SHSMD - Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development

SHSMD - Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development Serving 3,700+ members, SHSMD, a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association

Who We Are
The Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD), a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association, is the largest and most prominent voice and resource for healthcare provider-based planners, marketers, and communications/public relations practitioners nationwide. SHSMD hosts the largest and most comprehensive annual conference, with over 1000 attendees. We offer such unique and respected staples as the annual Futurescan environmental assessment and the By the Numbers benchmarking study, as well as three listservs, electronic and print newsletters, a job posting service, and other valuable resources. More than 4,000 healthcare strategy professionals have chosen to become members of SHSMD, reflecting our singular status in the field. Our Mission—Why we exist
The mission of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association, is to provide healthcare planning, marketing, and communications professionals with the most highly valued resources for professional development. Our Brand Promise—Where we are going
As a reflection of the changing healthcare environment and the intensifying pressures on healthcare strategy professionals, and in response to comprehensive research on our members’ needs, SHSMD is proud to unveil a new brand promise. Through the process of listening to our members, as well as thoughtful introspection, we have clarified who we are and where we desire to go as an organization. Our members told us how we could serve them better, and we plan to deliver. We have opened a dialogue with our members that we plan to keep open on an ongoing basis to continue to add value to SHSMD membership. SHSMD’s brand promise reflects a renewed commitment to our members, along with newly developed resources that will empower our members to perform at a higher level. By launching new resources—such as special interest group communities, back-to-basics workshops, and expanded benchmarking and best-practice studies—while retaining the best of current resources, SHSMD intends to demonstrate a heightened sense of responsiveness to members’ need for just-in-time resources.

The 2026 SHSMD Member Orientation is designed to help members discover the resources, connections, and professional tool...
03/12/2026

The 2026 SHSMD Member Orientation is designed to help members discover the resources, connections, and professional tools that can support both daily work and long-term career growth in health care strategy and marketing.

During this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Navigate SHSMD resources, benefits, and member tools
• Explore educational offerings and professional development opportunities
• Connect with the SHSMD community and become a more active member
• Put your membership to work in ways that support real day-to-day challenges

SHSMD’s 2026 Member Orientation
April 1, 2026
1:00 to 2:00 PM CT
Virtual Event

Register:
https://ow.ly/NEyh50YsXYU

Members can also join the Virtual New Member Mixer on March 31, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM CT. This interactive session focuses on peer networking, practical website navigation, and live Q&A.

Learn more about the mixer:
https://ow.ly/CJ9T50YsXYV

Most health systems do not have a marketing problem.They have a seat-at-the-strategy-table problem.In many organizations...
03/11/2026

Most health systems do not have a marketing problem.

They have a seat-at-the-strategy-table problem.

In many organizations, marketing is still brought in after decisions are made. The role becomes promotion rather than participation.

That model is breaking down.

Margin pressure.
Consumer choice.
New competitors entering local markets.

Leadership teams are now wrestling with questions like:

• Where should we grow?
• Which services matter most to our communities?
• How do we differentiate when every hospital claims quality and compassion?

Those are market questions, not just operational ones.

The marketing leaders gaining influence right now bring three things into the strategy conversation early:

• Market intelligence
• Consumer insight
• Clear positioning

Not just campaign ideas.

The profession is shifting from promotion to strategic influence.

Organizations that recognize this tend to move faster and compete more effectively.

Curious how others are seeing this play out.

Are marketing leaders in your organization helping shape strategy, or mainly communicating it after decisions are made?

Small and rural health systems operate in a very different reality.Smaller teams. Tighter budgets. Closer ties to the co...
03/10/2026

Small and rural health systems operate in a very different reality.

Smaller teams. Tighter budgets. Closer ties to the communities they serve.

That is why SHSMD is hosting a Catalyst Conversation designed specifically for members working in rural and small health care organizations.

This is not a traditional webinar. It is a peer discussion where members can share challenges, exchange ideas, and help shape future SHSMD resources built for their environment.

Join us on March 25 to:

• Connect with peers working in rural and small health systems
• Discuss the strategic challenges your organization is navigating
• Preview rural-focused SHSMD programs and resources coming in 2026
• Help influence the support and education SHSMD develops next

Catalyst Conversation: Expanding Support & Community for Small & Rural Members

March 25, 2026
12–1 PM CT | 1–2 PM ET | 10–11 AM PT

Register here:
https://ow.ly/8If450YruWT

Your Data Shapes the BenchmarkHealth care marketing is evolving fast. Budgets are shifting. Expectations are rising. The...
03/05/2026

Your Data Shapes the Benchmark

Health care marketing is evolving fast. Budgets are shifting. Expectations are rising. The By the Numbers: MarCom Survey Panel 1 is your opportunity to ensure our profession is measured accurately.

This survey captures how MarCom teams are structured, funded, and evaluated across health care organizations nationwide. The more voices we have, the stronger and more credible the insights become.

Do not sit on the sidelines. Contribute your data and help define what high performance really looks like in health care marketing.

Participate in the BTN: MarCom Survey Panel 1:
https://ow.ly/axxp50YoGWI

Health care strategy is entering a decade of disruption.Workforce shortages, financial pressure, retail health expansion...
03/05/2026

Health care strategy is entering a decade of disruption.

Workforce shortages, financial pressure, retail health expansion, and new care models are reshaping the competitive landscape faster than many organizations can adapt.

