As AI continues to transform health care, hospital board members must understand its opportunities — and its risks. This session will explore the evolving legal and regulatory landscape surrounding AI in health care, from historical trends to emerging technologies. Speakers will highlight key laws, executive orders and enforcement actions shaping AI development, as well as the potential liability risks hospitals may face. Attendees will gain insights into building a strong AI governance framework to ensure ethical, responsible and compliant AI use in their organizations.
Registration Pricing
Member: $75
Non-Member: $125
Registration includes unlimited connections per registered facility.
Who should watch:
Hospital and health system board members, trustees of rural and community hospitals, executive leadership teams, chief legal officers, compliance and risk management professionals, CIOs and CTOs, quality and safety officers, and policy makers involved in health care governance and strategy.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the spectrum of AI technologies currently impacting hospital operations, including applications in revenue cycle management, patient scheduling, and direct patient care.
- Identify key legal and regulatory developments shaping AI governance in health care, including recent executive orders, federal agency guidance, and international legislation such as the EU AI Act.
- Recognize potential legal risks associated with AI use in hospitals, such as privacy violations, discrimination, intellectual property concerns, and liability from algorithmic errors or bias.
- Outline the foundational components of an effective AI governance framework, including stakeholder engagement, policy development, risk management, and ongoing monitoring.
- Apply guiding principles for ethical and responsible AI deployment, emphasizing human autonomy, safety, transparency, and inclusivity in health care settings.
Continuing Education:
American College of Healthcare Executives
By attending the AI in Health Care Webinar, offered by Texas Healthcare Trustees, participants may earn up to 1.0 ACHE Qualified Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.
Certified Healthcare Trustees and Leaders Education
The Texas Healthcare Trustees designates this continuing certified healthcare trustee and leader education activity for up to 1.0 contact hours. For more information about the CHTL program, please contact THT at 512-465-1015.
Speakers
Darren Skyles, J.D., Partner, Nelson Mullins, Houston
Darren remains closely connected to the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, recognizing how its rapid implementation introduces new and often unforeseen governance challenges. As the pace of AI development accelerates, so do the risks and vulnerabilities for clients. Darren stays informed on current AI-related issues to effectively counsel clients on its expansion and associated challenges, helping them build robust AI governance programs.
He brings extensive knowledge and experience in healthcare legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, transactional enterprises, regulatory compliance, governance, operational issues, corporate transactions, fraud and abuse, privacy and security, medical staff concerns, governmental entity laws, outside general counsel services, and litigation. Darren also works with clients on Value-Based Care payment models and provides guidance on specialized corporate transactions within the healthcare sector.
Previously, Darren served as Vice President of Legal Affairs at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He also practiced in the healthcare practice groups of several major Texas law firms. In private practice, Darren oversaw legal compliance and regulatory affairs for two healthcare systems, both of which experienced significant growth under his legal guidance. Before entering the legal field, Darren was a director in the Division of Public Affairs at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Sara Thomas, J.D., Chief Legal Officer/Division Director, Harris Health System, Houston
Sara Thomas serves as the Chief Legal Officer for Harris Health System and as a Division Director for the Office of the Harris County Attorney. In her current role, she oversees all legal services provided to Harris Health System and its Board of Trustees, addressing a wide range of matters including health law transactions, complex litigation, employment issues, medical staff concerns, public law, and board governance. As a member of Harris Health’s Executive Team, Sara takes pride in being a strategic partner and trusted legal advisor.
Harris Health is an integrated public health system located in the third most populous county in the United States. As a hospital district, it owns and operates two hospitals—Ben Taub Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital—along with a broad network of outpatient facilities. Harris Health functions as both a safety net healthcare system and an academic medical center, committed to delivering equitable, high-quality care that matches the standards of non-safety net providers in the community.
Sara holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in Canada, with a focus on Accounting and Management Information Systems. She earned her J.D. with honors from Barry University School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, and later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law from the University of Houston. Sara joined the Office of the Harris County Attorney in 2009 as counsel to Harris Health. Before entering the legal profession, she worked for an international business and IT consulting firm, providing management consulting services on national healthcare information systems and electronic medical records projects.