Dr Lawrence Lai

Awards Committee Chair

Since 2018, Dr Lawrence Lai serves as the Chairman of the IHF Awards Committee. He was IHF Governing Council Member for six years before becoming an Honorary IHF Member in 2015.

Dr Lai is currently Special Advisor to the Hong Kong University-Shenzhen Hospital, Honorary Professor of the Medical Faculty, University of Hong Kong, Consultant to the Macau Health Bureau and ISQua expert.

Dr Lai has also been actively involved in the work of the Asian Hospital Federation (AHF). He was elected President for two terms and is currently member of the AHF Trust Fund.

Dr Lai received various awards during his career, including the 40th Anniversary Gold Medal by the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) and the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Government in 2009.

Avenue Healthcare, Kenya

Esther Ajowi

Branch Manager and Director

Esther is a Healthcare Operations Leader in Nairobi, Kenya, with over eight years of experience as both a Health Centre Manager and Medical Doctor. She specializes in balancing clinical operations and health administration leadership, driving facility growth, and championing value-based, patient-centred care. Fluent in English, Kiswahili, and with intermediate French proficiency, Esther excels in strategic planning, healthcare administration, clinical management, and project management. Currently, as the Branch Manager & Chronic Care Clinic Team Lead at Avenue Healthcare's Garden City Clinic, she oversees clinical and administrative operations, ensuring patient satisfaction and quality assurance. With a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Science in Diabetology from the University of South Wales, she continues to enhance my skills through ongoing education and certifications in diabetes management.

National Center of Women and Child Health, Ministry of Health, Oman

Dr Sami Al Farsi

Senior Consultant Paediatric Emergency, Director General

Dr Sami graduated from medical school in 1997 and began his career at the Royal Hospital, Ministry of Health (MOH) in 1999 as a paediatric resident. He pursued advanced training through fellowships in paediatric emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, and in paediatric intensive care at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.

Upon his return to Oman, Dr Sami served as a paediatric emergentologist and paediatric intensivist, and led the paediatric emergency unit at the Royal Hospital until 2012.

In 2015, he was appointed Director of the Child Health Department at the Royal Hospital, where he managed a range of paediatric subspecialties and acute care units.

In 2022, Dr Sami was appointed Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Hospital, Oman’s leading tertiary referral centre. Under his leadership, several specialized centres were established within the hospital.

He actively contributes to a number of committees within the Royal Hospital, the Ministry of Health, and the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB).

In January 2023, Dr Sami joined the Governing Council of the International Hospital Federation (IHF) to serve the remainder of Oman’s term and is also a member of the IHF Audit and Finance Committee.

Royal Hospital, Oman

Fatma Al Jahwari

Head of Patient Safety and Risk Management
IHF Young Executive Leader (YEL) 2021, (YEL) Ambassador 2025

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Ms Lara Al Qadi

Quality Director

Lara S. Al Qadi is a Director, Quality at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). Al Qadi oversees quality initiatives within a large Abu Dhabi hospital renowned for its complex healthcare services and patient-centered approach. They focus on ensuring that patient needs are prioritized through a multidisciplinary strategy, leveraging advanced technology and modern treatment techniques to meet international benchmarks in healthcare excellence.

Prior to their current role, Al Qadi served as Manager, Quality at SEHA, an Abu Dhabi-based healthcare services provider. In this capacity, they contributed to the operational quality across a network of medical offices and hospitals. Earlier in their career, Al Qadi held the position of Pharmacy Manager at Mafraq Hospital, where they managed pharmacy operations. They also concurrently held a role in Quality and Risk, with a specific focus on Medication Safety at the same institution.

Al Qadi's professional expertise isfurther underscored by a Master of Quality Management from the University of Wollongong in Dubai. They hold multiple certifications, including Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Certified Medical Quality (CMQ) from the American Board in Medical Quality, and Certified Lean Six Sigma practitioner from the Charted Quality Institute. Additional qualifications include a Fellowship from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a Silver Quality fellowship from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and certification as a Professional of Patient Safety from The Certification Board for Professional in Patient Safety.

Emirates Health Services, UAE

Dr Kalthoom AlBlooshi

Chief Innovation Officer and Training and Development Center Director

Dr. Kalthoom AlBlooshi is currently the Director of the Training and Development Center and Chief Innovation Officer at Emirates Health Services. She’s a Family Physician Specialist with more than 22 years of experience in healthcare management and leadership. Dr. AlBlooshi strives towards excellence and innovation during her different roles she has held; including leading and managing 16 Hospitals of Ministry of Health and Prevention for 20 years and winning 25 international awards of excellence in hospitals management.

Dr. Kalthoom is keen on continuously developing her skills through enrolling in executive and women leadership programs. Further, she serves as a key member in several clinical and leadership committees and participated in international and national conferences for exploring and sharing knowledge in vital areas of healthcare advancement.

She has published and participated in several research papers, contributing to innovation and excellence in healthcare in UAE.

Dubai Health, United Arab Emirates

Dr Hiba AlHumaidan

Consultant Physician, Chair of Department, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Dr Hiba AlHumaidan is a clinical pathologist with a subspecialty in Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking. She currently works as a consultant pathologist and Chair for the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology in Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dr Alhumaidan holds a medical degree from the Royal College of surgeons in Ireland. She joined a clinical pathology residency program at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Rhode Island and subsequently joined a fellowship program in transfusion medicine and blood banking at Yale University School of medicine in Connecticut. She is double board certified by the American board of pathology in clinical pathology and in transfusion medicine and blood banking.

