VA Healthcare Leadership Panel: Shaping the Future of Veteran Care
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | MA
VA Healthcare Leadership Panel: Shaping the Future of Veteran Care
Thursday, February 26 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
Live virtual panel via Zoom + audience Q&A
Featuring leaders from Manchester VA, Bedford VA, and the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System
Register HERE!
Panelists:

Kevin Forrest, FACHE, Medical Center Director, Manchester VA Medical Center
Barrett Franklin, MS, MBA, FACHE, CCE, Medical Center Director, Bedford VA Medical Center
Jonathan Kerr, Executive Director, VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System

Join us for an exclusive VA Healthcare Leadership Panel exploring the key priorities shaping the future of the VA healthcare system.
Senior VA Medical Center Directors from across New England will share insights into today’s VA healthcare landscape, including strategic and workforce challenges, quality and performance improvement efforts, community partnerships, and what lies ahead for veteran care delivery.
This session is designed for healthcare professionals across clinical, administrative, academic, and community settings who are seeking practical leadership perspectives from one of the nation’s largest and most complex healthcare systems.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe the current state of the VA healthcare system nationally and across New England, including recent policy, funding, and care delivery changes impacting veteran populations.
Identify key strategic priorities of VA medical centers and healthcare systems, including access to care, workforce sustainability, digital transformation, and the veteran experience.
Analyze common operational and workforce challenges within the VA healthcare system and compare leadership approaches used to address staffing, capacity, and regulatory demands.
Evaluate the role of partnerships, community care, academic affiliations, and research in shaping the future of veteran healthcare delivery.

Register HERE!

ACHE 2026 Congress on Healthcare Leadership: Healthcare’s Premier Leadership Event
2026-03-02 08:00 - 2026-03-04 17:00 | MA
March 2-4
Houston, Texas
Join us at the ACHE 2026 Congress on Healthcare Leadership to advance your professional growth, connect with fellow healthcare leaders, and gain actionable insights you can put to work right away.
Put your purpose in motion March 2–4, 2026, in Houston, where you’ll discover innovative solutions, hear diverse perspectives, and learn how to make a meaningful impact on the health of your community.
Learn more and register at www.ache.org/Congress.

Joint Reception with New England Chapters at ACHE 2026 Congress
2026-03-03 18:30 - 20:30 | MA
Join New England’s ACHE Chapters at Congress!
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
6:30–8:30 PM
Marriott Marquis Houston (Official Congress Hotel)
Room – Texas D
Register HERE!
The New England chapters of the American College of Healthcare Executives are coming together for a special joint reception during the 2026 ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Houston.
The ACHE of Northern New England, ACHE of Massachusetts, ACHE of Rhode Island, and The Connecticut Association of Healthcare Executives (CTAHE) invite you to connect with healthcare leaders from across the region at this New England–wide networking event.
Join us for beer, wine, and light hors d’oeuvres while building meaningful connections, exchanging ideas, and strengthening regional collaboration. Bringing every New England chapter together in one room creates a powerful opportunity to advance shared priorities and energize our collective impact.
Interested in sponsoring?
This high-visibility regional reception offers sponsors a unique opportunity to engage with a highly connected group of New England healthcare executives and decision-makers. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact info@massache.org.
Registration required HERE!

ACHE of MA 2026 Virtual Town Hall
2026-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 | MA
ACHE of MA 2026 Virtual Town Hall
Thursday, March 26, 2026
12:00 Noon-1:00 PM ET
Bring your questions to Chapter Leadership and discover valuable professional development opportunities available to members, including educational programs, networking events, and opportunities for civic and volunteer engagement.
Free with registration HERE

