Champions of Wellness

Virtual Conference: Improving Well-Being in the Workplace - Strategies for Healthcare Leadership
2024-11-12 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Online, United States
Improving Well-Being in the Workplace:
Strategies for Healthcare Leadership
Join us online on November 12th, 2024, to hear from healthcare leaders on the latest models, frameworks, and programming for creating a culture of clinician well-being.
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November 12th, 2024, Virtual Conference Agenda:

Time (CT)

Session

Description

Kickoff
Champions of Wellness Vice President of Media Logan Johnson

10:00 am
Speaker
Heather Spies
Physician Director of Clinician Experience, Sanford Health
TOPIC: The Broad Impact of A Premier Clinician Leadership Development Program on Culture & Well-being

Bio: Heather Spies, MD, MBA, FACOG, serves as Physician Director of Clinician Experience and Well-being at Sanford Health. Dr. Spies is a board-certified OB/GYN physician and has been with Sanford Health since 2006. Dr. Spies actively practices in women’s health and also leads clinician experience and well-being for the health system. She has an MBA in Organizational Leadership, completed the Executive Chief Wellness Officer Course with the Stanford Medicine WellMD & WellPhD program, is Hogan Personality Assessment Certified, and serves as a peer clinician coach. Dr. Spies has applied her leadership skills and knowledge to improve the well-being of the clinicians at Sanford Health through the development and support of many initiatives focused on the overall experience of clinicians. She developed & implemented the Enterprise Clinician Well-being Council, is the co-creator & administrator of Sanford RISES—Sanford’s premier leadership development program for clinicians—and she publishes the quarterly Clinician Experience Newsletter. She also partners with Clinical Informatics Leadership to continuously improve Efficiency of Practice for clinicians.Under Dr. Spies’ leadership, the American Medical Association recognized Sanford Health as a Gold Level recipient of the Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program. The AMA distinction recognized an elite group of health systems for their demonstrated commitment to preserving the well-being of healthcare team members by engaging in proven efforts to combat work-related stress and burnout. As a result, Sanford has been recognized nationally as a leader in this area and has been highlighted in and participated in several meetings, industry articles, podcasts, and interviews. Recently, Dr. Spies appeared on the front page of the Midwest Medical Edition of MED Magazine as a recognition of these efforts, and was honored this year with Sanford Health’s “Doctor’s Doctor” Award.Dr. Spies is also a clinical associate professor of OB/GYN for the USD Sanford School of Medicine. She attended medical school at the University of South Dakota and completed her OB/GYN residency at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.

10:50 am
Speaker
Robert McGregor
Chief Medical Officer, Akron Children’s Hospital
TOPIC: A Collaborative Model for Building a Barrier-Free Mental Health and Wellness Program for Medical Staff and Trainees

Bio: Dr. Rob McGregor is currently in his 12th year as Akron Children’s Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor of Pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and clinically still practices medicine as part of the pediatric hospital medicine inpatient team.Dr. McGregor graduated from Juniata College with high honors. He then graduated from medical school at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. Dr. McGregor served as a pediatric resident followed by a fourth year as Chief Pediatric Resident all at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital and remained on the faculty as part of their prestigious Diagnostic Referral Group. From Pittsburgh Children’s he moved to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, where he ran the pediatric training program. Six years later, he returned to a traditional free-standing children’s hospital, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where he spent 16 years as the Pediatric Program Director and multiple administrative roles including interim Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician in Chief. Dr. McGregor has received numerous teaching awards and was inducted into the honorary organization Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. McGregor has attended additional programs at Harvard School of Public Health and completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School in 2019. Most recently, he completed certification as a Healthcare Peer Coaching Practitioner through the Physician Coaching Institute and is actively enrolled in the PCI Cohort of the Physician Development Coach program to be certified as a Physician Executive Coach.In addition to being a board member of the hospital, he oversees all the physician and advanced practice leaders and their team members in their care delivery, physician, and APP recruitment, with the Chief Quality Officer reporting to him as well as the Medical Staff Office and the Wellness Committee of the medical staff. For the almost three years of COVID operation, along with the Chief Operating Officer, he served as co-incident commander. As his avocation working along with the medical education teams at Summa Medical System and Akron Children’s, he and Dr. Joe Varley founded a 501C3– Akron Physician Wellness Initiative (APWI – providing barrier-free, concierge mental health and well-being services for all trainees and medical staff members for both organizations) and served as their inaugural Board Chair.Outside of work, he is active in Akron Rotary serving on their Board and Past-President 2019-2020. He is also dedicated to his own well-being and resilience. Rob, a recovering marathoner, remains an avid exercise enthusiast including road cycling, weightlifting and most recently pickleball. Rob practices Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY Breathing) almost daily.