During her years, Dr Alhumaidan worked and developed a great interest in patient blood management, cell therapy , therapeutic apheresis  and Red blood cell genotyping

Department of Health, Abu Dhabi

Ms Fatima Ali Alhajri

Division Director of Quality and Safety,

Fatima Ali Alhajri is a dedicated, distinguished leader in healthcare quality and safety, with a background in medical lab technologies. She holds a master’s degree in quality and safety in healthcare management from the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.

Her passion for quality led her to join the Ambulatory Health Care Services as a Quality Officer, where she steadily advanced in her career. As Quality Manager, she led the quality and patient safety program across the network, overseeing performance management, KPI monitoring, and JCI accreditation. Her contributions also include the development of a comprehensive policy management system, an excellence framework, and a robust data management system, all of which aim to elevate the quality of healthcare services.

Recently appointed as the Division Director of Quality and Safety at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Ms Al Alhajri now plays a key role in implementing quality improvement initiatives across the healthcare network and ensuring compliance with quality standards. Her expertise and leadership continue to drive excellence in patient care and to enhance patient safety

Ms Al Alhajri is at the forefront of several strategic initiatives within the Department of Health. She leads key projects such as the Jawda Automation, which aims to streamline healthcare quality data, and the Hospital Rating Methodology, designed to enhance transparency and accountability in healthcare services. Additionally, she spearheads the Patient Safety Taxonomy Strategy, focusing on improving patient outcomes through effective safety practices.

With a commitment to excellence and a passion for improving patient care, Ms Al Alhajri continues to make significant strides in the healthcare sector, ensuring that quality and safety remain at the forefront of healthcare delivery.

Portuguese Association for Hospital Development (APDH)

Prof. Carlos Pereira Alves

President

Prof. Carlos Pereira Alves serves as the President of the Board of the Portuguese Association for Hospital Development (APDH) since 2016. He also represents Portugal as Governor of the HOPE Board of Governors of the European Federation of Hospitals. From 2011 to 2015, he also represented Portugal as an elected member of the IHF Governing Council.

Prof. Alves is a General and Vascular Surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

He held various roles, such as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Subgroup Hospitalar Capuchos/Desterro – Arroios de (1997 to 2004), Head of the Surgery Service of the Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos, Lisbon, Director of Surgery at the Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos (2004-2012).

Prof. Alves is also an author of several published medical papers and vein diseases chapters in the book “Patologia Cirúrgica” the Portuguese surgical book published by McGraw Hill.

Thoracic Medicine Center, Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital, Taiwan

Dr Kuan-Jen Bai

Director

Dr Kuan-Jen Bai is a renowned physician and academic from Taiwan. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Dr. Bai has made significant contributions to the fields of respiratory therapy, pulmonology, and critical care medicine. He currently holds positions as a Professor at the College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, and serves as the Director of the Thoracic Medicine Center at Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital.

Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden

Dr Mattias Bjarnegård

Chief Development Officer

Dr Mattias Bjarnegård serves as Chief Development Officer at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, where he leads transformation across digitalization and AI, quality and patient safety, innovation, and life science collaboration.

Trained as a radiologist with a PhD in genetics, he has more than a decade of senior leadership experience within healthcare, spanning somatic care, psychiatry, and diagnostics. His work focuses on driving large-scale transformation in complex organizations, with a strong emphasis on translating innovation into real impact for patients.

Dr Bjarnegård has extensive experience from national assignments, including advisory roles for the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the National Board of Health and Welfare, particularly in developing medical education at different levels.

Buch International Hospital, Pakistan

Mr Yasir Bucha

CEO and Founder

Yasir Bucha is an entrepreneur and business leader with extensive experience across real estate, healthcare, fintech, education, and AI-driven technology ventures. As the founder and CEO of multiple successful companies, including Buch International Hospital, PayFor, and Captain Developers, he has led innovative projects focused on modern living, healthcare advancement, and digital transformation. With a background in engineering and an MBA from Cardiff Business School, he combines strategic leadership with expertise in technology and business development. Yasir is also actively involved in community and industry organizations, reflecting his commitment to social impact and sustainable growth.

Agir – Health Management, Innovation and Results Association, Brazil

J. Antônio Cirino

Director of Education and Development
Young Executive Leaders 2021

Antônio Cirino is Director of Education and Development at Agir, an institution that manages five public hospitals in the State of Goiás – Brazil. In addition, he is a communicologist, quality manager, professor and health researcher.

Master, PhD and postdoc in Communication. Member of the Center for Studies in Communication, History and Health (NECHS-UFRJ/Fiocruz). Specialist in Project Management and Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. Author of the book “Hospital Communication Management”, Scientific Coordinator of the Hospital Manager’s Manual (Brazilian Hospitals Federation – FBH) – 1st and 2nd Volumes, and organizer of the work “Health Services Accreditation Strategies”. Assistant editor of the Electronic Journal of Communication, Information and Innovation in Health (Reciis/Fiocruz).

Horacio Oduber Hospital, Aruba

Ms Zachary Croes

Board Secretary, Policy Coordinator

Zachary is the Board Secretary and Policy Coordinator at Horacio Oduber Hospital, Aruba’s leading healthcare institution.

With a Master of Science in Epidemiology from Utrecht University and a post-master in Business Analytics and Data Science, she has a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making, governance, and healthcare strategy. She leads a team of 17 professionals, including 13 policy advisors and 4 secretaries of the Board of Directors.