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Leadership Dynamic Undermining Healthcare Teams
2026-04-14 12:00 - 13:00 | MA
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Leadership Dynamic Undermining Healthcare Teams
Tuesday, April 14, 2026,
12-1:00pm ET – Virtual
Healthcare leaders are working harder than ever to address burnout, communication breakdowns, and disengagement on their teams. In the healthcare industry, where the pressure and human stakes are high, organizations have invested heavily in programs, policies, and training designed to help. Yet many leaders still feel stuck addressing the same challenges year after year with little lasting improvement.
The problem isn’t a lack of effort. Often, the solutions focus on prescribing behaviors rather than addressing the deeper leadership dynamics that shape how people see and respond to one another.
In this session, we’ll explore the hidden mindset patterns that quietly undermine collaboration, fuel burnout, and distort how leaders see the people they serve and lead. Drawing on real-world examples, including lessons from healthcare environments, we’ll examine why well-intentioned leadership actions sometimes make problems worse and what leaders can do differently.
Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the leadership dynamics that shape culture and performance, along with practical frameworks that help leaders address conflict, reduce burnout, and restore the human connection at the center of patient care.
Audience participation will be encouraged to ensure an engaging discussion.
Speaker: Victoria Trammel, Vice President of Operations, Leadership Development, and Strategy Implementation, Arbinger Institute
About the Arbinger Institute:
The Arbinger Institute is a global leadership development firm that helps organizations shift mindset, improve culture, and drive change that leads to exceptional results.
Members attend for free
Non-members – $15
Click HERE to register.

In-Person Leadership Panel: How Vulnerability Transcends Hierarchy
2026-04-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Slalom Consulting, 399 Boylston St Ste 1000, Boston, MA, 02116
Wednesday, April 29
5:00-8:00 PM
Slalom Consulting
How Vulnerability Transcends Hierarchy
Panelists:
Moderator: Shari Robbins, CPC – CEO, Robbins Advisory

Panelists:
Rachel Wilson, MHA – COO, Co-Founder, Bluebird Kids Health
Puneet Freibott, DNP, RN, FACHE – CNO, Beth Israel Lahey Health
Rushika Fernandopulle, MD, MPP – Chief Executive Officer, Liza Health
Approved for 1.5 ACHE In-Person Education Credits.
Register HERE!
No matter your title or tenure, vulnerability is a universal human experience and one of the most powerful drivers of trust, connection, and courage inside an organization. This engaging program invites participants from every level to explore how authentic openness can strengthen teams, improve communication, and elevate culture.
Featuring a panel of respected executives who openly share their own stories, this session highlights the truth that vulnerability does not disappear as you move up the corporate ladder. In fact, the higher the role, the more profound, and necessary, vulnerability becomes.
Through interactive activities, reflective prompts, and real conversations, attendees will experience the rawness and relief of realizing: regardless of job title, we all wrestle with doubt, fear, and uncertainty. And when acknowledged rather than hidden, these shared moments of humanity unlock new ways of thinking, collaborating, and leading.
This is not a lecture but an immersive experience. Participants will feel, explore, and witness how vulnerability transcends hierarchy and creates space for genuine connection and growth.
What Makes This Session Stand Out

Open to everyone—from frontline staff to executive leadership.
Executive panelists model vulnerability themselves, demonstrating that openness is not a sign of weakness but of leadership maturity.
Activities invite participants to connect with their own stories while recognizing the shared humanity across all roles.

Key Objectives & Takeaways

Recognize That Vulnerability Is a Universal Experience Across All Roles

Attendees will understand that no title, including those in the C-suite, protects anyone from challenge, doubt, or emotion. Vulnerability connects us all, regardless of hierarchy.

Experience How Authenticity Strengthens Trust and Culture

Through activities and panel dialogue, participants will feel how openness fosters psychological safety, empathy, and improved communication at every level of the organization.

Gain Practical Tools for Bringing Vulnerability Into Daily Interactions

Individuals will leave with actionable strategies for expressing vulnerability in healthy, productive ways that enhance teamwork, collaboration, and leadership presence, no matter their position.
Tickets:
Members – $35
Nonmembers – $50
Register HERE!

