traveling to and from the St. Charles Convention Center and the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Tru by Hilton. The Embassy Suites by Hilton is connected to the convention center.

This year's convention is focused on “People: The Point Of Care” as the mission of health care is always people-focused. Registration remains open for the convention which will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 7, at the St. Charles Convention Center. This year’s convention will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers and sessions designed to educate and inspire. Hospital leaders and staff will learn how to build a stronger and more resilient workforce, address the challenges of behavioral health, improve care delivery and harness technologies that advance hospitals’ people-focused missions.

The Education Partner Marketplace at the Missouri Hospital Association's 103rd Annual Convention is your gateway to discovering innovative solutions and services transforming health care. Attend MHA's convention and stop by the marketplace in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday, Nov. 6, from noon to 2:30 p.m. Then, return for the social from 4:30 to 6 p.m. 

Here’s five reasons why the marketplace will be a can't-miss destination during your visit. 

1. Check out what’s new: Explore cutting-edge technologies and services that are reshaping patient care and operational excellence.  

2. Connect with experts: Meet the education partners behind these resources. Ask questions, see demonstrations and build relationships that matter. 

3. Play to win: Complete your Partner Passport, tackle the Scavenger Hunt or find a Lucky Duck to earn raffle entries for gift cards and more. More than $10,000 in prizes will be available. 

4. Fuel up with snacks: Complimentary refreshments and snacks will be provided to convention attendees in the marketplace. During the social, appetizers and drinks will be available. 

5. Network with your peers: The Education Partner Marketplace is a great chance to catch up with familiar faces and make new connections. Networking opportunities are around every corner. 

Building on a strong foundation, the academy model will continue to deliver essential orientation content in emergency preparedness, infection prevention and quality leadership, while expanding opportunities for learning and professional growth.

The new framework adds flexibility to cover additional safety-related fields, provide timely training on emerging issues and tailor sessions to member needs. 
 
The academy model will: 

• ensure consistent, high-quality orientation across disciplines,
• create a clear pathway for ongoing learning beyond orientation,
• introduce specialty and emerging-topic sessions as needed, and
• support members in building expertise and leadership capacity. 

More details on enrollment, curriculum tracks and session dates will be shared soon. 

The Missouri Hospital Association’s 2025 Annual Convention offers a time for hospital and health system leaders and teams to refocus, reenergize and recommit to their organizations’ missions.

This year, four powerful ideas — Passion, Purpose, Priorities and Performance — will guide the conversations, learning and networking that will help leaders of all kinds translate the aspirational into actionable.

“We want to demonstrate how hospitals’ and health systems’ priorities and performance are linked to their passion and purpose,” said MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle.

Let’s look at how these four concepts will be shared throughout the three-day event.

Passion

This year’s convention will showcase several keynote speakers who aim to reignite the passion of health care workers who are serving their patients and communities.

Stephen Shedletzky, with Simon Sinek, Inc., will discuss the importance of speak-up culture. A panel discussion will follow about leaders who listen, where attendees can learn best practices from their peers.

Command Sgt. Maj. Gretchen Evans will explore the life-changing idea of finding a “rope team,” and Justin Wren, an MMA fighter and humanitarian, will share his journey of leadership and mental health advocacy.

Additionally, the Celebration of Achievement Awards Dinner will honor individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation and dedication have made a lasting impact on health care in Missouri.

These sessions will focus on human connection, motivation, leadership and culture — all of which reflect the passion that drives individuals to innovate, care deeply and keep going even when the challenges are great.

Purpose

MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention’s theme, People: The Point of Care, says it all: Health care’s purpose is people.  

This year, a variety of sessions will emphasize the bigger “why” behind the work of health care teams — why they do what they do, as well as the impact they make.

One of the breakout sessions will explain the importance of leaders serving as ambassadors for their hospitals and health systems.

Other sessions will explore how hospitals can better support their teams, address behavioral health needs and harness technology to improve care delivery — all while staying true to their organization’s mission.

Priorities

Hospital leaders are mission focused. To best serve individuals and communities, they commit to values-based priorities.

The convention agenda reflects this, with topics ranging from workforce development to digital transformation.

On the first day, Doolittle will explore how people-centered strategies — focused on patients, providers and communities — can shape the future of health care, while connecting these themes to MHA’s 2026–2028 strategic goals of relevance, responsiveness and relationships.

Navigating the political landscape and changing health care policies will be addressed, too. In addition, keynote speaker Dr. Geeta Nayyar, chief medical officer at Salesforce and AT&T, will tackle the critical issue of misinformation in health care.

Attendees will gain insights about how to align organizational goals with community needs, ensuring that strategic decisions reflect what matters most.

Performance

Performance strategies that drive results also will be highlighted during this year’s convention. Experts from MHA’s data company, the Hospital Industry Data Institute, will share their role in supporting hospitals through data and insights.

Other sessions on payer management strategies and updates to the Federal Reimbursement Allowance can help hospital leaders make more informed decisions in the future.

One of the breakout sessions will look at how organizations can use security technology, environmental design standards and data to mitigate violence in hospitals.

Leveraging high reliability organizing to improve an organization’s culture of safety and reduce avoidable harm will offer insights that health care leaders can implement at their hospitals and health systems.

Remember the 4 Ps

From keynote sessions to networking events, MHA’s 2025 Annual Convention provides health care teams the chance to reflect on their passion, reaffirm their purpose, clarify their priorities and elevate their performance.

“People are the point of care,” Doolittle said. “Through these four values, health care teams from around the state can feel empowered to deliver on their service-oriented missions. As we frame the challenging and evolving health care environment, we’ll be reminded about why the work matters.”

