Healthcare Partnership Network USA West Coast 2026 Exhibitor List

Terri Couts, RN-BC, MHA, CHCIO, CDH-E is a seasoned healthcare and digital transformation leader with deep experience at the intersection of clinical care and technology. Currently serving as Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Information Officer at Sharp HealthCare, Terri brings a human-centered vision to digital strategy and innovation in complex health systems. A registered nurse by training with a Master’s in Health Administration, Terri’s career spans clinical practice, enterprise IT leadership, and large-scale digital transformation. She previously served as Executive Vice President & Chief Digital Officer at The Guthrie Clinic, where she led enterprise technology strategy, elevated clinician experience, and drove national recognition for digital excellence. Her work consistently emphasizes improving patient outcomes, clinician satisfaction, and operational performance through practical, people-first technology solutions. Terri is recognized as a strategic thinker and collaborative leader who keeps patient and caregiver needs at the center of innovation. She also contributes to the profession as a member of the CHIME Board of Trustees and is widely respected for her insights on digital health, leadership, and building high-performing teams.

Brian Hoberman, MD, is chief information officer and executive vice president, and national IT leader for The Permanente Federation. Dr. Hoberman also serves as chief information officer for The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG), with accountability for IT that includes operational performance, technology integration, and innovation. His national leadership role involves collaboration with national, regional, and medical centerleaders and staff throughout all Kaiser Permanente entities, which includes technology strategy, governance, and investments, as well as development and design, support for clinical content, risk management, security, training, communications, support, analytics, and vendor relations. Dr. Hoberman led the development and deployment of Kaiser Permanente’s inpatient HealthConnect (KPHC) starting in 2003, for which he received a Sidney Garfield Exceptional Contribution award in 2010. He has served as the Permanente Medical Group national leader of KPHC since 2016. Dr. Hoberman is the executive sponsor of the National Product Council, which governs selection of medical products and devices throughout Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Hoberman received his bachelor’s degree in political economy at Williams College, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and his medical degree at University of California, San Francisco. He completed his internal medicine residency at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. He then joined TPMG in 1997 as one of the founding hospitalists at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco.

Ganesh Persad, MSBI, FHIMSS, CHCIO, CDHE, FACHDM is a nationally recognized healthcare technology executive and visionary Chief Information Officer with more than 20 years of experience advancing digital transformation across complex healthcare organizations. Known for his strategic leadership, clinical informatics expertise, and relentless focus on patient and workforce experience, Ganesh has built a distinguished career at the intersection of healthcare delivery, technology innovation, and enterprise strategy. Ganesh currently serves as Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Cottage Health, where he is the organization’s chief strategist and senior executive leader for all information systems. As a key member of the executive leadership team, he oversees enterprisewide IT strategy and plays a critical role in the transformation, implementation, and optimization of technology solutions across the health system. His responsibilities span clinical systems, digital platforms, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology initiatives, all aligned to support highquality care, operational excellence, and longterm organizational growth. In this role, Ganesh leads the development and execution of both strategic and tactical IT plans while fostering a forwardthinking technology culture that champions innovation, collaboration, and accountability. Through close partnership with clinicians, administrators, and operational leaders, he ensures technology is seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows, enabling improved patient outcomes, streamlined operations, and enhanced consumer and workforce experiences. Prior to joining Cottage Health, Ganesh served as Corporate Director of Digital Patient Experience and Applications at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. There, he led groundbreaking digital initiatives, including Emory’s firstinthenation integration of Epic MyChart Bedside TV with Virtual Nursing, along with native Epic and Genesys Cheers implementations. His leadership was instrumental in Emory Healthcare achieving 10 Epic Gold Stars and the Magna Cum Laude Honor Roll, a prestigious recognition awarded to topperforming organizations for excellence in Epic implementation and optimization. Throughout his career, Ganesh has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing digital health, modernizing clinical systems, and leveraging technology to improve care delivery and engagement. He is widely respected for his ability to translate complex technology into practical, valuedriven solutions that support both clinical excellence and business performance. Ganesh holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics from Nova Southeastern University, where he graduated with High Honors, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from Rutgers University. His academic excellence and professional leadership were recognized with the 2018 Chancellor’s Award for the Biomedical Informatics Program, honoring his scholarship, integrity, leadership, and service to the profession. He is a Certified Healthcare CIO (CHCIO), Certified Digital Health Executive (CDHE), a Fellow of HIMSS (FHIMSS), and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Digital Medicine (FACHDM). An influential thought leader and trusted advisor, Ganesh Persad continues to shape the future of healthcare through innovative technology, strategic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to improving patient care.