March 11-12, 2021

Thursday, March 11

8 a.m. Welcome and introductionsSara Criger, senior vice president, Allina Health Operations, and president, Mercy Hospital (Mercy and Unity Campuses) and United Hospital, Allina Health, and Rahul Koranne, M.D., MBA, FACP, president and CEO, Minnesota Hospital Association

8:10 a.m. Advocating for Broadband Connectivity to Enable Telehealth, Education and Economic Opportunity Across Minnesota

Beth Ford, president and CEO, Land O’LakesBeth Ford serves as president and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Fortune 200 food production and agribusiness company that is also a nearly 100-year-old farmer-owned cooperative. Ford’s 35-year career spans six industries at seven companies. Since joining Land O’Lakes in 2011, she has held a variety of roles leading the farmer-to-fork business offerings. Today, she is a passionate advocate on behalf of farmers and rural America with the goal of connecting people, particularly in urban areas, to the farmers and rural communities who grow their food.

8:45 a.m. State of the Hospital and Health System Community Rahul Koranne, M.D., MBA, FACP, president and CEO, Minnesota Hospital AssociationRahul Koranne, M.D., guides the Minnesota Hospital Association’s work to advance the health of individuals and communities through leadership, advocacy and collaboration on behalf of Minnesota hospitals and health systems. He joined MHA in February 2015, first serving as senior vice president of clinical affairs and chief medical officer before being named to his current position in February 2020.

Sara Criger Rahul Koranne, M.D.

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9:00 a.m. Hospital at Home: A Patient-Centered Acute Care Alternative During the COVID-19 Pandemic Penny Wheeler, M.D., CEO; Emily Downing, M.D., vice president, medical operations, home care services, population health, care management; Rachel Rivard-Horejsi, M.D.; and Maren Loftness, CNP, Allina Health

Penny Wheeler, M.D., sets the overall strategic direction for Allina Health, focusing on ensuring that the organization delivers exceptional care and supports the health and well-being of all those served. Under her leadership, Allina Health has sharpened its focus on serving those who have not always been well-served by the health care system, including individuals with disabilities and those with mental illness and addiction issues.

Emily Downing, M.D., is a board-certified internist and geriatrician. She is passionate about the care of seniors, population health and delivering care in the home whenever possible. She has developed new models of care in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and in the home.

Rachel Rivard-Horejski, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician with professional interests in geriatrics, preventive care, mental health and hospital medicine.

Maren Loftness, CNP, is an adult-gerontological certified nurse practitioner with professional interests in geriatrics, pain and symptom management, advance care planning and hospice care.

9:30 a.m. Business showcase break

9:45 a.m. Consumer Health Informatics: Future Trends Sarah Manney, D.O., CMIO, Essentia Health, and Deepti Pandita, M.D., FACP, FAMIA, CHIO, faculty physician, acute care clinic, department of medicine, program director, clinical informatics fellowship, Hennepin Healthcare

Sarah Manney, M.D., is board certified in pediatrics, providing comprehensive medical care for newborns, children and teens. She works closely with patients’ parents and families to make certain children are developing and maturing without issue.

Deepti Pandita, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine and clinical informatics. She has a passion for using innovation and technology to improve care delivery for underserved and marginalized populations. She started a telemedicine program that delivers substance abuse treatment to incarcerated patients at the Hennepin County jail and is working to create health equity in the space of telemedicine for all underserved populations.

10:15 a.m. Business showcase break

10:30 a.m. The Changing Face of LeadershipKen Holmen, M.D., CEO, CentraCare; Anthony Gardner, senior vice president, chief marketing and communications officer, CentraCare; and Joy Plamann, DNP, MBA, RN, BC, senior vice president, Central Division, CentraCare, and president, CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital

Penny Wheeler, M.D. Emily Downing, M.D. Rachel Rivard-Horejsi, M.D.

Maren Loftness, CNP

Sarah Manney, D.O. Deepti Pandita, M.D.

Ken Holmen, M.D Joy Plamann, DNP Anthony Gardner

Ken Holmen, M.D., became CentraCare’s president and CEO in January 2014. For 10 years prior, he had been a vice president with HealthPartners and chief medical officer at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He spent many years practicing anesthesiology and served as CEO of his medical practice.

Joy Plamann, DNP, MBA, RN, BC, serves as the senior vice president of the Central Division for CentraCare and president of CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital, located in central Minnesota. She has been a nurse for the past 26 years. Plamann has led many quality, performance improvement and safety initiatives over her career and recently co-led the CentraCare response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the health system’s road to recovery.

Anthony Gardner is responsible for CentraCare’s internal and external communications, branding, public and media relations, marketing, crisis communications and reputation management. Prior to joining CentraCare, he was vice president of marketing and communications for Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, Michigan, for 10 years and director of marketing and planning for North Memorial in Robbinsdale.

11:15 a.m. A Patient’s Experience with COVID-19Former Minnesota Rep. Nick Zerwas

Nick Zerwas served four terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a health care policy leader. After retiring from the Legislature last December, he joined a law firm in St. Paul and continues to advocate on the issues he cares about.

