November 7, 2008

hosted by:

The Griffith Leadership Center in Health Management and Policy
and the
Center for Law, Ethics, and Health
at the
University of Michigan School of Public Health

Entrepreneurship is changing health care policy and delivery.  From private investments in specialty hospitals and media-driven health promotion to rapidly globalizing social-enterprise networks, the current escalation in entrepreneurial activity challenges us to think creatively about new opportunities for our health care and public health systems.

But is entrepreneurial risk-taking actually transforming the delivery of medical care in ways that will improve the public's health?  Does health entrepreneurship enhance quality, improve efficiency, expand access, and control or reduce cost?  Will it change how public health services are delivered?  How can leaders in health care better understand and apply innovation and entrepreneurial processes and products?

Led by keynote speaker Mark Vachon, Chief Executive of G.E. Healthcare for the United States, this symposium will address these questions and other aspects of health entrepreneurship.  Our goal is to stimulate discussion about entrepreneurial innovation and its ability to transform our nation's health care systems.  Current and past entrepreneurs will speak on the genesis of their entrepreneurial approaches, alternative funding models, and advancing innovative strategies.

Joining Vachon to address these questions are:

• Patricia A. Gabow, MD, Chief Executive Officer for Denver Health and winner of the 2008 National Healthcare Leadership award from  the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL)
• George Leahy, MSc, Director of Research and Policy of the Social Enterprise Coalition, United Kingdom
• Keith W. Cooley Director of Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
• Randel E. Richner, MPH, Founder and President of Neocure Group LLC
• Sarah Loughran, MHSA, Executive Vice President, Health Grades
• Debbie I. Chang, MPH, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Nemours Division of Health and Prevention
• David Kennedy, MSW, MHSA, President Kennedy Care

The symposium promises to be an exciting and provocative look at how health entrepreneurship is shaping our health care and public health systems. For more information, visit www.healthentrepreneurship.com

Questions?  Contact Linda Grosh MHSA, Managing Director of the Griffith Leadership Center at lgrosh@umich.edu, 734.936.5556 or by FAX at 734.764.4338.