UA’s Ohio Economic Forum 2026 will spotlight health care and the economy

Challenges in the health care sector, including escalating costs, increasing access and the transformative influence of AI, are currently at the forefront of public discourse. The University of Akron (UA) will spotlight these critical issues and more at its Ohio Economic Forum 2026, taking place on Thursday, April 23.

The Forum, now in its sixth year, is hosted by the Department of Economics in UA's College of Business. It will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union Grand Ballroom. The event is open to all and registration is required. Registration is free for UA students, faculty, staff and Department of Economics Advisory Board members. Registration for non-UA community members is $50.

This year's Forum will address questions about how Ohio can improve health care outcomes while controlling costs, how incentives and behaviors drive inefficiencies in health care and how policy and markets shape access to care. Speakers will discuss the reforms that offer the greatest potential, workforce challenges and how AI affects health care.

"Health care sits at the center of today's economic challenges, from costs and access to workforce and productivity," said Dr. Sucharita Ghosh, professor and chair of the Department of Economics. "I am excited that this year's Ohio Economic Forum focuses on one of the largest and most complex sectors of our economy."

Dr. Jason Abaluck, a professor of economics at Yale University's School of Management, will serve as the keynote speaker. He will also join a panel of experts, including Dr. T. Clifford Deveny, advisor and CEO emeritus of Summa Health, Amy Rohling McGee, president of the Health Institute of Ohio, and State Sen. Casey Weinstein, whose district includes Akron.

"Dr. Abaluck will bring evidence-based insights, highlighting how improved quality measurement can improve outcomes across the economy and the role of AI in health care, while our panelists will offer practical, real-world perspectives from across the health care industry," Ghosh said.

The panel moderator will be Melanie Myers '11, director of procurement strategy at Nestlé USA and a member of The University of Akron Economics Advisory Board since 2021. Myers has a bachelor's degree in economics and corporate finance.

The Ohio Economic Forum, held annually, allows UA students and faculty, business professionals, civic leaders and other community members to hear from a keynote speaker and panel of experts as they discuss economic issues facing Northeast Ohio and beyond. The event's proceeds fund scholarships and experiential learning activities for students pursuing degrees in the Department of Economics.

Visit the event web page for additional details, including full speaker biographies and event registration.

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