11:35 a.m. Closing remarks

11:45 a.m. Adjourn

5-6 p.m. MHA PAC reception and live auction — sponsored by McGoughGuest speaker Rick Pollack, president and CEO, American Hospital Association, and executive vice president-designate Stacey Hughes.Most recently, Hughes was president and founding partner of The Nickles Group, a DC-based political consulting firm. Hughes worked as an outside political consultant for the AHA. She joined the association in January, overlapping with Tom Nickels, executive vice president for government relations and public policy, who will retire in 2021, to ensure a smooth transition.

Friday, March 12

8:45 a.m. Opening remarks Rahul Koranne, M.D., MBA, FACP, president and CEO, Minnesota Hospital Association

9:00 a.m. Remarks and Dialogue with U.S. Rep. Betty McCollumU.S. Rep. Betty McCollum

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum is a Democrat representing Minnesota’s Fourth District in the United States House of Representatives. In 2000, she made history as only the second Minnesota woman elected to serve in Congress since statehood in 1858. McCollum represents the residents of Minnesota’s capital city, St. Paul, as well as all of Ramsey County and most of Washington County. A member of the House Appropriations Committee, she serves as chair of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, vice chair of the Defense Subcommittee and as a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee.

9:30 a.m. 2021 Legislative Session UpdateMary Krinkie, vice president, government relations, Minnesota Hospital Association

Mary Krinkie directs MHA’s policy and advocacy efforts. She has navigated numerous pieces of complex legislation through the state legislative process. Her ability to work with both DFL and Republican majorities has been a key component of MHA’s advocacy success. Krinkie is recognized as a persuasive voice for the hospital and health system community.

10 a.m. 2021 Telehealth LegislationMinnesota Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Kelly Morrison

Sen. Julie A. Rosen is a Republican serving her fifth term as a Minnesota state senator representing District 23, which includes all or portions of Blue Earth, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, Waseca and Watonwan counties. She chairs the Senate Finance Committee and is a member of the Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy, Health and Human Services Finance and Policy and Human Services Reform Finance and Policy committees. In addition, Rosen chairs the Legislative Commission on Pension and Retirement and the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Sports Facilities.

Rep. Kelly Morrison is serving her second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 33B in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area. A member of the Minnesota DFL party, she is a physician who has practiced in Minnesota for 18 years. She serves on the Early Childhood Finance and Policy, Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy, Health Finance and Policy and Preventive Health Policy Division committees.

10:30 a.m. Business showcase break

10:45 a.m. Remarks and Dialogue with U.S. Rep. Dean PhillipsU.S. Rep. Dean Phillips

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips is a Democrat representing Minnesota’s Third District in the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, he focuses on restoring Americans’ faith in our government, inspiring a new era of collaboration in Washington and ending the corrupting influence of special interest money in our politics. He is a member of the House Ethics, Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, as well as the Democracy Reform Task Force, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus

11:15 a.m. Remarks and Dialogue with U.S. Rep. Tom EmmerU.S. Rep. Tom Emmer

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer is a Republican serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 116th Congress and again for the 117th Congress. Currently, he sits on the House Financial Services Committee. He is also a member of the Republican Deputy Whip Team and the House Republican Steering Committee

11:45 a.m. Remarks and Dialogue with U.S. Sen. Tina SmithU.S. Sen. Tina Smith

Sen. Smith is a Democrat representing Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. She is a fierce advocate for Minnesotans and is focused on continuing the progressive legacy of the seat she holds. On health care, she worked to lower the number of Minnesotans without health insurance, and now the state’s uninsured rate is among the lowest in the country. But Sen. Smith understands there’s still a lot we need to do to tackle health care costs, including prescription drug prices, and she’s committed to working to address this issue for Minnesota families.

12:15 p.m. Closing remarks

12:30 p.m. Adjourn

Sen. Julie A. Rosen Rep. Kelly Morrison

About the InstituteAudienceThis conference is designed for hospital and health care system chief executives and C-suite leaders, including chief operating officers, chief medical officers, chief nursing officers, chief financial officers and emerging leaders. It is open to all health care professionals.

Continuing educationThe content of this institute is being reviewed by the Minnesota Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports for clock hours. The quantitative value assigned will be indicated on the certificate of attendance awarded to participants who attend all sessions. For confirmation of clock-hour approval, please contact Christy Hammer, manager, education programs, MHA.

Fees and conference registrationThe registration fee is $325 per person for MHA member hospitals and health systems, $375 for associate members and $425 for nonmembers. View the conference page and log in to register.

CancellationRegistration fees, less a $25 cancellation fee, are refundable if notice is received on or before March 4.

Zoom access instructionsAll conference sessions will be held via Zoom. Registered participants will receive access instructions for Zoom on March 5.

QuestionsFor more information, contact Christy Hammer, manager, education programs, MHA, 651-399-4184.

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