11:55 am
Speaker
Lisa Williams
Associate Dean for Wellness and Well-Being, University of Kentucky

TOPIC: Department Enhancement Projects: Integrating Frontline Clinicians in the Culture Change Process

Bios: Lisa Williams, MSSA, is an empathetic disruptor, guiding organizations through transformative processes to tackle systemic causes of burnout, enhance professional fulfillment, and create cultures of organizational well-being. The Associate Dean for Wellness and Well-Being at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lisa established the university’s first Office for Wellness and Well-Being. Prior, Lisa was an adjunct assistant professor in the UK College of Health Sciences and Emotional Intelligence Advisor to the Physician Assistant Department. She has served as a leadership coach and organizational consultant, a co-founder of the High Impact Leadership Project, and an executive leader for various organizations, including the former University of Kentucky Institute for Workplace Innovation.

Wrap-Up
Champions of Wellness Vice President of Media Logan Johnson

Virtual Conference - The Power of Leadership: Shaping Wellness in Medicine
2025-05-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Online, United States
The Power of Leadership: Shaping Wellness in Medicine
Join us online on May 13th, 2025, to learn how to lead with impact—building a culture of support, staying grounded under pressure, and creating lasting change in clinician well-being without sacrificing your own.

This event has ended, Be sure to register for our next event here.

AGENDA

Time (CT)

Session

Description

Kickoff
Champions of Wellness Vice President of Media Logan Johnson

10:00 am
Speaker
Dr. Julia Egan Director of Telehealth and Clinician Services, Telecare Corporation
TOPIC: Building Recovery-Centered Leadership Cultures

10:50 am
Speaker
Dr. Ami Doshi Vice Chair of Faculty Development & Wellness, UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics
TOPIC: A Toolkit for Wellness-Centered Leadership

11:40 am
Speaker
Dr. Lisa Wocken Performance Neuroscience Coach and Facilitator, PhD Organizational Leadership, Founder of Bolster Leadership
TOPIC: Focus and Flow in High-Pressure Contexts: Lead without sacrificing your own well-being!

Wrap-Up
Champions of Wellness Vice President of Media

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Webinar: Building a Sustainable Culture of Wellness
2025-06-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Online, United States
A Strategic Approach to Maximize Engagement, Retention, and Quality of Care
Join one of two free live webinars led by Kathleen Perno, RN, MBA, CLC, CEO of Well-Being Solutions.

In today’s healthcare environment, supporting staff well-being isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic imperative. A sustainable culture of wellness directly impacts employee engagement, retention, and the quality of patient care. In this session, you’ll learn how to move beyond surface-level wellness programs and implement a strategic, systems-based approach that drives real results.

What You’ll Learn:

Why wellness must be embedded into the foundation of your organization—not treated as an add-on
How to identify barriers to well-being and implement solutions that stick
Key metrics to track culture change and measure impact
Practical steps to align leadership, operations, and care teams around a shared vision of well-being

Choose the Time That Works Best for You:
📅 Thursday, June 12th at 11:00 AM Central 📅 Thursday, July 17th at 2:00 PM Central Each session includes live Q&A and actionable takeaways for healthcare leaders, HR teams, and wellness champions.

Reserve Your Spot Now
Complete the form below to register and receive event details and your access link.

Presented by: Kathleen Perno, RN, MBA, CLC CEO, Well-Being Solutions A leading voice in organizational well-being and facilitator of Wellness Pathways™ Organization Culture Consulting.

Webinar: Building a Sustainable Culture of Wellness
2025-07-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Online, United States
A Strategic Approach to Maximize Engagement, Retention, and Quality of Care
Join one of two free live webinars led by Kathleen Perno, RN, MBA, CLC, CEO of Well-Being Solutions.

In today’s healthcare environment, supporting staff well-being isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic imperative. A sustainable culture of wellness directly impacts employee engagement, retention, and the quality of patient care. In this session, you’ll learn how to move beyond surface-level wellness programs and implement a strategic, systems-based approach that drives real results.

