By Kelly Gwynn, Chief Operating Officer, DirectTrust

I had the privilege of attending the Civitas Networks for Health® Annual Conference last  week, and I walked away with a mix of inspiration, practical insights, and big questions about where we’re headed as an industry. Civitas is one of those highly worthwhile gatherings where people from across health IT, public health, and community organizations come together to share what’s working, what’s not, and how we can collectively move the needle on interoperability.

This year’s theme — “Bridging Data and Doing” — couldn’t have been more fitting. The conversations throughout the conference centered on how we move beyond collecting data to actually applying it in meaningful ways that improves care and strengthens communities.

And if you’re already looking ahead like I am, mark your calendars: Civitas 2026 will be held September 22–24 in Crystal City, Virginia.

AI as a Bridge — and a Challenge

It was impossible to miss: AI was the star of the exhibit hall and a recurring theme across sessions. Vendors were eager to showcase how their tools could ease clinician burden, improve data quality, or streamline workflows. The demos were impressive, but what really stood out was the conversation around trust and accountability.

With technologies like ChatGPT now widely accessible, bridging data and doing requires more than just innovative tools. It requires guardrails, training, and governance to ensure AI is used responsibly and transparently.

I was proud to hear DirectTrust recognized in the opening remarks as a national partner of Civitas. Our Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program is a key update for 2026 and is currently in its Beta phase (Artificial Intelligence v1.0-Beta). Built on the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) v1.0, the program establishes criteria to assess organizations developing or deploying AI in healthcare, with a focus on transparency, risk management, and responsible innovation. Right now, we are in the middle of a public comment period on these criteria, because we believe it’s critical to invite community input and ensure the program reflects the perspectives of those who will be impacted most. This work is designed to help the industry move from promise to practice by ensuring that AI systems are implemented in ways that are safe, auditable, and trustworthy. We encourage everyone to review and comment not only on our AI criteria, but also on all of our 2026 accreditation criteria.    

Sessions That Made the Theme Real

Navigating a layered conference agenda can prove to be a challenge, and with so many intriguing sessions on the docket, Civitas was no different. Sessions were practical, informative, and thought-provoking. A few that impacted me the most included:

  • Making Consent Work: State Strategies for Sensitive Data Sharing: Digital consent solutions aren’t just a compliance exercise,they’re the bridge between sensitive behavioral health data and the ability to use it for treatment while maintaining trust.
  • Primary Care Information Blueprint: A Framework for Action in Value-Based Care: The American Academy of Family Physicians shared how primary care practices can use better data flows to succeed in value-based care. It reminded me that workforce challenges can’t be solved with data alone — AI and thoughtful interoperability can help bridge the gap.
  • The Critical Role of HIEs in Natural Disaster Responses: Hearing how HIEs supported response efforts during wildfires, hurricanes, and floods was powerful. These stories showed what it looks like to literally bridge data and doing — helping reconnect families, locate missing persons, and provide care in the most difficult circumstances.
  • Healthix Portal AI Integration:  Enhancing Clinician Efficiency with HealthShare AI Assistant: A glimpse into the future: GPT-4 embedded into a clinical portal to summarize encounters and streamline queries. This session highlighted the risks and the promise of AI. With the right auditing and clinician trust, AI becomes a bridge to more efficient care instead of another barrier.

Highlights From the Keynotes

The conference featured several enlightening and inspiring keynote sessions, each sharing a unique perspective, exploring health IT, data-informed health outcomes, interoperability and more. I left each session with new and actionable takeaways to consider.

  • The Fireside Chat with Dr. Theresa Cullen was a thoughtful reflection on how far we’ve come in health IT and how much work remains. She noted that we are still very much in the “messy middle”—a stage where rapid advances in technology are colliding with the realities of practice, policy, and patient needs. Her emphasis was clear: while innovation is moving quickly, the real challenge is ensuring that patients remain at the center of our efforts. Her perspective underscored the heart of this year’s theme — “Bridging Data and Doing” — reminding us that technology only matters when it helps physicians focus more fully on patient care.
  • The keynote, “Four Pillars of Leadership” with Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, was one that had me leaning in from the start. Drawing on decades of data, he highlighted the Latino Epidemiological Paradox — showing how Latino populations often experience lower mortality rates despite higher poverty, less education, and reduced access to care.

His message was clear: culture, community, and behavior play as much of a role in health outcomes as systems and policies. It was a powerful reminder that bridging data and doing requires more than technology; it requires understanding people and the contexts in which they live.

  • The keynote, “A Vision of One Health System, CMS-Aligned Networks, and What’s Next for Interoperability,” was a very interesting panel of industry experts who shared perspectives on where interoperability is headed. DirectTrust Board Member, Ryan Howells, said it best: “Collaborate or die.” His point was blunt but important — in healthcare, no single organization, network, or framework can succeed in isolation. Collaboration isn’t optional; it’s the only path forward.

He also pushed us to stop hiding behind acronyms that mean little to the providers on the front lines. Terms like TEFCA, QHIN, or FHIR may carry weight in policy discussions, but to a physician trying to care for patients, they don’t mean much unless they translate into practical solutions. Bridging data and doing means grounding our conversations in use cases that solve real problems, not alphabet soup.

Keys to Winning the Game Ahead

If I had to summarize Civitas 2025 through the lens of “Bridging Data and Doing,” it would be the following:

  • Trust is the playbook. Just like no team wins without a shared strategy, data only turns into doing when everyone is working from the same set of rules — whether through digital consent, identity frameworks, or accreditation.
  • AI is the equipment. It’s not about if we’ll use it, but how. Just like good gear can elevate a team, AI has the potential to change the game — but only if it’s safe, reliable, and used responsibly. That’s where our work at DirectTrust comes in.
  • Interoperability is the team sport. From TEFCA to CMS-Aligned Networks, the rules and lineups may shift, but the goal stays the same: working together to connect systems in ways that empower communities and patients.

Looking Ahead

What struck me most leaving Civitas was how much progress depends on collaboration. The technology is here, and the policy frameworks are taking shape — but none of it matters unless we work together to turn data into action that improves care and builds trust.

Adam Grant has said, “The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.” That captures what I saw at Civitas and what we focus on at DirectTrust. Whether it’s through accreditation, digital identity, trust frameworks, or our new AI program, our role is to create the conditions for others to succeed — providers, patients, and partners alike.

I’m already looking ahead to Civitas 2026 in Crystal City. Until then, I’m committed to carrying this work forward, and I’m grateful to be doing it alongside so many of you.