11:00am-12:15pm

Sponsor Expo + Lunch
Grab your badge and join us for and reconnect with friends and colleagues as we prepare to open HCEA be sure to visit our sponsors, too. A box lunch will be served.

12:15pm-12:30pm

Charting Your Course at GST25
Laine Mann, President of HCEA, welcomes you to GST26 and provide some perspective on the future course of HCEA in our industry

• Laine Mann, Director, Congress Excellence, Insmed Incorporated and President, HCEA

12:30pm-1:15pm

Education Session
Creating Powerful, Compliant Congress Experiences for Healthcare Professionals

In the events industry, success rarely comes from working alone. Some of your best “aha” moments have likely come from the people around you. A strong community brings new perspectives that can transform your programs and enrich your attendee experience. However, reaching that level of collaboration takes intention and the willingness to step beyond your usual circles.

In this session, you’ll hear from seasoned event leaders who have leaned into community and cross-functional partnerships to shape their careers and strengthen their exhibit programs. Through real stories and practical examples, you’ll see what becomes possible when you expand your network, welcome new voices into the conversation, and discover inspiration in unexpected places. 

• Leah Cepko, MSc, Healthcare Strategy Director, Jack Morton
• Jolanta Schwartz, Account Director, Jack Morton

1:15pm-2:00pm

Education Session
Maximizing the Opportunity and Impact of Medical Affairs Teams at Healthcare Conferences

A panel presentation designed to inform, educate, and provide actionable recommendations from Medical Affairs experts  on the objectives, exhibit design, convention functionality, and the needed training to achieve successful implementation of the Medical Affairs "side of the booth".

We will explore how technology / AI, current regulatory guidelines, and what Healthcare Providers (HCPs) and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) expects from the Medical Affairs exhibit (which now commands as much a 50% or more of the convention exhibit In a world of complex medicines, sophisticated healthcare decision-making, and growing evidence demands, MSLs are uniquely positioned. They are often the most scientifically credible, field-based professionals a pharma, diagnostic, or device company has, with direct access to key clinicians, specialist nurses, pharmacists, and wider healthcare networks. They also sit in a rare position of trust, being able to engage in peer-to-peer scientific exchange in a way that commercial teams cannot. This is particularly true at scientific and therapeutic conferences. How are you designing your Medical Affairs teams and your Exhibit engagement areas to maximize MSL effectiveness?

• Kinal Bhatt, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Global, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
• Michael Young, Principal and Founder, biomedwoRx Life Sciences Consulting

2:00pm-2:15pm

Sponsor Spotlight
A fast, focused take on the ideas shaping our industry, giving sponsors a chance to share who they are, what they do, and what they’re seeing next, all in 15 minutes or less.

2:15pm-2:45pm

Afternoon Break + Sponsor Expo
Take a quick break, recharge, and spend time with the sponsors helping drive ideas and innovation across healthcare events.

2:45pm-3:45pm

Education Session
New Perspectives on Measurement and ROI: The Only Five Metrics that Matter

Convention and event teams are under growing pressure to demonstrate measurable business value, yet many organizations continue to track metrics that have little influence on strategic decisions. This session introduces a practical framework built around the five metrics that matter most, helping attendees better measure program performance, optimize investment, and communicate the value of their congress portfolio to stakeholders. 

• Pierre Metrailler, CEO, Onomi

3:45pm-4:00pm

Sponsor Spotlight 

4:00pm-4:45pm

Education Session. *all new session*
Moving Beyond Demo Counters: Reinventing Medical Device Exhibits with Digital Case Libraries, AI, and Remote Engagement

Medical device exhibitors are rethinking traditional booth experiences by embracing emerging technologies to extend education and engagement beyond the exhibit hall. Join a panel of convention and marketing leaders as they discuss how these innovations are creating more meaningful healthcare professional interactions, strengthening advocacy, and helping organizations maximize the value of their congress investments.

• panelists to be announced

4:45pm-5:00pm

HCEA Gives Back

Join us as we unveil the benefactor of our 2026 GST charitable giving campaign, and learn how you can make a big difference during your short stay in Coral Gables.

5:00pm-5:15pm

Welcome to Miami!
Representatives from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and Loews Coral Gables Hotel will share more about what makes Miami such a dynamic destination for healthcare meetings, events, dining, and culture.

6:30pm-9:30pm

Welcome Reception
Unwind, reconnect, and settle into the week at our opening night waterfront cocktail reception at Monty’s Coconut Grove. Set beside the marina where Coconut Grove meets Biscayne Bay, Monty’s captures the easygoing spirit that has defined Miami’s bayside culture for decades.

