By Kevin Clougherty, MHA, FACHE
This year’s ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership marked a significant milestone as it relocated from its long-standing home in Chicago to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. With over 6,100 attendees, the 2025 Congress was the largest gathering in ACHE’s history, reflecting the organization’s continued growth and the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership. The California Association of Healthcare Leaders (CAHL) proudly had more than 250 members in attendance.
Saturday began with a leadership transition as Nikhil Singal, MHA, FACHE, assumed the role of Regent for District 5. Sunday featured immersive Boot Camps for CEOs and COOs, culminating in the 91st Convocation Ceremony, a prestigious event that honored those who achieved Fellow status (FACHE) in 2024—including many CAHL members. The ceremony was a testament to the professional dedication of healthcare executives nationwide. That evening, CAHL joined forces with SOHL and ACHESOCAL for a vibrant Joint Networking Session, where leaders from all three chapters highlighted their impactful work. CAHL President Christianna Kearns, MBA, FACHE, and her counterparts shared inspiring updates, and the evening included a birthday celebration for CAHL member Baljeet S. Sangha, MPH, FACHE—a reminder of the strong community among members.
Congress officially opened Monday with remarks from ACHE Past Chairs Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE (2023–2024) and William “Bill” P. Santulli, FACHE, ACHE Chair-Elect for 2024–2025. Santulli presented ACHE’s most prestigious Gold Medal Award to James H. Skogsbergh, FACHE, followed by motivating words from Michel K. Sutton, FACHE, incoming Board Chair for 2025–2026. ACHE President and CEO Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, acknowledged national sponsors with an inspiring video and encouraged attendees to seek out opportunities to mentor, coach, and support the next generation of healthcare leaders. Between speakers, Lachune Boyd delivered moving vocal performances that captured the spirit of the Congress and the future of healthcare.
Renowned author and speaker Brené Brown closed the Monday morning opening session with a powerful 30-minute talk centered on authentic leadership. Using a soccer coach’s World Cup speech as a metaphor, Brown emphasized the importance of communication, empathy, poetry, and creating space for growth. She shared that in healthcare’s fast-paced environment, leaders must intentionally pause between stimulus and response to make effective choices. Brown’s message about being “above or below the line” in leadership struck a chord—challenging attendees to recognize when they’re operating from fear or defensiveness and instead choose humility, courage, and growth. She reminded leaders of the importance of being a “learner” rather than a “knower”, especially in an era of rapid change with emerging technologies like AI.
Tuesday morning featured critical policy updates from the American Hospital Association (AHA). Topics included:
- The 340B drug pricing program and rebate structure disputes
- Proposed reductions to NIH indirect cost reimbursements
- Implications of the Affordable Care Act potentially sunsetting in 2025
- Ongoing challenges in addressing workplace violence as a federal crime
- DEI initiatives and legal scrutiny facing some institutions
The Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for Young Healthcare Executive of the Year was awarded to Pierre Monice, FACHE, during the Tuesday luncheon. This was followed by a keynote from Doris Kearns Goodwin, PhD, who connected lessons from 150 years of American history to modern healthcare leadership.
Tuesday evening brought more opportunities to connect at the ACHE Chapter Leadership Networking Session, with ACHE leaders Deborah J. Bowen and Michele K. Sutton in attendance. Wednesday morning featured the Thomas C. Dolan Diversity Address: The Imperative and Inclusive Population Health Leadership by Christopher J. King, PhD, FACHE with the presence of many current and past Thomas C. Dolan Scholars.
Throughout the week, alumni groups, academic institutions, and chapters hosted vibrant networking events. Vendors, recruiters, and universities filled the exhibit space, as well as ACHE offering valuable resources including LinkedIn, resume, and interview coaching and workshops. Several CAHL members were speakers including CAHL Board Members Amber Campbell, DBA, MBA, FACHE and Bryan Rivera, MBA, RN, FACHE.
As the 2025 Congress concluded, attendees left Houston energized and inspired, ready to lead with purpose and vision. We now look ahead to ACHE Congress 2026, returning once again to Houston, and Nashville, Tennessee in 2027. CAHL members are also encouraged to join this fall at our CAHL Congress in Sacramento in October—a perfect opportunity to continue the momentum and foster the growth of healthcare leadership in California and beyond.
