HLTH 2026 is right around the corner. Now in its ninth year, the event has cemented its position as the premier health innovation event, and competition for a coveted speaking role continues to grow.
With HLTH speaking submissions now live, I decided to sit down with HLTH’s Head of Content, Jody Tropeano Greene, to learn more about how the programming comes together. Her small-but-mighty team reviews thousands of speaker applications each year, carefully curating panels that will spark debate and push the industry forward. Our conversation offers a candid look at what separates a good submission from one that gets selected, how organizations should think about their broader presence at the event, and the role AI plays as both a bright spot and a defining force for the industry’s future.
Below is a recap of our conversation, including what to expect at HLTH 2026, how to approach the speaker application process, and ways to drive value at the event beyond the stage. You can watch the full Q&A in the video below.
What to expect at HLTH 2026
Steph: What should we look forward to for HLTH 2026? Is there a specific theme or any new activations you’re excited about?
Jody: This is our 9th year—so close to a major milestone for us. Nine is still pretty incredible!
Our theme this year is The Age of Intelligent Health is Here: Buckle Up. There’s a little bit of a racing theme, and you’ll see that in the creative and some of the marketing that we put out for the event, but we really do think there is an AI arms race going on across different areas within healthcare. Beyond healthcare, too. No more little, incremental progress when it comes to implementing AI. It’s just major changes year after year.
We genuinely feel like HLTH is the place to be to get information on the impact of this technology directly from the people in power, from the people making these decisions, from the big LLM companies to policymakers, to some of the kind of all-star startups who saw the writing on the wall many years ago and are kind of leading in their respective areas.
There’s a high pace of innovation happening right now, and we’re leaning into that for the agenda.
Steph: I love that. So much of that speaks to the fact that AI is table stakes right now. And it’s really become about what companies are doing to move the needle and make an impact on health outcomes and the broader system. I’m excited to hear what comes out of that agenda and programming. As you think about that, are there any specific personas you’re considering? You mentioned policymakers and providers. What types of folks are you looking to hear from on stage?
Jody: We’ve always been a C-suite agenda. You know, over 30% of our attendees come from the C-suite, so we really want key decision makers in attendance and on our stages, because as I mentioned, with all of these big changes, we want to hear from the people who are leading this transition to intelligent health, as we’re kind of alluding to in our theme.
Each stage will rotate through themed “circuits” across the event. For example, a stage might focus on behavioral health on Sunday, specialty care models on Monday, and healthy aging on Tuesday. We’re looking for leaders in these areas—researchers, academics, policymakers, and others driving the field—especially those aligned with the circuit themes outlined on our website and blog.
The decision-makers in all those key circuit areas, and then on our main stage, we’ll have a few celebrities, athletes, and some cultural figures. We like to surprise people with the lineup on our main stage. So, the main stage is a bit of a mishmash of topics, but really, the top, top leaders and executives.
Steph: Yes, HLTH is always a good mix on the main stage, and there are so many interesting conversations happening there. I’m excited to hear about the different circuits, too. I really just feel like those areas are moving fast in healthcare. It will be good to hear from folks there.
Jody: Yeah, and it was hard to choose, honestly, which circuits. We receive this comment every year, but people are really passionate about specific areas within healthcare. They ask: Why didn’t you cover X, Y, and Z? It’s never that we don’t feel that each topic is important; it’s just that we have limited real estate and a limited number of days of the event, so we try to pick the topics that we feel like are the most transformative.
Right now, in 2026, the topics we chose are at the top of all the headlines and the tip of everyone’s tongue.
Landing That Coveted Speaking Spot
Steph: Well, I know you receive a ton of submissions every year. I’m curious: what separates a good speaking submission from one that gets selected?
Jody: That’s a good question, and before I fully answer that, let me just say: We receive nearly 2,000 speaker applications. Our team is relatively small, so we’re reviewing a high volume of submissions, and everything has to map back to these key “circuits.” We have to decide what mix of sessions we want within each, prioritizing the topics that matter most and adding unique angles rather than repeating what’s already being said at other events.
We aim to create sessions that spark real debate and push conversations forward, not just panels where everyone agrees. With that in mind, we identify the perspectives we want on each panel—including people who will challenge the status quo.
When reviewing applications, we’re matching candidates to those specific session needs. That means even strong applicants may not fit the agenda for a given year.
For applicants, it’s important to show range. Don’t focus every answer on a single topic. Highlight different areas of expertise and draw from your full experience, even roles from years ago or outside of healthcare. Diverse perspectives are valuable.
Finally, focus on yourself, not your company. We’re not looking for product pitches—we’re looking for individuals with unique insights and perspectives. And if you’re really engaging up there, people are gonna seek you out and probably want to know more about your company because you’re killing it on stage.
Steph: As you’re reviewing the submissions, how do you think about the main stage? What makes a spokesperson appealing enough for a main-stage speaking submission?
