Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast
“HLTH brings together the brightest minds in healthcare to drive real-world transformation through AI, data, and workflow innovation. The energy, collaboration, and actionable insights here are truly reshaping the future of care at scale.”
– Rohit Mahajan, Co-host of The Big Unlock Podcast
Over the years, hosting The Big Unlock Podcast has given us the opportunity to speak with some of the most forward-thinking leaders across health systems, digital health companies, payers, and life sciences organizations. These conversations have explored how emerging technologies—from AI and generative AI to automation and digital platforms—are transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
HIMSS is one of those rare moments where many of these ideas, conversations, and relationships come together in one place.
At HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026, Rohit and I are looking forward to meeting healthcare leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology partners who are shaping the next phase of digital transformation in healthcare.
The themes we often explore on The Big Unlock Podcast—AI adoption, operational transformation, data-driven healthcare, and the rise of intelligent automation—are front and center at HIMSS this year. It’s always energizing to see how quickly the industry continues to evolve and to hear directly from the people building these solutions.
Many of our podcast guests over the years are also part of the HIMSS community, and I’m excited to reconnect with them in person while also meeting new leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare technology.
If you’re attending HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026, I would love to connect with you. Whether you’re a longtime listener of The Big Unlock Podcast, a healthcare executive exploring AI and digital transformation, or a founder building the next breakthrough in digital health, please feel free to reach out or stop me if you see me at the conference.
Events like HIMSS remind me why these conversations matter. Innovation in healthcare happens when people come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and collaborate on solutions that can truly improve care delivery.
I’m looking forward to an inspiring week of conversations, learning, and new connections.
And if you happen to see Ritu M. Uberoy or Rohit Mahajan at the conference, please do come say hello—we would love to meet you.
See you at HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026!
Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast
There’s something special about the first day at HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026. The moment you step onto the floor, you can feel the collective energy of thousands of healthcare leaders, innovators, clinicians, and technologists all focused on one question: How do we transform healthcare through technology?
This year’s conference, taking place March 9–12 in Las Vegas, has brought together the global health IT ecosystem—from providers and payers to startups, investors, and technology companies—creating an unparalleled environment for learning, collaboration, and discovery.
One of the dominant themes today has been the evolution of AI in healthcare—from tools that simply generate insights to technologies that actually execute workflows and drive outcomes.
Across sessions and conversations, leaders are asking practical questions:
This is where we’re seeing a new generation of technologies emerge—AI agents and automation platforms that actively participate in care coordination, patient engagement, and operational processes.
The conversation is shifting from “What can AI analyze?” to “What can AI actually do?”
Another clear takeaway from Day 1 is that health systems are under enormous pressure to do more with less—address workforce shortages, improve access, and reduce administrative complexity.
Technology leaders are increasingly exploring solutions that:
In many ways, HIMSS has always been about the intersection of healthcare, technology, and operational transformation—but this year the urgency feels stronger than ever.
Healthcare organizations are not just exploring digital transformation anymore.
They are actively building AI-powered operating models.
One of the reasons HIMSS remains such a powerful gathering is the sheer scale of collaboration it enables.
The conference brings together tens of thousands of health IT professionals, executives, innovators, and solution providers, along with hundreds of educational sessions and technology showcases.
But beyond the sessions and the expo floor, what makes this event truly valuable are the conversations happening in hallways, networking events, and spontaneous meetings.
These conversations often spark the ideas that shape the next wave of healthcare innovation.
At The Big Unlock podcast, we’ve spent years speaking with healthcare leaders about the technologies shaping the future of the industry—from AI and data platforms to digital health innovation.
Day 1 at HIMSS has already reinforced a few important themes we’ve been seeing across the market:
Many of the most exciting conversations today have centered on how organizations can bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI innovation and real clinical or operational impact.
That’s where companies like BigRio focus—helping healthcare organizations design, build, and scale AI-driven digital solutions that solve real problems.
If Day 1 is any indication, HIMSS26 will be a week filled with meaningful conversations about the future of healthcare technology.
I’m particularly excited about:
And of course, connecting with colleagues, partners, and innovators who are all working toward the same goal: building a smarter, more accessible healthcare system.
If you’re attending HIMSS this week, I’d love to connect. These events are where ideas turn into collaborations—and collaborations turn into innovation.
