Reimagining the Future of the Healthcare Association
Total Credits: 6
- Average Rating:
- Not yet rated
- Categories:
- Futures Research | Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Faculty:
- Dean A West, FASAE | Paul Pomerantz
- Duration:
- 1 day
- Location:
- Corporate/Association Events at OLC Education & Conference Center - Rosemont, Illinois
Tags: Live Events 2026 Healthcare
Description
Healthcare association CEOs and senior strategy staff representing diverse professional disciplines and outlooks on healthcare are invited to collaborate to discuss the future of healthcare associations — their role, strategies, and leadership.
Welcome & Framing the Day
Title: Why We Must Rebuild
A brief provocation from Dean West, FASAE, a 40-year veteran of healthcare association leadership and strategy, using primary research collected from healthcare association leaders during the fall of 2025, Mr. West will highlight the urgency of change and how traditional viewpoints and assumptions no longer serve healthcare association leaders as a guide.
Speaker: Dean West, FASAE, President of Association Laboratory Inc.
The purpose of this presentation is to establish a shared language and purpose and outline the three-domain progression of the day.
Session 1: Revisiting the False Assumptions Guiding Decisions
Explore how historical assumptions underlying association strategy may no longer be valid, resulting in poor decisions and unsustainable strategies. Based on Association Laboratory's industry-leading sector research and primary research incorporating insights from hundreds of healthcare association leaders, participants will explore fundamental shifts in identity, behavior, values, and expectations among clinicians, nonclinical healthcare professionals, and their interaction with each other and institutional, academic, government, and industry stakeholders.
In this highly interactive session, participants engage in small-group dialogues intentionally designed to bring together a multidisciplinary mix of healthcare association leaders. Guided by targeted prompts, each group explores which assumptions about healthcare professionals are no longer valid, how core values like loyalty and leadership are evolving, and what new expectations are emerging across professional communities. Groups share insights and debrief to surface the “myths we must retire” and the “truths we must embrace.”
Break
Session 2: Exploring the New Assumptions Driving Sustainable Strategy
Explore how shifting professional behaviors demand a new strategic foundation for healthcare associations. Rotating through five interactive “assumption stations”—Research, Education, Advocacy, Convening, and Community—participants discuss and prioritize the new assumptions facing decision-making and define their association’s evolving role in delivering Mission-based outcomes. Guided by targeted prompts and grounded in pre-event research from Association Laboratory, each group surfaces key strategic pivots and shares insights during a synthesis debrief.
12:30 – 1:30 PM | Lunch
CEO Fire-Side Chat
Title: Adventures in Strategic Leadership
Examine how to lead strategic change successfully. Book-driven theory is great, but practical reality from the front lines of strategic change is better. During lunch, learn from three industry-leading healthcare CEOs about diagnosing, planning, and leading strategic change. Moderated by Paul Pomerantz, former CEO of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, this will be your opportunity to learn from and question healthcare CEOs who are making strategic change a reality.
Moderator: Paul Pomerantz, FACHE, FASAE
Speakers: 3 healthcare association CEOs in the midst of strategic change.
Session 3: Rebuilding the Business Model for New Relevance
Design the healthcare association of the future. In this future-focused design lab, participants work in peer teams (associations of similar size, scope, and focus) to reimagine the healthcare association from the ground up. Guided by the new assumptions discussed earlier, each peer team constructs a business model canvas spanning the five core Mission domains: Research, Education, Advocacy, Convening, and Community. Using collaborative tools and creative prompts, groups develop and present their models during a dynamic gallery walk, where participants exchange ideas, ask questions, and recognize standout innovations. The session sparks bold thinking, surfaces practical concepts, and equips leaders to rethink how their association creates value in a rapidly changing healthcare ecosystem.
Break
The discussion concludes with a dynamic, whole-group debrief designed to surface the most powerful insights and boldest ideas from the summit. Dean West synthesizes themes across the sessions—highlighting patterns, breakthrough thinking, and persistent blind spots that emerged throughout the day.
Your Board Said Whaaaat?