Veteran's Affairs Healthcare Leadership Panel: Priorities and Thoughts on the Future of the VA Health System
2026-05-05 12:00 - 13:30 | MA
Tuesday, May 5, 12-1:30PM ET
Approved by the ACHE for 1.5 Virtual Interactive Credits
REGISTER HERE
Approved for 1.5 virtual interactive education credits from the American College of Healthcare Executives, this session will discuss the evolving landscape of the VA healthcare system. This session will provide a comprehensive look at the current state of VA care nationally and in New England, highlighting recent policy, funding, and care delivery changes impacting veteran populations. Panelists will share insights into key strategic priorities—including access to care, workforce sustainability, digital transformation, and enhancing the veteran experience—while also examining operational and workforce challenges such as staffing, capacity, and regulatory demands.
Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on leadership approaches within the VA, as well as the growing role of partnerships, community care, academic affiliations, and research in shaping the future of veteran healthcare delivery.
Register now to secure your spot.
REGISTER HERE
Once you complete your registration here, you must also register with the ACHE. This second step is required in order to receive the event link and credits (if applicable). DETAILS BELOW!
1. In order to receive virtual interactive education credit, participants MUST register through Eventbrite as well as through ACHE at the link below. If you are not an ACHE member, there is an option to create a free account.
Event Code: V0220126
Event Title: (V0220126) VA Healthcare Leadership Panel: Priorities and Thoughts on the Future of the VA System
Chapter: ACHE of Massachusetts
Program Date: 5/5/2026
Program URL (event registration link): https://account.ache.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Reg_evt_key=1256cca2-97ea-443a-affb-e582087f8f9a&WebCode=EvtRedirectorTL&site=ACHE
If you were a registrant of the February 2026 Veterans Healthcare event, please contact info@massache.org for a promo code to waive the ticket price.
Members: $25
Nonmembers: $40
Students: $10

Networking Event Celebrating the 2025-26 Mentorship Cohort
2026-05-11 18:00 - 20:00 | MA
Monday, May 11
6:00-8:00 PM
Tony C’s Sports Bar & Grill
699 Assembly Row
Somerville, MA

ACHE of Massachusetts members and friends—join us for a networking night to celebrate our 2025-26 Mentorship Cohort!
Connect with healthcare professionals, early careerists, mentors, and leaders at Tony C’s Sports Bar & Grill in Assembly Row, Somerville. Whether you’re part of the mentorship program or simply looking to expand your network, all are welcome – bring a colleague!
Free registration for members and nonmembers—sign up below for capacity planning.
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v356jze

New Member Virtual Orientation
2026-05-12 17:00 - 18:00 | MA
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
5:00-6:00 PM ET
Join ACHE of MA’s Membership Committee for insight on how to maximize your ACHE membership to enhance your leadership development, expand your professional network, and create new career growth opportunities. Learn more about leadership and volunteer roles within the Chapter and how to get involved.
Register for this free virtual event, HERE. A meeting link will be sent in advance of the session.

FACHE Information Session
2026-06-03 12:00 - 13:00 | MA
FACHE Virtual Information Session
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
12:00-1:00 PM
Demonstrate your commitment to professional excellence by becoming a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)!
We invite you to attend our upcoming FACHE Advancement Information Session to gain valuable perspectives on the next step in your professional development.
Current Fellows will lead this virtual session, providing valuable insights into eligibility requirements and proven strategies for FACHE exam preparation. Participants will gain a comprehensive overview of the credentialing process, along with guidance on leveraging Chapter resources for both achieving and maintaining the FACHE designation.
Topics to be covered include:

Benefits of Earning the FACHE Credential
Eligibility Requirements
Application Process
Exam Overview
Preparation Strategies and Resources
Recertification Requirements

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the session.
There is no better time to take an informed step toward earning your FACHE credential!
Registration is free – contact info@massache.org by June 3 at 9:00 AM– add FACHE in Subject Line. A live link will be provided the week of the session.

ACHE of MA’s 2026 “Leadership on Tap” Series – Networking at Cold Harbour Brewing
2026-06-25 18:00 - 20:00 | MA
Thursday, June 25
6:00-8:00 PM
Cold Harbour Brewing
66 Otis St, Westborough, MA
Join us for ACHE of MA’s 2026 “Leadership on Tap,” a refreshing series of casual networking events hosted at local breweries across the region. Designed to bring together healthcare professionals in a relaxed, social setting, this series is all about connecting, collaborating, and building community—one pint at a time.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, these events offer the perfect opportunity to expand your network, share ideas, and enjoy great conversations over craft brews.
Registration requested for capacity planning purposes, HERE!

