David Banks, president and CEO of AdventHealth
Photo: Courtesy AdventHealth
David Banks, president and CEO of AdventHealth, is giving the keynote address for the Executive Summit at HIMSS26 in March.
Q: Can you briefly describe what you’ll be addressing in your keynote, “Leading Through Healthcare’s Perfect Storm: Addressing the Headwinds of Systemic Change”?
Banks: We’re all feeling the impact of headwinds in a very real way. While I don’t pretend to have all the answers about our current operating environment, I hope to share a perspective that reframes our next step – not simply surviving turbulence, but navigating it through purpose, mindset and positioning, even when conditions are difficult. I’m looking forward to being part of a larger conversation that grounds us in courage, resilience and hope in the face of complexity.
Q. Is there one challenge for health systems that stands out from the others as far as being a priority to be addressed?
A. One pressing, and perhaps foundational, challenge is that the U.S. healthcare system wasn’t originally designed around the whole health of the patient. Too often, patients are treated episodically, depersonalized as a diagnosis or number. But fully shifting to a consumer-centered model that sees the patient as a whole person – body, mind and spirit – will require a transformation across every part of our system. As the healthcare needs and expectations of consumers become more complex, this has become one of our greatest opportunities. Getting this right could unlock so much of the progress we’re hoping to see.
Q. How has AdventHealth addressed these challenges?
A. Based on what we’ve learned, our approach has been to stay grounded in our purpose while preparing intentionally for change. We’ve resisted the urge to respond reactively to our complex environment and instead focus our efforts on building strong foundations, strengthening the systems and partnerships that advance our purpose. Across all of it, our commitment to those we serve – to help them feel whole – keeps us focused on the right work.
Q. What role has technology and AI played?
A. Technology, including AI, has played a meaningful role in how we think about consumer experience, clinical precision and workforce support. These innovations free up our providers to do what they do best: care for people. It can also help reduce barriers for patients, making care more accessible and more human. The challenge is not just using what’s available, but thinking about whether each tool has matured enough to help in the right ways, with the right safeguards in place. Using these technologies well and strategically will allow us to harness their added value through the care our incredible team members deliver each day.
Banks will speak during the “Welcoming Keynote: Leading Through Healthcare’s Perfect Storm: Addressing the Headwinds of Systemic Change,” Monday, March 9, at 8:15 a.m. at the Executive Summit of HIMSS26 in Las Vegas.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org