Jody: The main stage features well-known public figures—politicians, celebrities, athletes, and major tech leaders—who are actively involved in healthcare (e.g., through foundations, investments, or companies). It might seem like they’re invited for name recognition, but it’s genuinely because of their work in the space. We do already have several strong candidates in progress!
And then we love to build main stage sessions around these figures by pairing them with relevant companies or spokespeople. We encourage PR teams to look closely at their clients’ networks, such as investors, up-and-coming names, or celebrity spokespeople, since there may be existing connections they haven’t fully leveraged. If a strong link exists, creating a joint session allows both the high-profile individual and the client to appear together, which is seen as a strong win-win.
Think about it like this: We need to maximize attendance (“butts in seats”), and well-known names are the biggest draw. But there’s also strong demand for speakers from major AI and big tech companies, especially given current interest in large language models (LLMs) and AI more broadly. Overall, we want to see ideas and connections that bring in influential and recognizable voices.
Steph: Are there any other common missteps you see in applications that people should avoid? And when it comes to responses, is it better to keep them short and punchy or provide more detailed answers?
Jody: Honestly, short, clear, and punchy is best. We get around 2,000 applications, and only three of us review them, so we do have to skim a bit. We read everything, but the ones that get to the point really stand out. And usually, if you’re concise on paper, you’ll be concise on stage too—which is a good thing.
One thing we see a lot: people repeating the same presentation idea in every answer. That’s usually a miss. Most of our sessions are more panel-style, so it helps to show some range instead of focusing on just one topic the whole time.
Steph: That makes a lot of sense. You’re really looking for someone’s point of view and how they show up—not just a perfectly packaged talk. From a PR perspective, we often wonder how best to engage with event teams. Is it more helpful to reach out directly, or do you prefer that everything goes through the submission portal? And how should we approach follow-ups and build that relationship?
Jody: Great question! And we really value our relationships with PR partners. Honestly, we couldn’t do this without you.
That said, everything should go through the application form. It’s not just about giving everyone a fair shot—it’s how we stay organized on the backend. If something only comes through email, there’s a good chance it gets lost, and there’s no way for us to properly track it or follow up.
Also, keep it concise. You don’t need to include every detail. We’ll do our own research if someone catches our attention.
As for follow-ups, I’d keep them limited. We get a high volume of pitches, and multiple emails don’t necessarily help us make a decision faster.
That said, if you truly have a standout client, a big announcement, or a strong point of view, feel free to reach out and give us a bit more context. We do want to hear that.
So it’s not “don’t email us.” It’s just be thoughtful about it. And make sure everyone is in the system, first and foremost.
Making The Most of HLTH 2026
Stephanie Fergione: That makes a lot of sense. Switching gears a bit since there are only so many speaking slots, how else should people think about getting value from the event?
Jody: There are a ton of ways!
Our Connect programs are a big one. We’ve got Market Connect and Investor Connect, both curated meetings. So if you’re a solution provider, you’re getting in front of actual buyers without all the guesswork. And if you’re a buyer, you get a curated list of companies that match what you’re looking for—plus a free ticket.
Investor Connect is the same idea, but for startups and investors. A lot of real deals come out of those meetings. If you’re looking for clear ROI, that’s probably the easiest way to get it.
We also do a lot with sponsorships, and not just standard booths. We can get pretty creative. It just depends on what you’re trying to do.
I think the biggest miss is when people treat the event as “we just want a speaking slot.” That’s not really how to think about it. We’re building a community.
Like, if your exec does get a speaking spot, great. But then what? Where are they meeting people after? How are you building on that momentum? That’s where things like meeting spaces or a presence at the event really matter.
And just to say it: this isn’t pay-to-play. Sponsorship doesn’t impact speaker selection. But we do look at the bigger picture. If a company only shows up to apply to speak every year, versus one that’s engaged in different ways, that can make a difference if everything else is equal.
Beyond that, there are many media opportunities for announcements, really strong networking events, smaller roundtables, or curated programs… there’s something for everyone.
Honestly, if you’re not sure where to start, just reach out. We’ll help point you in the right direction.
Steph: Well, just to wrap us up, curious, one thing you hope attendees walk away from at Health 2026?
Jody: I think there’s a lot of excitement around AI right now, but also a fair amount of fear. My hope is that people leave HLTH feeling more optimistic about what this technology can actually do for healthcare, and how it can drive real transformation in ways we haven’t seen before.
More than anything, I hope the event sparks the next wave of innovation—whether that’s a startup making a key connection through Investor Connect, getting funded, and then, a few years down the line, ending up on the main stage as a keynote speaker.
That’s really the impact we want to have on the industry.
My takeaway from this conversation: success at HLTH isn’t about landing a speaking role. It’s about how you engage with the broader health innovation ecosystem, bringing with you a clear perspective and thinking strategically about how to participate.
If you’re thinking about how to elevate your company’s speaking and events strategy, reach out to us at [email protected].