As project manager, she played a key role in the tender process for our new hospital information system and continue to be part of the core implementation team. She also serves on the steering committee for JCI accreditation and she is part of the hospital's core management team.

Her role involves engaging with insurers, the government, and medical staff to drive healthcare integration and accessibility. Recognized for my strategic insights, she is committed to continuous learning and shaping Aruba’s healthcare future.

Cedars Sinai, USA

Mr Bryan Croft

Executive VP, Hospital Operations and COO

Bryan Croft leads the day‑to-day operations of Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center, overseeing all service line and clinical support services with the goal of ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, effective and efficient patient care. He also serves as CEO of Cedars‑Sinai Marina Hospital.

Croft joined Cedars‑Sinai in 2010 as vice president of Operations and was promoted to senior vice president of Operations in 2017. He has been instrumental in advancing Cedars‑Sinai’s operations and developing clinical programs and services, working collaboratively with department chairs, senior management and medical staff. His leadership accomplishments include operational and strategic oversight of the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars‑Sinai and the Cedars‑Sinai Comprehensive Transplant Center, the planning process for the Cedars‑Sinai Marina Hospital replacement facility, and expansion and establishment of new clinical programs.

Deiparine Community Hospital, Philippines

Dr James Deiparine

Medical Director
Young Executive Leaders 2022

Dr James Deiparine is currently the Medical Director of Deiparine Community Hospital. As a Medical Director, his main role is to structurally and financially grow the hospital whilst improving the provision of quality healthcare in a rural setting. He also draws and masterplans the direction that the organization will take in the future.

The Deiparine Community Hospital was started by Dr James’s parents as a small medical clinic in a third class municipality. Fresh from medical school, he took the challenge of growing such small clinic to a hospital. It has grown since – from a 10 bed infirmary to a 30 bed hospital and from 10 employees to 70 employees and growing.

Dr James aims to open several primary care facilities to mirror the country’s recently implemented Universal Health Care Law. He is determined to entice more doctors to practice in the provincial areas and help him provide more accessible and equitable quality healthcare service.He aims to benchmark with healthcare leaders with different perspectives and experiences through the YEL Programme.

Grupo Recoletas Salud, Spain

Ms Mónica Deza

Chief Patient Experience & Digital Media Marketing Officer and member of the Innovation Committee

Mónica Deza is responsible for the strategy of patient experience and digital media marketing at Grupo Recoletas Salud, one of Spain's leading private healthcare groups, contributing to the transformation agenda across its network of hospitals and clinical centres. Her work focuses on the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence, digital health solutions and data-driven communication strategies, with the aim of achieving measurable improvements in the patient journey and the clinical experience.

She is a PhD candidate in Communication and Health Sciences at Universitat Jaume I (UJI), with a doctoral thesis on Virtual Agents, Communication and Health, exploring the role of conversational AI in the patient–provider relationship. She also holds an Executive Programme in Patient Experience from ESADE Business School. Mónica is a Member of the Innovation Committee and of the Health Innovation Commission of Círculo de Empresarios, a Trustee of several Fundacións , and a recognised international speaker and author on innovation, neuroscience and the human dimension of healthcare.

Medland Health Services Zambia

Dr Mohamed El Sahili

Chief Vision Officer

Mohamed El Sahili, MD is a multi-awarded physician, anti-aging specialist, and visionary entrepreneur. He previously led Fairy Bottling Zambia through its acquisition by Coca-Cola before founding Medland Hospital and QHUB during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Chief Vision Officer of Medland Health Services Zambia, he champions Vision 853—an AI-driven sustainable healthcare movement built on the Triple W framework: Women & Youth, Water & Waste, and Wellness. He is also the author of Visiopreneur: The Tomorrow Entrepreneur.

Alkharj Health Zone, Riyadh First Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia

Dr Noha Elklatawy

Healthcare Excellence Supervisor
Young Executive Leaders 2024

Noha's professional experience includes demonstrating continuous growth, achievements, and impressive leadership in the management of complex activities within the healthcare industry. She is an Egyptian family medicine specialist and certified as CPHQ & PMP with 10 years experience in Saudi Arabia in the field of quality and patient safety and performance improvement. Her role involves supervising all 7 Alkharj Zone Hospitals in aspects related to monitoring and improvement of clinical outcomes, quality and patient safety and infection control. She organises these functions, delegates responsibilities to enable goals and ensures that the services provided meet or exceed generally accepted practices and standards of care and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. She takes the lead as project manager or facilitator for projects that are directly linked to strategic goals.

International Health Services Group, USA
Jackson Healthcare, USA

Mr Charles R. Evans, FACHE

Honorary Member

Charles R. Evans is President of the International Health Services Group (IHSG) and Senior Advisor at Jackson Healthcare. IHSG is a social enterprise he founded in 2007 to support health services development in underserved areas of the world.  Current projects are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.  IHSG also founded and supports the Leadership Corps for management capacity building.  Finally, IHSG is active in encouraging international hospital partnerships between US hospitals and hospitals in economically developing countries.

Jackson Healthcare is a family of highly specialized healthcare staffing, executive search and technology companies.

Evans serves as a member of the boards at Jackson Healthcare, WellStreet Urgent Care and Arena.  Additionally, he serves on the boards of non-profit organizations including FaithBridge Foster Care and is chairman of the American International Health Alliance.

