Highlights of the Program
2 days business program:
Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.
SHOWCASING INNOVATION:
Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.
leaders talk:
Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
MULTIPLE STREAMS:
A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES:
Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.
roundtable discussion:
Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.
Program
Day 1 :
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:30 - 09:40
OPENING ADDRESS
09:40 - 10:05
WHEN THE ORS SHUT DOWN: OPERATIONAL LESSONS FROM AN SPD CRISIS


Matthew Winchester
Children's Hospital Colorado
- Revealing how water contamination and workflow gaps triggered SPD shutdowns across campuses
- Unifying teams through crisis response, cross-campus coordination, and full instrument reprocessing
- Elevating sterile processing via technology upgrades, structured training, and leadership overhaul
- Future-proofing operations with Epic-SPM integration, redesign plans, and quality-driven culture
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON CRISIS RECOVERY IN STERILE PROCESSING OPERATIONS
10:10 - 10:40
SPEED NETWORKING SESSION
- Exchange business cards and get connected in short one-to-one meetings
- Start the conversation to arrange a more formal meeting later on in the conference
- Share your professional background and discuss your biggest business issues – don't forget your business cards!
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:00 - 11:25
OPERATION EXCELLENCE (OPEX) IN MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY


Hardikkumar Lathiya
Medtronic
- Optimizing yield and process stability in regulated medical device manufacturing through data-driven operational frameworks
- Applying statistical tools, Design of Experiments, and structured problem-solving to reduce variability and batch inconsistency
- Strengthening cross-functional collaboration to balance regulatory compliance with manufacturing efficiency and throughput
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN REGULATED DEVICE MANUFACTURING
11:30 - 11:55
BRIDGING THE GAP: ELEVATING SURGICAL EDUCATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERATING ROOM PROFESSIONALS


Tatyana Licorish
For the Love of Surgery
- Addressing the disconnect in surgical education and real-world operating room challenges
- Implementing structured training programs to improve surgical outcomes and efficiency
- Advancing skill development with AI and VR tools for decision-making and precision
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON SURGICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING INNOVATION
12:00 - 12:25
OR OPTIMIZER: USING DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE OPERATING ROOM EFFICIENCY WITHOUT INCREASING BURNOUT


Deepak Pahuja
Aerolib Healthcare Solutions
- Reducing delays and increasing utilization with technology-enabled optimization that maintains quality
- Applying real-time data to manage scheduling, block time, and OR performance without added burden
- Aligning teams across roles with shared performance metrics that boost satisfaction and outcomes
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES FOR OR EFFICIENCY
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE OPERATING ROOM EXHIBITION
13:30 - 13:55
REVISED LASER SAFETY PROGRAM STANDARDS: MANAGEMENT SHALL DO


Richard Gama
Agiliti
- Outlining updates to ANSI Z136.3 standards and their immediate impact on OR compliance
- Identifying laser safety roles, required training, and hazard mitigation responsibilities
- Enforcing standardized practices that align with the CMS and OSHA-linked expectations
13:55 - 14:00
Q&A SESSION ON LASER SAFETY AND OPERATING ROOM COMPLIANCE
14:00 - 14:25
ROBOTIC ASSISTED SPINAL SURGERY IN PEDIATRICS


Sharon Udy-Janczuk
Nemours Children's Hospital
- Implementing a standalone navigation system to support precise spinal instrumentation
- Advancing pediatric fusion procedures through real-time robotic guidance platforms
- Reducing invasiveness while increasing alignment accuracy in complex spinal cases
- Enabling safer workflows with enhanced planning tools tailored for young patients
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON ROBOTICS IN PEDIATRIC SPINAL SURGERY
14:30 - 14:55
STRONGER TOGETHER: BRIDGING OR STAFF, PEER REVIEW, AND THE MEDICAL STAFF OFFICE TO ENSURE QUALITY, SAFETY, AND COMPLIANCE IN SURGICAL CARE


Nyleen Flores
Lake Oconee Orthopedics
- Highlighting the risks of siloed communication between OR, peer review, and credentialing teams
- Coordinating multidisciplinary efforts to drive outcomes, compliance, and surgical efficiency
- Illustrating real-world examples of collaboration improving patient safety and operational flow
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON CROSS-FUNCTIONAL SURGICAL COLLABORATION
15:00 - 15:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
15:30 - 15:55
TEAM NEURODYNAMICS: QUANTIFYING SURGICAL TEAM COGNITION TO ELEVATE SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE


Ann Willemsen-Dunlap
Jump Simulation
- Introducing a neuroergonomic framework using EEG and multimodal interaction data in surgery
- Detecting cognitive breakdowns and adaptive patterns through real-time neurodynamic metrics