What You’ll Learn:

Why wellness must be embedded into the foundation of your organization—not treated as an add-on
How to identify barriers to well-being and implement solutions that stick
Key metrics to track culture change and measure impact
Practical steps to align leadership, operations, and care teams around a shared vision of well-being

WHEN IT’S HAPPENING:
📅 Thursday, July 17th at 2:00 PM Central This session includes live Q&A and actionable takeaways for healthcare leaders, HR teams, and wellness champions.

Reserve Your Spot Now
Complete the form below to register and receive event details and your access link.

Presented by: Kathleen Perno, RN, MBA, CLC CEO, Well-Being Solutions A leading voice in organizational well-being and facilitator of Wellness Pathways™ Organization Culture Consulting.

Champions of Wellness Healthcare Summit 2025: Policy to Practice: Advancing Systemic Well-Being in Healthcare
2025-09-29 10:00 - 2025-09-30 17:00 | Rochester Art Center, 30 Civic Center Dr SE, STE 120, Rochester, MN, 55904, United States
Champions of Wellness Healthcare Summit: Policy to Practice: Advancing Systemic Well-Being in Healthcare
Presented by the Well-Being Index
We hope you can and join us in Rochester, Minnesota on September 29th-30th, 2025.
Live and in-person from the heart of medical innovation—Rochester, Minnesota, home of the renowned Mayo Clinic. Join us at the event for leaders focused on leadership tactics, structural frameworks, and frontline interventions to effectively support clinician wellness.

SPACE IS LIMITED, get your ticket now.
Buy Tickets on Eventbrite Register Now!
RegistrationAgendaAccommodationsTravelSponsor & Exhibitors

Registration
The 2025 Champions of Wellness Healthcare Summit will be held at the Mayo Civic Center & Rochester Arts Center in Rochester, Minnesota, home of Mayo Clinic.
Space is limited; reserve your spot!

Registration price:

$499.00 currently on sale for a limited time!
Discounts up to $60 off for Champions of Wellness members

2025 Healthcare Summit Agenda

Day 1 – Monday, September 29th

Time (Central)
Event Type
Description

7:00 am – 9:00 am
Setup
Exhibitors set up in Sponsor Hall

7:00 am – 9:00 am
Day Start
Registration open / Breakfast refreshments / Seating in event hall

9:20 am – 9:30 am
Kickoff

Welcome from Champions of Wellness President PJ Calkins

9:30 am – 10:15 am
Keynote

Kimberly Williams, Vice President of People, Culture & Compliance, Walker Advertising, Advisory Council Member & Spokesperson for End Workplace Abuse
Topic: Building Safer Workplaces: Strategies to End Abuse and Foster Psychological Safety

10:15 am – 10:45 am
Break
Refreshments and Exhibitor visits / Join our sponsor, Direct Wealth Care, as they interview summit attendees about important subjects like personal finance that can’t remain taboo in our well-being initiatives.

10:45 am – 11:30 am
Plenary 1

John McMahon, Director of Client Experience for the Well-Being Index
Topic: From Shot-in-the-Dark to Strategy – Building Effective Clinician Wellness Solutions

11:35 am – 12:20 pm
Plenary 2

Dr. Lois Greene, Senior Vice President of Wellness, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at University Hospital
Topic: Resilience and Compassion: Building Well-Being into Leadership Practices

12:20 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch
Provided Lunch & Exhibitor Visits

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm
Plenary 3

Josie Suser, Assistant Director of Institutional Research at Upstate Medical University
Topic: Tackling Burnout Through Efficiency: The Impact of SUNY Upstate’s GROSS Committee on Healthcare Workflows

2:20 pm – 3:05 pm
Plenary 4

Dr. Andres Flores, Director of People, Culture and Strategy at UChicago Medicine, AdventHealthValerie Gonzalez, Regional Employee Health Manager and Wellness Coordinator at UChicago Medicine AdventHealthCherese Chery, Vice President and Chief People Officer at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth
Topic: Clinical Ecosystems as Environments of Nurse Well-Being and Retention

3:05 pm – 3:35 pm
Break
Refreshments and Exhibitor visits / Join our sponsor, Direct Wealth Care, as they interview summit attendees about important subjects like personal finance that can’t remain taboo in our well-being initiatives.

