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Dear South Florida HIMSS Chapter Members,
As we move into the holiday season, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your families. I hope the weeks ahead bring time for rest, connection, and reflection on the work you do every day to advance health through information and technology.
This year has been one of meaningful progress for our chapter. Serving as your President has been a true honor, and connecting with so many of you—whether in person or virtually—has been the highlight of 2025. Together with our dedicated board, we expanded our educational offerings with programming focused on digital transformation, interoperability, AI, cybersecurity, analytics, and the evolving health tech workforce. We also broadened our event formats to include hybrid sessions, innovation spotlights, and regional meetups that made participation more accessible across South Florida.
If you’ve felt more connected, more supported, or more informed through your involvement this year, then we’re fulfilling our mission. Our chapter exists to drive better health outcomes through information and technology, and our chapter remains committed to helping you grow as leaders and innovators in that mission.
Looking ahead, planning for 2026 is well underway. Expect a year filled with forward-thinking programming and deeper opportunities for engagement.
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Thank you for the privilege of serving as your 2025 Chapter President. I’m grateful for your participation, your ideas, and the passion you bring to our community. I look forward to continuing this work with you in 2026.
Warm regards,
Lou Mendez
President
South Florida HIMSS Chapter
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Student Scholarship Applications Deadline Extended
SFLHIMSS annually awards scholarships to students studying in the field of healthcare informatics. Degree-seeking students receive $5,000, and certificate-seeking students receive $1,000.
Applications will remain open for the 2025–2026 academic year. The deadline is February 28, 2026.
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New Board Member Recruiting
SFLHIMSS is currently recruiting for the board member positions. These roles are a great way to promote the sharing of ideas and experiences, work on joint projects at the local level, and provide a forum for meeting and networking among local professionals in the field of healthcare computing and telecommunications.
Current board opportunities available are:
- Memberships Co-Chair
- Administrative Assistant
To be considered you must be a SFLHIMSS member for at least one year. Click below to learn more.
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March 9 - 12, 2026
HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Healthcare’s Premier Event. Global Brands. Groundbreaking Ideas. Growth Opportunities. Genuine Connections. All Under One Roof. HIMSS26 isn’t just a conference; it’s the epicenter of healthcare technology where groundbreaking solutions meet visionary minds.
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February 18, 2026
NSU Student Event
Location: Nova Southeastern University
Bridging Expectations and Realities in Health Informatics Careers
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2026
Women in Healthcare IT (HIT)
Details coming soon.
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Spring 2026
14th Annual Golf Tournament & Scholarship Fundraiser
Details coming soon.
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14th Annual IntegraTe25 Conference
The latest IntegraTe delivered once again on its promise to unite South Florida’s health IT community under one roof. Held on November 6, 2025, at the NSU Broward Center of Innovation, the one-day conference featured top-tier sessions, keynote speakers, and innovation spotlight programming that attracted CIOs, clinicians, IT professionals, government officials, consultants, and vendors alike.
IntegraTe continues to be our flagship gathering, reinforcing our mission to advance digital health and fostering collaboration, education, and innovation across the region.
Conference Photo Hub: Browse and download images from our curated gallery, and feel free to upload your own photos to celebrate the moments that made IntegraTe impactful.
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IntegraTe25 Speaker Dinner
The IntegraTe Speakers’ Dinner once again set the tone for our biggest event of the year, bringing together an exceptional group of IT leaders, providers, executives, government partners, and industry innovators for an exclusive evening of connection.
Hosted the night before the conference, the dinner gives our speakers, board members, and VIP guests a chance to meet, exchange ideas, and dive into the hottest topics shaping healthcare today, including AI, interoperability, and the evolving role of data.
More than a tradition, this annual gathering strengthens the relationships that fuel the South Florida HIMSS community and ensures that IntegraTe begins with momentum, insight, and a shared sense of purpose.
Thank you to CDW the Speaker Dinner sponsor.
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Meet the Board Networking Event
This event brought together members for an engaging evening of conversation, connection, and community. Held at TopGolf Miami, with great food, refreshing drinks, and plenty of space to mingle, the event created the perfect backdrop for casual interactions with the South Florida HIMSS leadership team.
Attendees had the chance to learn about chapter initiatives, explore opportunities to get involved, and share ideas in a fun, low-pressure atmosphere. The mix of good bites, lively discussion, and genuine camaraderie made it one of our most enjoyable gatherings of the year and a reminder of how strong and vibrant our health IT community truly is.
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Student Event at FIU
On October 3, 2025, our chapter joined forces with Florida International University to host the “Transforming Care: Strategic Approaches to AI Integration in Health Systems” event. A timely gathering that explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare delivery.
Attendees heard a compelling keynote from Dr. Indranil Bardhan, Associate Editor at Management Science and Senior Editor at Information Systems Research and Chair in Health Care Management in the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Bardhan was followed by interactive panels and workshops diving into the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption in clinical and operational settings. The event offered an excellent chance to connect with fellow professionals interested in the intersection of AI, data, and care delivery, reflecting our chapter’s ongoing commitment to education, innovation, and collaboration.
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Congress Extends Telehealth Waivers
We are pleased to share a significant policy update impacting telehealth services nationwide. On November 12, 2025, Congress passed and the President signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371), officially ending the government shutdown and extending key Medicare telehealth flexibilities through January 30, 2026.
What This Means for Providers and Patients: The extension preserves critical telehealth provisions originally introduced during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, including:
- Home as an originating site – Patients can continue telehealth visits from home without geographic restrictions.
- Expanded provider eligibility – Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and mental health professionals remain eligible to deliver telehealth services.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) – May continue serving as distant-site telehealth providers.
- Audio-only telehealth – Coverage for audio-only visits remains in place.
- Behavioral health flexibility – The in-person visit requirement for telemental health is delayed until January 30, 2026.
- Hospital-at-Home and Hospice – Waivers for Acute Care Hospital at Home and telehealth for hospice recertification continue.
Additionally, the legislation provides retroactive coverage for telehealth services furnished since October 1, 2025, ensuring providers will be reimbursed for services delivered during the shutdown period. CMS will issue guidance on claim reprocessing soon.
Why This Matters: This short-term extension is a critical win for telehealth access and continuity of care. However, these flexibilities are set to expire again in January 2026 unless Congress acts to make them permanent. Advocacy efforts remain essential to secure long-term stability for telehealth services.
For more details, visit CMS Telehealth Policy Updates or review the full legislation summary here.
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South Florida HIMSS is an active and busy chapter that boasts over 1,700 members. It provides members a wonderful opportunity to volunteer and help influence how technology is used to positively transform healthcare in our own backyard.
If you are interested in joining, click below to see what membership type is right for you.
| | If you want to join a committee, please fill out the Committee Interest Survey below, and a board member will help orient you to the committees and discuss with you our various opportunities. | | |
We are always looking for volunteers to help with events throughout the year. To volunteer your time at one of our events throughout the year, please email admin@sflhimss.org.
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THANK YOU TO OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATES
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THANK YOU TO OUR
CHAPTER SPONSORS
| | | South Florida HIMSS Chapter | 211 NW Magnolia Lakes Blvd | Fort Lauderdale, FL 34986 US | | | | |
