This content is restricted to members.
Join us in Sacramento at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel for a unique symposium dedicated to California’s rural hospital leaders. Together, we’ll explore the specific challenges rural hospitals face and uncover valuable insights on a range of critical health care topics.
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Check-in and Exhibitor Viewing
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Critical Access Hospital Breakfast
This breakfast provides an opportunity to connect and collaborate with rural leaders and gain valuable insights into federal initiatives aimed at strengthening and sustaining rural health care across the nation.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Critical Access Hospital Pre-Conference Workshop | Leveraging Data to Streamline Operational Efficiencies
Eric Volk, CPA, Partner, and Katie Jo Raebel, CPA, Partner at Wipfli
12:00 p.m. | Hosted Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | General Session | Rural Health Care National Trends and Updates
Brock Slabach, MPH, FACHE, Chief Operations Officer, National Rural Health Association
National policies and federal decisions directly impact rural hospitals. Explore how evolving legislation, funding initiatives, and regulatory changes influence rural health care and what the National Rural Health Association is doing to support states in advocating for the communities they serve. During this session, Brock will share strategies for strengthening rural hospitals and equitable access to care and will engage in meaningful discussions around driving change together.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | General Session | Challenges in Rural Health Care in California
Speaker(s) being finalized.
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Break and Exhibitor Viewing
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. | General Session | California Legislators Panel Discussion
Assemblymember Joe Patterson, California Assembly District 5 and Assemblymember Chris Rogers, California Assembly District 2
Additional legislators being finalized.
Hear from California legislators as they share insights on key health care policies and the evolving legislative landscape. This discussion will highlight upcoming priorities, challenges, and opportunities shaping health care in the state and rural communities. Engage directly with lawmakers and be part of the conversation on future legislative developments.
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Reception and Exhibitor Viewing
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Continental Breakfast and Exhibitor Viewing
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | General Session | An Interactive Discussion with Carmela Coyle and Siri Nelson
Carmela Coyle, President & CEO, California Hospital Association
Siri Nelson, FACHE, MHA, CPA, CHA Board of Trustee Chair
Gain exclusive top-level insights and the latest updates directly from CHA’s President & CEO and the Chair of the CHA Board of Trustees. This is your opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, ask pressing questions, and share your thoughts on the future of health care.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | General Session | What OHCA Means for Rural Hospitals
Ben Johnson, Group Vice President, Financial Policy, California Hospital Association
This session will explore the role of the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) in shaping the future of health care delivery and affordability. Ben Johnson will provide a high-level overview of OHCA, including its responsibilities, then delve into OHCA’s approach to setting health care spending targets and how these benchmarks vary across sectors and the impact it will have on rural and critical access hospitals.
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Break and Exhibitor Viewing
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | General Session | Achieving Sustainability Through State Financing
Adam Dorsey, Group Vice President, Financial Policy, California Hospital Association
12:30 p.m. | Hosted Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. | General Session | Artificial Intelligence
Speaker being finalized.
2:15 – 2:30 p.m. | Break and Exhibitor Raffle
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. | General Session | CEO Panel Discussion
Tim Stephens, CEO, Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Stephen DelRossi, MSA, CEO, Northern Inyo Healthcare District
Katie Gorndt, MSIHM, BDN, Vice President, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital
In this popular annual closing session, connect with your peers as they share their strategies for “setting the course” to address the evolving needs of rural communities. Gain valuable insights and approaches to tackling challenges in rural health care. Come prepared with your questions for this interactive and engaging discussion.
Symposium presenters are still being finalized. Please continue to check back for more information.
Carmela Coyle
President & CEO
California Hospital Association
Carmela Coyle began her tenure as president and CEO of the California Hospital Association, the statewide leader representing the interests of more than 400 hospitals and health systems in California, in October 2017. Previously, Ms. Coyle led the Maryland Hospital Association for nine years, where she played a leading role in shaping a statewide, value-driven health care delivery system.
Stephen DelRossi, MSA
Chief Executive Officer
Northern Inyo Healthcare District
Since August 2022, Stephen has been the CEO of Northern Inyo Healthcare District. He previously served as the Chief Financial Officer at Smokey Mountain and UHS as well as three Critical Access Hospitals. He also served as the Controller at a multi-campus 762-bed facility for Tenet. Stephen is an experienced health care executive known for his ability to manage high-performance operations in large and small facilities and has a verifiable track record of improving health care operations through innovative financial strategies, teamwork, and exemplary leadership.
Adam Dorsey
Group Vice President, Financial Policy
California Hospital Association
Katie Gorndt, MSIHM, BSN
Vice President
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital
Ben Johnson
Group Vice President, Financial Policy
California Hospital Association
Ben Johnson is CHA’s Group Vice President, Financial Policy, covering finance and affordability issues, including the Office of Health Care Affordability. Ben has been working in health care policy for a decade, previously having advised the state legislature from his role at the Legislative Analyst’s Office, where he was lead on issues like drug pricing, the Medi-Cal budget, single-payer financing, and health care-related taxes.
Siri Nelson
President & Chief Executive Officer
Marshall Medical
Siri Nelson serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the California Hospital Association. She has served as President and CEO of Marshall since May 2019. Siri began her health care administration career in accounting and finance. Siri has previously served as Chief Executive Officer at South Meadows Medical Center, Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO at Sutter Amador Hospital, and Chief Administrative Officer at Sutter Lakeside.
Katie Jo Raebel, CPA
Partner
Wipfli
Brock Slabach, MPH, FACHE
Chief Operating Officer
National Rural Health Association
Brock Slabach has served as the Chief Operating Officer for the National Rural Health Association for 17 years and has nearly 40 years of experience in health care. Mr. Slabach specializes in rural health system development that encompasses population health and the varied payment programs moving rural providers into value-based purchasing models. He serves on the Board of Commissioners of Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Organization (RHRCO). Mr. Slabach is the recipient of many health care related awards.
Tim Stephens
Chief Executive Officer
Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Eric Volk, CPA
Partner
Wipfli
*Members: $99
*Members are CHA member hospitals. Education programs and publications are a membership benefit and are not available to eligible non-member California hospitals.
Cancellation Policy
A $50 non-refundable processing fee will be retained for each cancellation. Cancellations must be made in writing seven or more days prior to the scheduled event and emailed to education@calhospital.org. No refunds will be given after these dates. Substitutions are encouraged. Cancellation and substitution notification may be emailed to education@calhospital.org. In the unlikely event that the program is cancelled, refunds will be issued to paid registrants within 30 days.
Confirmations
A confirmation will be sent to all registrants. On-site registrations and any unpaid registrations may be subject to an additional 10% fee.
Special Accommodations
If you require special accommodations pursuant to the American’s with Disabilities Act please call (916) 552-7637.
Photography
CHA will photograph this event. If you prefer not to be photographed, please email CHA at:
education@calhospital.org.
The Kimpton Sawyer
500 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 545-7100
Discount Deadline is February 18.
The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel has rooms available at a discounted rate of $289 plus taxes and a one-time $20 guest amenity fee. For reservations, call (877) 678-6255 and mention the “Rural Health Care Symposium” or book online. Don’t delay; the deadline for discounted sleeping rooms is Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Do you have a product or service of interest to rural hospitals? This annual conference is an opportunity to reach California rural hospital executives all in one place. For more information, please contact Lisa Hartzell at lhartzell@calhospital.org.