Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce and University of Miami School of Business to Host Puerto Rico Health & Insurance Conference 2012 - "Economic Transformation in Health"

CORAL GABLES, Fla. and SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) and the University of Miami (UM) School of Business Administration today announced a partnership to co-host the Puerto Rico Health & Insurance Conference 2012 "Economic Transformation in Health." The conference, which will be held February 2, 2012 in San Juan, will provide business and government professionals a unique opportunity to hear from industry experts about the new business opportunities for entrepreneurs in the rapidly evolving health care segment in Puerto Rico and across the U.S. The conference will also explore the implications of the White House Task Force Report on health care in Puerto Rico, the potential development of a local health insurance exchange to serve small businesses, and the evolving context for hospitals as ACO-like concepts and systems are promoted by many segments.

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Roberto Pando, chairman of the Puerto Rico Health & Insurance Conference 2012 and Medical Card System (MCS) vice-president of business development and marketing, pointed out that "We have formed this strategic alliance with the University of Miami School of Business Administration to promote and nurture entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico in the health sector." Pando added, "We are announcing today the celebration of an event that targets a diverse audience of stakeholders, including insurance brokers, health plan executives, pharmaceutical manufacturers' executives, pharmacy owners, PBM executives, hospital executives and primary care center leaders, among others.  There are significant changes in funding and demographics, at the levels of billions of dollars, that are set to occur in the next few years and business leaders need to be ready for challenges and opportunities." 

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to once again partner with the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce for this important exchange of ideas on the issues, challenges, business opportunities and best practices shaping today's health care industry," said Steven G. Ullmann, director of programs in health sector management and policy the University of Miami School of Business Administration. "The PRCC has developed a robust program for what promises to be a rich discussion on the rapidly evolving health care sector in Puerto Rico and beyond," added Ullmann, who is among the conference's keynote speakers.

This conference, which draws more than 250 participants from Puerto Rico and across the U.S. and Latin America, has become a highly anticipated event for top business executives, entrepreneurs, analysts, and government professionals as well as investors from leading health care insurance companies, medical tourism facilitators, health insurance producers, hospitals and health care providers, and other key industry players.

"The UM School of Business Administration is recognized as a world leader in health sector management education and research and is therefore an ideal Chamber partner for a conference of this nature," said Salvador Calaf, chairman of the board of the PRCC. "Working together, we will present a pivotal event that will showcase the many health sector business opportunities that exist in Puerto Rico." "This year's edition of the Puerto Rico Health & Insurance Conference will not only educate professionals and provide valuable information about the health care segment, it will also stimulate and energize entrepreneurial spirit, optimism and confidence among those who attend," added Calaf.

In addition to Ullmann, keynote speakers include Jaime R. Torres, regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region II; Ken Thorpe, chair of the Department of Health Policy & Management from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University; and Rafael Cox Alomar, PPD candidate for Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in Washington, D.C, among other healthcare experts and leaders.

For more information and to register for the conference, visit www.camarapr.org.

The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization established in 1913. It is the most inclusive multi-sector organization on the island and it has traditionally been the voice that represents the private sector. Each year, multiple events, such as this one, are organized to promote and facilitate opportunities that will support the socioeconomic development of Puerto Rico.

The University of Miami School of Business Administration delivers its long-running Executive MBA program as well as custom executive education programs in Puerto Rico. On its main campus in Miami, the School delivers an Executive MBA in Health Sector Management and Policy Program, among other graduate, undergraduate, Ph.D., and non-degree executive education programs. More information can be found at www.bus.miami.edu.

SOURCE University of Miami School of Business Administration