IT Leader Boot Camp

Evolving Leadership Skills to Deliver a Strategically Aligned & Proactive IT Organization

Fee: $80 Date: Thursday, May 21 Time: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Box Lunch ProvidedRegister Now

Overview

Healthcare organizations are navigating an era of unprecedented pressure – financial constraints, workforce shortages, burnout, and increasing demands for cost transparency, regulatory compliance, and data accuracy. In this environment, the role of IT leadership has never been more critical. Technology is no longer a support function – it is a strategic driver of organizational success.

The new IT Leader Boot Camp at the 2026 MUSE Inspire Conference is a high-impact, interactive session designed to equip emerging and established IT leaders with the skills, frameworks, and confidence needed to lead at the executive level. This immersive four-hour experience focuses on transforming IT leaders into trusted strategic partners who can influence decision-making, align technology with business priorities, and drive meaningful organizational outcomes.

Participants will gain practical insights into how to:

Establish a credible and influential voice at the executive table
Build and execute a strategically aligned IT roadmap
Position IT as a proactive enabler of high-value business initiatives

The boot camp combines expert-led instruction, real-world case studies – including insights from a seasoned CIO – collaborative breakout sessions, and hands-on scenario-based learning. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, peer-driven perspectives, and a clearer path to elevating their leadership impact.

Description

Overview presentation to set the stage for the IT Leader Boot Camp session goals as well as educate participants on the concepts and methodologies to evolve their leadership skills to be a credible voice at the executive table and deliver an aligned and proactive IT organization.
Case study presentation(s) on sharing how the presenter became a credible voice at the C-level and/or delivered an aligned and proactive IT organization.
Breakout session for IT Leader Boot Camp participants – role play provided scenarios for three breakout Teams.
Presentation by each breakout team on their approach, process, and recommended go forward plan.

Agenda

Hour 1

Overview presentation goals/education on concepts and methodologies.

Hour 2

Sharing of case studies of executing on some or all of what was presented in first hour (a couple of different presenters).

Hour 3

Structured breakout sessions to role play developing an approach to best address assigned scenario outcomes.

Hour 4

Breakout teams presentations and session wrap-up.

Facilitator

Joel Benware

President and CEO, Acmeware

Joel Benware is a mission-driven healthcare executive and CEO of Acmeware, with more than 15 years of experience leading transformation across hospital systems. From CIO to CCO to COO, his career has been defined by bringing people, process, and technology together to solve some of healthcare’s toughest challenges.

With deep roots in MEDITECH environments, Joel has led at three hospitals, building a unique perspective that bridges operations, compliance, and innovation. He pairs that experience with advanced training in both Instructional Technologies and Healthcare Administration, along with industry credentials including Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHCIO).

Today, Joel leads Acmeware with a clear focus: helping healthcare organizations unlock the power of their data. By delivering practical, cost-effective analytics and reporting solutions, he empowers leaders across the U.S. and Canada to make smarter decisions, improve performance, and ultimately create better outcomes for patients.

Facilitator

Anne Marie Herrera

VP, Vendor Solutions, MEDITECH - Experis Health Solutions

Anne Marie Herrera has been an IT health care professional for over 30 years with 10+ years as a senior health care consulting leader and 20 years as a senior IT leader for two very prominent and large California based Health Systems. She has provided these organizations expertise and delivery in the areas of IT Strategy, Governance, PMO, IT Quality Performance Management, IT Facility Management, IT Customer Help Desk, and IT Outsourcing/Insourcing. She was the SJHS Enterprise Program Leader for the health system wide MEDITECH financial, administrative, and clinical implementations. She also initiated an IT Lean program at one health system and re-engineered IT prioritization investments at both health systems.

In her current role, she is a Solution Senior Leader and focuses primarily within the MEDITECH EHR Market and works closely with customers, MEDITECH and 3rd Party vendors. Her main responsibility is to provide program oversight, develop “value added” innovative solutions for customers and bring forward the market strategy, methodology and tools for customer delivery. She has worked with prominent organizations in supporting their efforts in aligning organizational vision/goals with IT investments and priorities as well as supporting IT Recalibration initiatives.

Anne Marie has spoken at several HIMSS and MUSE events and was the Keynote Speaker for the 2014 MUSE Executive Institute Summit. She was also a member of the MUSE CMC committee and has worked closely with MUSE Leaders to develop meaningful leadership work sessions to continue to bring value and network opportunities to MUSE members.

Guest Speaker

Eric Gasser RN, CHCIO

Vice President and CIO of Information Systems, Wooster Community Hospital Health System (WCH)

Eric Gasser, RN, CHCIO, is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Information Systems at Wooster Community Hospital Health System (WCH) in Wooster, Ohio. Eric began his career at WCH in 2006 as a clinical systems analyst, where he played a pivotal role in implementing Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and electronic physician documentation.

Over his 18-year tenure at WCH, Eric has held various positions, including Supervisor of Applications and Director of Information Systems, before assuming his current role in 2017. Under his leadership, WCH has successfully utilized Expanse 2.2, running the web-based version of Ambulatory, ED, Acute, PCS, and Oncology. Prior to his current role, Eric led WCH to become the first MEDITECH hospital in Ohio approved by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy for CPOE.