AI Governance in the Healthcare Sector: Navigating the Disruption

 

April 17, 2025

Nashville is an undisputed epicenter of the U.S. health care industry, generating more than $92 billion in annual revenues and housing over 900 health care companies. With this unparalleled concentration of health care decision-making power, Nashville has a unique opportunity to define how AI transforms health care—and how this technology should be governed. AI is poised to become the most disruptive force in health care, capable of improving access to care and health outcomes, all while reducing costs, minimizing errors, and improving workforce productivity. The question is not if AI will transform health care, but how—and whether governance structures are prepared to keep pace.

Why this event?
While there are numerous events addressing issues at the intersection of AI and health care, it is rare to find one specifically catered to the strategic and governance needs of boards and members of the C-suite of health care organizations. This is why NACD Nashville and EY collaborated to convene a high-impact session at Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management to address the following themes:

• Key trends shaping the health care sector and the impact on AI oversight, risk management, and innovation.
• Governance best practices and board-specific structures for AI oversight, including committee composition, governance models, and fiduciary duties.
• Explore practical AI ethics considerations, including real-world challenges and frameworks, to help organizations leverage AI responsibly.
• Understand the evolving AI regulatory landscape and anticipate key compliance challenges impacting health care organizations.
• Discuss strategic decision-making frameworks that empower boards to navigate AI disruption while ensuring accountability and trust.

AGENDA

8:00-9:00 a.m.: Breakfast and Check-In

9:00-9:30 a.m.: Kick-off and Introduction | Welcome remarks, agenda overview, and objectives

• Ed Magee, Advisory Board Chair, NACD Nashville
• Rita Johnson-Mills, Advisory Board Member, NACD Nashville
• Dean Tom Steenburgh, Ralph Owen Dean and Professor of Marketing, Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management
• Ranga Ramanujam, Richard M. and Betty Ruth Miller Chair, Professor of Management, Faculty Director of Health Care Programs, Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management

9:30-10:00 a.m.: Fireside Chat | High-level, strategic view on the future of AI and healthcare

• Jeff Saviano, EY Global Emerging Technology Strategy & Governance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP
• Vilas Dhar, President, Patrick McGovern Foundation

10:00-10:30 a.m.: Panel Discussion, Sector Trends | Major trends shaping the healthcare sector in 2025 and beyond. Key opportunities and risks created by AI.

• Sezin Palmer, EY Americas Health AI Technology Consulting Leader, Ernst & Young LLP (moderator)
• David Shin, VP, Legal – Tech & Innovation, Co-Chair, Responsible AI SteerCo, HCA Healthcare
• Ian Morrison, National Director, Healthcare Provider and Payor, Microsoft U.S. Healthcare, Data, and AI
• Apryl Childs-Potter, President, Nashville Health Care Council

10:30-10:45 a.m.: Break

10:45-11:45 a.m.: Workshop - Top-of-mind AI governance topics for boards and the C-suite | Part 1: Participants discuss AI governance issues at the table using to-be-provided guiding questions; Part 2: Cross-table discussion, distilling key insights

• Facilitator - Rita Johnson-Mills, Advisory Board Member, NACD Nashville
• Facilitator - Sezin Palmer, EY Americas Health AI Technology Consulting Leader, Ernst & Young LLP

11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Applied AI Ethics and AI Governance for Corporate Boards | Practical AI ethics and board AI governance duties

• Jeff Saviano, EY Global Emerging Technology Strategy & Governance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP

12:30-1:15 p.m.: Lunch

1:15-2:15 p.m.: Breakout discussions: Responsible AI and AI Regulation

• Breakout 1: Building a Responsible AI Program for Health Care Organizations | C-suite approaches to AI governance, and what questions boards should ask the C-suite
  
  
  • William Thomas, Managing Director, Risk Consulting, Ernst & Young LLP
  • Rob Mills, EVP, Chief Technology, Digital Commerce and Strategy Officer, Tractor Supply
• Breakout 2: AI Policy and Regulatory Developments Impacting Health Care Organizations | Latest AI policy and regulatory developments, and how to build a compliance strategy
  
  
  • Fernando Morera, Senior Manager, Emerging Technology Strategy & Governance—Health Sciences & Wellness Lead, Ernst & Young LLP (moderator)
  • Linda Kearney, Managing Senior Associate General Counsel, Elevance Health, Inc.
  • Mark Williams, Founding Co-Director, Vanderbilt AI Law Lab
• Wrap-up: Open forum

2:15-2:30 p.m.: Break

2:30-3:15 p.m.: Panel discussion: Achieving the Right Balance | Balancing AI innovation with risk management and determining the ROI of AI investments

• Eric Johnson, Bruce D. Henderson Professor of Strategy, Ralph Owen Dean, Emeritus, Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management (moderator)
• Henry Miller, Chairman, Global Life Sciences Practice, Odgers Berndtson
• Mike Schlosser, SVP and Chief Transformation Officer, HCA Healthcare
• Brian Besanceney, Partner, CommsCollectiv, Board Chair, Orlando Health

3:15-3:30 p.m.: Open Discussion: Lessons Learned | Key learnings from the day

• Ed Magee, Advisory Board Chair, NACD Nashville Chapter
• Jeff Saviano, EY Emerging Technology Strategy & Governance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP
• Ranga Ramanujam, Richard M. and Betty Ruth Miller Chair, Professor of Management, Faculty Director of Health Care Programs, Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management

 

Speakers