In 2012, he attained the Board Leadership Fellow credential of the National Association of Corporate Directors. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE); served as a Governor of the College from 2004 – 2007; Chairman Officer from 2008 – 2011; and was the recipient of the 2014 ACHE Gold Medal Award – the highest honor the organization bestows.  He currently serves as Special Advisor to ACHE on International Affairs, and is an Honorary Member of the International Hospital Federation.

Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia (FCV)

Dr Evaristo José Vega Fernández

Vice President of Health at the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC)

Dr Evaristo José Vega Fernández is Vice President of Health at the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC) - Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia (FCV), one of Latin America's leading integrated healthcare ecosystems. A Medical Doctor, Lawyer, and MBA, he brings extensive experience in healthcare management, clinical operations, health insurance, and hospital administration.

Throughout his career, he has led strategic initiatives focused on clinical excellence, value-based healthcare, digital transformation, operational efficiency, patient-centered care, and the adoption of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery and management.

Dr. Vega is committed to advancing healthcare quality, innovation, and sustainability, promoting collaboration among healthcare organizations, academia, and industry.

Fortis Healthcare, India

Dr Ritu Garg

Chief Growth & Innovation Officer

Dr Ritu Garg is an ENT surgeon and turned to healthcare management. She brings over a decade of leadership experience across hospital operations, business strategy, and enterprise growth— bringing an end-to-end understanding of how robust healthcare systems are designed and evolved.

Dr. Garg is responsible for the entire revenue engine of Fortis, spanning domestic and international sales, marketing, and growth strategy. She also lead new business verticals with full P&L ownership and actively shaped Centers of Excellence in areas like Oncology, Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), Genomics and Mental Health— working to build future-ready clinical and commercial capabilities.

Her journey spanned running flagship hospitals, launching patient-centric platforms and designing new delivery models that blend clinical excellence with commercial innovation. With roots in medicine and an MBA from ISB Hyderabad, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to leadership.

As a member of the Fortis Executive Committee and Board of subsidiaries, she actively shapes enterprise-wide decisions, driven by a vision to reimagine healthcare and deliver it on a scale.

Saudi German Health

Dr Mohamed Hablas

Regional Director, Egypt and North Africa Region

Egypt Healthcare Authority, Egypt

Dr Ahmed Hammad

Chairman's Advisor on Health Policies and Systems - Director Strategy Business Development

The Norwegian Directorate of Health

Dr Sverre Harbo

Senior Advisor

Dr Harbo is a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery and a former Head of the department at Ullevaal University Hospital in Oslo. He also holds Master`s Degree in Management from BI Norwegian Business School and in Public Health from University of California, Berkeley.

He is now a senior advisor in Dept. of Hospital Services in the Directorate working towards the Health Care Sector on various issues.  The Directorate tasks as is to fulfil its role as an executive agency, as a regulatory authority and as an implementing authority in areas of health policy.

Apex Health, Qatar

Mr Joseph Hazel

Group CEO

Joseph Hazel is a distinguished leader in the healthcare industry with over 30 years of C-suite experience across Europe, Middleeast & Africa. In February 2023, he joined Apex Health to spearhead the development of an integrated, collaborative portfolio of private healthcare groups focused on the MENA region. Under his leadership, Apex Health has transformed from establishing a leading private 240-bed hospital in Qatar in 2022 to now operating 8 hospitals across 4 countries, encompassing over 2,700 beds. Joseph’s strategic acumen is driving unparalleled growth and innovation, and he has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Arab Hospitals Federation. Prior to his role at Apex Health, Joseph spent 7 years at Mediclinic Middle East as the Chief Operating Officer for Abu Dhabi, where he played a crucial role in elevating operational excellence. Joseph holds an MSc in Healthcare Economics, Policy, and Management from the London School of Economics, an MBA, and a Diploma in Management from the Open University. He has further honed his expertise with certificates in Managing Healthcare Delivery and Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School, as well as completing director training at the Institute of Directors and leadership training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore

Ms Sandy Ho

Assistant Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) for Plans & Strategy

Sandy is the Assistant Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) for Plans & Strategy at NUH, overseeing the Corporate Planning and Development Department and the Quality Improvement Department.

The Corporate Planning and Development Department shapes NUH’s strategic direction, collaborating with the CEO on long-term plans, managing enterprise risk, annual work plans, data analytics, capital projects, and space optimization for growth.

The Quality Improvement Department enhances hospital standards using Lean Thinking, Design Thinking, and Behavioral Insights, driving continuous improvement in care and operational efficiency while supporting healthcare innovation in partnership with the Kent Ridge Office of Innovation (KROI).

In addition to her ACOO role, Sandy is Co-Chairperson of KROI, Deputy Executive Director of NUH Global in NUH and Executive Director of the NUH Referral Laboratory (NRL), leading initiatives to foster innovation, international collaborations and implement digital and AI solutions at NUH.

Since joining NUHS in 2020, Sandy has served as ACOO of the National University Centre for Oral Health (NUCOHS), where she implemented strategic plans, improved patient care, boosted staff morale, and launched new dental services at Alexandra Hospital and Ng Teng Feng General Hospital to increase access for patients.

Before her tenure at NUHS, Sandy worked in healthcare services for over 20 years and has extensive experience in healthcare solutions, operations and business management, digital development, and stakeholder engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the National University of Singapore, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Singapore Institute of Management, and an MBA from the Adelaide Graduate School of Business. Sandy is also an ICAgile Certified Professional and a certified Lean Six Sigma practitioner.

