K01 – Welcome + Opening Keynote

Just over 30 years ago, Richard Heinzl founded the Canadian chapter of Doctors Without Borders, and took off around the world: working in remote locations far from modern resources. There, he and his colleagues would dream of what technology would one day do for medicine. And as cell phones and the internet spread throughout the developing world—meaning images could be sent and received from anywhere, anytime—he began to watch those dreams become reality. He saw first-hand how telemedicine would spark a dramatic transformation in health care: geography, once the great barrier to quality treatment, would soon be overcome by innovation.

Today, the borderless revolution continues. In this exciting keynote, Richard describes how groundbreaking work with data, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotech, genomics, and cloud computing means that not only is the world smaller and more efficient than ever before, but entrepreneurs can pick and choose from a host of innovations to create unprecedented healthcare technologies. Richard tells stories from the world’s most vulnerable places to reveal the humanitarian impact of cutting-edge science, drawn from his years of work abroad and with leading tech companies. And he explains how many technological advancements can also originate from emerging markets—meaning science and technology can (and will) flow from the places they’re most needed.

Filled with emotional and inspiring stories, coupled with an insatiable curiosity about the furthest possibilities of tech, Richard expands upon our ongoing search for better medicine and toasts the changing face of human health.

Open to all attendees, Healthcare Design magazine will honor the winners of its annual competitions during this luncheon. Editor-in-Chief Anne DiNardo will introduce the most recent winners of the Design Showcase, Remodel/Renovation Competition, Rising Star awards, and The HCD 10. The program will share details on the winners’ impressive achievements and celebrate another year of excellence in healthcare design.

Join us for the announcement of our 2026 Nightingale Award winners. The program honors standout new products exhibited in this year's HCD expo hall, recognizing contributions to the healthcare built environment through product design and innovation. Next, HCD’s breakfast keynote panel will bring together a diverse group of industry leaders across architecture, engineering, interiors, and healthcare operations to dive into a topic of high relevance for the shared attendee base of HCD and the co-located International Federation of Healthcare Engineering 29th World Congress. “Industry Insights: The Evolution of Sustainability and Resiliency in Healthcare Design” will explore , at a global level, how sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and adaptive infrastructure can create healthcare environments that are both environmentally responsible and built to endure whatever challenges arise.