2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference

Lexington, KY US
November 10, 2026

GAN Header

Greetings and welcome to the 2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference, scheduled for November 10, 2026 at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington. This year’s theme, Connecting the Heart of Kentucky, reflects our shared commitment to advancing cardiovascular care across the Commonwealth through education, innovation, and collaboration.

As the Gill Affiliate Network’s signature event, the conference brings together clinicians, caregivers, and colleagues from across Kentucky and beyond for a day of learning, connection, and shared purpose. The 2026 program features leading experts from across the country presenting the latest advancements in cardiovascular care, emerging therapies, and evidence-based best practices. Attendees will also benefit from hands-on, interactive sessions and an expansive exhibitor experience designed to highlight innovative therapies and resources supporting patient care.

In addition to the conference, we invite you to join us for the Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference Reception the evening of November 9. This exclusive networking event offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues in a relaxed setting while enjoying cocktails, conversation, and the unmistakable charm of Kentucky hospitality.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Central Bank Center – located in the heart of downtown Lexington – as we come together to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and continue connecting the heart of Kentucky.

Welcome, Gill Affiliate Network Members
We are delighted to welcome you to the 2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference. Thank you for your continued collaboration and dedication to improving cardiovascular care across Kentucky. We look forward to hosting you in November for a day of connection, community, and partnership.

AdventHealth Manchester
Manchester, KY

Centerpoint Health
Georgetown, KY

Centerpoint Health
Paris, KY

Centerpoint Health
Versailles, KY

Centerpoint Health
Winchester, KY

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center
Danville, KY

Fleming County Hospital
Flemingsburg, KY

Harlan ARH Hospital
Harlan, KY

Harrison Memorial Hospital
Cynthiana, KY

Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center
Hazard, KY

Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center
Prestonsburg, KY

Jackson Purchase Medical Center
Mayfield, KY

Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital
Somerset, KY

Mary Breckenridge ARH Hospital
Hyden, KY

McDowell ARH Hospital
McDowell, KY

Meadowview Regional Medical Center
Maysville, KY

Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital
Paducah, KY

Middlesboro ARH Hospital
Middlesboro, KY

Norton Audubon Hospital
Louisville, KY

Norton Brownsboro Hospital
Louisville, KY

Norton Hospital
Louisville, KY

Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital
Greenville, KY

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
Owensboro, KY

Pikeville Medical Center
Pikeville, KY

Pineville Community Health Center
Pineville, KY

Spring View Hospital
Lebanon, KY

Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center
South Williamson, KY

UK HealthCare
Lexington, KY

UK King’s Daughters
Ashland, KY

UK St. Claire
Morehead, KY

Whitesburg ARH Hospital
Whitesburg, KY

Target Audience

Providers, administrators, and staff members from Gill Affiliate Network hospitals.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
1. Evaluate emerging trends, innovations, and strategic opportunities shaping the future of cardiovascular care delivery. 
2. Apply evidence-based approaches to improve patient outcomes through the use of cardiovascular registries, multidisciplinary care, and clinical best practices. 
3. Recognize advancements in cardiovascular and vascular interventions through expert-led discussions and hands-on learning experiences.

Additional Information

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PDF icon Exhibitor Agreement_2026 GAN Conference_Final.pdf414.77 KB
Image icon Conference and Reception Parking Map.png947.65 KB

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 6.50 ACPE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This knowledge-based activity will award 6.50 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number: JA0000312-0000-26-070-L01-P

  • 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

  • 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 6.50 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 6.50 nursing contact hour(s).

    • 2.50 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral) - Pharmacology
  • 6.50 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 6.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit(s) for learning and change.

Course opens: 
08/01/2026
Course expires: 
01/08/2027
Event starts: 
11/10/2026 - 8:00am EST
Event ends: 
11/10/2026 - 5:00pm EST
Cost:
$1.00
Add to calendar: 