As the sun drops over the harbor and sailboats drift across the water, enjoy fresh cocktails, coastal flavors, live music, and warm ocean air under the palms. With sweeping waterfront views and the unmistakable energy of Coconut Grove, it is the perfect setting to ease into the week ahead with colleagues, friends, and a few surprises along the way.

A Miami institution since 1969, Monty’s has long been a gathering place for locals, boaters, and visitors drawn to its laid-back atmosphere and iconic waterfront setting.

Transportation will be provided.

8:00am-9:00am

Breakfast + Industry Roundtables
Grab breakfast and join your peers for one of three closed-door discussion groups designed for corporate, association, and industry partners. These candid, freewheeling conversations create space to openly tackle the issues, pressures, and opportunities that are top of mind across healthcare events today.

9:00am-10:00am

Education Session
Challenging Assumptions and Resetting the Conversation Around AI in Healthcare Event Marketing

A forward-looking but highly practical keynote exploring how healthcare event professionals can responsibly leverage AI to better understand audiences, improve engagement, measure impact, and future-proof their exhibition strategies.

• Nick Borelli, Marketing Director, Zenus, Inc.

10:00am-10:15am

Sponsor Spotlight
A fast, focused take on the ideas shaping our industry, giving sponsors a chance to share who they are, what they do, and what they’re seeing next, all in 15 minutes or less.

10:15am-10:30am

Morning Break + Sponsor Expo
Take a quick break, recharge, and spend time with the sponsors helping drive ideas and innovation across healthcare events.

10:30am-11:00am

The Future of Healthcare Events Study

Be among the first to see the results of HCEA’s latest member research, providing fresh insights into the priorities, challenges, and emerging trends shaping healthcare conventions today. This preliminary readout will highlight the findings most relevant to convention professionals and explore how they will help guide HCEA’s programs, resources, and strategic direction in the years ahead.

• Joe Federbush, President, EVOLIO Marketing, Inc.

11:00am-11:45am

Education Session
Behind the Curtain, Part I: Inside the Changing World of the Corporate Convention Manager 

Healthcare convention and event teams are navigating enormous change inside their organizations: leaner teams, expanding responsibilities, procurement pressure, compliance complexity, tighter timelines, evolving leadership expectations, and growing demands for measurable business impact. In this candid, insider discussion, corporate convention leaders pull back the curtain on what is changing inside their businesses and how those shifts are reshaping relationships with associations, agencies, and supplier partners.

11:45am-12:00pm

Sponsor Spotlight
A fast, focused take on the ideas shaping our industry, giving sponsors a chance to share who they are, what they do, and what they’re seeing next, all in 15 minutes or less.

12:00pm-12:45pm

Lunch and HCEA Presidential Transition

Join us for lunch as HCEA recognizes the contributions of its outgoing leadership and officially welcomes the 2026-2027 Board of Directors. The presidential transition celebrates the organization’s continued commitment to advancing the healthcare convention industry while introducing the leaders who will help shape HCEA’s future.

12:45pm-1:45pm

Education Session
Where Data Meets Dialogue: The Trends, Behaviors, and Business Realities Shaping Smarter Convention Investment Decisions Going Forward

• Jessica Sibila, CMP, CTSM, Executive Director, The Exhibitor Advocate
• Joe Federbush, President, EVOLIO Marketing, Inc.

1:45pm-2:30pm

Education Session
Behind the Curtain, Part II: Chasing New Business: What Has Changed

Clients are restructuring. Procurement is tightening. RFPs are becoming more complex, more compressed, and more heavily scrutinized. In this candid follow-up panel discussion, senior new business and account leaders from leading industry partners pull back the curtain on how suppliers are adapting to changing client expectations, evolving buying behaviors, shifting internal structures, and increasing demands for speed, flexibility, and measurable value. Expect honest perspectives, practical lessons, and a firsthand look at where the industry is heading next.

2:30pm-2:45pm

Sponsor Spotlight
A fast, focused take on the ideas shaping our industry, giving sponsors a chance to share who they are, what they do, and what they’re seeing next, all in 15 minutes or less.

2:45pm-3:15pm

Afternoon Break + Sponsor Expo
Enjoy an afternoon break and visit our sponsors

3:15pm-4:00pm

Education Session
Voice of Young Professionals: What They Seek and What Sparks Their Interest on the Show Floor

Is your exhibit, on show floor strategy truly connecting with the next generation of professionals? Are you listening to their voices—or relying on assumptions? Join CEIR’s VP of Research, Nancy Drapeau, as we share insights from an extensive in-field study featuring interviews with professionals ages 20–35. Discover why they attend exhibitions, what they aim to achieve, and where current practices entice or fall short. Leave with actionable strategies to ensure your event resonates with tomorrow’s industry leaders.

