Workplace belonging expert to open October conference with session on human connection, team retention, and leading in the age of AI
ROCKVILLE, MD – June 29, 2026 – Periop Leader Week, the national perioperative leadership event uniting the OR Manager Conference and OR Business Management Summit communities, has announced that Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky will deliver the opening keynote address at Periop Leader Week 2026. The session, titled The future of work is human: Building belonging and connection in the age of AI, will take place from 8:00-9:00 am on Monday, October 5, at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Ga.
Perioperative leaders today are navigating a convergence of pressures: staffing shortages, burnout, multigenerational teams, economic uncertainty, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. At the same time, face-to-face connection is increasingly being replaced by digital communication, leaving many leaders feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Poswolsky’s session will offer a practical, energizing framework for building cultures of belonging, attracting and retaining top talent, bridging generational differences, and leading with confidence through constant change. Attendees will leave with a concrete toolkit to strengthen their teams and reignite engagement.
“I am honored to open Periop Leader Week with this message. The people who will be in that room are doing some of the most demanding, high-stakes work in healthcare. They deserve to feel connected, supported, and equipped to lead. Human connection is not a soft skill. It is the strategy. I cannot wait to be in Savannah,” said Poswolsky.
Poswolsky is an internationally renowned keynote speaker, workplace belonging expert, and bestselling author of four books translated into multiple languages, including The Quarter-Life Breakthrough, Friendship in the Age of Loneliness, and The Workplace Belonging Toolkit. He has delivered more than 700 keynotes to over 500,000 people across 25 countries for organizations including Mayo Clinic, Apple, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Verizon, and the U.S. Navy. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The World Economic Forum.
“The challenges perioperative leaders are facing right now are not just operational. They are deeply human. Burnout, disconnection, and retention are the undercurrent beneath every staffing decision and every operational report. Smiley’s work sits at the exact intersection of where our attendees need support most, and we could not be more energized to open Periop Leader Week with this conversation,” said Joe Paone, content director of Periop Leader Week.
Registration for Periop Leader Week is open. The event takes place October 4 through 7, 2026, at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Ga. To learn more or to register, visit www.periopleaderweek.com.
To register for press credentials, contact Lindsay Botts, Marketing Director, at lbotts@accessintel.com.
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About Periop Leader Network
Periop Leader Network is the leading community and resource hub for perioperative professionals, providing education, connection, and practical tools for leaders across surgical services. Through events, content, and peer engagement, the Network supports hospital, health system, ASC, and business leaders navigating the evolving challenges of perioperative care.
About Periop Leader Week
Periop Leader Week is a unified leadership experience that brings together the hospital, ASC, and business perspectives that drive perioperative performance. Through full cross-access to programming, attendees explore three distinct lenses within one powerful event—advancing surgical excellence, operational performance, and leadership strength across the perioperative continuum.
Media Contact
Lindsay Botts
Marketing Director, Healthcare
lbotts@accessintel.com