Monday, November 9

All times are EST.
6:00–8:00 PM
Networking Reception
Lexus Club @ Rupp Arena

Tuesday, November 10

All times are EST.
General Sessions — Main Ballroom
8:00–8:15 AM
Welcome & Introduction
Navin Rajagopalan, MD – Director, Gill Affiliate Network, UK Healthcare
Rebecca Craft, MS, MBA – Director, Cardiovascular Outreach Operations, UK Healthcare
8:15–9:00 AM
Defining Health: Data, Discovery and the Path to Longevity
Clay Marsh, MD – Chancellor and Executive Dean for Health Sciences, West Virginia University
9:00–9:30 AM
Connecting the Heart of Kentucky: Strengthening Care and Advancing Kentucky Through Collaboration and Partnerships
Robert DiPaola, MD – Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, UK Healthcare
9:30–9:45 AM
Break / Exhibitor Showcase / Travel to Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1 — Meeting Rooms 5 & 6
9:45–10:30 AM
Breakout 1A: Grounded, Grateful, and Growing: Building Accountability and Developing the Next Generation of Nurse Leaders
Kim Blanton, DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC – Chief Nursing Officer, UK Healthcare
9:45–10:30 AM
Breakout 1B: Hands-On Vascular Surgery: Exploring Modern Endovascular Therapies
William Rothstein, MD – Assistant Professor of Surgery-Vascular Surgery, UK Healthcare
10:30–11:00 AM
Recharge & Reach Out
Take a moment to refuel and network with colleagues and exhibitors
General Sessions — Main Ballroom
11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Cardiac Amyloidosis: Recognition, Treatment, and the Human Story
Sonu Abraham, MD, FACC – Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine-Cardiology, UK Healthcare
Art Still – Retired NFL Player and Amyloidosis Patient/Advocate
12:00–1:00 PM
Lunch / Exhibitor Showcase
1:00–1:45 PM
Cardiovascular Landscape 2026: Increasing Demand Requires Service Line-Level Planning
Audrey Roche, MHA – Senior Associate, Strategy Intelligence, Vizient
Josh Aaker, PhD – Associate Principal, Intelligence, Vizient
1:45–2:00 PM
Break / Exhibitor Showcase
2:00–2:45 PM
Data with a Purpose: The ROI and Clinical Impact of CV Registries
Joel Sauer, MBA – Executive VP, Care Transformation Services, MedAxiom
2:45–3:00 PM
Break / Exhibitor Showcase / Travel to Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 2 — Meeting Rooms 5 & 6
3:00–3:45 PM
Breakout 2A: A Case-Based Approach to Contemporary Heart Failure Management: From New-Onset Disease to Advanced Therapies
Chioma Obiokoye, MD, MPH – Advanced Heart Failure Specialist, Norton Healthcare
Dodie Kirkendoll, APRN – Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
Maya Ignaszewski, MD – Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine-Cardiology; Director, Heart Transplantation, UK HealthCare
Navin Rajagopalan, MD – Director, Gill Affiliate Network, UK Healthcare
3:00–3:45 PM
Breakout 2B: Hands-On Vascular Surgery: Exploring Modern Endovascular Therapies (repeat session)
William Rothstein, MD – Assistant Professor of Surgery-Vascular Surgery, UK Healthcare
Breakout Session 3 — Meeting Rooms 6 & 7
4:00–4:45 PM
Breakout 3A: Cardiac PET in Modern Cardiovascular Care
Talal Alnabelsi, MD – Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine-Cardiology; Director, Nuclear Lab, UK HealthCare
4:00–4:45 PM
Breakout 3B: Don't Skip a Beat: Transitions of Care in Cardiology
Taylor Huff, PharmD, BCCP – Cardiovascular Pharmacist, UK Healthcare
General Sessions — Main Ballroom
4:45–5:00 PM
Trivia / Conference Concludes
Navin Rajagopalan, MD – Director, Gill Affiliate Network, UK Healthcare
Central Bank Center
430 W Vine St
Lexington, KY 40507
United States
+1 (859) 233-4567
https://www.centralbankcenter.com/

Travel

2026 GILL AFFILIATE NETWORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE & RECEPTION – PARKING INFORMATION

The 2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference and the 2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference Reception will be held at the Central Bank Center (conference venue) & Rupp Arena (reception venue). Note: Parking for the conference and reception is NOT located at the address above. Please refer to the "Parking Instructions" section directly below for further details.

Parking Instructions

Complimentary parking for the 2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference & Reception is available at: 500 West High Street, Lexington, KY 40507

To access the parking lot:

  1. Turn left onto Patterson Street from High Street.
  2. Enter through Gate 2.
  3. Take a ticket at the parking booth and proceed to an available parking space.

Reception Entrance

Please note that the reception and conference use different entrances.

For the Conference Reception, enter through the gray Club Entrance doors, located to the right of the main Central Bank Center entrance. A member of the Gill Affiliate Network team will be there to greet you and escort you to the reception location.