More reflections from HIMSS26 coming soon.
“HLTH brings together the brightest minds in healthcare to drive real-world transformation through AI, data, and workflow innovation. The energy, collaboration, and actionable insights here are truly reshaping the future of care at scale.”
– Rohit Mahajan, Co-host of The Big Unlock Podcast
Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast
Our second day at HIMSS 2026 continued the incredible momentum we felt on Day 1. As part of our ongoing HIMSS blog series, it has been energizing to see how many conversations across the conference are centered on the same themes we explore regularly on The Big Unlock Podcast—AI adoption, operational transformation, and the evolving role of technology in healthcare.
Day 2 delivered exactly what makes HIMSS such an important gathering for the industry: meaningful encounters, thoughtful discussions, and a shared sense that healthcare transformation is accelerating.
One of the most memorable moments of the day was meeting Judith Faulkner during a book signing at the Taylor & Francis Group bookstore.
For anyone working in healthcare IT, Judith Faulkner has had a profound impact on how digital health infrastructure has evolved over the past several decades. Through Epic Systems, she helped shape the electronic health record landscape that today supports clinical operations at many of the world’s leading health systems.
Meeting her was a special moment—one of those instances where you’re reminded that the digital transformation of healthcare has been built through years of vision, persistence, and innovation from leaders who pushed the industry forward.
Beyond that highlight, Day 2 was packed with conversations across the exhibit halls and meeting spaces. What stood out most was how consistently the dialogue is evolving.
Just a few years ago, the focus at HIMSS was heavily centered on data infrastructure and interoperability. Today, the conversations are increasingly about how that data is being activated through AI to drive measurable operational and clinical outcomes.
Several themes surfaced repeatedly:
AI is moving beyond experimentation.
Health systems are increasingly looking to operationalize AI solutions across care delivery and administrative workflows.
Workflow integration is critical for scale.
AI tools that live outside core clinical systems rarely gain traction. The industry is now focused on embedding intelligence directly into workflows.
Automation is becoming operational.
From patient engagement and care coordination to revenue cycle and clinical documentation, organizations are exploring how AI can actively execute tasks—not just generate insights.
These themes echo many of the conversations we’ve had with healthcare leaders on The Big Unlock Podcast. Across nearly 200 episodes, one lesson has remained consistent: technology creates value when it improves workflows and enables care teams to focus on patients.
It was also wonderful to meet several podcast listeners and past guests throughout the day.
For those unfamiliar, The Big Unlock Podcast explores how healthcare leaders are driving digital transformation across health systems, payers, digital health companies, and life sciences organizations. Each conversation focuses on real-world experiences—what worked, what didn’t, and what others can learn.
At HIMSS, many attendees shared that they rely on the podcast to stay connected to emerging trends in healthcare AI, digital health, and innovation. Hearing that kind of feedback is incredibly rewarding for our team.
If you’re attending HIMSS this week and have a story about how your organization is implementing AI, advancing digital transformation, or tackling complex operational challenges, we would love to connect and potentially feature you on an upcoming episode.
Another clear takeaway from Day 2 is how rapidly the AI conversation is evolving.
Healthcare organizations are no longer just asking whether to adopt AI. The question now is how to scale it responsibly and effectively across clinical and operational environments.
We’re seeing increasing interest in areas such as:
This shift—from analytics to AI-powered execution—represents a meaningful turning point in the industry.
One of the things I appreciate most about HIMSS each year is that the most valuable insights often come from informal conversations rather than formal presentations.
The hallway discussions, quick introductions, and spontaneous meetings often spark the most interesting ideas. Day 2 was filled with exactly those moments—reconnecting with colleagues, meeting new innovators, and hearing firsthand how organizations are tackling some of healthcare’s most complex challenges.
Despite the scale of the conference, there is a real sense of community here. Everyone is working toward the same goal: improving healthcare through better technology, smarter processes, and stronger collaboration.
As our HIMSS blog series continues, I’m looking forward to another day of learning, connecting, and capturing insights from leaders shaping the future of healthcare.
If you’re here at HIMSS 2026, please stop us if you see Rohit Mahajan or me—we’d love to meet you. And if you have a story worth sharing about AI, digital transformation, or healthcare innovation, let’s talk.
More reflections from the HIMSS floor coming soon as we move into Day 3.