Join your Missouri hospital peers to learn, engage, reflect and grow together at MHA’s convention. Register today!

From the patients and communities that hospitals serve to the employees who make care possible, the mission of health care is always people-focused. That’s why MHA’s 2025 Annual Convention is built around: People: The Point of Care.

Registration is open for MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 7, at the St. Charles Convention Center. MHA members can save $50 on registration fees until Thursday, Sept. 11, by taking advantage of the early-bird pricing.

This year’s convention will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers and sessions designed to educate and inspire. Hospital leaders and staff will learn how to build a stronger and more resilient workforce, address the challenges of behavioral health, improve care delivery and harness technologies that advance hospitals’ people-focused missions.

Inspirational keynote speakers

Don’t miss these keynote speakers and their inspiring stories.

• Dr. Geeta Nayyar, chief medical officer at Salesforce and AT&T, will tackle the critical issue of misinformation in health care.
• Stephen Shedletzky, with Simon Sinek, Inc., will discuss the importance of speak-up culture.
• Command Sgt. Maj. Gretchen Evans will explore the life-changing idea of finding your “rope team."
• Justin Wren, MMA fighter and humanitarian, will share his journey of leadership and mental health advocacy.

Networking opportunities abound

Several events throughout the three-day convention will offer networking opportunities for attendees.

Socialize and relax at the MHA Member Appreciation Reception, Education Partner Marketplace Social and Big Ideas Breakfast. This year’s Celebration of Achievement Awards Dinner, which will be held Wednesday evening, will honor individuals and organizations who exemplify the people-focused values that are foundational in Missouri’s hospital community. 

Your to-do list

MHA’s convention is fast-approaching, so here’s some things to know before you go.

• Look over the agenda.
• Learn about the speakers.
• Check out the networking events.
• Reserve your hotel room.
• Register for this amazing event!

As always, MHA’s convention would not be possible without the support of our generous education partners. Be sure to connect with them at the Education Partner Marketplace.

Why you should attend

This event isn’t just another conference. MHA’s Annual Convention provides a chance to do the following.

• Learn from peers and thought leaders on a variety of topics important to hospitals and health systems.
• Reconnect with colleagues and build new relationships with other health care staff.
• Gain fresh perspectives and practical tools you can take back to implement at your organization.
• Celebrate the incredible work hospital and health care workers do every day.

Make a plan to attend MHA’s Annual Convention and bring your team. Register today.

More than 150 hospital leaders, including trustees, CEOs and clinicians, attended MHA's 2025 Leadership Forum held Thursday and Friday in Springfield, Mo. Attendees heard from inspirational keynote speakers, including Brandon Edwards, CEO of Unlock Health, who opened the two-day event with a look at 2025 as a pivotal year of reset for the health care industry. Tracy Neary, community benefit advisor with SoundMind Leadership, explored community benefit through the lens of various health care environments, and Anthony Orsini, D.O., founder, CEO and neonatologist with The Orsini Way, offered advice to develop leadership skills when times get tough.

Dr. Helen Riess, founder and CMO of Empathetics Inc., shared how empathetic leadership can reduce turnover, improve patient satisfaction and build healthier workplace cultures that last. Kate O’Neill, author, founder and CEO of KO Insights, wrapped up the forum by sharing inspiring insights on navigating digital transformation with heart and purpose.

Other topics covered during the forum included payer strategy, workforce initiatives and trustees’ roles and responsibilities. Check out more from this year’s event on MHA’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages. If you attended, share your photos with the hashtag #MoHospitals.

Thanks to all of our speakers for offering real strategies — and real hope — for the future of health care as well as to our education partners, who made this event possible. 

The Missouri Hospital Association recently hosted a critical care obstetric training event to expand clinicians’ skills at hospitals with limited critical care OB capacity. The training, funded through MHA’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, is designed to support OB-specific care for critically ill pregnant patients, including fetal assessment, delivery and neonatal management.

Missouri’s significant OB deserts often result in patients presenting with critical conditions at hospitals with limited dedicated critical care OB resources. The training was designed to support immediate critical care assessment and management for pregnant patients, patient stabilization and — where appropriate — transport to the most appropriate care environment.

“In some parts of the state, the distance between home and high-acuity care can mean expecting mothers in medical emergencies need intensive care locally,” said Keri Barclay, MHA’s manager of clinical preparedness and coalition administrative liaison. “This program helps front-line clinicians leverage experts and tools to prepare for complex OB care for these patients.

OB caregivers from throughout the state attended the program. It included presentations and skill stations — using relevant equipment and training manikins — to share best practices and provide practical, hands-on training to guide clinical decision-making.

Mylee Hicks and Elena Beckman, registered nurses at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Mo., attended the training.

According to Beckman, the prevalence of poor health and chronic conditions results in more complex care for patients in the community she serves. Caring for pregnant patients in an intensive care unit setting is specialized and requires specific training and competencies.

“Pregnant women are dealing with higher acuity illnesses,” Beckman said. “Even at a small facility, we still have those patients walk in our door and have the need to stabilize them before sending them to a higher acuity facility.”

Hicks, a labor and delivery nurse, indicated that finding similar training for the critical care setting is difficult. She said that similar high-tech and high-touch training is hard to find, and as a newer nurse, she appreciates the opportunity to grow.

“There’s always room to learn,” Hicks said. “This class was extremely informative. There are a lot of things that we are hopeful to implement in our unit.” The training was part of MHA’s Fundamental Critical Care Support series that includes obstetrics, pediatrics and surgical coursework.