NPAC 2026 - Apply to Speak at NPAC!

The American College of Physician Advisors’ 2026 National Physician Advisor Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina (NPAC 2026) is revving up for success. We’re looking for YOU to join our league of high-octane thinkers.  This is your opportunity to contribute to the premiere physician advisor conference of the year!

Physician advisors are uniquely positioned to solve complex problems, bridge silos, and strengthen the connections across care settings. Our work supports patients and families directly by ensuring care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and delivered in the right place at the right time. Through collaboration with partners across the care continuum, we help remove barriers, reduce unnecessary variation, and create a seamless patient experience.

As the physician advisor role continues to expand into new areas like never before, NPAC 2026 is a perfect opportunity for professional engagement, discourse, and shared learning. Together, we’ll highlight how physician advisors contribute not just to financial stewardship, but to healthier communities and better patient outcomes. Your contribution and in-person attendance will be invaluable to you and your organization!

We have compiled a set of abstract categories that reflect to broad scope of physician advisor services, from leadership, to regulatory strategy, quality of care, pediatrics, digital health and beyond. If you’ve led projects or initiatives that align with these areas please consider sharing your experience with your peers. 

Abstract Submission Guide

Apply to present your work at NPAC 2026 by using the link below! 

Deadline for submission is October 13, 2025.

Apply Now to Speak at NPAC 2026

This year, we are happy to offer the option to submit your abstract for consideration to present on stage or as a poster to highlight your work.  

NPAC 2026 Topics for Stage Presentation or Posters

Professional Leadership and Workforce Development

Sessions in this category will focus on management and leadership experiences, skills training, and functional activities related to the advancement of physician advisor program efforts. Some suggested topics:   

• Developing physician advisors into physician executives
• Engagement with the C-suite, medical staff, and interprofessional teams
• Defining and demonstrating value/ROI of the physician advisor role
• Training, education, and pipeline development (students, residents, fellows)
• Advisor career pathways, mentorship, and onboarding models
• Advanced degrees and certifications (MBA, MPH, ACPA-C, etc.)

Regulatory Strategy

Sessions in this category will focus on regulatory and compliance and payment issues that physician advisors should be actively engaged with, particularly within Utilization Management. Some suggested topics:   

• Legislative and policy updates
• Conditions of Participation and role of the Utilization Management Committee
• Outpatient and Inpatient status, the Inpatient Only List, along with medical necessity reviews
• Audit readiness and compliance strategies
• Documentation practices and risk management approaches

Financial Strategy and Stewardship

Sessions in this category will focus on the role of physician advisors in financial sustainability and revenue integrity. Some suggested topics:  

Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI)

Sessions in this category will focus on coding and documentation guidelines as well as high-value diagnoses impacting revenue and quality. Some suggested topics: 

• CDI team collaboration
• Clinician engagement
• Best practices for query processes

Pediatrics

Sessions in this category will focus on the unique opportunities and challenges of serving in the physician advisor role within children’s hospitals or health systems with large pediatric populations. Some suggested topics:  

• Pediatric utilization review and denials management
• Medicaid-specific challenges and advocacy
• Neonatal case complexity and denial mitigation 
• Pediatric CDI

Digital Health & Informatics

Sessions in this category will focus on optimizing technology and digital tools to advance the physician advisor role. Some suggested topics:

• Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics
• EHR optimization, customization, and workflow design
• Data-driven decision support and dashboards
• Digital health solutions for care management and transitions of care
• Change leadership and management in technology adoption. 
• Payor use of analytics and other digital platforms

Population Health, Quality & Social Impact

Sessions in this category will highlight the physician advisor’s role in advancing care across the continuum, improving outcomes, and addressing broader social impact. Some suggested topics: 

• Integration of pre-acute, acute, post-acute, and transitional care
• Partnerships with care management, payors, and community organizations
• Readmission reduction strategies and care coordination across settings
• Social determinants of health (SDoH): strategies for collection, action, and community-level impact
• Behavioral health challenges, including authorization and utilization management, CDI, payment models, and capacity management
• Care variation and high-value care: initiatives to reduce unwarranted variation and implement evidence-based, cost-effective interventions across inpatient and ambulatory settings (e.g., Choosing Wisely, standardized pathways, stewardship programs, Med-to-Bed, preferred post-acute networks)
• Patient safety and hospital-acquired condition prevention
• Preventive care and value-based population health strategies

Evolving Roles & Specialties for Physician Advisors

The role of physician advisors is constantly evolving. This category highlights novel, creative, and forward-looking applications of physician advisor expertise. Some suggested topics: