Top WNY leaders talk future of health care at forum hosted by HEF

Healthcare Executive Forum, local chapter of American College of Healthcare Executives, hosts event at D’Youville’s Health Professions Hub

Submitted by Catholic Health

Some of Western New York’s top health care CEOs from organizations such as Catholic Health, Roswell Park, Kaleida Health, Highmark Western and Northeastern New York and Independent Health, will be presenting and taking questions during a half-day forum hosted by the Healthcare Executive Forum of WNY. The event, titled “The State of Healthcare in 2025 And Beyond,” will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at D’Youville’s Health Professions Hub, 301 Connecticut St., Buffalo. More than 100 professionals from across WNY’s for-profit and not-for-profit health care sectors are expected to attend, as well as those in academia and other organizations.

“HEF has an outstanding future-looking forum prepared with Western New York’s true health care innovators laying out the challenges we all face in health care,” said HEF President and Board Chair, Michael Omoniyi Ayanbadejo, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., senior healthcare innovator at Independent Health. “The lineup is amazing, making it set to be the area’s best health care discussion of the year, and a terrific learning experience for all who attend.”

Presenters include: Joyce Markiewicz, B.S.N., M.B.A., president and CEO, Catholic Health; Candace Johnson, Ph.D., president and CEO, Roswell Park; Donald Boyd, M.B.A., president and CEO, Kaleida Health; Jessica Cox, B.S., president, Highmark Western and Northeastern New York; Michael Cropp, M.D., M.B.A., CEO, Independent Health.

The event will be moderated by Michael Wooten, WKBW-TV Channel 7 anchor/senior reporter.

The Healthcare Executive Forum annually puts on a forward-looking event at year-end. D’Youville University is sponsoring the event, while providing a unique venue at its Health Professions Hub – an education, training, and community health center embedded in Buffalo’s west side where students, medical professionals and community members can come together.

“D’Youville’s new hub is the perfect spot for this sure-to-be impactful event. All those interested in Western New York’s health care sector are welcome to attend to hear from area health care leaders and see this incredible space that was built to foster the growth and development of health care professionals,” said D'Youville University associate professor for health administration and HEF board member Kathleen Curtin, B.S.N., M.B.A., Ed.D.

The forum is open to the public and offers face-to-face credit for ACHE members. Tickets are $50 for the general public, $45 for ACHE members, and $25 for students, and include breakfast and lunch. To register, visit stateofhealthcare2025.eventbrite.com.

About the Healthcare Executive Forum of Western New York

The Healthcare Executive Forum of Western New York is an independent chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives in the Western New York Region. The chapter territory includes the following counties in New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming. HEF’s mission is to be the professional membership society for health care executives; to meet its members’ professional, educational, leadership and management excellence; and to promote the mission of ACHE.

Views expressed at “The State of Healthcare in 2025 And Beyond” are not necessarily those, nor represent the viewpoints, of any member of the Healthcare Executive Forum of Western New York.

The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 48,000 health care executives who lead hospitals, health care systems and other health care organizations. ACHE’s mission is to advance its members and health care management excellence. ACHE offers its prestigious FACHE credential, signifying board certification in health care management. ACHE's established network of 76 chapters provides access to networking, education and career development at the local level. In addition, ACHE is known for its magazine, Healthcare Executive, and its career development and public policy programs. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its vision of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to improving health.