By Keri Forsythe-Stephens

The 2025 AAMI eXchange isn’t just another conference—it’s a pivotal gathering for the healthcare technology management (HTM) community to confront real-world challenges and shape the future of medical technology.

Taking place June 20–23 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, this year’s event will focus on some of the most pressing topics in HTM: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, workforce development, inclusion, and more.
With over 80 educational sessions planned, the eXchange is designed to serve professionals across the HTM spectrum—from early-career biomeds to seasoned leaders—offering hands-on training, forward-thinking insights, and actionable takeaways. As always, networking remains a cornerstone of the event, providing ample opportunities for collaboration and connection across healthcare settings and specialties.

In this exclusive for DOTmed HealthCare Business News, four members of AAMI’s leadership team—President and CEO Pamela Arora, Vice President Sherrie Schulte, Chief Learning and Development Officer Robert Burroughs, and Vice President of HTM Danielle McGeary—discuss what sets this year’s eXchange apart and how it’s helping define the next chapter of HTM. Don’t miss out.

HCB News: What are the primary goals for the 2025 AAMI eXchange, and how do they align with the current needs of the HTM community?
Pamela Arora: Our primary goal is consistent across all our events and activities: to promote the safe and effective use of health technology. Specifically for the eXchange, our goal is to bring together and support our HTM community in pursuit of that mission. AAMI eXchange is a unique event that brings together HTM professionals, manufacturers, and vendors to share ideas, learn and grow professionally, and raise the bar on all things HTM.

HCB News: How is AAMI planning to incorporate emerging technologies—like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and interoperability—into the conference agenda?
Arora: AAMI is always looking to the future. At the 2025 eXchange, we have several education tracks designed to help HTM professionals prepare for what’s ahead—including tracks on AI and cybersecurity. In addition, our exhibitor community consistently brings the latest and greatest technology to the expo floor, presenting in their own booths as well as in our on-floor theaters.

HCB News: How is AAMI ensuring that the eXchange remains inclusive and valuable for professionals across all experience levels and healthcare settings?
Danielle McGeary: AAMI is ensuring that the 2025 AAMI eXchange is inclusive and valuable for professionals at all levels by offering more than 80 educational sessions tailored to a wide range of career stages—from early-career technicians to seasoned HTM leaders. The event brings together voices from diverse healthcare settings, including rural hospitals, large academic medical centers, the [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs], independent service organizations, and international groups, promoting a rich exchange of ideas.

With interactive formats such as leadership workshops, hands-on technical training, career coaching, product demos, and live question-and-answer panels—alongside traditional presentations—attendees can engage in ways that suit their learning style. Topics range from foundational skills to advanced areas like cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and leadership development, ensuring relevance across all career levels and fostering community-building. Whether you’re new to the field or leading a department, eXchange offers tools and connections to support your growth.

HCB News: What steps is AAMI taking to advocate for stronger recognition of HTM professionals within healthcare leadership and policymaking circles?
Robert Burroughs: AAMI is not an advocacy or professional membership organization in the traditional sense. Our members join because they are committed to AAMI’s mission: promoting the safe and effective use of health technology. In many cases, that means investing in professional skills, acquiring certifications, or engaging in other professional development activities. In other cases, it means contributing to the development of standards or guidance documents. Our role at AAMI is to strengthen and advance the HTM profession as part of our broader mission—and to empower our members and stakeholders as they elevate their roles in support of that mission.

HCB News: What specific sessions or initiatives at the 2025 eXchange are aimed at addressing workforce development and retention in HTM?
Sherrie Schulte: The 2025 eXchange features a wealth of sessions focused on professional development and workforce retention in the HTM profession. These include a session on how disability impacts HTM professionals, as well as multiple sessions on the HTM talent pipeline—such as Strategic Talent Acquisition: Managing Recruitment and Retention in HTM, presented by Aaron Predum and Susan Riss of MedStar Health, and HTM Recruiting Needs to Change, presented by Joe Deater, AAS, CBET, of Munson Healthcare and Northwestern Michigan College.

