Students are encouraged to join more than 400 top leaders at Focus Forward on April 22 at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place. The statewide conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a special reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to celebrate the legacy of President Gordon Gee. Registration is free but required to attend both the conference and/or the reception.
Hosted by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, this year’s Focus Forward is all about the future — of health, well-being, innovation and prosperity. As life expectancies rise and industries evolve, how will these shifts impact your education, career and daily life? What new innovations and opportunities will emerge in West Virginia and beyond through advancements in medicine, technology and policy?This is your chance to:
- Hear from top national and local experts shaping the future.
- Gain insights into how your field of study is evolving.
- Network with professionals and top leaders across industries.
- Explore ways you can make an impact on the health and economic future of our state and beyond.
- Learn how we can all live healthier, longer lives.
Register now!
Find the full program, speaker lineup and registration details.
Featured speakers include, but are not limited to, the following:
Top University and State Leaders
Find the full program, speaker lineup and registration details.
Featured speakers include, but are not limited to, the following:
Top University and State Leaders
- WVU President Gordon Gee
- Marshall University President Brad D. Smith
- Chancellor of WVU Health Sciences Dr. Clay Marsh
- Nancy LeaMond, Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, AARP
- A guest speaker from the United States Senate
- Albert Wright, President and CEO, WVU Health System
- David Ramsey, President and CEO, Vandalia Health
- Scott Raynes, President and CEO, Marshall Health Network
- Dr. Joseph Maroon, Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery, UPMC; Pittsburgh Steelers Physician
- Dr. Randy Nelson, Professor and Chair, Hazel Ruby McQuain Chair for Neurological Research, West Virginia University
- David Luckey, Senior International, Defense Researcher, RAND Corporation; Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School
- Dr. David Gozal, Dean and Vice President for Health Affairs, Joan C. Edwards
School of Medicine, Marshall University
- Roderick Moore, Sport Science Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Ken Gabriel, CEO, BioForge
- Vishal Agrawal, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, Humana
- John Deskins, Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research; Associate Professor, Economics, John Chambers College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University