3:35 pm – 4:20 pm
Plenary 5

Janelle Banat, Founding CEO and Executive Coach, Footlamp Consulting
Topic: Amygdala Management for Physicians: Creating New Neural Pathways to React Differently when Under Stress

4:20 pm
End of Day
Day is over for general attendees

Day 2 – Tuesday, September 30th

Time (Central)
Event Type
Description

7:30 am – 8:45 am
Day Start
Breakfast refreshment station & exhibitor visits in Sponsor Room

8:45 am – 9:30 am
Keynote

Craig Ogurek, System Director of Employee Health & Wellness for Aspirus Health
Topic: Do Your Workers Feel You Have a Genuine Interest in Their Wellbeing?

9:30 am – 10:00 am
Break
Refreshments and Exhibitor visits / Join our sponsor, Direct Wealth Care, as they interview summit attendees about important subjects like personal finance that can’t remain taboo in our well-being initiatives.

10:00 am – 10:45 am
Plenary 6

Dr. Steven Defossez, VP, Clinical Integration at Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, Principal at DefoSays Consulting LLC
Topic: Credentialing Best Practices: How to Remove Barriers to Behavioral Healthcare Statewide

10:55 am – 11:40 am
Panel

Champions of Wellness Panel (Featuring Brian Case of Direct WealthCare, Derek Bell of VITAL WorkLife, Kathy Perno of Wellness Pathways, Dr. Prasanna Tadi of PeerPulse, and DeAnna Santana Cebollero of AdventHealth’s Coalition for Physician & APP Well-Being)
Topic: Policy to Practice

11:40 am
Wrap-Up

Final Words from Champions of Wellness President PJ Calkins

Accommodations

Join us in beautiful Southeast Minnesota for a relaxing and energizing getaway, surrounded by a community of healthcare leaders committed to advancing clinician well-being.
Special hotel rates are available at our partner hotels:

Discounted rates at both summit hotels are available through September 8. Marriott Rochester – $209/night – click here to book online!For those who prefer to make their reservations by phone, guests may call our reservations line at (833) 320-3141 and reference your group name to receive the special rate.Group Name: Champions of WellnessEvent Dates: Sunday, September 28 through Wednesday, October 1, 2025Cut off Date to Make Reservations by: Thursday, August 28, 2025

— — — — — — — — — —

Hotel Indigo – $149/night – click here to book online!For those who prefer to make their reservations by phone, guests may call our reservations line at 507.252.8200 and press 1 for the reservation line. Then reference the Champion of Wellness Summit block to receive the special rate.

Rooms are limited and our hotel blocks sold out more than six weeks before last year’s summit, so secure your spot early to stay close to the action. You won’t want to miss this impactful event!

Travel
The Champions of Wellness Healthcare Summit will be held at the Mayo Civic Center and Rochester Arts Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Address 30 Civic Center Dr SE STE 120 Rochester, MN 55904 Flights into Rochester Flights are available into Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) or Rochester International Airport (RST). Getting to the hotel Recommended shuttle service from the airport to the hotel is Rochester Shuttle Service. Lyft and Uber are also available in the Rochester area. Getting to the event venue The Mayo Civic Center and Rochester Arts Center is located in the heart of downtown Rochester, within short walking distance to numerous hotels. Skyway access is also available to the event venue.
Buy Tickets on Eventbrite Space is limited; register today to reserve your spot!

2025 Sponsors

Virtual Conference - From Surviving to Thriving: Well-Being Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
2025-11-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Online, United States
From Surviving to Thriving: Well-Being Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Join us online on November 18th, 2025, to hear from leading experts about: From Surviving to Thriving: Well-Being Strategies for Healthcare Professionals.
REGISTER TODAY FOR ALL THE LATEST DETAILS!

Already registered? Click here to login to your account and view the conference.

– – – Conference Speakers – – –

Dr. Adam Smith – Crossover Health Market Physician Director / Medical Director for Apple Wellness Centers in Austin and SacramentoTopic: Better at the Bedside: Connecting People, Purpose and Performance through Better Communication
Dr. Frankie Hale – Assistant Professor at University of Hawaii at Manoa School of NursingTopic: Factors Contributing to Well-being among Hospital-Based Nurses
Dr. Sarah Webber – Director of Well-being, UW-Madison School of MedicineTopic: Recentering Our Values: A Tool for Personal and Organizational Transformation

Thank you to our sponsors!
