Border Health Innovation Summit
Agenda 2026
7:30 - 8:00 AM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:00 - 8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks - MCA
Hotel Paso Del Norte
8:45 - 9:15 AM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Health as an Economic Engine, Why Some Regions Succeed
Eve Blossom - CEO & Founder of the Material Change Institute
9:15 - 9:45 AM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Critical Gaps to Execution: What Works Here - Translating Proven Models to the Borderplex
Aaron Chiu - General Partner at Turnstone Investments LLC
Closing Translation, Commercialization & Delivery Gaps
As healthcare innovation accelerates, this panel will examine the critical gaps that exist between research, workforce development, and healthcare delivery. Panelists will explore barriers to translating innovation into practice, including workforce readiness, clinical adoption, infrastructure, funding, data, and cross-sector collaboration.
Moderator: Dr. Emmanuel Gorospe
Speakers: Eardie Curry, Dr. Kristina, Mena and Dr. Eric Rohren
9:45 - 10:45 AM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
BREAK - Networking & Exhibit Tables
11:00 - 11:30 AM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Innovative Models: What Accelerates Research to Commercializtion?
Moderator: Ryan Westberry
Speaker: Dr. Lauren Richardson
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Luncheon Panel
The Hotel Paso del Norte Hotel, Autograph Collection
Health as an Economic Driver: Aligning Vision, Investment, and Policy for Regional Competitiveness
Healthcare is more than a public service, it is a catalyst for economic growth. This panel will examine how strategic investments in health, education, workforce development, and innovation can strengthen the regional economy while improving quality of life. Discussions will focus on aligning policy, funding, and cross-sector partnerships to create a more competitive and resilient healthcare ecosystem for the Borderplex.
Welcome: Veronica Escobar
Moderator: Tracy Yellen
Speakers: Jacob Cintron and Dr. Mary E. Gonzalez
1:00 - 1:15 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
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
1:15 - 1:45 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
BREAK - Networking & Exhibit Tables
1:45 - 2:45 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
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
2:45 - 3:00 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Closing Keynote – Ryan Westberry, MSc, MBA, COO, Lahjavida, Inc.
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Final Thoughts - MCA
4:00 - 4:20 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Reception & Networking
4:20 - 4:30 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Closing Keynote – Ryan Westberry, MSc, MBA, COO, Lahjavida, Inc.
4:30 - 6:30 PM
Hotel Paso Del Norte
Closing Keynote – Ryan Westberry, MSc, MBA, COO, Lahjavida, Inc.