2015 Our Upstate Vision Forum Series: 

Forum 2- Innovation and the Changing Landscape of Healthcare

Keynote Speaker, Thornton Kirby of the South Carolina Hospital Association 

As we continue to look at the Upstate region and issues that are crucial both today and as the region continues to grow and develop, cultivating a culture where personal health is promoted and access to essential and innovative care is readily available is crucial.

The Upstate is fortunate to have a number of nationally recognized health systems that provide Upstate residents with valuable services that promote personal health. In addition, as the landscape around providing health services has changed, providers and local communities across the Upstate have developed innovative mechanisms designed to help make it easier for all residents to receive needed health services and participate in innovative programs designed to support personal health.

During the Our Upstate Vision Forum on June 2^nd we will hear from Thornton Kirby, President & CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association to learn about the changing healthcare landscape and how those challenges are being addressed across South Carolina. We will also learn about some of the innovative programs being initiated here in the Upstate focused on ensuring that this region is recognized both today and into the future as a leading place for health care and innovation.

The program will include subject experts providing insight on two key components that include:

The forum will be held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. The cost to attend the forum is $10 and advance registration is required*.

Thornton Kirby – South Carolina Hospital Association

Thornton Kirby has served as President & CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association since 2005. In that role he interacts with hospital CEOs, physicians, state and federal legislators, agency heads, business leaders, and educators to represent our state's hospital community. 

Thornton chairs the boards of both the South Carolina Office of Rural Health and Welvista, an organization committed to improving health and wellness for the uninsured. He is also a member of the Joint Commission Board of Commission Resources, a not-for profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, that accredits and certifies more than 17,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

Thornton is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the USC School of Law. Before joining SCHA, Thornton practiced law as a hospital attorney with the Nexsen Pruet law firm in Columbia, served as vice president of Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter, and spent 8 years as a senior administrator of Clemson University. His diverse experiences in law, health care, and higher education give Thornton a unique perspective on many of the policy issues facing South Carolina.