2026 Distribution Management Conference and Expo | HDA

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2026 Distribution Management Conference and Expo

March 8-11, 2026 | JW Marriott Austin | Austin, Texas

72

Days
04

Hours
14

Minutes

1:00 PM - 7:30 PM JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (4th floor)

Registration
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Exhibitor Setup
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Edge Rooftop (5th floor next to Pool)

VIP Reception (Invitation Only)
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Edge Rooftop (5th floor next to Pool)

Welcome Reception

7:00 AM - 6:15 PM JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (4th floor)

Registration
7:00 AM - 7:45 AM

General Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM JW Grand Ballroom 5-6 (4th floor)

Opening General Session
Speakers
- Chester "Chip" Davis, Jr.
  
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  
  Healthcare Distribution Alliance
8:20 AM - 8:30 AM JW Grand Ballroom 5-6 (4th floor)

Distribution Management Award Presentation
Description

When we excel at our jobs, we can sometimes encounter an “Expert Plateau”: We learn less and contribute fewer ideas. Diana Kander will show us how to shift from feeling like we “know” how it should be done to being curious about whether it could be done better.
Speakers
- Diana Kander
  
  Innovation Consultant
  
  New York Times Bestselling Author
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Expo Grand Opening and Morning Break
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Concurrent Education Sessions A
Sponsors
Speakers
- Aaron Weisbuch
  
  Senior Regulatory Advisor, CDER
  
  U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Description

The product launch landscape has changed. Learn what's different today with certain launch types. Understand distribution's critical role in a successful process, how payers evaluate coverage and access, as well as manufacturer–distributor “pain points” and how to fix them. By the end of this session, attendees will understand what success looks like, and what comes next.
Speakers
- James Reilly
  
  Co-Founder & Managing Partner
  
  A3Access Advisors, LLC
Description

A veteran DEA agent will describe how transnational organized crime groups and cartels are driving the $480 billion global counterfeit medicine black market. Learn how sophisticated drug traffickers and white-collar criminals are circumventing traceability laws and regulations throughout the world — all of which puts innocent patients at risk and compromises the nation’s drug supply.
Speakers
- J. Aaron Graham
  
  Senior Fellow
  
  Center on Shadow Economics
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Movement Break
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Concurrent Education Sessions B
Sponsors
Description

As the nation heads into a pivotal election year, federal health policy is front and center. This session will explore how the administration has implemented drug pricing changes, including the Most-Favored Nation executive order and tariffs, the latest debates on drug shortages, and the broader policy issues shaping the 119th Congress.
Speakers
- Kristen L. Freitas
  
  SVP, Federal Government Affairs and Alliance Development
  
  Healthcare Distribution Alliance
Sponsors
Speakers
- Lee Fuller
  
  Global Director of Environmental
  
  Cardinal Health, Inc.
- Marc VanPuymbrouck
  
  Senior Manager of Corporate Environmental
  
  Cencora, Inc.
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

General Luncheon
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Expo and Dessert Break
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Concurrent Education Sessions C
Sponsors
Speakers
- Scott A. Mooney
  
  Vice President Distribution Operations, Traceability
  
  McKesson Corporation
- Leon Nevers
  
  Senior Director, Procurement and Business Development
  
  H-E-B
Description

Get up to speed on pending and anticipated state legislation shaping pharmaceutical wholesale distribution. This session will review the latest actions on healthcare affordability, prescription drug pricing, state licensure, taxation and other high-impact proposals. Walk away with clear takeaways on what’s changing, where it is happening and how it could affect your operations.
Speakers
- Leah D. Lindahl
  
  Vice President, State Government Affairs
  
  Healthcare Distribution Alliance
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM JW Grand Ballroom 1-2 (4th floor)

C3: Trends in Specialty
Sponsors
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Movement Break
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Concurrent Education Sessions D
Description

Faciliated group discussions on:
DSCSA Operations
Innovations (VRS & AI) for DSCSA Compliance
DSCSA Standards
Sponsors
Speakers
- Adrian Bailey
  
  Healthcare Community Engagement Manager
  
  GS1 US
- Ullrich Mayeski
  
  Director of Community Engagement- Healthcare
  
  GS1 US
- Michael J. Mazur
  
  Director, Trade Operations
  
  Pfizer Inc.
- Jaidalyn Rand
  
  Director, Industry Relations
  
  Healthcare Distribution Alliance
Description

This session will examine the evolving reimbursement policy landscape, focusing on how recent and emerging policy initiatives are reshaping pricing, contracting, and compliance expectations across the pharmaceutical supply chain. The session will include an overview of current drug reimbursement and coverage under Medicare and Medicaid as well as discussion on developments related to most favored nation pricing concepts, changes in 340B policy and oversight, state efforts to regulate drug pricing and reimbursement, cash pay/direct to consumer drug pricing programs and other emerging reimbursement proposals.
Speakers
- Stephanie Trunk
  
