News Releases

HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell Opens HIMSS16
The 2016 HIMSS Conference & Exhibition will bring together 43,000+ attendees to hear from leading speakers, view more than 1,300 exhibitions and benefit from networking opportunities during their five days in Las Vegas

CHICAGO (February 4, 2016) – Visionary healthcare leader – Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell  - will speak at HIMSS16 during the opening keynote session on Monday, Feb. 29, from 5-7 p.m. PST.

“We welcome Secretary Burwell to this exciting program we have developed for HIMSS16,” said HIMSS Executive Vice President Carla Smith, MA, FHIMSS, CNM. “As a prominent leader opening our conference, we look forward to hearing her remarks and guidance, as we work to advance health IT systems that bring the right information to the right person at the right time to make the right healthcare decisions.”

HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell: Secretary Burwell will discuss the importance and role of health IT and interoperability in healthcare transformation.

Sworn in as the 22nd Secretary of Health & Human Services on June 9, 2014, Secretary Burwell is committed to the mission of ensuring that every American has access to the building blocks of healthy and productive lives.

A results-driven manager, Secretary Burwell has led large and complex organizations across the public and private sectors. Most recently, Burwell served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to serving in the Administration, Burwell served as President of the Walmart Foundation, and President of the Global Development Program and Chief Operating Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During the Clinton Administration, Burwell served as Deputy Director of OMB, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Treasury and Staff Director of the National Economic Council. Prior to joining the Clinton Administration, Burwell worked for McKinsey & Company.

Secretary Burwell will be the first of two speakers during the Monday, Feb. 29, keynote session at HIMSS16. Read more about Secretary Burwell.

About HIMSS North America
HIMSS North America, a business unit within HIMSS, positively transforms health and healthcare through the best use of information technology in the United States and Canada. As a cause-based non-profit, HIMSS North America provides thought leadership, community building, professional development, public policy, and events. HIMSS North America represents 61,000 individual members, 640 corporate members, and over 450 non-profit organizations. Thousands of volunteers work with HIMSS to improve the quality, cost-effectiveness, access, and value of healthcare through IT. Major initiatives within HIMSS North America include the HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition, National Health IT Week, HIMSS Innovation CenterHIMSS Interoperability Showcases™, HIMSS Health IT Value Suite, and ConCert by HIMSS™. 

About HIMSS
HIMSS is a global voice, advisor, convener, and thought leader of health transformation through the best use of IT with a unique breadth and depth of expertise and capabilities to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of health and healthcare. Through its network of over 1 million professionals, including 64,000-plus members, HIMSS advises leaders, stakeholders and influencers globally on IT best practices to ensure decision-makers have the right information at the right time to make the right decisions.  HIMSS North America, HIMSS Analytics, Personal Connected Health Alliance, HIMSS Media and HIMSS International (HIMSS Europe, HIMSS Asia and HIMSS Middle East) are the five business units of HIMSS.  A not-for-profit headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, HIMSS has additional offices in North America, Europe, United Kingdom, and Asia.

For more information, contact

Joyce Lofstrom
HIMSS
(312) 915-9237
jlofstrom@himss.org