Let's end the day with some fun. Back by popular demand, the hilarious (and truthful) game show format will highlight true Board stories from participants and the lessons learned from each. A fun, engaging, and non-competitive (wink, wink) ending to a productive day. We’ll watch two “families” compete against each other to identify the real Board stories from the fake – and then have our participants give us ideas on solutions (or surrender).
Reception
Time to relax, reflect, and travel as needed. Association Laboratory is noted for the high quality of their wines, whiskey's and snacks. Take 30 minutes to confirm this reputation and unwind.
Handouts
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Ebook - Reimagining the Future of the Healthcare Association
(1012.6 KB)
The Ebook Reimagining the Future of the Healthcare Association is a comprehensive white paper based on the research and contributions of past participants in the annual think tank, Reimagining the Future of the Healthcare Association. The report identifies, in depth, the changing environment facing healthcare, including the Culture of Care, the Organization of Care and the Delivery of Care. It provides the reader with a fundamental, multidisciplinary understanding of the issues driving the needs of healthcare association members and other stakeholders. The report provides a comprehensive identification of the changing strategic assumptions facing healthcare associations. Each of the central pillars of the healthcare association business model are examined, and detailed discussions of the changes facing these assumptions are outlined. In addition, the analysis examines current and emerging roles for healthcare associations representing opportunities for research, education, advocacy, and for the convening of healthcare stakeholders. Potential scenarios for each role are introduced and ideas for leveraging these roles for success are identified. Finally, the report provides a Discussion Guide designed to provide healthcare association leaders with a structured approach to discussing, deciding, and implementing a process to modify the association's strategy. A $45 value, this Ebook is provided free of charge to attendees. |
Download | ||
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Leading Strategic Change in Associations
(1005.4 KB)
Association Laboratory interviewed 25 professional and trade association CEOs about diagnosing, determining, and leading strategic change. This white paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the conclusions and recommendations from this research. Key domains include the following.
This white paper represents a comprehensive approach to effective practices in leading strategic change in association, acting as a practical guide for association chief staff officers.
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Available after Purchase | ||
Faculty
Dean A West, FASAE Related Seminars and Products
President
Association Laboratory
Dean West is the founder and President of Association Laboratory Inc. He leads client engagements and is a frequent speaker and facilitator for national and global association leadership meetings.
Mr. West is a former association executive with experience as executive director, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer for both national and international membership organizations. He has been a consultant to the association community since 1992, and has provided services to hundreds of state, national, and international organizations.
Dean West is a nationally recognized expert in association management. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives. Mr. West authored the chapter on Membership Research for the ASAE book, Membership Essentials and the chapter on Marketing Professional Development Programs in the ASAE book, Core Competencies in Professional Development.
Mr. West is an experienced volunteer leader familiar with the demands of volunteer leadership. He is Past Chairman of ASAE’s Professional Development Council and has served on the ASAE Membership Council and the Editorial Board for the ASAE & the Center for Association Leadership Journal of Association Leadership. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Association Forum of Chicagoland.
Paul Pomerantz Related Seminars and Products
CEO
Pomerantz Consulting
Paul Pomerantz is the chief executive officer (CEO) at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). In this role, Pomerantz is responsible for executing the many programs of ASA as directed by its Board of Directors. Previously, he served as CEO of the Drug Information Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Society of Interventional Radiology, and Clinical Laboratory Management Association. He also held executive roles at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Medical College of Pennsylvania (now Drexel University), both in Philadelphia.
Pomerantz is active in health care and professional leadership. He is the past chair of the Association Forum and is the founder and past co-chair of its Healthcare Collaborative. In recent years, he served as chair of the Center for Association Leadership (American Society of Association Executives Foundation) and treasurer of the National Health Council. Pomerantz is currently the treasurer for the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. He also served as chair of ASAE Business Services, Inc., and was chair of the ASAE Power of A Committee.
Pomerantz is a frequent speaker and writer on various topics including association and healthcare leadership, governance, and strategy. He holds a Master of Business Administration, specializing in health administration, from Temple University, Philadelphia, and is a fellow of both the American College of Healthcare Executives and ASAE.
Location
Corporate/Association Events at OLC Education & Conference Center
(847) 384-4210
olcevents.com