Smart Horizons 2025 · Archive
Past Symposiums
Smart Horizons HealthTech Symposium 2025 Speakers
Bold voices, visionary leaders and industry experts will be leading sessions to help you and your team adapt faster, scale smarter, and thrive.
2025 · KEYNOTE
John Nosta
Healthcare Futurist, Founder, NostaLab
John Nosta is a globally recognized innovation theorist and founder of NOSTALAB, a think tank at the intersection of science, medicine, and technology. With over 700 published articles and partnerships with organizations like the WHO and Google Health, he is a leading voice in the future of health. As we enter the new era of healthcare, John’s work embodies the essence of “Adapt to Thrive”—championing agile strategies, AI integration, and human-centered transformation. A dynamic keynote speaker and strategic advisor, he empowers companies, NGOs, and governments to navigate exponential change and drive meaningful impact. From AI to iterative intelligence, his insights translate complex science into actionable innovation. With a background in cardiovascular research and executive leadership in health communications, John bridges the gap between science and society, helping healthcare not only survive but lead.
Day 2 · 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Closing Keynote
2025 · KEYNOTE
Erin Pash
CEO & Founder, Pash Co.
Entrepreneur, Therapist and Strategic Leader, Erin is an expert in relational and mental health. As the CEO of Pash Co., she’s combining innovative tools with in-person connection solutions to reimagine what it means to be well and a successful leader in the age of AI.
Day 2 · 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Opening Keynote
2025 · SPEAKER
George Stiles
President & COO, PAI
George Stiles is President and Chief Operating Officer of Planned Administrators, Inc. (PAI), a nationally-licensed independent TPA that provides administrative services to groups and carriers across multiple lines of business. He is also President and Chief Operating Officer for Blue Solutions, LLC (BSA), a licensed affiliate of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC), providing TPA services to self-funded groups in South Carolina. In these roles, he leads all aspects of sales, strategy, finance and operations. A 30 year veteran of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, George has held operational leadership positions in both the Commercial and Government Programs segments of the organization.
Day 1 · 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Healthcare's Evolution Post-One Big Beautiful Bill
2025 · SPEAKER
James Geraghty
Director, Portfolio Operations, Liberty Dental Plan
James Geraghty is the Director of Portfolio Operations at Liberty Dental Plan. With more than a decade of experience in healthcare transformation, operations, and process optimization, he has led enterprise initiatives in claims automation, managed care, and digital modernization—driving meaningful improvements in operational efficiency.
Day 1 · 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Healthcare's Evolution Post-One Big Beautiful Bill
2025 · SPEAKER
Caitlin Johnson
Director, Enterprise Analytics, HPI
As Director of Enterprise Analytics, Caitlin drives data automation, governance and strategy at HPI. Overseeing the centralization of analytics inclusive of vendor partners, medical management, client reporting, and operations promotes meaning collaboration across the organization in alignment with business objectives.
Day 2 · 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Panel: Securing Privacy and Ethics in the Age of Innovation
2025 · SPEAKER
April Gill
CCO, Smart Data Solutions
April oversees the integrated commercial team that combines sales, solutions, and marketing to optimize Smart Data Solutions' Go to Market approach. April has dedicated her 20+ year career to advancing healthcare efficiency, access, and outcomes with a focus on driving strategic and accelerated growth at scale. She leads the efforts to drive revenue growth, enhance client experience, and streamline our go-to-market strategies.
Day 2 · 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Closing Remarks: April Gill, CCO, Smart Data SolutionsDay 3 · 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Welcome Address: April Gill, CCO, Smart Data SolutionsDay 3 · 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Closing Remarks: April Gill, CCO, Smart Data Solutions
2025 · SPEAKER
Divya Errabelli
VP, Product - Data & Analytics, Personify Health
Divya Errabelli is Vice President of Product – Data & Analytics at Personify Health, with 18+ years of expertise in healthcare analytics, predictive modeling, data science, and program evaluation. She leads teams of product managers, analysts, and data scientists to drive innovation across analytic products, AI/ML models, and customer reporting that demonstrate impact from engagement to outcomes and ROI.
