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CHARLOTTE, NC – (August 24, 2026)— The Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo (HFSE) is thrilled to reveal its lineup of keynote presenters for the 2026 event, running September 28-30 at the Chalotte Convention Center. These thoughtfully selected speakers include distinguished professionals who will guide attendees through insights on resilience, innovation, and excellence in healthcare facility design and operations.

The Keynote presentations at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo are a cornerstone of the event, setting the tone for three days of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration. These high-impact sessions bring together influential voices from across the healthcare, design, and operations spectrum to share visionary ideas, personal stories, and actionable strategies. Whether addressing multigenerational workforce or AI’s impact on healthcare design, the keynotes provide attendees with a unique opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and align their work with the evolving needs of healthcare environments.

Opening Keynote
Monday, September 28, 8:30am
Zap the Generational Gap!

Join multi-generational workplace expert, Meagan Johnson, as she explores how organizations can successfully recruit, retain, and engage employees across today’s five-generation workforce. Through practical insights and real-world examples, attendees will learn how to overcome generational stereotypes, improve communication, and build a culture where every generation can thrive.

Day 2 Keynote
Tuesday, September 29, 9:15am
How to Train Your Dragon: Harnessing AI’s Fire Across the Healthcare Facility Lifecycle

Bringing together a multidisciplinary panel of experts from the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo Advisory Board including Hajar Ahmed, MPH, Project Manager, Yellow Brick Consulting
Susan Black, Principal, Perkins Eastman, Neal Boothe, PE, Principal/Senior Electrical Engineer, TLC Engineering Solutions, Carl Fleming, Healthcare Strategist, DPR Construction, Jessica Gutierrez-Rodriguez, BSEE, MSMOT, Senior Executive Director, Clinical Facilities and Capital Planning, University of Texas Health San Antonio, Vladislav Torskiy, MHA, ACHE, IAIA, Health Principal, HDR, and moderators Christopher Haedt, Health Principal, HDR and Ari Tinkoff, Principal HVAC Engineer, Bard Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC, this interactive keynote will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the planning, design, construction, and operation of healthcare facilities. Through live demonstrations, audience participation, and cross-disciplinary insights, attendees will gain practical perspectives on AI’s opportunities, challenges, and real-world applications across the healthcare-built environment.

Closing Keynote
Wednesday, September 30, 11:00 am
The Audacity to Thrive: Creating Transformative Spaces for Grace, Dignity, and Metamorphosis

Join Sydney Harris, Co-Founder, MindCareConnect and Parker Wolff, Co-Founder, MindCareConnect for an inspiring conversation on the future of healthcare design and the power of co-production. Moderated by renowned behavioral health architect Frank Pitts, this thought-provoking session will challenge attendees to rethink traditional approaches, elevate the voices of people with lived experience, and explore how truly collaborative design can create spaces that foster dignity, healing, and better outcomes
” Our  keynotes bring a fresh perspective to the challenges and opportunities shaping healthcare facilities today,” said Jenabeth Ferguson, Vice President and Symposium Director. “From navigating a multigenerational workforce to understanding the impact of AI and exploring how thoughtful, collaborative design can advance equity and human-centered care, these sessions are designed to spark new ideas and meaningful conversations. We want attendees to leave inspired, challenged and ready to bring what they’ve learned back to their organizations

For more information about this year’s keynotes, please visit www.hcarefacilities.com

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The mission of the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo is to ignite change and advance healthcare delivery through innovative physical spaces. Here, competitors become collaborators, clients become friends, and colleagues share fresh perspectives, research, and insights, driving forward the dynamic conversation of our industry. Together we thrive. ###