Trust is one of healthcare’s most important assets. It shapes whether patients feel confident seeking care, whether employees feel connected to their organizations and whether communities see hospitals as credible partners.
On September 18, healthcare leaders from across Utah will come together for the Utah Hospital Association’s Fall Leadership Conference: The Trust Imperative. The conference will examine why trust is declining—and what hospital and health system leaders can do to rebuild it.
The Big Picture
Healthcare is navigating a period of rapid change. Policy debates, economic pressures, workforce challenges and evolving community expectations are shaping how care is delivered and how healthcare organizations are perceived.
In that environment, trust cannot be treated as a communications goal alone. It is a leadership priority—built through consistent decisions, clear communication, transparency and meaningful relationships with the people hospitals serve and employ.
What’s Happening
At The Trust Imperative, leaders will explore practical ways to strengthen trust across their organizations and communities. The conversation will focus on:
- Understanding the forces contributing to declining trust
- Strengthening credibility through transparent leadership
- Building stronger relationships with employees, patients and communities
- Helping leadership teams communicate with clarity and consistency
The conference will also welcome Congressman Mike Kennedy for a timely conversation about healthcare in Utah and the issues shaping the road ahead.
Why It Matters
Trust has a direct impact on healthcare. It influences whether patients follow medical guidance, whether employees feel supported and whether community members view their local hospitals as reliable sources of care and information.
For healthcare leaders, building trust means more than responding when confidence has already been lost. It means listening early, communicating honestly and making decisions that align with the organization’s commitments. When leaders at every level take responsibility for that work, hospitals are better prepared to navigate uncertainty and serve their communities.
That is why this conference is designed not only for CEOs, but for leadership teams. Bringing multiple leaders from the same organization creates an opportunity to build shared understanding and return home ready to put ideas into practice.
The Bottom Line
Trust is not built through a single message or moment. It grows through sustained leadership, transparency and follow-through.
UHA’s Fall Leadership Conference will give Utah’s healthcare leaders space to learn, connect and focus on the practical work of strengthening trust. CEOs are encouraged to attend—and to bring other members of their leadership teams.
Join us September 18 for The Trust Imperative.