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Canada

Ms Taylor Johansen

Director, Neurodevelopmental Health
Young Executive Leaders 2021

Taylor Johansen is based in Ottawa, Canada. She is a Director at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Child Development and Community Services and is Head of the department of Autism. She serves on the Board of Directors of Volunteer Ottawa, as well as the Telfer School of Management Alumni Association. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Life Sciences from Queen’s University, a Master of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa, and is a Robert Wood Johnson award recipient. In 2021, Taylor was named one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40 by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade.

Taylor has worked in healthcare leadership in Canada, Ireland, and Australia. Her experience spans home care, social rehabilitation, and hospital services. She is a mother to two young daughters and has a passion for supporting young women in leadership.

Accreditation Canada

Ms Tiffany Kautz

Vice President, Client and Assessment Services

Tiffany is the Vice President of Client Services at Accreditation Canada. Since 2021, she has contributed to national and international efforts to support health organizations in their accreditation and quality improvement journeys. She also serves as an Accreditation Canada Surveyor.

With a healthcare career spanning more than two decades, Tiffany has held leadership roles in executive hospital administration, nursing, and quality and patient safety. Her experience spans a wide range of clinical domains, where her work has consistently focused on advancing health service transformation and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. A Registered Nurse by training, Tiffany brings broad clinical experience to her leadership, spanning various care settings and patient populations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s in Health Studies with a focus on Leadership. She is certified in quality and patient safety and holds additional credentials in change management.

Tiffany is passionate about enabling care excellence and is recognized for her ability to build trust and engagement through thoughtful dialogue and collaborative leadership.

Vizient, USA

David Levine

Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer

David L. Levine, MD is the SVP & Chief Medical Officer for Vizient, Inc. He interfaces with clinical and operational C- suite leaders across major health systems across the US. He represents Vizient nationally as a thought leader on topics such as Performance Improvement, Analytics, and AI. He oversees the direction of Vizient’s Data and Digital strategy. Prior to the CMO role he managed analytics across the enterprise including data operations, data insights, data science, and governance. Vizient provides benchmarked and risk adjusted comparative insights across quality, operations, pharmacy, spend management, and market growth that support Performance Improvement. The data and analytics are the foundation for numerous Software as a Service offerings where he presents insights and solutions to clients. Dr. Levine also serves as a subject matter expert for a council of chief medical and quality officers for academic medical centers. He joined Vizient in 2010 after serving as Medical Director of the emergency department at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago for over 7 years. He practiced Emergency Medicine for over 20 years. He is a member of several national expert panels addressing metrics and quality including a number of CMS Technical Expert Panels. Dr. Levine earned his medical degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and did his Emergency Medicine Residency at Boston City Hospital where he was chief resident. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.

Mediclinic, Switzerland

Mr Bertrand Levrat

Group Chief Operating Officer

Bertrand Levrat was appointed as an Executive Director and COO of Mediclinic in 2024. Prior to joining Mediclinic, he served for 11 years as CEO of the Geneva University Hospital, the largest hospital in Switzerland, and as President of the Swiss Association of University Medicine. Before that, he was CEO of the social services in Geneva and served as a delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross in different countries. He has been a Board member of several foundations, notably in the field of medical research, and is a honorary member of the Board of the International Hospital Federation.

Mr Levrat holds a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Geneva and is a certified Barrister. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Strategic Leadership. He has been appointed Officer of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.

University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland

Ms Sophie Meisser

Sustainability Officer

Sophie Meisser, an environmental engineer by training, began her career as a scientific assistant at the Environmental Engineering Institute of the Swiss Federal institute of Technology (EPFL), before taking on the role of Environmental Manager at Geneva Airport.

Between 1999 and 2002, she broadened her professional experience by working initially for an internet startup, followed by a position within the British telecom group Cable & Wireless Communications.

From 2002 to 2014, she served the State of Geneva in various capacities, including as Director of Waste Management and, subsequently, as Deputy Director of the Geneva State Office for the Environment.

She then returned to Geneva Airport for six years as Head of the Environmental Department, where she notably initiated a Sustainable development Committee, which she chaired until 2018.

In June 2020, Ms. Meisser joined the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) as Sustainability Officer. She led the creation of the hospital's first Sustainability Strategy through a participatory process. Additionally, Sophie is a co-founder and president of the Swiss University Hospitals’ Sustainability Group and serves on the Steering Committee of the Geneva Sustainability Centre of the International Hospital Federation (IHF), representing both HUG and the Swiss Hospital Association, H+.

Joint Commission

Dr James Merlino

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

James I. Merlino, MD, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Joint Commission. He oversees enterprise operations, strategic initiatives, and Joint Commission International, helping ensure the organization’s programs, services, and global activities are aligned to advance healthcare quality and patient safety worldwide. Dr. Merlino plays a key role in guiding operational performance and supporting the evolution of Joint Commission’s offerings to meet the needs of healthcare organizations and patients. Previously holding executive roles at the Cleveland Clinic and Press Ganey, he is widely recognized for his leadership in patient safety, quality improvement, and healthcare transformation.

Dr Risto Miettunen

Honorary Member

Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA, Germany

Ms Aline Mittag

Senior Manager ESG

Aline Mittag has been working in the field of sustainability in healthcare since 2021. After starting her career at the medical technology company Philips, she is now with Asklepios. Her focus is on environmental sustainability, particularly the decarbonization of healthcare. She develops strategies and measures to reduce CO₂ emissions in hospitals and supports their practical implementation. With a solid understanding of the challenges and opportunities of sustainable transformation in the healthcare sector, she combines expertise with a solution-oriented approach. Her goal is to firmly anchor climate protection within the healthcare system and thus make a measurable contribution to sustainable development.

