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
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