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.

SHSMD Awards nominations are now open.Each year, these awards highlight the people who are actually moving the field for...
04/01/2026

SHSMD Awards nominations are now open.

Each year, these awards highlight the people who are actually moving the field forward. Not just doing strong work, but influencing how health care strategy and marketing evolve across organizations.

Two awards recognize different kinds of impact:

• The Leadership Excellence Award honors professionals whose work has shaped teams, strategy and outcomes over time
https://ow.ly/gjMO50YBPzT

• The Rising Star Award recognizes emerging talent already driving meaningful change early in their careers. Self-nominations are encouraged!
https://ow.ly/bwVu50YBPzV

If someone on your team or in your network stands out, this is the moment to put their name forward.

Submit a nomination:
https://ow.ly/nnws50YBPzW

Growth in health care is being limited by access, not demand.That was one of the clearest signals from the Futurescan 20...
04/01/2026

Growth in health care is being limited by access, not demand.

That was one of the clearest signals from the Futurescan 2026 discussion with Jeff Goldsmith.

A few implications that should change how teams plan:

• “More demand” won’t fix growth if patients can’t get in
• Consumer expectations are being set by retail, not health systems
• Margin pressure isn’t resetting. It’s the baseline
• Pharmacy is shifting from support function to revenue driver
• Price transparency is starting to shape trust, not just compliance

The real shift is this:
Health systems are no longer competing on reputation alone. They’re competing on how easy they are to access and how clearly they communicate value.

If your strategy doesn’t address that, it’s already behind.

Watch the full conversation → https://ow.ly/t8aT50YAWJb

Most members don’t fully use what they already have.The 2026 SHSMD Member Orientation shows you how to turn your members...
03/31/2026

Most members don’t fully use what they already have.

The 2026 SHSMD Member Orientation shows you how to turn your membership into something you actually use, from tools and insights to meaningful peer connections.

April 1 | 1:00 to 2:00 PM CT
Register:
https://ow.ly/wLhV50YAKLL

Also, don't miss this happening today:
Join the Virtual New Member Mixer to meet peers and explore SHSMD together.

12:00 to 1:00 PM CT
https://ow.ly/r1T850YAKLO

Launching a campaign is easy.Delivering on it is where most health systems break down.Featured SHSMD Quick Tool:Beyond t...
03/30/2026

Launching a campaign is easy.
Delivering on it is where most health systems break down.

Featured SHSMD Quick Tool:
Beyond the Campaign Launch: Key Questions to Answer

A practical way to pressure-test whether your operations, access, and patient experience can actually support what you’re about to promote.

Because the fastest way to erode trust is to market something your system can’t deliver consistently.

Explore the tool:
https://www.shsmd.org/tools/beyond-campaign-launch-key-questions-answer

Browse the full Quick Tools library:
https://www.shsmd.org/tools/strategy-success

🚨 Last call, SHSMD members!If you’re part of a small or rural health care organization, this is your chance to join a pe...
03/24/2026

🚨 Last call, SHSMD members!

If you’re part of a small or rural health care organization, this is your chance to join a peer-driven conversation built specifically for you.

📅 Tomorrow | March 25
🕛 12–1 PM CT
💻 Virtual | Members Only

This isn’t a webinar. It’s a working session with fellow members navigating the same resource and staffing challenges.

Join to:
✔ Compare what’s actually working (and what’s not)
✔ Share ideas and shape future SHSMD support for rural and small teams
✔ Preview upcoming resources and programs for 2026
✔ Walk away with practical insights you can apply immediately

Featuring Julia Yoder, Marketing & PR Director, Brookings Health System

Spots are limited—don’t miss your chance to connect with peers who truly understand your day-to-day.

👉 Register: https://ow.ly/Zn8S50YyanM

Most new members don’t have a knowledge gap.They have an access gap.They don’t know:• who to reach out to• where the rea...
03/23/2026

Most new members don’t have a knowledge gap.
They have an access gap.

They don’t know:
• who to reach out to
• where the real conversations are happening
• which resources actually matter

That’s what the SHSMD Virtual New Member Mixer is built to solve.

In one focused hour, you’ll connect with peers, get a guided look at SHSMD’s ecosystem, and leave knowing exactly where to plug in.

📅 March 31, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM CT

If you want to move from “member” to “participant,” start here.

Register:
https://ow.ly/sITN50YxGs4

Joining a professional community is one thing.Actually connecting with it is another.That’s why SHSMD hosts the Virtual ...
03/16/2026

Joining a professional community is one thing.
Actually connecting with it is another.

That’s why SHSMD hosts the Virtual New Member Mixer.

In one hour, you’ll meet fellow members, explore key SHSMD resources, and learn how to get real value from the community.

📅 March 31, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM CT

If you’re new to SHSMD, this is the easiest way to get oriented and start building connections.

Register:
https://ow.ly/7vyf50YuPgl

Strong digital marketing teams do not happen by accident. They are built intentionally.Featured SHSMD Quick Tool:Digital...
03/16/2026

Strong digital marketing teams do not happen by accident. They are built intentionally.

Featured SHSMD Quick Tool:
Digital Dream Team Self-Assessment

This practical resource helps health care marketing leaders evaluate whether their team has the right skills, roles, and tools to drive engagement and growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

If you lead marketing or strategy inside a health system, it is a useful starting point for a simple question:

Is our team designed for the work we are trying to do?

Explore the tool:
https://www.shsmd.org/tools/digital-dream-team-self-assessment

Browse the full Quick Tools library:
https://www.shsmd.org/tools/strategy-success

SHSMD members get access to a growing set of practical tools designed to help health care strategists move from insight to action faster.

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

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