Go All In on Digital Marketing Success at HCIC 2025

Join healthcare marketing leaders and innovators who are changing the game, November 9-12 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

// By Jane Weber Brubaker //

The last time HCIC was in Las Vegas was 2021. What a difference four years makes. “One of the things I’m most excited about this year is to be able to come back together as a community,” says Kathy Divis, president of Greystone.Net, producers of the annual event. “Now I think we’re really back to where we were pre-COVID.”

Kathy Divis, co-founder and president at Greystone.Net

With many marketing teams working remotely these days, conferences are a rare opportunity to gather in person. “I think I’m most excited to see the attendees come together and learn from each other and have fun,” Divis says.

The learning comes from educational sessions, keynote addresses, and networking events in the exhibit hall — and maybe even a conversation during a coffee break that sparks a brilliant new idea.

We asked some of the people who have supported HCIC for many years what makes it such a valuable conference — for themselves, their teams, and their clients — that they keep coming back year after year, as exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers.

Here, we share their comments and highlight sessions you won’t want to miss.

Digital Marketing a “Team Sport”

Digital agency Reason One has supported HCIC as a speaker, sponsor, and exhibitor since 2020. We asked Lauren Minors, director of partnerships and marketing, to share her thoughts on the value of participation in HCIC.

“Everyone is there to learn and connect about the digital space,” Minors says. “We know that the folks coming to HCIC are willing to get a little bit nerdy with the web development folks like ourselves.”

The collective knowledge embodied by the HCIC community makes it a rich experience for attendees. “We all have different expertise,” Minors says. “The only way to drive things forward is to be on the field, because it’s a team sport.”

Watch a video clip from our conversation with Minors here:

Leadership Recognition

One of the highlights of HCIC is Sunday’s Awards Gala. The opening event of the conference kicks off with a cocktail party for all attendees, followed by awards ceremonies recognizing outstanding leadership: John A. Eudes Vision & Excellence Award, Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame, and the eHealthcare Leadership Awards.

Laura Lee Jones, founder and CEO of LionShare, was last year’s recipient of the John A. Eudes Vision & Excellence Award. In our conversation with her, she shared her excitement about attending this year’s awards and celebrating with those whose efforts have moved healthcare forward.

Learning Opportunities

Jones also commented on the excellence of the educational sessions at HCIC that have helped her team grow. “They are higher level than some of the other healthcare conferences,” she says. “We send more people to this conference than any other healthcare conference because of the learning opportunities.”

Watch this video clip from our conversation with Jones:

Learning is always the central theme at HCIC. Digital marketing, especially with the rapid proliferation of AI-enabled solutions, is like a fast-moving train. HCIC is an opportunity for you to jump on board, compare notes with your peers, and bring home actionable strategies to help your organization grow.

Each of this year’s seven tracks have eight concurrent sessions — 56 sessions in all:

• Branding & Social Media
• Consumer Engagement
• Content Strategy
• Digital Marketing & Advertising
• Digital Strategic Planning
• Advanced Strategy & Emerging Trends
• Tools, Technology & Analytics

AI a Hot Topic

We asked Kathy Divis what this year’s hot sessions will be. “One of the hot topics is definitely going to be AI and how it can be incorporated into the entire marketing process,” she says. “We are seeing a maturing of the AI topic in healthcare, and I think this next phase of AI in healthcare might be one of the biggest topics of discussion throughout the conference.”

We counted 11 AI-related sessions, including a master class on Monday morning, a panel discussion, and multiple concurrent sessions — including four on Wednesday, so don’t go home early.

Watch this clip from our conversation with Divis here.

Inspiration to Recharge Your Batteries

When you deep dive from session to session to make the most of your time at a conference, a keynote is a welcome change of pace. Great speakers take a step back and help attendees see the big picture, offering vision and motivation, often using humor to drive home their points. This year’s lineup of featured presentations includes three general sessions and three panel discussions.

The opening keynote speaker on Monday, November 10 is David A. Feinberg, SVP, chief marketing and communications officer at Mount Sinai. His presentation, “Lessons from a Life on the Marketing Frontlines: From CPG to AMCs, From Back Rooms to Boardrooms … Learn From My Successes and Mistakes,” promises to deliver sage advice and wry witticisms based on his long and successful career as a marketer.

David A. Feinberg, SVP, chief marketing and communications officer at Mount Sinai

We reached out to Feinberg to get a sneak preview. He didn’t tip his hand, but he did comment on the importance and effectiveness of marketers’ contributions. “I tell my team that marketing saves lives, and I believe it. We help people get the truthful, reliable information they need to understand their condition, and we connect people with the care they need, when they need it, and how they need it. That’s tremendous,” he says. “We make the most of the systems and mechanisms we have, and with that we can do a great deal of good. And so that’s where we focus our efforts.”

Don’t Miss Out on the Action

We’ve just scratched the surface of what HCIC always delivers. The opportunities to learn, grow, and make valuable new contacts (and maybe even lifelong friends) abound. It’s a safe bet that you won’t be leaving Las Vegas empty-handed. You’ll head home with renewed energy and inspiration to make a positive impact on your organization.

Jane Weber Brubaker is executive editor of Plain-English Health Care, a division of Plain-English Media. She directs editorial content for eHealthcare Strategy & Trends and Strategic Health Care Marketing, and is past chair of the eHealthcare Leadership Awards. Email her at jane@plainenglishmedia.com.