GLOBAL Health Innovators (GHI) Summit II convenes Oct. 1 at Nashville's Cannery Hall, as the result of collaboration between Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, The Global Health Connector (ECHAlliance) and the program's sponsors.
The event -- which is to run sharply 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.-- is a robust sequel to the inaugural GHI Summit held in Nashville in October 2024.
The program contains "Catalyst Conversations," panels, a fireside chat, a founder pitch event, and a networking reception.
Last year, it was packed into a smaller venue and is expected to sell-out, again, in its Cannery venue. Summit registration link.
The maiden 2024 GHI Summit was of signal importance, in that it coincided with completion of a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (UK) regarding potential collaborations in Health and Life Sciences sectors.
The goal of the MOU? To "further strengthen US-UK relations and deliver key trade and investment outcomes" and "sustainable economic and community benefits by collaborating on key Health & Life Sciences activity." VNC's earlier coverage.
Much of the impetus for this Oct. 1 event is provided by a well-connected team that includes Lori Odom, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce SVP for economic development and international business; Eric Thrailkill, executive director-ECH Alliance and digital health investor; John Scannapieco, a partner with Womble Bond Dickinson and Honorary Consul from Greater Britain and Northern Ireland in Tennessee.
Chase Spurlock, founder of Decode Health in Nashville, is among the most active community volunteers for the initiative. Gracie Francis of Caduceus Talent is to serve again as this year's Summit moderator.
This year, Summit registrants and speakers hail not only from the United States, but also Ireland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Israel.
Participants include industry thought-leaders, professional investors, venture partners, enterprise businesses and startup owners, advisors and nonprofits.
We're told 25 startup founders will deliver "high energy" pitches to Summit audience, prior to a networking reception.
Only five of the startup presenters have thus far been disclosed. This story will be updated, as warranted.
They are: Declan Kelly of Eolas Medical; Alex Zoller of PatientGenie; Mark Amouzgar of March Health; Fiachra O'Driscoll of MCS-Tech; and, Pavel Smirnov of Health Samurai.
Updated: The remaining 20 startups (we'll add detail if we obtain it):
- Able Care
- ACUITY Health
- ASCend Specialists
- ATS Innovations
- AVRwell
- Cannon Cabrera Adaptive Reading Equipment
- Cerca
- Genomind
- KindPath Health
- LiviWell
- Parallel Health
- PatientGenie
- Peerbridge Health
- Relevais Health
- Sendit
- SOGLIA
- Subflow Health
- TestDynamics
- Whitecoat Learning Platform
- Yaya Scientific
Other speakers and panelists confirmed, thus far:
- Judith Byrd, Greater Nashville Private Capital Assn. (GNPCA)
- Chip Chambers MD, CIGNA
- Bunny Ellerin, Digital Health NY
- Gracie Francis, Caduceus TALENT
- Tania Grant, Claritas Capital
- Jessa Kelley, Thyme Care
- Paul Kusserow, Amedisys
- Scott Hamilton, Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation
- Lisa Henderson, Avenoir Insights
- Ted Merhoff, Shearwater Health
- Blake Madden, Hospitalogy
- Chip McGhee, Current Health
- Peter Micca, Caduceus Capital Partners
- Barry Singleton, NEXUS Leeds
- Douglas Slakey MD, Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine
In addition to the organizations named above, below is a sample of organizations that have registered one or more Summit attendees (registrations are continuing to come in):
- Ankura
- Bradley
- Clearwater Security
- Community Health Systems
- Compassus
- DXC Technology
- Edison Partners
- Frist Cressey Ventures
- HCA Healthcare
- Humana
- IBM
- Launch Tennessee (TN Technology Development Corp.)
- LBMC
- Lifepoint
- Mathew Walker Comprehensive Health Center
- Microsoft
- Mitsui
- NashvilleHealth
- Palo Alto Networks
- Phase Capital
- St. Jude Children's Hospital
- UnitedHealth Group's Optum and United Healthcare units
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
This year's Summit is sponsored by HTD Health, Tennessee Chapter HIMSS, W Squared-LBMC, 40AU, and Buffkin Baker, with additional community partners.
VNC notes that the aforementioned John Scannapieco posted on LinkedIn this morning that the more than 200 senior leaders have already been registered for the event. VNC
.last edited 1719 8 September 2025
