Y’all are in for a real treat! We’re thrilled to present our world-renowned lineup of Keynote Speakers and Featured Presenters for AHIMA26 in San Antonio this October. Get ready for big ideas, bold conversations, and plenty of Texas-sized inspiration. Register for AHIMA26 now and add these exciting sessions to your conference lineup!

Opening General Session & Keynote Speaker

Monday, Oct. 5, 2026
8:15 to 10:15 a.m. CDT
Henry B. González Convention Center l Stars at Night Ballroom (3rd floor)

The Pivot Point: Where Bold Decisions Create New Directions

Join AHIMA Board President Thea Campbell, MBA, RHIA, as she opens AHIMA26 in San Antonio and kicks off a week centered on this year's theme, The Pivot Point. In her President's Address, Thea will share her vision for the future of AHIMA and the health information profession, focusing on the opportunities and decisions shaping healthcare's next chapter.

The session also features the AHIMA26 Awards Recognition Ceremony, honoring Grace & Triumph Award recipients, HOSA competition winners, and new AHIMA Fellows. Attendees will also welcome the newest class of the AHIMA Leadership Development Academy, AHIMA's premier leadership development program and pathway to Board service.

Opening Keynote Speaker: Phil Hansen

The opening session concludes with an inspiring keynote from Phil Hansen, renowned artist, innovator, and author, whose message shows how limitations can become opportunities for growth and transformation.

Phil’s mind-blowing presentation, Embrace the Shake Collaborative Art Experience, will take you on an introspective, mind-opening journey that will inspire you to shake off the “what is” and embrace the “what if”.

After a permanent tremor threatened his artistic career, Phil discovered that embracing limitations sparked new levels of creativity and innovation. Through engaging stories and memorable visual demonstrations, he challenges audiences to rethink their approach to obstacles and uncertainty.

Get ready to shift your mindset and see change in a whole new way! You’ll leave energized and ready to embrace new opportunities, challenge perceived limitations, and confidently lead through the pivot points that define the future of healthcare and the profession.

General Session: Panel Discussion

Monday, Oct. 5, 2026
4:45 to 5:30 p.m. CDT
Henry B. González Convention Center l Stars at Night Ballroom (3rd floor)

Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of Agentic AI in Healthcare

Agentic AI is moving beyond answering questions to taking action. Tools that can query records, trigger workflows, and support decision-making with minimal human oversight are rapidly entering healthcare operations, raising important questions about accuracy, governance, accountability, and patient trust.

Join Lauren Riplinger, JD, AHIMA’s Chief Public Policy & Impact Officer, as she leads an expert panel in a discussion to explore the latest developments in agentic AI and their implications for health information professionals. Panelists will focus on where these tools can deliver value, where risks may be underestimated, and the policies, oversight, and workforce readiness organizations need before entrusting critical decisions to AI-driven systems.

Closing General Session & Keynote Speaker

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
8:15 to 10:00 a.m. CDT
Henry B. González Convention Center l Stars at Night Ballroom (3rd floor)

The Pivot Point: The Moment That Shapes What's Next

As AHIMA26 enters its final day, join AHIMA President-Elect Angela Comfort, DBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, and the AHIMA Board of Directors for a celebration of leadership, service, and the future of the health information profession.

Throughout AHIMA26, attendees have explored this year's theme, The Pivot Point—the defining moments where vision meets action, challenges become opportunities, and change becomes a catalyst for growth. We’ll reflect on the insights, connections, and innovations shared throughout AHIMA26 as we look ahead to the next chapter for AHIMA and the profession.

Closing Keynote Speaker: Tom Turcich

The session concludes with an inspiring keynote from Tom Turcich, the tenth person to walk around the world and the first to do so with a dog. In Live Without Limits, Tom shares the remarkable story of his seven-year, 28,000-mile journey across 38 countries with his loyal canine companion, Savannah.

Through extraordinary experiences spanning the deserts of Peru to the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Tom reveals how embracing uncertainty, overcoming obstacles, and taking intentional action can transform ambitious dreams into reality. Using his powerful Circle of Possibility framework, he will challenge attendees to break free from limitations, build resilience, and pursue meaningful goals with courage and determination.

As AHIMA26 draws to a close, Tom's message serves as a powerful reminder that every pivot point holds the potential for growth, discovery, and new possibilities. You’ll leave inspired to dream bigger, lead boldly, and take the next step toward achieving what once seemed impossible.