Summary

Over the past 20 years, I have had the opportunity to move down two parallel paths as it relates to the healthcare system in our country. One path was serving as a leader in two different healthcare systems that owned and operated hospitals across the country. The other path, the most important path, was as Dad to our oldest daughter Madison. Madison contracted life-threatening bacterial meningitis from her first ear infection when she was six-months old. Because of the resulting traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and debilitating seizure disorder, she has spent an inordinate amount of time intersecting with all parts of the US healthcare system throughout her life. 

In this session I will share what we have learned from Madison’s incredible journey and celebrate the incredible kindness and compassion shown to her over the past 20 years.  Over and over, through the moments of complete desperation and brokenness to the times of greatest hope and healing, it is the humanity shown by those who cared for her that carried us through.

A native of small-town Iowa, Jeff and his wife of 25 years Annette have three daughters and live on a small farm south of Nashville.