The Healthier Together Conference is proud to feature plenary sessions that both motivate and inspire individuals and organizations to take action in finding solutions to improve the health of individuals and communities.

 
 
 

Opening Keynote Speaker

2026 AHA Healthier Together Conference opening keynote speaker Daniel E. Dawes

Daniel E. Dawes

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Daniel Dawes is senior vice president, global health, and the founding dean at Nashville, Tenn.-based Meharry Medical College’s School of Global Health, the first school of its kind in the United States. A nationally respected policy expert, educator and leading researcher in the health care and public health fields, Dawes has authored and edited several books that are recognized and cited as top health policy works.

Dawes has served on several boards, commissions and councils focused on improving health and elevating efforts to reduce disparities in health outcomes in the United States and around the world. His scholarship and leadership have led to improved policies and laws prioritizing efforts to improve health outcomes. Dawes is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and an elected fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. He is also a Presidential Visiting Fellow at Yale University.

In his opening keynote address, Dawes will focus on leveraging the new determinants of health to improve patient outcomes and increase healthy longevity. Looking at the various factors affecting health, he will take attendees further upstream to help frame how best to disrupt silos and engage in strategic partnerships to advance a stronger health system that serves the needs of all people. Using real-life examples, Dawes will urge attendees to ask the right questions before looking at determinants and data in a new way to reduce costs and improve outcomes for each member of every community.

Thank you to the Catholic Health Association of the United States for sponsoring this session.