Contact: Ms. Daozhong Jin
202.833.0756
djin@healthlawyers.org
HHS Secretary to Serve as Keynote Speaker for
AHLA Annual Meeting
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2009 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at the American Health Lawyers Association’s (AHLA) Annual Meeting, taking place at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC from June 29 to July 1, 2009.
Secretary Sebelius’ presentation, scheduled from 8:30 to 9:15 am on Monday, June 29, 2009, will focus on healthcare issues in the new Obama Administration and new initiatives within the Department of Health and Human Services such as pandemic flu, the prospects for healthcare reform, and legal impediments to fostering quality healthcare.
“We’re honored to have Secretary Sebelius serve as our keynote speaker at the 2009 Annual Meeting,” said Peter M. Leibold, Executive Vice President/CEO of AHLA. “Her presentation will provide attendees with the administration’s view on health reform at a time when the administration is being more proactive in communicating that viewpoint.”
Secretary Sebelius has been a leader on healthcare issues for over a decade, and has more than 20 years of experience in state government. Twice elected governor of Kansas, she worked to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare for Kansans, expanded newborn screenings, put a renewed emphasis on childhood immunization, and increased eligibility for children’s health coverage. Prior to her tenure as Governor, she spent eight years serving as the Kansas State Insurance Commissioner.
Immediately following Secretary Sebelius, general session speaker Donald Berwick, MD, President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, will speak on the healthcare quality improvement. Dr. Berwick is known for his leadership in the area of preventing harm to patients from medical errors and improving the quality of care delivered to Americans. He will offer his insights regarding the general subject of health reform and the specific issue of improving quality consistent with our nation’s web of complex laws.
As the culmination of AHLA's educational year, the Annual Meeting provides a forum for networking and interaction with colleagues, as well as an outstanding educational event. Throughout the program, members attend breakout sessions on various topics delivered by leading private practitioners, in-house counsel, and government representatives.
Complimentary registration is available for members of the press. To attend, contact Ms. Daozhong Jin at djin@healthlawyers.org or call (202) 833-0756.
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The American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) is the nation’s largest nonpartisan educational organization devoted to legal issues in the healthcare field. The Association’s 10,000 members practice in a variety of settings in the healthcare community. For information about our resources, publications, and educational offerings, visit www.healthlawyers.org or call (202) 833-1100.