• Nancy Drapeau, IPC, Vice President of Research, CEIR

4:00pm-4:15pm

Sponsor Spotlight 

4:15pm-5:00pm

Education Session
Tap Into the Power of Your Community: Turning Fresh Ideas, Shared Experiences, and New Perspectives into Stronger, Smarter Exhibit Programs

In the events industry, success rarely comes from working alone. Some of your best “aha” moments have likely come from the people around you. A strong community brings new perspectives that can transform your programs and enrich the attendee experience. Reaching that level of collaboration, however, takes intention and a willingness to step beyond your usual circles.

In this session, you’ll hear from seasoned event leaders who have embraced community and cross-functional partnerships to shape their careers and strengthen their exhibit programs. Through real stories and practical examples, you’ll see what becomes possible when you expand your network, welcome new voices into the conversation, and find inspiration in unexpected places.

You’ll leave with fresh ideas and practical strategies for building relationships within your organization and across the broader events ecosystem, helping you make better decisions, streamline planning, and deliver more impactful experiences for the healthcare audiences you serve.

• Kristin Castelli, SVP Strategic Growth, Healthcare, Sparks
• Aleka Garcia, Senior Manager, Commercial Strategy, Event Experience, Johnson & Johnson MedTech
• Erin Moore, Manager, Global Conventions and Pharmaceutical Meetings, Alcon

5:00pm-5:15pm

Wrapping Up
Wrap up day two with key takeaways from the day’s discussions and looking ahead at what’s in store for day three.

5:30pm-6:30pm

Annual Meeting Meetup
Modeled after the informal meetups many of us have come to enjoy at major meetings, we’ll gather for refreshments and conversation before heading out for dinner around Miami.

Evening Free for Industry-Hosted Events

8:00am-8:30am

Breakfast + Sponsor Expo
Enjoy breakfast and visit our sponsors

8:30am-9:15am

Education Session
Elevating Conference Value Through Ancillary Meeting Strategy

As competition for premium ancillary meeting space intensifies and congress costs continue to rise, organizations must be more strategic than ever in how they plan, secure, and activate these environments. This session explores practical approaches to maximizing the value of ancillary meetings through early planning, smart budgeting, and seamless execution.

• Courtney Soice, President, Hamilton
• Leslie Hutchins CMP-HC, Director, Meeting Logistics, SPARGO, Inc.
• Arielle Langlais CTSM Diamond, Associate Vice President, Congress and Meeting Management, Access TCA

9:15am-9:30am

Sponsor Spotlight 

9:30am-9:45am

Break

9:45am-10:45am

Education Session
Annual HCP Panel: Firsthand Perspectives on What Clinicians Really Value at Conventions

One of HCEA’s most anticipated sessions returns with an unmatched opportunity: to hear directly from the healthcare professionals you work so hard to reach. This live panel of practicing physicians offers a rare, unfiltered look at what truly resonates—and what falls flat—when they engage with exhibits, sponsorships, and educational experiences at medical meetings.

What catches their attention? What drives lasting impact? What tactics do they find valuable, and which ones feel like a waste of time? You’ll gain firsthand insights into how HCPs navigate the convention floor, how they prioritize their time, and what influences their clinical thinking. Even better—you’ll have the chance to ask your own questions, test your assumptions, and leave with clearer direction on how to make your programs more relevant, respectful, and results-driven. 

• Michael Young, Principal and Founder, biomedwoRx Life Sciences Consulting (moderator)
• HCP panelists to be announced

10:45am-11:00am

Sponsor Spotlight 

11:00am-11:45am

Education Session
HCEA Members Weigh In: Adapting and Rethinking the Convention Playbook

As the closing session of GST26, this interactive panel gives attendees an opportunity to step back and reflect on the insights, research, and conversations from the past three days, including the HCP panel and newly released HCEA member survey findings. Together with the audience, panelists will synthesize the key takeaways, prioritize the issues that matter most, and help HCEA members chart their course for the future of healthcare conventions.

• Michael Young, Principal and Founder, biomedwoRx Life Sciences Consulting (moderator)

11:45am-12:00pm

Closing Remarks 

• Jon Ellms, VP Client Development - Healthcare, Derse