October 2026 Issue Highlights:
I. CEO Message: Moving from Insight to Impact
II. NCHL In Action
III & IV. Upcoming Events
V. NCHL Premier Programs
VI. Member Spotlights
VII. Corporate Member Highlight
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Welcome to the October 2026 edition of The Leadership Brief. This month, we’re highlighting key priorities, community momentum, and upcoming opportunities across LENS, NCAF, and USCIPP—designed to keep members informed, connected, and engaged in the work ahead.
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Building What Comes Next, Together
Healthcare leaders are making consequential decisions about their people, their organizations, and the communities they serve. No one should have to navigate that work alone. At NCHL, we believe that bringing leaders together to exchange ideas, learn from experience, and support one another is essential to moving our field forward.
That commitment connects two important milestones this month: our upcoming Leadership Excellence Summit and the release of our 2027 LENS and USCIPP Member Prospectuses.
On November 16–17 in Chicago, the Summit will bring our community together around the theme Moving from Insight to Impact. Through leadership showcases, keynote perspectives, and practical conversations, we will explore how organizations are translating ideas into action across people, operations, and technology. We will also introduce the NCHL Healthcare Leadership Framework, an important next step in our work to support leadership development across healthcare.
Our time in Chicago will include the Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award Celebration, an opportunity to recognize exceptional leadership and the lasting difference it makes for organizations, people, and communities. I look forward to learning alongside you and celebrating the contributions that strengthen our field.
Our new membership prospectuses extend that spirit of connection into the year ahead. They outline how organizations can engage with LENS and USCIPP to develop healthcare leaders, advance international patient care, strengthen partnerships, and contribute their expertise. For current members, they reflect our commitment to deepening the value of your participation. For organizations considering membership, they offer an invitation to join this work.
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David L. Schreiner, PhD, FACHE, serves as Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership. He brings more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience and is a nationally recognized advocate for values-driven leadership. He is also an executive coach, speaker, and author of the bestselling book, Be the Best Part of Their Day.
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I encourage you to explore the prospectuses and join us in Chicago. Thank you for the ideas, generosity, and commitment you bring to NCHL. Your participation shapes what we can accomplish together.
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Looking Ahead to 2027, Together
NCHL’s strength comes from the people who make this community what it is. Across 150+ member organizations representing more than 2.5 million people in the healthcare workforce, our members share expertise, build connections, and help advance healthcare leadership every day.
Our new 2027 LENS and USCIPP Membership Prospectuses build on that shared commitment. They outline opportunities to strengthen leadership development, advance international patient care, and connect with peers who understand your organization’s priorities and challenges.
For our current members, this is a look at how we’re investing in the communities you help shape. For organizations considering membership, it’s an invitation to bring your perspective and become part of the work ahead.
Explore the prospectuses below and discover how your team can connect, contribute, and grow with NCHL in 2027.
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LENS 2027 Member Prospectus
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Explore what’s next for LENS in 2027! Our new Membership Prospectus highlights opportunities to connect with peers, strengthen leadership development, and contribute to work that moves healthcare forward. Discover our membership options and find the right fit for your organization’s priorities.
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USCIPP 2027 Member Prospectus
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Discover the possibilities for your international patient program in 2027! Our new Membership Prospectus highlights how USCIPP brings organizations together through peer connection, shared learning, and collaboration. Explore how your team can engage with this community and help shape the future of international healthcare.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us earlier this month for our NCHL Discovery Forum, Leading Responsibly in an AI-Enabled Healthcare Environment.
We were grateful to welcome Ken Grubbs DNP, MBA, RN, Chief Nursing Executive & Executive Vice President, Accreditation and Certification Operations, Joint Commission, alongside moderator David L. Schreiner, Ph.D., FACHE, CEO of NCHL, for a timely conversation about advancing AI responsibly while protecting quality, safety, accountability, and trust.
The discussion explored responsible AI adoption and governance, organizational risk, workforce readiness and upskilling, and the evolving responsibilities of healthcare leaders.
Missed the conversation or want to revisit it?
Watch the recording:🔗https://bit.ly/3WguYJV
Thank you to Ken, Joint Commission, and our NCHL community for contributing to this important dialogue.
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III. Upcoming In-Person Events
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IV. Upcoming Virtual Events
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Join Our Upcoming Webinar
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New to NCHL? Get to know us at one of our upcoming 30-minute live webinars. Register to receive the invite to the next session. These sessions are held quarterly.
