Where AHA and SHSMD Connect Health Care Strategists

Experience the nation’s premier event for health care strategy professionals across marketing, communications, digital engagement, public relations, strategic planning, and business development.

An American Hospital Association conference, SHSMD Connections 2026 brings together health care strategists from across the country for three days of learning, collaboration, and real-world problem solving — September 27–29 in Baltimore, MD.

Baltimore skyline

#SHSMD26 is designed to help you navigate today’s most pressing challenges — from financial pressure and workforce constraints to rapid advances in AI and consumer expectations. Through expert-led sessions, peer discussions, and cross-functional collaboration, you’ll gain practical insights and strategies you can apply immediately.

With 45+ sessions, 100+ speakers, and a highly engaged community of peers, SHSMD Connections is where health care strategists come to share candid perspectives, benchmark their work, and build relationships that extend far beyond the conference.

Is SHSMD Connections for You?

If you're leading strategy, marketing, communications, or growth in health care—yes.

SHSMD Connections is the conference for forward-thinking professionals driving patient-centered strategies and system transformation.

You Should Attend If You're Involved In...

You’ll Leave With...

  • Organization growth, brand & reputation management
  • Digital, data, MarTech & AI operations
  • Consumer experience, engagement & access
  • Physician engagement, clinical marketing & service line strategy
  • Leadership development, career growth & system-wide collaboration
  • Transformation, innovation & strategic change execution
  • Campaign blueprints and planning dashboards you can use now
  • Downloadable templates to bring back to your team
  • Benchmark data to support your decisions
  • Peer-tested solutions to resource, demographic, and tech challenges
  • Case studies of what’s working across the field
  • A powerful network of people solving the same problems you are

This isn’t just inspiration. It’s implementation.

Real Voices from SHSMD Connections

Here’s what previous attendees like most about SHSMD Connections:

"The topic variations, and the keynote speakers were inspiring!"

"Learning from others and finding solutions to new questions."

"Leaving with a real list of to-dos, ideas and purpose."

"I gained a nugget of info at each session that I found pertinent to what I do."

"I appreciated networking with others and hearing that they too have some similar struggles. I was able to get some ideas from them on how they navigate through it. "

Not a Member? SHSMD Members Enjoy Great Benefits!

SHSMD membership is included in the conference registration rate.