  Partner
  
  ArentFox Schiff LLP
Description

Technology is reshaping safety and efficiency across the pharmaceutical supply chain, from AI-driven risk prediction and autonomous robotics to wearable sensors and exoskeletons. This session provides a grounded look at today’s safety technology landscape, highlighting real-world use cases, emerging innovations and the ways these tools are transforming workplaces. Attendees will learn how to identify accessible, cost-effective solutions, navigate common implementation challenges and apply lessons from case studies that demonstrate the measurable impact of these technologies on worker safety and performance.
Speakers
- Kenna Stanley
  
  NSC Senior Research Associate
  
  National Safety Council
Description

In today's complex landscape, having the right idea isn't enough. What matters most is how that idea is presented, framed and supported by others. This session equips participants with advanced influence techniques often used by high-performing sales teams, along with strategic methods from political campaigning to segment stakeholders, overcome resistance and win support. Through practical exercises, leaders will learn to strengthen relationships through collaboration, ask the right types of questions to guide others toward agreement, and position their ideas in ways that accelerate buy-in. Whether you are launching a new initiative, advocating for change, or trying to align internal and external partners, this session will give you a repeatable approach to gaining momentum and making your impact felt.
Sponsors
Speakers
- Tami Reiss
  
  CEO
  
  Leader Within
4:15 PM - 6:15 PM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Expo Reception and Raffle

7:00 AM - 6:15 PM JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (4th floor)

Registration
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

General Breakfast
8:15 AM - 9:30 AM JW Grand Ballroom 5-6 (4th floor)

Morning General Session
Description

Adapting to an AI-powered future may be today’s most urgent challenge. But teams are divided. Some are excited about "AI-powered everything" and overlooking the pitfalls. Others are unsure or anxious about the disruption AI could bring — and don’t know where to begin.

Long ago, Dan Chuparkoff realized this: The speed at which you grasp and adopt new technology will determine your success. With AI, this is truer than ever. It’s not just a new search engine or a new chat interface; AI is about to become as integrated into our lives as copy and paste. Chuparkoff, a former Google Technology Leader who played a key role in bringing AI to the Android mobile ecosystem, will break down what AI is good at, and what it’s not. He will show you how it’s evolving, and how to pair its capabilities with the power of human expertise. You will walk away with practical strategies to leverage AI and other emerging technologies — unlocking new levels of performance, creativity and a competitive edge.
Speakers
- Dan Chuparkoff
  
  AI Expert
  
  Former Google, McKinsey & Atlassian Leader
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Expo and Morning Break
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Concurrent Education Sessions E
Sponsors
Speakers
- David G. Mason
  
  Director of Supply Chain Compliance
  
  Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Sean Murphy
  
  Manager, Manufacturer Operations
  
  Cencora, Inc.
Sponsors
Description

This session will cover the high-level critical components of qualification in temperature management (including receipt, storage, lane mapping and cold chain packaging). Sustainable temperature management will focus on cold chain packaging, specifically: drivers to include compliance, customer demand, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, longer delivery times, seasonal challenges, cold chain product growth, and cost management (packaging material, transportation, and product loss).
Attendees will look at various single-use and reusable packaging materials (including various insulating and coolant materials) and evaluate their uses and advantages.
Sponsors
Speakers
- Chris J. Anderson
  
  Director, Quality Management
  
  Cardinal Health, Inc.
Description

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept: it is a practical tool that can enhance productivity, creativity and decision-making across every level of an organization. This session will help demystify AI by showing how professionals in healthcare distribution can integrate it into their daily routines to save time, improve communication and unlock new efficiencies.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of how to use AI responsibly and effectively without needing to be a data scientist. Through strategy and real-world examples, attendees will leave seeing AI not as a threat or passing trend, but as a practical partner in getting more done, making better decisions, and staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry.
Sponsors
Speakers
- Laura Caputo
  
  Strategy and Ops Consultant
  
  La Roca Consulting LLC
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Movement Break
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Concurrent Education Sessions F
Sponsors
Description

A panel of legal and regulatory experts will discuss inspection-related issues affecting pharmaceutical distributors, including current DEA inspection priorities, common inspection findings, enforcement trends, and considerations for inspection preparedness and response in an evolving regulatory environment.
Speakers
- John A. Gilbert
  