HCB News: What new formats or features are being introduced in 2025 to improve engagement, education, and networking for HTM professionals?
Schulte: Community engagement and networking were top of mind as AAMI planned the 2025 eXchange. Networking events include old favorites like the AAMI Party—held at Mardi Gras World in downtown New Orleans—and the annual AAMI Golf Tournament.

Education is the centerpiece of the eXchange, with attendees able to choose from more than 80 sessions organized into tracks such as AI, patient safety, career and professional development, and many more.

HCB News: How is AAMI collaborating with hospitals, vendors, and academia to strengthen the HTM talent pipeline?
DM: AAMI is deeply committed to building and sustaining a strong HTM workforce by actively collaborating with hospitals, vendors, and academic institutions. One of our flagship initiatives is the AAMI BMET Apprenticeship Program, which now supports 53 apprentices across 30 employer partners—including both hospitals and third-party service providers. The program has attracted significant interest, with more than 2,200 individuals expressing a desire to join, helping to raise awareness of HTM as a rewarding career path.

In parallel, AAMI works closely with every accredited two-year HTM academic program in the country. We provide free AAMI memberships to all HTM students and regularly engage with them through guest lectures—often delivered by me—to inspire and inform the next generation. To ensure quality and consistency in HTM education, AAMI also released EQ110, a landmark standard that outlines the minimum qualifications for HTM associate degree programs.

Further reinforcing this pipeline, AAMI will host an HTM Discovery Day during the 2025 eXchange in New Orleans. This exciting event will introduce high school students to the field and will feature strong participation from industry vendors, bringing the HTM profession to life in an interactive, hands-on environment. Through these multifaceted efforts, AAMI is helping to create a robust, future-ready HTM workforce.

HCB News: What are AAMI’s current priorities for standards development that most directly impact the day-to-day work of HTM professionals?
DM: AAMI’s current standards development priorities are closely aligned with the day-to-day work of HTM professionals, offering practical tools to support equipment safety, regulatory compliance, and effective service strategies. A key standard is ANSI/AAMI EQ89:2015 (reaffirmed in 2023), which is currently undergoing revision in 2025. This standard provides a consistent, evidence-based framework for conducting equipment maintenance and risk assessments, helping HTM teams determine appropriate preventive maintenance frequencies and assess risk in a defensible way.

Another major priority is ANSI/AAMI EQ56:2024, which outlines best practices for developing and managing a Medical Equipment Management Plan—a critical document for survey readiness and internal accountability. AAMI also developed ANSI/AAMI EQ103:2024, a vital resource for implementing alternative equipment maintenance (AEM) programs. It offers guidance on when and how to safely deviate from manufacturer recommendations while remaining compliant with CMS and accreditation standards—an increasingly important part of HTM operations. A working group is currently developing a Technical Information Report on the proper implementation of AEM programs. The EQ committee also has a working group that is developing a new standard for technology acquisition in healthcare facilities.

HCB News: How can individual HTM professionals get more involved with AAMI’s initiatives, and what benefits can they expect from doing so?
DM: HTM professionals can make a significant impact by getting involved in AAMI’s standards development work, which lies at the heart of the organization’s mission to support the safe and effective use of health technology. AAMI hosts more than 400 active working groups that develop and maintain national and international standards on topics ranging from equipment maintenance and risk management to cybersecurity and sterilization. By volunteering in these groups, HTM professionals bring real-world insights to the table—ensuring that the standards are practical, relevant, and reflect the realities of today’s healthcare environments.

Participation not only elevates patient safety and care quality across the industry but also benefits professionals directly by providing early exposure to emerging best practices, expanding their technical and leadership skills, and increasing their influence and visibility within the field. Whether you’re helping to shape documents like ANSI/AAMI EQ89, EQ103, or EQ56, your voice helps define how health technology is maintained and managed. Getting involved is one of the most impactful ways to give back to the profession while advancing your own career.

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