On March 11, join Jeff Goldsmith, PhD, one of health care’s most respected futurists, for a live briefing on the forces that will shape the next five years.

In this Futurescan 2026 webinar, you will learn:

• The major disruptions already reshaping health care markets
• What these shifts mean for strategy, growth, and financial sustainability
• Where forward-thinking health systems are placing their bets

This session is designed for leaders who need to anticipate change, not react to it.

📅 March 11, 2026
⏰ 12:00 to 1:00 PM CDT

Seats are limited for the live session.

Register now:
https://ow.ly/qkUJ50YpH9c

Health care strategists don’t need more theory.They need tools they can use this week.That’s why SHSMD created the Quick...
03/02/2026

Health care strategists don’t need more theory.
They need tools they can use this week.

That’s why SHSMD created the Quick Tools library — short, practical resources designed for immediate application.

One to start with:

3 Proven Ways to Build Population Health Models That Last

It outlines how leading organizations built programs that actually sustain over time — not just pilot projects that fade out.

✔ Focused starting point
✔ Community partnerships
✔ Scalable design

👉 SHSMD members get free access to all Quick Tools and downloads.

Take a look: https://ow.ly/al1k50Yn5Rk

Final call to shape SHSMD’s future leadership.Nominations for the 2027 SHSMD Board, Strategic Fellow and President-elect...
03/02/2026

Final call to shape SHSMD’s future leadership.

Nominations for the 2027 SHSMD Board, Strategic Fellow and President-elect close March 6.

If you know a leader who moves the field forward or if you are ready to step up, now is the moment.

Submit a nomination: https://ow.ly/3r9J50Yn4He

Most MarCom benchmarking data falls short for one reason:Participation drops off before it becomes useful.You can fix th...
02/20/2026

Most MarCom benchmarking data falls short for one reason:
Participation drops off before it becomes useful.

You can fix that in five minutes.

Step 1. Start with Panel 1
Organization profile and key MarCom metrics.
This gets your organization into the dataset and opens your remaining survey links.

Step 2. Complete Panels 2 and 3 when it fits your schedule
The more you contribute, the more meaningful your budget and staffing comparisons become.

Step 3. Add Panel 4 on AI attitudes and usage
AI responses are analyzed separately and shared through a focused report, webinar insights, and LinkedIn highlights.

All reporting is blinded and aggregated, with minimum thresholds to protect confidentiality.

If you do one thing, do the five-minute step that gets your organization into the dataset.

Start here: https://ow.ly/g89F50Yj1U5

Most health care leaders are tracking dozens of trends right now. The real challenge is deciding which ones should actua...
02/18/2026

Most health care leaders are tracking dozens of trends right now. The real challenge is deciding which ones should actually change your strategy.

As futurist Jeff Goldsmith puts it,
“Medicine is a human service. It’s the human part we have to get right.”

That lens matters right now.

Access, consumer expectations, workforce strain, and retail competition are all accelerating. But the systems that win will be the ones that translate those forces into a more human, more trusted care experience, not just a more efficient one.

On March 11, 2026 at 12:00 PM CT, Jeff Goldsmith will break down the Futurescan 2026 trends that matter most and what they mean for your next set of strategic decisions across access, trust, workforce, and growth.

This is not a trend list. It is a strategic briefing on what deserves your attention next.

Register: https://ow.ly/UFYT50YhHt9

Open to members and non-members.

Strong health care organizations start with confident, well-informed teams.Orientation to Health Care does more than tea...
02/17/2026

Strong health care organizations start with confident, well-informed teams.

Orientation to Health Care does more than teach concepts. It strengthens how people work together.

For individuals:
• Faster onboarding in health care roles
• More confidence in meetings and cross-functional conversations
• Fewer misunderstandings and clearer communication

For organizations:
• Reduced ramp-up time for early career staff
• Stronger collaboration across departments
• Better alignment between strategy, marketing, and operations

If your team includes early career professionals, career switchers, or non-clinical staff, this course can make an immediate difference in how effectively they contribute.

Explore the course:
https://ow.ly/qN2s50Yhfh9

SHSMD is seeking the next group of leaders who will help guide our profession and shape the future of health care strate...
02/16/2026

SHSMD is seeking the next group of leaders who will help guide our profession and shape the future of health care strategy, marketing and communications.

Nominations are open for 2027 SHSMD leadership roles, including:
• Advisory Board
• Strategic Fellow
• President-Elect

This is your opportunity to contribute your expertise, represent your peers and help drive meaningful change within SHSMD and across the field.

Whether you have someone in mind or you are ready to take the next step in your own leadership journey, we encourage you to get involved.

Nominations are open through March 6, 2026

Learn more about the roles and process:
https://ow.ly/nqRQ50YfkQq

Submit a nomination:
https://ow.ly/p6im50YfkQr

02/10/2026

Health care is brilliant, important, and complicated.

If you are early in your career, it can also feel like everyone else already speaks the language.

Orientation to Health Care is built for that exact moment.

Participants leave with:
• A clear mental model for how the U.S. health care system works
• Fluency with common terms and acronyms
• A better understanding of how hospitals, physicians, payers, and consumers interact

This is not about memorizing definitions. It is about gaining context so you can participate confidently, ask sharper questions, and move faster in your role.

Learn more about Orientation to Health Care:
https://ow.ly/2w1N50YcnEk

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155 N Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL
60606

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