ACHE of MA’s 2026 “Leadership on Tap” Series – Networking at The Great American Beer Hall
2026-07-23 18:00 - 20:00 | MA
Thursday, July 23, 2026
6:00-8:00 PM
The Great American Beer Hall
142 Mystic Ave., Medford, MA
Join us for ACHE of MA’s 2026 “Leadership on Tap,” a refreshing series of casual networking events hosted at local breweries across the region. Designed to bring together healthcare professionals in a relaxed, social setting, this series is all about connecting, collaborating, and building community—one pint at a time.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, these events offer the perfect opportunity to expand your network, share ideas, and enjoy great conversations over craft brews.
Registration requested for capacity planning purposes, HERE!
Parking available onsite.

ACHE’s 2026 Boston Cluster, Where Education and Community Converge
2026-07-27 08:00 - 2026-07-29 17:00 | Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116, MA, 02116, United States
July 27-29, 2026
The Westin Copley Place
10 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
24 ACHE In-Person Education credits.
Take the next step in your professional development, network with fellow healthcare leaders and gain actionable takeaways at ACHE’s 2026 Boston Cluster, July 27-29.
Join your fellow healthcare professionals to discuss the rapidly changing future of our industry while developing the skills, knowledge and mindset required to help lead your staff and organization toward new success in 2026 and beyond.
For more information and to register, visit ache.org/Boston .

Educational and Networking Session at the 2026 ACHE Boston Cluster - Hosted by LeanTaaS and ACHE of MA
2026-07-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116, MA, 02116, United States
Monday, July 27, 2026
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Register HERE!
Join fellow healthcare leaders in Boston on July 27th for an evening of insights and connection. We’ll kick things off with a talk from Baptist Health Arkansas, then head into a networking reception. Full schedule below.
Please complete the registration form to confirm your attendance. You will receive an email upon form completion and a reminder email prior to the event.
Event Schedule
Session [RSVP Required]: How Baptist Health Arkansas Improved System-Wide Flow with AI

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: The Westin Copley Place
Learn from industry leader Baptist Health Arkansas (session details below)

Networking Reception

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: The Westin Copley Place
Engage with peers

How Baptist Health Arkansas Improved System-Wide Flow with AI
Emergency department (ED) boarding, transfer friction, delayed discharges and lost capacity are not isolated problems, they are daily signs of fragmented operations and misaligned decision-making. In this session, the associate system vice president of the Patient Command Center/Healthline will share how Baptist Health Arkansas addressed these pressures by combining AI-enabled predictive insights with standardized workflows and system-wide alignment.
Designed for healthcare executives and operational leaders, this session will spotlight the leadership decisions and frontline changes that helped Baptist Health Arkansas improve throughput and access, resulting in an increase in admissions, a reduction in geometric mean length of stay (GMLOS) variance and a reduction in opportunity days.
Attendees will also hear how the organization achieved a reduction in discharge processing time, a reduction in ED boarding and a reduction in diversion. Participants will leave with practical strategies to align teams, reduce operational friction and build a more efficient, predictable and reliable approach to capacity management.
*Attendees with receive 1 hour of qualified education credit
Register HERE!

Volunteer Opportunity with the Greater Boston Food Bank
2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Greater Boston Food Bank, 70 South Bay Ave, Boston, MA
ACHE of MA is pleased to offer members a range of volunteer opportunities that support professional growth and advancement toward FACHE credentialing. To earn or maintain the FACHE credential, members must complete four volunteer activities within a three-year period, including two healthcare-related activities and two community or civic activities. There is no minimum time requirement, but all volunteer work must be uncompensated and separate from an individual’s professional responsibilities.
Volunteer Opportunity with the Greater Boston Food Bank
September 26, 2026
9:00 AM
Shift Duration: 3 Hours
LOCATION
70 South Bay Ave.
Boston, MA 02118

The Greater Boston Food Bank works passionately to end hunger across Eastern Massachusetts by providing neighbors in need the healthy food and resources they need to thrive. For more information, visit – The Greater Boston Food Bank.

