Border Health Innovation Summit
Agenda 2025
7:30 - 8:00 AM
Plaza Hotel
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:00 - 8:15 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks - MCA
8:15 - 8:45 AM
Setting the Stage – Healthcare, Health Tech, Talent, and Ecosystem Development in the Borderlands
Mayra Maldonado, Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at The University of Texas at El Paso
8:45 - 9:35 AM
Plaza Hotel
Policy and Progress: Building a Competitive Region
As national priorities shift, how can our region stay competitive in attracting top talent and industry investment, and innovation in healthcare? This panel brings together political leaders, academics, and industry experts to explore strategies for strengthening the life sciences sector, advancing workforce development, and driving long-term regional competitiveness through cross-sector collaboration.
Moderator: Dr. Laura Uribarri
Speakers: Mayor Renard U. Johnson, Emily Hartmann, Scott Delaney and Dr. Robert Kirken
The Future of Healthcare: Shaping a New Era of Care Access and Delivery
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, this panel will explore models, emerging trends and technologies transforming care access and delivery. Key topics will include patient-centered care, public health and preventative care, healthcare infrastructure and integration of digital health solutions, and value-based care.
Moderator: Frantz M. Berthaud
Speakers: Christina Paz, John P. Muñoz and Dr. Hubert H. Fenton
9:35 - 10:25 AM
Plaza Hotel
10:25 - 10:45 AM
Plaza Hotel
BREAK - Networking & Exhibit Tables
10:45 - 11:35 AM
Plaza Hotel
Strategies for Talent Development, Retention and Collaboration
As healthcare workforce shortages grow and the population ages, how can we build and retain the talent needed to meet future care demands? This panel explores practical strategies for developing a future-ready workforce, including programs that connect healthcare providers, technologists, data scientists, and policymakers. Panelists will also discuss where the most critical care gaps are emerging—and how targeted workforce solutions can help ensure access, quality, and sustainability in healthcare delivery.
Moderator: Jim Ramos
Speakers: William Pieratt, Jennifer K. Delaney and Jon Law
11:35 - 1:30 PM
Luncheon Keynote
Paso del Norte Hotel Ballroom
Strategic Innovation for Equitable Health: Aligning Economics, Access, and Inclusion
Moderator – Laura Leslie
Keynote – Diane Francis - Senior Vice President of Global Health Economics and Reimbursement for the Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies at Edwards Lifesciences – Ms. Diane Francis leads a team committed to enabling patient access to life changing structural heart therapies around the world. Prior to Edwards, Diane has held a variety of leadership roles in the areas of community health, economic development, and managed care including more than two decades focused on health economics and market access at Johnson & Johnson MedTech. Diane is a passionate advocate for equitable and timely access to medical innovation. During her diverse career, she has cultivated expertise in global health economics, policy, and reimbursement for innovations in MedTech.
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Plaza Hotel
The Landscape for Health Innovation
Health innovation is driven by the need to solve real-world challenges—expanding access, improving quality, reducing costs, and building a resilient workforce. True innovation requires more than technology; it demands the right mix of collaboration, investment, supportive policy, skilled talent, adaptive culture, and deep community engagement. This panel brings together leaders from industry, startups, healthcare, regulation, and investment to explore how these elements can align to accelerate impactful, sustainable innovation in healthcare.
Moderator: Jameson MacDonnell
Speakers: Daniel Jones, Erik Kulstad, Eve Blossom and Alexander Hafez
2:30 - 2:45 PM
Plaza Hotel
BREAK - Networking & Exhibit Tables
2:45 - 3:35 PM
Plaza Hotel
El Paso Community Cancer Center – Elevating Care, Building Opportunities
Community-based cancer centers play a critical role in delivering high-quality, accessible cancer care closer to home—especially in underserved and rural regions. This panel will explore how these centers are transforming patient outcomes while creating opportunities for local workforce development, clinical research, education, and community partnerships. Panelists will discuss models for expanding access to advanced therapies, leveraging telehealth and clinical trials, translating research to the bedside, and building sustainable infrastructure that supports both care and economic growth in the region.
Moderator: Tracy Yellen
Speakers: Dr. Jennifer Molokwu, Dr. Rajkumar Lakshmanaswamy and Dr. Rajiv Rajani
3:35 - 4:00 PM
Plaza Hotel
Closing Keynote – Ryan Westberry, MSc, MBA, COO, Lahjavida, Inc.
4:00 - 4:10 PM
Plaza Hotel
Final Thoughts - MCA
4:10 - 6:00 PM
La Perla, Plaza Hotel
Reception & Networking