Conference Entrance

For the Annual Conference, enter through the High Street Entrance, located to the left of Rupp Arena.

Once inside:

  1. Continue down the main corridor.
  2. Take the stairs or escalator to the lower level.
  3. Conference registration will be located on your right.

Exiting the Parking Lot

At the conclusion of the reception or conference:

  1. Drive to the parking exit gate.
  2. Scan the QR code on the complimentary parking voucher provided at registration.
  3. The gate arm will lift, allowing you to exit.

Important: The ticket you received when entering the parking lot is not needed to exit.

Additional Information

For a visual overview of conference and reception parking, please click here to view the Conference & Reception Parking Map. The map is also available under Additional Information in the Overview section of the conference website.

2026 GILL AFFILIATE NETWORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE & RECEPTION ACCOMODATIONS

A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Lexington at a reduced rate of $143/night + tax. Reservations can be made online by clicking here. Please note, the reservation deadline is Monday, October 19, 2026. After that date, reservations will be accepted on a space/rate available basis.

Hyatt Regency Parking Instructions

For conference guests staying overnight, please enter the parking lot at 500 West High Street, Lexington, KY 40507 through Gate 1. Self-parking for the Hyatt is to the left. To enter the Hyatt Regency, cross High Street and the hotel entrance is to the right. Please bring your parking ticket to the front desk and a hotel representative will provide you with validation instructions.

Planner(s)

Morgan Boatwright, BSN, RN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Katie Cornett, RN, BSN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Rebecca Craft, MS, MBA

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Jonathan Huff, PharmD, BCCP

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Lynn Mattingly, BSN, RN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Navin Rajagopalan, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Hannah Robertson, BS

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Speaker(s)

Joshua Aaker, PhD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Sonu Abraham, MBBS, FACC

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Talal Alnabelsi, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Kimberly Blanton, DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Robert DiPaola, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Jonathan Huff, PharmD, BCCP

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Maya Ignaszewski, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Dodie Kirkendoll, MSN, NP-C

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Clay Marsh, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Chioma Obiokoye, MD

has a financial relationship (Professional Services) with Bristol Myers Squibb;.

Navin Rajagopalan, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Audrey Roche, MHA

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

William Rothstein, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Joel Sauer, MBA

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Art Still

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Available Credit

  • 6.50 ACPE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This knowledge-based activity will award 6.50 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number: JA0000312-0000-26-070-L01-P

  • 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

  • 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This Live activity is designated for a maximum of 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Participation. Learners should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 6.50 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral)

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 6.50 nursing contact hour(s).

    • 2.50 ANCC (UK Healthcare CECentral) - Pharmacology
  • 6.50 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 6.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit(s) for learning and change.

Thank you for your interest in exhibiting at the 2026 Gill Affiliate Network Annual Conference! To register for the conference, all vendors must first sign and return an exhibitor agreement. You can find this document under “Additional Information” in the Overview section of the website. Should you have questions, please contact Hannah Robertson at [email protected].

Platinum Exhibitor $6000

  • Prominent recognition and placement in conference materials and conference slides
  • Premier exhibitor space in conference exhibitor hall
  • Recognition of support during conference meals and reception
  • Two exhibitor tables each equipped with two chairs
  • Guaranteed access to electrical outlet with advanced request
  • Access to all conference meals and breaks
  • Conference and reception access for four registrants
  • The opportunity to select booth location on a first come, first served basis

Gold Exhibitor $3000

  • Prominent recognition and placement in conference materials and conference slides
  • Prime exhibitor space in conference exhibitor hall
  • Recognition of support during conference meals and reception
  • One exhibitor table equipped with two chairs
  • Guaranteed access to electrical outlet with advanced request
  • Access to all conference meals and breaks
  • Conference and reception access for two registrants
  • The opportunity to select booth location on a first come, first served basis

Silver Exhibitor $2000

  • Recognition in conference materials and conference slides
  • One exhibitor table equipped with two chairs
  • Access to electrical outlet subject to additional fee by conference venue
  • Access to all conference meals and breaks

UKHC Exhibitor $0

  • Recognition in conference materials and conference slides
  • Tabling space provided
  • Guaranteed access to electrical outlet with advanced request
  • Access to all conference meals and breaks
  • Conference and reception access for two registrants

Premium & Add-on Packages

  • This year, we are offering a limited number of Premium and Add-on Exhibitor opportunities. For more information, please contact: [email protected].

 

 

Price

Cost:
$1.00
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