Considering that McDermott's annual Healthcare Private Equity conference in 2025 ended with the beginning of tariff season, it was interesting to find ourselves back in Miami this week for the 2026 installment, with another round of manufactured volatility with the war in the Middle East. What was more interesting was how little it seems to be worrying sponsors. Most seem to think this will be short conflict and that the broader macro economic implications are less likely to directly impact deal flow and how their portfolio companies are operating over the next three quarters. Bigger fish are valuation misalignment and the general sentiment around private equity's role in healthcare delivery at the federal level. Broadly speaking though, sentiment was overwhelmingly positive, with the crowd believing that 2026 presents a great deal of opportunity, while concurrently driving more creative structures to manage longer hold periods and a desire to return capital to LPs.

• OutcomesAI, an AI-enabled nursing and healthcare solutions company, appoints Linda Finkel as Chief Executive Officer (Source)
• Amir Desai joins HiLabs, a healthcare data management software company, as President and Chief Growth Officer (Source)
• Simon Salgado joins Audicus, a hearing technology company, as President and Chief Revenue Officer (Source)
• Ryan Maynard joins Foghorn Therapeutics, a precision therapeutics company, as Chief Financial Officer (Source)
• Raul Smith joins Stellar Health, a point-of-care intelligence company, as Chief Financial Officer (Source)
• Cadre Hospice, a hospice and palliative care services company, appoints Greg Chartier as Chief Financial Officer (Source)
• Joanna Reardon Stilwell joins Ladder Health, a virtual care pediatric company, as Chief Operating Officer (Source)
• Paul Julius joins Arima Health, a virtual sleep care company, as Chief Operating Officer (Source)
• Ed Deane joins Huma.ai, a generative AI platform, as Chief Revenue Officer (Source)
• Adam Gail joins Interra Health, a price transparency and pharmacy information company, as Chief Revenue Officer (Source)
• Sunita Mishra MD, MBA joins Neko Health, a preventive healthcare and early detection company, as Chief Medical Officer (Source)
• Meera Kanhouwa, MD, MHA, FACEP joins OnMed, a virtual healthcare company, as Chief Medical Officer (Source)

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• 9amHealth, a virtual cardiometabolic care platform, is hiring a Chief of Staff
• Aytza, a health tech advisory company, is hiring a Head of Product Engineering / Lead Product Engineer

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