Association of Hospitals of the State of Goiás, Brazil

Dr Adelvânio F. Morato

President

Dr Morato is the president of the Association of Hospitals of the State of Goiás, Brazil. Alongside this role, he was also President of the Brazilian Hospitals Federation (FBH) from 2018 until the end of 2024, which represents more than four thousand private health establishments in Brazil. He's currently the Director-Treasurer of FBH (2025-2028). 

Dr Morato trained as a urologist surgeon. He later became the General Secretary of the Medical Association of the State of Goiás, and is a member of the Union of Hospitals of the State of Goiás and one of the partners of the Instituto do Rim de Goiânia. He became a member of the IHF Governing Council in November 2020 and was also a member of the IHF Executive Committee from January 2023 until September 2024, for the 47th World Hospital Congress in Rio de Janeiro, with FBH as co-host of the event. 

National Department of Health, South Africa

Dr Relebohile Ncha

Chief Director of Hospitals and Tertiary Health Services

Dr Relebohile Ncha graduated with her medical degree from University of Cape Town in 2006 in South Africa. She furthered her studies in the field of Public Health Medicine where she obtained her master’s degree in public health as well as the College of Medicine Fellowship in Public Health Medicine. Dr Ncha is a health system and preventative medicine specialist and has extensive experience within the public and private health sector. These include working at various public hospitals within the Gauteng Department of Health in South Africa as a medical officer, then ventured into public health and worked for the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. She then embarked on the journey into Health Management as a clinical manager at a tertiary hospital in Gauteng South Africa, then served as Chief Executive Officer at Helen Joseph Provincial Tertiary Hospital. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Director of Hospitals and Tertiary health services at the National Department of Health, South Africa.

Philippine Hospital Association

Dr Maria Lourdes K. Otayza

VP for Government Affairs

Dr Maria Lourdes K. Otayza is currently the Chair of Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC) and the Philippine National Health Research System - Research Management Committee (PNHRS-RMC). She is also an associate fellow at the Australasian College of Health Service Management and a fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and the Philippine Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Dr Otayza is a recipient of various recognitions including the Outstanding Filipino Physician Awardee in 2021, Gawad Career Executive Services (CES) Awardee in 2017, Most Outstanding Ilocano Awardee in 2016, Civil Service Commission Pag-asa Awardee in 2016, and was the Dr Jose P. Rizal Gawad Karangalan Awardee from the Philippine Medical Association in 2012.

Mr Alexander S. Preker

Honorary Member

Mr Preker is President and CEO of the Health Investment & Financing Corporation and a Founding Member of the New York Chapter of the Keiretsu Forum and LLP with Keiretsu Capital. He is a Commissioner with the Global Commission on Pollution, Health and Development. Mr Preker is also a Member of the Board of the USA HealthCare Alliance and several healthcare companies.

Up until 2019, he was Chair of the Editorial Advisory Board for the IHF Journal.

Mr Preker has had a distinguished career, working at different times for International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

He is an Executive Scholar at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, an Adjunct Associate Professor of public policy at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Policy and an Adjunct Associate Professor for Health Care Management at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York. In the past he has taught at the Berkeley/Cambridge and McGill University in Montreal. He was previously on the External Advisory Board for the Health Group at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mr Preker has published extensively, having written many scientific articles and authored of over fifteen books.

Catalan Hospital, Health and Social Services Association (La Unió), Spain

Ms Maria Pueyo

Director of Healthcare Affairs and Participation

Maria Pueyo is a pediatrician and holds a PhD in Biomedicine from Pompeu Fabra University (UPF). She worked for 11 years as a primary healthcare pediatrician before transitioning into healthcare planning following the completion of a Master’s in Public Health. She later pursued a Master’s in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics at UPF, further strengthening her expertise in healthcare management and policy.

Throughout her career, Maria has been closely involved in healthcare planning and public procurement within the Catalan healthcare system. Between 2018 and 2021, she was responsible for the pay-for-performance mechanism in the Catalan Healthcare System. From 2021 to 2023, she served as Director of the Barcelona Esquerra healthcare sector, one of the four healthcare areas into which the city of Barcelona is divided.

Since 2023, Maria has been serving as Director of Healthcare Affairs and Participation at La Unió, the association representing providers within the Catalan Healthcare System.

Regional Hospital of Bellinzona and Valleys, Switzerland
(Cantonal Hospital Organization, EOC)

Mr Giovanni Rabito

Quality and Patient Safety Manager

Giovanni Rabito has twenty years of experience in quality and risk management in hospitals and rehabilitation centres, and is currently responsible for quality and patient safety at the Regional Hospital of Bellinzona and Valleys, the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI) and the Pediatric Institute of Southern Switzerland of the Cantonal Hospital Organization (Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, EOC).

Graduated in Economics from the University of Perugia (Italy) in 2004, he continued his studies by obtaining a Master of Advanced Studies in Healthcare Economics and Management from the University of Lugano (Switzerland) and further specialised in Risk Management, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.

A professional in quality management systems and risk management in the hospital sector, Mr Rabito has particular experience in coordinating clinical pathway development projects aimed at improving the effectiveness and robustness of clinical-organisational processes and creating value for patients.