Trysha Galloway
Team Neurodynamics
- Enhancing simulation debriefs with cognitive replay and symbolic performance timelines
- Validating next-gen training tools through neural synchrony and cognitive resilience tracking
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON COGNITIVE ANALYTICS AND SURGICAL TEAM PERFORMANCE
16:00 - 16:25
PATIENT POSITIONING FOR ADVANCED MIS AND ROBOTIC SURGICAL PLATFORMS


David Gomez
Infinitus Medical Technologies LLC
- Investigating positioning challenges across robotic systems, table types, aids, and gravity effects
- Analyzing nationwide CRNA survey data on airway safety and cultural workflow variation
- Demonstrating airway management techniques and material properties using live equipment props
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON POSITIONING STRATEGIES IN ROBOTIC SURGERY
16:30 - 16:55
POWERING OPERATING ROOM ADVANCEMENTS WITH AI AND ROBOTICS INNOVATIONS


Michelle Stuart
HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast
- Transforming surgical workflows with AI-assisted planning, execution, and postoperative monitoring
- Revolutionizing precision and efficiency through robotic systems across multiple specialties
- Navigating training needs, data security, and ethics in adopting AI-robotics technologies
16:55 - 17:00
Q&A SESSION ON AI AND ROBOTICS INNOVATIONS IN SURGERY
17:00 - 17:25
IF IT WASN’T CHARTED, IT DIDN’T HAPPEN: THE CIRCULATOR'S LEGAL SHIELD


Michelle Tinkham
Hendrick Health
- Framing surgical charts as legal evidence that protect nurses and support hospital liability
- Documenting delays, “never events,” and implant details to withstand legal scrutiny
- Practicing deposition scenarios to strengthen clinical judgment and risk awareness
17:25 - 17:30
Q&A SESSION ON DOCUMENTATION AND LIABILITY IN SURGERY
17:30 - 18:30
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026
09:00 - 09:30
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
09:30 - 09:40
OPENING ADDRESS
09:40 - 10:05
TWO FLOORS, ONE DEPARTMENT: STRATEGIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH SPD


Ash Crowe
St. Onge
- Aligning SPD and OR staffing to prevent tray delays and optimize weekend readiness
- Using integrated OR-SPD tools to identify and manage reprocessing capacity challenges
- Managing preference cards to ensure surgical teams receive accurate, updated supplies
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON SPD-OR WORKFLOW ALIGNMENT STRATEGIES
10:10 - 10:35
THE INTELLIGENT OPERATING ROOM: SCALING ADVANCED SURGERY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY & COMMERCIAL STRATEGY


Jordan Morrison
Synera Advisory
- Leveraging AI, robotics, and smart instrumentation to expand advanced surgical capabilities beyond centralized centers
- Integrating infrastructure, sterilization workflows, and regulatory compliance into next-generation OR ecosystems
- Converting surgical innovation into sustainable adoption by aligning clinicians, administrators, and capital partners
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON SCALING TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN SURGICAL ECOSYSTEMS
10:40 - 11:10
RESERVED PRESENTATION
11:10 - 11:30
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
11:30 - 11:55
FROM PRE-OP TO POST-OP: HOW AI IS RESHAPING SURGICAL WORKFLOW AND THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE


Hubert Pham
Tacit Solutions Group
- Integrating AI into surgical planning, documentation, and care coordination without disrupting workflows
- Aligning pre-op, intra-op, and post-op processes to enhance efficiency and patient understanding
- Evaluating AI adoption through real-world lessons on oversight, friction points, and clinical leadership
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON AI INTEGRATION ACROSS SURGICAL CARE
12:00 - 12:25
VENTRAL INCISIONAL HERNIA REPAIR AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANT USING POSTERIOR COMPONENT SEPARATION WITH TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS RELEASE


Harriet Leibowitz
Kickback
- Evaluating recurrence rates and postoperative outcomes of PCS-TAR versus alternative repair techniques in post–liver transplant patients
- Standardizing abdominal wall reconstruction through preexisting transplant incisions and retromuscular mesh placement
- Improving durability and safety of hernia repair in immunosuppressed, high-risk transplant recipients
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCED ABDOMINAL WALL RECONSTRUCTION IN TRANSPLANT SURGERY
12:30 - 12:55
CMS AND ACCREDITATION SURVEY UPDATE – FINDINGS & TRENDS


John Goehle
The ASC Podcast with John Goehle / Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies, LLC
- Reviewing the evolving accreditation landscape and surveyor focus in surgical care environments
- Highlighting the most common CMS and accreditation citations observed in 2026
- Identifying compliance strategies to maintain readiness and meet updated standards
12:55 - 13:00
Q&A SESSION ON COMPLIANCE STRATEGIES AND 2026 ACCREDITATION TRENDS
13:00 - 13:15
FEEDBACK & RAFFLE DRAW
13:15 - 14:30
NETWORKING LUNCH
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