  Director
  
  Hyman, Phelps, and McNamara, P.C.
- Larry Houck
  
  Director
  
  Hyman, Phelps, and McNamara, P.C.
- Karla Palmer
  
  Director
  
  Hyman, Phelps, and McNamara, P.C.
Speakers
- Heather Easterling
  
  Senior Managing Consultant, 340B Solutions, Health Systems
  
  McKesson Corporation
Description

With limited time and resources, distributors must focus on fixes that most effectively reduce their exposure to cyber threats. This session will highlight key threats and vulnerabilities most exploited by attackers and translate them into clear, actionable priorities. Attendees will explore top threat vectors and common weaknesses, how to derive actionable insights from previous cyberattacks, measuring cybersecurity’s impact, and keys to making the most of risk assessments.
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

General Luncheon
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Expo and Dessert Break
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Concurrent Education Sessions G
Sponsors
Speakers
- Ashley Y. DeFlice
  
  Associate Manager, Regulatory Affairs
  
  Henry Schein, Inc.
- Sean Murphy
  
  Manager, Manufacturer Operations
  
  Cencora, Inc.
- Arthi Nagaraj
  
  Head of Analytics, Strategic Projects and Serialization
  
  Sanofi US
Description

In this session, attendees will explore how distributors are preparing for forthcoming national standards for licensure and quality management, and will hear about real-world readiness efforts and strategic priorities. Understand the intersection of internal quality modernization and HDA’s advocacy to shape a practical, uniform federal rule, and learn about the Quality Management Work Group contributions to federal advocacy and implementation planning.
Speakers
- April Mae Branick
  
  Vice President, Enterprise QMS Operations & Engineering
  
  McKesson Corporation
- Christopher A. Reed
  
  VP, Quality and Regulatory Operations, U.S. Supply Chain
  
  Cencora, Inc.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM JW Grand Ballroom 1-2 (4th floor)

G3: Contracts & Chargebacks Session
Description

AI is transforming the pharmaceutical industry at every level — from molecule to marketplace — reshaping how medicines are discovered, developed, distributed and delivered. It is also shifting the economics of pharmaceuticals, creating new competitive advantages for data-driven firms, platform-based intermediaries and ecosystem alliances.
As a doctoral researcher at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, Tom Mullen connects these developments to broader questions of strategic management, regulation, and policy, asking: Who will capture value in an AI-powered pharma economy? Who is at risk? And what does it mean to business leaders, policy makers and patients?
This session will challenge leaders to view AI not as a tool, but as a fundamental driver of industrial evolution — reshaping incentives, market power and the future business models of pharmaceutical care.
Speakers
- Tom Mullen
  
  Chief Strategy Officer
  
  Pharmsource, LLC
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Movement Break
Description

Explore key pharmaceutical trends amid unprecedented and uncertain market activity. In this presentation, Scott will examine recent sales and prescription patterns, identify the primary drivers behind growth and decline, and provide a brief outlook on what’s ahead. Gain actionable insights to navigate shifting dynamics and make informed decisions in a transformational landscape.
Speakers
- Scott Biggs
  
  Director, Supplier Services
  
  IQVIA
4:15 PM - 6:15 PM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Networking Reception and Expo Raffle
6:15 PM - 8:00 PM Griffin Hall (2nd Floor)

Exhibitor Move-out

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (4th floor)

Registration
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM JW Grand Ballroom 5-6 (4th floor)

General Breakfast
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM JW Grand Ballroom 5-6 (4th floor)

Closing General Session
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM JW Grand Ballroom 5-6 (4th floor)

Cyber Resilience and Response in the Healthcare Distribution Industry
Description

Organizations today face nonstop demands: Faster decisions. Constant digital change. Rising cybersecurity threats. Pressure to meet performance goals while staying transparent, responsible, and resilient. Teams operate with limited time and expanding expectations, and the real vulnerability often comes from inside the mind. Stress, bias, urgency and emotional overload quietly influence judgment long before any policy or system does. The gap between intention and action grows quickly if no one is trained to see it.

Rashmi Airan has lived the complexity of ethical pressure. As an Ivy League-educated lawyer who faced the consequences of a single misjudgment, she brings authentic insight into how ethical drift begins and how people justify choices they never thought they would make. Her work in behavioral ethics and decision psychology will give you a grounded, research-based understanding of how humans think in high-pressure environments and equip you with the insight and tools needed to protect trust, elevate decision making and lead with integrity in a world that keeps accelerating.
Speakers
- Rashmi Airan
  
  Ex-Felon and Lawyer
  
  Unapologetic Truth-Teller
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Conference Adjournment

Event schedule subject to change.

Registration and Hotel Information

Genesis Argueta
Sponsorship Opportunities

Lisa Kanfer
Exhibit and Membership Opportunities

Michelle Leslie
Conference Schedule, Speaker Information, and Education Content

Subrina Ghorashi