He has consolidated his career by developing innovative projects that integrate on-site simulation with advanced risk management methodologies to strengthen the preparedness of healthcare professionals, increase organisational resilience and proactively reduce clinical risks. In 2024, his achievements earned him the first prize at the Swiss Congress of Cancer Care.

Indonesian Hospital Association (PERSI)

Dr Hanjaja Ronosulistyo

Head of Foreign Affairs and Inter-institution

Dr Hanjaja "Hanny" Ronosulistyo, MM, FISQua, is the Head of Foreign Affairs and Inter-institution of the Indonesian Hospital Association (IHA/PERSI).

Dr Hanny is also a Board Member of the International Society on Quality in Healthcare since 2022, an ISQUA Expert 2022-2025, a Board Member of the Asian Society on Quality in Healthcare 2023-2026 and on the Indonesian Committee of Accreditation on Hospitals, Foreign Affairs and International Accreditation division since 2014.

Previous to that, he was a director of several hospitals for more than 20 years, and a Director of Honorary Indonesian Hospital Ethical Board twice from 2016 until 2022, as part of the Indonesian Hospital Federation.

Dr Hanny is a member of the IHF Governing Council since September 2023.

Fundació Sanitària Mollet, Spain

Mr Miguel Ángel Martínez Sánchez

Director of Sustainability, Health and Safety

With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare and environmental sectors, he is a recognized leader in sustainable healthcare transformation, occupational safety, and healthy workplace strategies.

He holds a Technical Engineering degree in Industrial Chemistry (UPC), a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences (UAB), and a Master’s in Integrated Management Systems (UPC). He is also a certified Senior Occupational Risk Prevention Specialist in the three official disciplines, and a qualified expert in Civil Protection Self-Protection Plans. He has completed executive training in Sustainable Leadership and the 2030 Agenda at ESADE Business School.

Miguel Ángel is a member of the Executive Committee of Health Care Without Harm Europe and of the Planetary Health Development Centre (ISGlobal-FSM). He has served as a CO₂ emissions verifier, senior auditor, and climate change and sustainability consultant at Ernst & Young (CCaSS).

At the Mollet Health Foundation, he leads two internationally recognized flagship projects:

• Healthy Organization, awarded the Silver Award at the International Hospital Federation (IHF) Awards 2022, and
• Green Hospital, an initiative ongoing for over 12 years, which has enabled the hospital to achieve Net Zero in direct emissions. This project has received multiple international honors, including:
  • Best Communication Award, IHF Awards 2023
  • The Healthy Futures Award, Health Care Without Harm Europe 2024
  • Gold Award – Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence in Low Carbon Healthcare, IHF Awards 2024

A passionate advocate for climate-resilient and sustainable healthcare systems, Miguel Ángel is also an active speaker, educator, and promoter of safe and healthy habits across the healthcare sector.

Castle Peak Hospital / Siu Lam Hospital (CPH/SLH), Hong Kong

Dr Bonnie Wei-man SIU  

Hospital Chief Executive

Dr. SIU started her career in Psychiatry in CPH and obtained Professional Fellowship in Psychiatry in 2005. She is currently the Hospital Chief Executive of CPH (for psychiatric patients) and SLH (for patients with severe grade learning disability). Before taking up this post in June 2023, she was the Chief of Service of the Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/ Forensic Psychiatry/ Old Age Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist of the Department of Forensic Psychiatry of CPH. CPH is the psychiatric hospital in Hong Kong with the longest history and the only psychiatric hospital in Hong Kong providing comprehensive Forensic Psychiatric services to offenders with mental health problems. Being the Co-chairman of the Executive Committee of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) of CPH, Dr. SIU has been involving in the strategic direction and implementation plans of the IMH for the promotion of better community mental health through intensive education, quality training, patient empowerment programmes, and vigorous research. In the recent years, the IMH of CPH has established the “Mind Space”, the first Mental Health Experience Museum in Hong Kong for de-stigmatisation of mental illness and promotion of community mental well-being.

Ministry of Health, Poland

Dr Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda

Health Minister

Dr Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk. She completed an MBA in Healthcare Management at Kozminski University in Warsaw and holds a Ph.D. in social sciences (economics and finance) from the University of Gdańsk’s Faculty of Management.

With over 15 years of experience in local government administration, she held leadership roles at both county (Secretary of Malbork County) and regional levels (Director of the Health Department of the Pomorskie Marshal's Office).

From 2006 to 2020, she was involved in the restructuring and debt relief of around 30 hospitals in Poland. In 2017, she was appointed to the board and later became president of Szpitale Pomorskie Sp. z o.o. in Gdynia.

In 2024–2025, she advised the Podlaskie Voivodeship on strategies for medical institutions.

Chair of the National Council of the Polish Hospital Federation (2024–2030 term) and a member of the International Hospital Federation Awards Committee.

She teaches MBA courses for healthcare professionals at Kozminski University, Lazarski University, the University of Economics and Humanities, and the Medical University of Białystok.

Narayana Health Ltd., India

Ms Rashmi Srivastava

Vice President, Group Quality and New initiative

Rashmi Srivastava is a seasoned healthcare professional with a Master’s in Hospital Administration and over 20 years of expertise in healthcare operations, project management, and quality management systems. She currently serves as Vice President – Group Quality and New Initiatives at Narayana Health, where she leads accreditation and certification programs, including NABH, JCI, NABL, Nursing Excellence, Blood Bank, and Imaging Services across 20 hospitals. Since 2011, she has successfully led enterprise and individual hospital accreditation surveys for the Narayana Health Group as IHCO Coordinator and Enterprise Survey Coordinator for Joint Commission International accreditation. Ms Srivastava is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Fellow of ISQUA (FISQUA), and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), with additional credentials from IIM Bangalore and Johns Hopkins University. Her expertise spans healthcare informatics, digitization of quality systems, risk and incident management, healthcare audits, and the design and implementation of patient and employee grievance and feedback management systems.