Spots are limited for this opportunity and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Please send requests to volunteer to info@massache.org.
Details

Disposable gloves are provided by GBFB.
Hand sanitizer is available onsite.
If you are sick, please reschedule your volunteer shift.

Please note:

Closed-toe shoes are required.
Parking is available in the gated lot located diagonally across the street from the main entrance. (Turn LEFT at Topeka St and South Bay Ave). Cars must be removed by close of business at 4:30pm. All remaining vehicles risk being towed at the owners’ expense.
No weapons or firearms are permitted on GBFB property

Annual Healthcare Summit - No Final Buzzer: Leading in Healthcare When the Game Never Stops
2026-10-16 08:00 - 18:00 | MA
Early Bird Tickets are Live ! Register HERE!
2026 Annual Healthcare Summit
“No Final Buzzer” – How Healthcare Leaders Keep Building When the Game Never Stops
Friday, October 16, 2026
Cross Insurance Club,
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
MORNING
7:00 – 8:00 AM – Registration & Breakfast
Networking
8:00 – 8:05 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:05 – 9:00 AM — Morning Keynote
Chris Herren, motivational speaker and former NBA player, Founder of the Herren Project and Herren Wellness.
9:00 – 9:15 AM – Break
9:15 – 10:45 AM – Morning Concurrent Panels

Whole Health and New Models: How Integrative Care Is Closing Gaps and Delivering Value
As healthcare systems grapple with rising costs and persistent gaps in patient outcomes, integrative and whole-health approaches are emerging as a powerful complement to conventional care. This panel brings together leaders at the forefront of this shift to discuss how models that treat the whole person are moving from the margins into mainstream care delivery, drawing on real-world examples from primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management, and addressing how these models reduce fragmentation and close care gaps, what the value equation looks like, and what workforce, reimbursement, and policy shifts are needed to scale them sustainably.
The “Yes” List: What Healthcare Leaders Are Funding Right Now
With budgets tighter and stakes higher than ever, healthcare leaders are being more deliberate about where they place their bets. This session brings together executive health leaders alongside innovators from the technology sector for a candid, forward-looking conversation about what’s actually making the cut—and why. Panelists will share where their organizations are actively investing, which categories of innovation are accelerating fastest, and what separates a pilot that stalls from one that earns lasting budget and buy-in. The discussion will also explore how healthcare and technology partners are evolving their collaboration models to move faster together, offering attendees a practical, insider’s view of the priorities, proof points, and partnership strategies shaping where dollars flow next.

11:00 – 12:30 PM — Afternoon Keynote
John McDonough, Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discusses his latest book, America’s Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era, followed by a response panel discussion.
12:30 – 1:30 PM – Lunch
Presentation of the Annual Torchbearer Inclusive Leadership Award
Student Posters
AFTERNOON
1:30 – 3:00 PM – Afternoon Concurrent Panels |

How to Land Your Next Role
Whether you are job hunting, considering a career pivot, or looking to grow within your current organization, this session will deliver practical tips for standing out—from sharpening your resume and interview approach to building the visibility that leads to promotions. Panelists will share real-world advice on navigating today’s job market and knowing when it’s the right time to make a move, leaving attendees with actionable takeaways they can apply right away.
The Cost of Inaction: Strategic and Cultural Misalignment in Health Systems
The cost of cultural and strategic misalignment in healthcare is measured in billions of dollars and the organizational erosion that undermines a health system’s ability to deliver high-quality patient care—arising when the values and behaviors of frontline staff, management, and executive leadership diverge, driving compounding costs across workforce burnout, patient safety, operational efficiency, strategic execution, and reputation. This session explores how leaders can recognize these patterns, quantify their true cost, and take practical steps to close the gap.

3:15 – 4:15 PM – Healthcare Innovation Showcase
Moderated by Lesley Solomon and featuring Series A startups:

– FamilyWell
– Ecton
– Arbizal
4:15 – 4:20 PM – Closing Remarks
4:20 – 6:00 PM – Networking Reception
Network over cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres.
Early Bird Tickets are Live ! Register HERE!
