Session Description: April Lewis is a combat Army veteran and a nationally recognized leadership and well-being expert. As Director of the National Center for Workforce Development and Training, she empowers healthcare professionals serving marginalized communities. April’s “human first, employee second” approach inspires leaders to prioritize people, foster resilience, and create cultures of service at every level.

Session Description: Not in a generation has there been a cascade of policy decisions that have had a direct impact on health center finances and operations. A panel of policy experts will review the year that was and what they anticipate the continued impact will be of 2025 policy decisions into the new year.

Session Description: This session offers a practical, experience-based look at how to design and manage Request for Proposals (RFPs) that support strategic goals, improve vendor outcomes, and streamline internal collaboration. We’ll cover the five main procurement methods, how to select the right one for your situation, and what to include in an RFP to promote clarity, compliance, and vendor engagement. You’ll also learn about common challenges that slow down or complicate the process—and how to address them early. Whether you’re managing complex service contracts or navigating cross-functional input, this session will give you tools to make your RFP process more effective and aligned with your organization’s priorities.

Session Description: A sound inventory management strategy can yield great results resulting in increased efficiency and lower costs while never having to compromise (internal and external) customer needs. There are several proven tactics that can help health centers achieve their inventory management objectives. Learn from a panel of purchasing and material management experts from health centers, IT and distribution companies on their favorite approaches to creating a winning inventory management strategy.