BY ERIKA MCCARTHY, MMS SENIOR EDITOR AND WRITER
Keynote Speaker, John D. Halamka, MD, MS. Photo by David Fox Photography.
On Wednesday, March 19, the Massachusetts Medical Society hosted the Future Health: Best Practices for Advancing Care conference, a hybrid event centered around the theme Innovation and Transformation: Harnessing AI and Technology to Build the
Future. The conference brought together a diverse group of experts, health care professionals, innovators, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge advancements in medicine and provide a forward-thinking lens into the future of health care
delivery.
Keynote Address: AI and the Future of Health Care
The conference opened with a keynote address by John Halamka, MD, MS, president of Mayo Clinic Platform and a pioneer in digital health. Dr. Halamka shared his visionary outlook on how AI, platform-based collaboration, and data-driven decision-making are reshaping the medical landscape.
He emphasized how adopting a platform approach allows institutions to improve clinical practice, capture knowledge, and contribute to a global transformation in care delivery. He also highlighted the accelerating impact of AI
in medicine, particularly in predictive, generative, and agentic AI, stating, “Five years from now, clinicians who don’t use AI will be committing malpractice.”
Dr. Halamka underscored the responsibility of academic institutions in driving this transformation, noting that in 2025, Mayo Clinic will begin deploying AI solutions for free to countries in need. He also discussed how policy
shifts, international collaboration, and evolving technology will play critical roles in shaping the future of health care.
Engaging Sessions and Thought Leadership
The conference featured a variety of insightful sessions, each offering deep dives into key areas of health care innovation. Highlights included:
- Improving the Value of Health Care and Accelerating Care Delivery Transformation (CME)
Presented by MMS and NEJM Catalyst
Speakers: Namita Seth Mohta, MD; Nichola Davis, MD, MS; Rushika Fernandopulle, MD, MPP, FACP
- The Impact of EHRs and Technology on Women Physicians: Being Smart about Interfacing with Smart Tech (CME)
Hosted in collaboration with the MMS Women Physicians Section
Speakers: Karen A. Adler, MD, MS; Ashwini Nadkarni, MD
- Empowering Patients Through AI & Innovation: A Patient-Centered Approach (CME)
Exploring how AI is reshaping patient engagement and decision
making
Speakers: Meg Barron, MBA; Vijaya B. Kolachalama, PhD, FAHA; Adam Landman, MD, MS, MIS, MHS; Dinesh Rai, MD; Eliza “Pippa” Shulman, DO, MPH
- Preparing the Next Generation for Clinical Informatics (CME)
Equipping future health professionals with essential informatics knowledge
Speakers: Karen A. Adler, MD, MS; Stephen Erban, MD, MPH; Adam D. Garretson, MD, FAAFP
- Setting a New Standard for Health Care: Unlocking the Value of Software-Enhanced Medicine
Sponsored by Click Therapeutics
Speakers: Jennifer Joe, MD; Shaheen E. Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN; Laura Taraboanta, MS
- Deploying AI in Health Care: A Practical Guide — Ensuring Safety and Value
Best practices for AI implementation in health care settings
Speakers: Grayson W. Armstrong, MD, MPH; Ami B. Bhatt, MD, FACC
Networking and Research Highlights
The Networking Lunch provided an opportunity for physicians, researchers, and industry leaders to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborations. Simultaneously, the 16th Research Poster Symposium, sponsored by College Ave,
showcased groundbreaking research and innovative projects from emerging voices in health care.
Closing Reflections: Fireside Chat on AI and the Future of Health Care
The conference concluded with an engaging Fireside Chat on AI, Data,
& the Future of Health Care, moderated by Boston 25 News’ Jim Morelli, featuring David Blumenthal, MD; Ray Campbell, JD, MPA; and
Jessica Zeidman, MD. For those who missed the event or wish to revisit key discussions,
Future Health Best CME sessions will soon be available on the CME website.
The Massachusetts Medical Society extends its gratitude to all attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors for making this event a success. We look forward to continuing these vital conversations and driving the future of health care forward.
For more details about the program and our sponsors, click here.
What Attendees Say about 2025 Future Health Best
“Dr. Halamka’s keynote speech was truly eye-opening, as he
talked about predictive models and generative AI…to know
what the Mayo Clinic is doing on that front is just really
inspiring. It’s looking towards the future of health care and
the best that we can do for our patients.”
— Elizabeth Dunton, NP, Vice President of Medical Affiliates of Cape Cod
“I am very pleased with the speakers…they have a lot of experience around the country and around the world. I highly recommend the conference for anyone in the Commonwealth who wants to see where medicine could go.”
— Michael Medlock, MD, Neurosurgeon, Salem Hospital
All Future Health Best conference photos provided by David Fox Photography.
Keynote speaker John D. Halamka, MD, MS, Dwight and Dian Diercks president, Mayo Clinic Platform.
From left to right: Olivia C. Liao, MD, FACS, then MMS president-elect; Hugh M. Taylor, MD, then MMS president; and keynote speaker John D. Halamka, MD, MS, Dwight and Dian Diercks president, Mayo Clinic Platform.
From left to right: Olivia C. Liao, MD, FACS, then MMS president-elect; Lois Dehls Cornell, executive vice president, MMS; Nichola Davis, MD, MS, associate editor, NEJM Catalyst; Hugh M. Taylor, MD, then MMS president; and Rushika Fernandopulle,
MD, MPP, FACP, co-founder and CEO, Iora Health.
Conference attendees listen intently during one of the sessions.
From left to right: The “Improving the Value of Health Care and Accelerating Care Delivery Transformation” panel includes Rushika Fernandopulle, MD, MPP, FACP, co-founder and CEO, Iora Health; Nichola Davis, MD, MS, associate editor, NEJM Catalyst;
and Namita Seth Mohta, MD, executive editor, NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery.
From left to right: “Impact of EHRs and Technology on Women Physicians: Being Smart about Interfacing with Smart Tech” panel includes Ashwini Nadkarni, MD, assistant professor, Harvard Medical School, and Karen A. Adler, MD, MS, lecturer, Harvard
Medical School.
From left to right: The “Empowering Patients Through AI & Innovation: A Patient-Centered Approach” speakers include Dinesh Rai, MD, clinical AI engineer, Boston Children’s Hospital; Eliza “Pippa” Shulman, DO, MPH, chief medical officer and chief
strategy officer, Medically Home; Vijaya B. Kolachalama, PhD, FAHA, associate professor of medicine and computer science, Boston University; Adam Landman, MD, MS, MIS, MHS, vice president, chief information officer, digital innovation officer,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital; and Meg Barron, MBA, managing director, engagement and outreach, Peterson Health Technology Institute.
From left to right: The “Setting a New Standard for Health Care: Unlocking the Value of Software-Enhanced Medicine” panel includes Laura Taraboanta, MS, director, medical operations and strategy, Click Therapeutics, Inc.; Shaheen E. Lakhan, MD,
PhD, FAAN, chief medical and scientific officer, Click Therapeutics, Inc.; and Jennifer Joe, MD, vice president, medical affairs, Diality, Inc.
From left to right: Jessica Zeidman, MD, deputy commissioner and chief medical officer, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Ray Campbell, JD, MPA, president, FAIR Health; David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, professor, practice of public health and
health policy, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and moderator Jim Morelli, reporter, Boston 25 News at the closing session: AI, Data, & the Future of Health Care: A Fireside Chat on Technology and Policy.
Attendees enjoy the 16th Research Poster Symposium.