Can't make any of the dates and still want to connect? Email info@nchl.org to get connected! We'd love the opportunity to get to know you too and see how we may be a strategic partner to your organization.
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Leadership Excellence Networks
(LENS)
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National Council on Administrative Fellowships (NCAF)
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US Cooperative for International Patient Programs (USCIPP)
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NCHL is a trusted community for healthcare leaders to connect, learn, and collaborate. Through research, peer networks, and practical learning, we help organizations strengthen leadership capacity and advance excellence across healthcare. Proudly advancing healthcare leadership since 2001.
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Member Healthcare Organizations, Academic Institutions, and Corporate Partners
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Visit NCHL.org to learn more about our programs, connect with the member community, and explore upcoming events and opportunities.
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NCHL Healthcare Leadership Framework
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NCHL continues to advance the field of healthcare leadership science through the ongoing evolution of the Healthcare Leadership Competency Model, strengthening the evidence base and translating research into practical tools leaders can apply across healthcare settings.
In partnership with Korn Ferry, the NCHL Leadership Framework advances the Healthcare Leadership Competency research. We are prepared to launch the model and framework next month in Chicago, Illinois!
Thank you to the many members and partners contributing their expertise and perspectives to help shape the future of healthcare leadership.
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Momentum Makers (Leaders)
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Celebrating the achievements and leadership of extraordinary NCHL member leaders.
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Leadership Excellence Networks (LENS)
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We’re excited to recognize Jared Stone of Henry Ford Health for his thoughtful leadership and commitment to developing and supporting healthcare leaders across the continuum.
As co-chair of the Academia and Industry Collaborative Council and a member of NCAF, Jared brings valuable perspective and a collaborative spirit to NCHL’s work. His passion for connecting education and practice reflects our shared commitment to strengthening healthcare leadership.
We look forward to hearing from Jared as a panelist and Leadership Showcase participant at this year’s Summit.
Thank you, Jared, for the expertise, energy, and dedication you bring to the NCHL community!
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US Cooperative for International Patient Programs (USCIPP)
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Recognizing Milly Valverde, Director, Destination Medicine Global Health Care at The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University, for her leadership, partnership, and commitment to the USCIPP community.
As a member of the USCIPP Advisory Council, Milly helps strengthen the community through her engagement, collaboration, and willingness to share her expertise. Her contributions support meaningful connections among member organizations and advance USCIPP's work across international healthcare.
Thank you, Milly, for the impact you continue to make across the USCIPP community.
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Excellence in Action (Organizations)
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Recognizing our member organizations for their contributions in advancing healthcare leadership & organizational excellence.
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This month, we are pleased to recognize the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) for its outstanding leadership and engagement across the NCHL community.
MUSC leaders bring valuable expertise and perspective to our work on the NCHL Healthcare Leadership Framework, benchmarking, and professional enrichment initiatives. Their steady presence, thoughtful contributions, and willingness to support peers have strengthened our community throughout the year and inspired others to contribute.
Thank you to the MUSC team for consistently showing up, sharing your expertise, and helping advance healthcare leadership. We are grateful for your partnership and the commitment you bring to our shared work.
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VII. In Conversation With:
Corporate Member Spotlight
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International travel is changing, and those shifts are increasingly visible in hospital revenue cycles. This summer, Sunbelt Health Partners saw significant variability across international accounts, with differences by market, payer, and patient population.
As hospitals prepare for the fall and winter months, Canadian snowbird season will provide another important window into cross-border patient activity. For organizations in Florida, Arizona, Texas, and other winter destinations, capturing accurate international patient information early, including a valid Canadian address and travel or supplemental insurance, can help teams route accounts appropriately and improve recovery.
Major global events will continue to create local impacts, from the World Cup this past summer to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Strengthening front-end identification, insurance verification, and account routing can help health systems prepare for concentrated periods of international travel and the receivables that follow.
As global travel patterns continue to evolve, the question for health systems is not simply who is coming to the hospital, but whether teams and processes are prepared to capture the information needed to recover what is owed.
For more information, contact info@sunbelthp.com
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Sunbelt is Now Part of UHS
It has been over one year since Unified Health Services (UHS), backed by Reynolda Equity Partners, acquired Sunbelt Health Partners. Sunbelt brings specialized expertise in international receivables, while UHS adds decades of experience in Workers’ Compensation claims. Together, the organizations now serve more than 200 hospitals across 40 states, combining complementary expertise to help health systems navigate complex claims and strengthen financial recovery.
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