Plenary Sessions

Daniel E. Dawes on Leveraging the New Determinants of Health

Daniel Dawes will deliver the opening keynote address at AHA's 2026 Healthier Together Conference. During his session, 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. Dawes will use real-life examples and 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.

Dawes is the 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, he 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.

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

Improving Care Experience for Individuals with Disabilities

Hospitals and health systems are continually evolving to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, often using a multifaceted approach that addresses current barriers to access and promotes patient-centered care for individuals and their caregivers.

During this plenary session, three leading experts will share practical insights, best practices and real-world solutions health systems can use to improve health care experience, access and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Attendees will hear about common and potential barriers to access and the importance of partnering with community-based organizations in providing coordinated support. Lastly, the speakers will discuss the opportunity to co-create care plans with people with disabilities, ensuring their voices and experiences drive meaningful improvements in their care.

Speakers:

• Henry Claypool — Founding Principal Deputy Administrator, Administration for Community Living
• Sam Crane — Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy at CommunicationFIRST, Board Chair of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
• Michelle Meade — Rehabilitation Psychologist, Professor at the University of Michigan, Founding Director of the University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness

Moderator:

Andrew Jager — Senior Director of Population Health, American Hospital Association