Day 2 · 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Panel: Securing Privacy and Ethics in the Age of Innovation
2025 · SPEAKER
Phil Fiero
VP, Data & Analytics, Mayo Clinic
At Mayo Clinic, Phil is responsible for leading data & analytics innovation for Mayo Clinic Platform to ensure that MCP provides the leading AI/informatics solutions and capabilities that customers need to navigate the future of healthcare. He focuses on enabling new data, analytic, and AI technologies that improve patients' lives worldwide. Within platform, he leads core functions around data engineering, analytics, data science, Product, and growth for its world-wide distributed data network
Day 2 · 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Panel: Securing Privacy and Ethics in the Age of Innovation
2025 · SPEAKER
Patrick Bores
Technology and Product Leader, Smart Data Solutions
Patrick drives the vision, strategy, and execution of Smart Data Solutions' technology and product landscape—from infrastructure and automation to advanced data intelligence and platform innovation. Patrick has dedicated his 20+ year career to building innovative healthcare automation technologies that drive efficiency, scalability, and security. He leads the teams behind our core platforms, ensuring seamless integration between product strategy, engineering, and data intelligence.
Day 2 · 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Panel: Securing Privacy and Ethics in the Age of InnovationDay 2 · 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thriving Through Transformation meet the Future NOW!
2025 · SPEAKER
Amber Nigam
Co-Founder & CEO, basys.ai
Amber Nigam is the co-founder and CEO of basys.ai, a healthtech startup leveraging generative AI to optimize prior authorization and utilization management for health plans. With over 12 years of experience in healthcare and AI, Amber leads business development, strategy, and fundraising. He holds an MS in Health Data Science from Harvard University and has contributed to multiple patents and research papers. Previously, Amber founded kydots.ai, resulting in two patents and an acquisition. He actively mentors startups and has spoken at events like TEDx and Mayo Clinic.
Day 2 · 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thriving Through Transformation meet the Future NOW!
2025 · SPEAKER
Ben Gust
VP of Solutions, Smart Data Solutions
Ben leads the Solutions Architecture function, focused on designing scalable, high-impact solutions that align with client objectives and enable long-term growth at Smart Data Solutions. Ben brings over 15 years of experience across development, implementation, client support, and solution design. His deep understanding of both client workflows and Smart Data Solutions' capabilities uniquely positions him to architect solutions that deliver rapid value while minimizing risk and maximizing ROI.
Day 3 · 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
The Future in Motion: Innovation You Can See
2025 · SPEAKER
Catherine Vanden Plas
COO, HealthEZ
Catherine leads the administration and servicing of self-funded and level-funded, employer-driven health plans.
Day 3 · 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
How AI Automation and Technology are Rewriting the Playbook
2025 · SPEAKER
Mark Fidow
CTO, Smart Data Solutions
Mark Fidow recently joined SDS as Chief Technology Officer, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience across healthcare, payments, and financial services. He has held senior roles at Visa, PayPal, and Change Healthcare, where he expanded global engineering organizations to more than 500 team members and drove large-scale platform modernization. Most recently, he was CTO at LeanTaaS, supporting the development of AI-based solutions for hospital and health system operations. Mark is passionate about building high-performing teams and aligning technology with customer value, strengthening SDS’s ability to scale and innovate for our clients.
Day 2 · 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thriving Through Transformation meet the Future NOW!
2025 · SPEAKER
David Gutwald
SVP, Payer Services, ILS/Royal Healthcare
David oversees the Payer Services Division that operates a third party administration service for Medicaid, Medicare and mLTSS functions.
Day 3 · 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
How AI Automation and Technology are Rewriting the Playbook
2025 · MODERATOR
Manu Aggarwal
Partner, Industry Solutions, Everest Group
As Partner at Everest Group, I serve banks, insurers, payers, hospitals, pharmas, and several other industries on their key sourcing decisions. From driving effective usage of technology to streamlining core operations to enabling all round user experience, my group provides actionable insights to enable informed decision making for our clients.
Day 3 · 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
How AI Automation and Technology are Rewriting the Playbook