James Carville, Political Consultant and Television Commentator; Mary Matalin, Republican Activist and Television Commentator

On Wednesday, James Carville and Mary Matalin will provide an enlightening look at the healthcare policy environment during this election year, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at Washington politics. They will combine their unique experience as perennial political insiders to provide a candid and provocative analysis of the political scene.

One of the country’s foremost political strategists and commentators, Mary Matalin is a veteran of numerous national political campaigns. She appears frequently as a political commentator, served as co-host of CNN’s Crossfire and has written for Newsweek and The Los Angeles Times. James Carville has a long list of electoral successes that evidence his knack for steering overlooked campaigns to unexpected landslide victories and for re-making political underdogs into upset winners.

Wednesday, June 25
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Healthcare Policy in the Election Year

Richard J. Umbdenstock
President and CEO, American Hospital Association

Prior to assuming his position at the AHA, Mr. Umbdenstock was executive vice president of Providence Health & Services, an integrated health care system formed on January 1, 2006 through the merger of Providence Services and Providence Health System. His career includes 11 years as an independent consultant for voluntary hospital governing boards in the United States and Canada. He is the author of several books and articles for the hospital board audience and has authored national survey reports for the AHA its Health Research and Educational Trust and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Mr. Umbdenstock will present a look at critical issues defining the healthcare policy environment in the election year.

Thursday, June 26
8:00 am - 9:30 am
The Road to Excellence in Healthcare

Tom Peters, Best-Selling Author and Business Management Consultant

Since co-authoring the best seller, In Search of Excellence, Tom Peters has been regarded as a business guru and a highly sought-after consultant, credited with launching the management revolution. Today, Peters' ideas— and more than a dozen of his books—are considered standard operating procedure in businesses around the world. During Thursday’s keynote, he will draw on his experience as an author, consultant, veteran, former White House advisor and business world iconoclast and provide his thoughts on how to achieve excellence through leadership in the healthcare arena.