“HLTH brings together the brightest minds in healthcare to drive real-world transformation through AI, data, and workflow innovation. The energy, collaboration, and actionable insights here are truly reshaping the future of care at scale.”
– Rohit Mahajan, Co-host of The Big Unlock Podcast
Co-Host, The Big Unlock Podcast
By the third day, a familiar rhythm begins to set in. The early-morning sessions, the steady flow of meetings, spontaneous hallway discussions, and those quick but meaningful connections that often lead to bigger ideas later.
And yet, the energy across HIMSS still feels as strong as Day 1.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was continuing to meet people who recognize and follow The Big Unlock Podcast.
Over the years, the podcast has become a platform for conversations with healthcare leaders about digital transformation, AI adoption, and the realities of implementing innovation inside complex health systems. The goal has always been simple: learn directly from those building the future of healthcare and share those insights with the broader community.
At HIMSS, it’s incredibly gratifying to hear attendees say that the podcast helps them stay connected to what leaders across health systems, payers, and digital health companies are actually doing—not just what they are planning.
Several people also reached out expressing interest in joining us for Season 7, which is always exciting. HIMSS truly is one of the best places to discover new voices and fresh perspectives for the podcast.
AI Conversations Continue to Dominate
If there is one theme that has consistently dominated conversations throughout HIMSS 2026, it is artificial intelligence.
But the tone of the conversation has evolved.
Healthcare leaders are no longer just discussing the potential of AI—they are focusing on how to operationalize it at scale across clinical and operational workflows. Across the conference, discussions have centered on enterprise AI deployments, automation across hospital operations, and governance frameworks to ensure responsible adoption.
In many ways, the industry appears to be moving beyond the hype cycle. Leaders are asking practical questions:
Those questions reflect a broader shift happening across healthcare. The focus is no longer simply about what AI can do, but about how it can create measurable impact inside real care environments.
Another theme emerging strongly this year is the rise of agentic AI systems—AI tools that can execute tasks across healthcare workflows rather than simply generating insights.
For example, new technologies showcased at HIMSS are exploring how AI agents can coordinate tasks across the revenue cycle, helping automate complex administrative processes.
This represents a significant shift in how healthcare organizations think about automation. Instead of using AI solely for analytics or decision support, many organizations are exploring how intelligent systems can actively participate in operational processes—from patient engagement to clinical documentation to financial workflows.
It’s a trend that aligns closely with many of the conversations we’ve had on The Big Unlock Podcast with healthcare CIOs, CMIOs, and digital leaders.
Another important point that surfaced repeatedly during discussions at HIMSS is that technology alone will not transform healthcare.
Leaders emphasized that successful AI adoption requires workflow redesign, workforce engagement, and organizational change—not just new tools.
In other words, healthcare transformation is as much about process and people as it is about technology.
That insight resonates deeply with what we hear from digital leaders across the industry. The organizations that succeed with AI are the ones that approach it not as a technology project, but as a strategic transformation initiative.
One thing I’ve learned over the years attending HIMSS is that some of the most valuable insights come outside the official sessions.
Day 3 was full of those moments—quick introductions that turned into longer conversations, reconnecting with past podcast guests, and meeting innovators working on fascinating new ideas in digital health.
These interactions are what make HIMSS special. With tens of thousands of healthcare leaders gathered in one place, the conference becomes a powerful forum for sharing ideas and accelerating collaboration across the industry.
As we move toward the final day of HIMSS 2026, I’m reflecting on how much the conversation around healthcare technology has matured.
AI is no longer just an exciting possibility. It is rapidly becoming a core capability that health systems are actively integrating into care delivery, operations, and patient engagement.
At the same time, the industry is becoming more thoughtful about governance, trust, and responsible implementation—ensuring that innovation ultimately benefits both clinicians and patients.
Until next time at HIMSS27, signing off here as Ritu M. Uberoy. And if you have a story about digital transformation, AI implementation, or healthcare innovation, do get in touch with us. At The Big Unlock Podcast we would love to hear it—and maybe feature you on a future episode.
“HLTH brings together the brightest minds in healthcare to drive real-world transformation through AI, data, and workflow innovation. The energy, collaboration, and actionable insights here are truly reshaping the future of care at scale.”
– Rohit Mahajan, Co-host of The Big Unlock Podcast
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