Mass General Brigham Global Advisory

Dr Sarper Tanli

Managing Director for MENA

Dr Sarper Tanli is a distinguished healthcare development and management expert with over 30 years of extensive experience, particularly across the Middle East and the GCC region. His expertise spans multiple facets of healthcare, including planning, development, clinical operations, home health, digital health services, and healthcare informatics.

Dr Tanli has played a pivotal role in several high-profile healthcare projects throughout his career. He has contributed to the success of prominent organizations such as Harvard Medical International, Dubai Healthcare City, and Houston Methodist (Texas) Global Health Care Services. His involvement includes the development of hospitals, wellness and outpatient centers, home health and elderly care facilities, and the creation of the Integrated Health Exchange platform.

Apollo Hospitals Group

Dr Karan Thakur

Group Vice President for Corporate Affairs & Sustainability

Dr Karan Thakur is a seasoned healthcare administrator with wide-ranging experience in the field of healthcare policy, hospital operations, projects, health communications and healthcare sustainability. He has held various leadership roles at the Apollo Hospitals in India and is currently the Group Vice President for Corporate Affairs & Sustainability. He was previously a technical consultant on climate and health to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

He is a leading advocate internationally for reducing the health sector's impact on the climate crisis and making sustainability a central pillar in the health delivery model. He has worked extensively to create awareness on the impact climate change is having on human health.

Dr Thakur is an alumnus of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and National Law University, New Delhi. He was the 2022 Global Fellow from India for the Eisenhower Fellowships, and the 2024 Chevening Gurukul Fellow for Leadership & Excellence at the University of Oxford.

Kowloon Hospital (KH) and Hong Kong Eye Hospital (HKEH), Hong Kong

Dr Chris Tsang

Hospital Chief Executive

Dr Chris Tsang, a critical care physician, began his clinical career after graduation with an MBBS from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong in 1994. He gained his fellowship of acute internal medicine and critical care medicine in 2002 and 2003 respectively and continued his clinical journey in Intensive Care Units until 2018 with his full-time engagement in administrative medicine.

Chris is currently the Hospital Chief Executive of Kowloon Hospital (KH) and Hong Kong Eye Hospital (HKEH) in which KH provides about 1400 beds for rehabilitation, respiratory care and mental health service while HKEH offers secondary and tertiary ophthalmic service in Hong Kong. Before taking up this post in 2022, he was the chief manager of Planning and Commissioning Team of Kowloon West Cluster of Hong Kong responsible for hospital redevelopment and major capital projects. He had the atypical experience of leading the planning, building and commissioning of the Hong Kong Infection Control Centre within the ultra-short timeline of six months to meet the imminently significant patient demands during COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, he is interested in improving patient journey in the hospital during their out-patient visits and in-patient care as well as enhancing hospital sustainability by reducing environmental footprint.

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

Dr Coen A. Wijdicks

Vice President of Research

Dr. Coen A. Wijdicks, PhD, MBA is an accomplished biomedical scientist, educator, and research executive with more than two decades of experience in translational clinical science. His background includes a PhD in Biomedical Science, a postdoctoral fellowship in BioMedical Engineering, and an Executive MBA with advanced training in strategy and leadership. His doctoral and post-doctoral training earned numerous academic awards, including the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Excellence in Research Award, twice.

He currently serves as Vice President of Research at Gillette Children’s, where he oversees a $5M research portfolio and more than 100 active clinical, translational, and outcomes‑based studies across pediatric orthopedics, neuroscience, pain, gait and motion analysis, and rare neuromusculoskeletal conditions. His responsibilities span FDA/IRB compliance, biostatistics and data governance, research operations, clinical trials infrastructure, and multi‑site academic partnerships.

Dr. Wijdicks’ academic record includes 178 peer‑reviewed publications with an H-Index of 68, extensive podium and poster presentations, invited national and international teaching, and nine U.S. patents that have shaped surgical fixation and ligament reconstruction practices. He has a sustained record of mentoring undergraduate students, medical students, fellows, and research staff, and has contributed to structured educational programs in orthopaedic biomechanics and surgical research methods.

American Organization for Nursing Leadership

Dr Claire Zangerle

Chief Executive Officer

Dr Zangerle also serves as the Chief Nurse Executive of the American Hospital Association. Most recently, Dr Zangerle served as Principle of CMZ Strategies, LLC, focused on nurse leader coaching, nursing organization strategy and nursing’s interdependencies with functional disciplines. Formerly, she served as Chief Nurse Executive at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA, CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio and in various roles at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH including Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Quality and Accreditation, and Director of Preventive Cardiology. She began her nursing career at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Trauma.

Dr Zangerle received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Texas A&M University, an Associate Degree of Nursing from Houston Baptist University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Lake Erie College, a Master’s in Nursing from Kent State University, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Texas Christian University. She is certified as an Advanced Nurse Executive with the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a Fellow of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr Zangerle serves on the editorial board of Nursing Management, is a public board member of Rasmusen University and the Cleveland Animal Protective League. She is a former board member of AONL and board of trustee of the AHA.