What an amazing week! The energy coming out of the Azara 2026 User Conference was unmistakable and perfectly fitting for a milestone year. As we celebrated 15 years of DRVS, more than 500 Azara clients, partners, and staff gathered in Boston’s Seaport District to reconnect, learn from one another, and reflect on how far we’ve come together. This year’s conference was both a celebration of progress and a collective look ahead at what’s possible in the next chapter of population health.  

We kicked off the week on Monday with four pre-conference workshops that brought DRVS users together for hands-on learning and deep discussion. Whether attendees were new to the platform or longtime users, each workshop focused on practical ways to use data to strengthen care delivery and organizational performance.

DRVS Bootcamp helped newer users build a strong foundation, while returning favorites like the Quality Director’s Toolbelt offered experienced leaders strategies to drive change, improve quality, and reduce administrative burden. In another workshop, Unlocking Insights: Data Strategies for Operational Excellence, attendees explored how DRVS can support appointment tracking, visit volume analysis, patient engagement, and resource optimization. Attendees walked away with custom operational dashboards designed to support data‑driven decision‑making and day‑to‑day efficiency.

At the final workshop, Mapping the Journey: Leveraging Azara as a Roadmap for Value-Based Care Success, attendees worked through a real-world case study and collaborated with peers to develop strategies for leveraging the full Azara data ecosystem to support value-based care across multiple contracts. This session highlighted how DRVS enables organizations to operate effectively in increasingly complex care and reimbursement environments. The day wrapped with a workshop attendee reception, setting the tone for a week centered on collaboration, curiosity, and community.

 “I am new to Azara, so this was my first User Conference, and having walkthroughs of what DRVS is and how to use it has been really helpful."

- Rebecca Moore, Compass Health  

Conference Day 1: Reflecting on 15 Years of Partnership 

Excitement filled the room Tuesday morning as attendees officially kicked off the conference and marked the 15^th anniversary of DRVS.

We opened with remarks from Jeff Brandes, Azara’s President & CEO, who reflected on the origins of Azara and the partnerships that shaped its journey from the beginning. He spoke to the shared vision that brought organizations together 15 years ago and how that spirit of collaboration continues to guide innovation today.

That reflection led into a powerful anniversary panel, The Power of Partnership: 15 Years of Advancing Population Health Across the Safety Net. Moderated by Jeff, the conversation featured several Azara pioneers, including Ellen Hafer, Jim Hunt, Lisa Perry, and Susan Wilson, who represented primary care associations from Massachusetts, New York, and Missouri, alongside the National Association of Community Health Centers—organizations that played a pivotal role in Azara’s creation and growth.

“I loved the opening session and hearing about what the vision was for Azara.”

- Nancy Moriso, Housing Works New York City

Panelists shared candid stories about the challenges and successes involved in building an integrated data platform designed specifically for the safety net. They discussed aligning diverse stakeholders, navigating early technical hurdles, and staying true to a mission centered on community health centers, networks, and critical access hospitals. The conversation highlighted how trust, shared purpose, and long-standing partnerships enabled DRVS to evolve into the platform it is today, supporting organizations nationwide in advancing population health.

In between our general sessions each day, attendees filled the rooms of our breakout sessions. The sessions, often led by speakers from health centers and partners, ranged in topics including population health and chronic disease management, value‑based care strategy, clinical workflow optimization, behavioral and maternal health integration, health equity and screening improvement, advanced data analytics (including machine learning), care coordination, and practical use of Azara DRVS tools to drive measurable quality and operational outcomes.

“I love learning how everybody else does things differently, yet we’re all trying to accomplish the same goals.”

- Dodie Roton, Alabama Primary Health Care Association

The afternoon brought one of the most anticipated moments of the conference: a look at what’s next. Greg Augustine, Chief Product and Technology Officer, shared updates and enhancements across the Azara solution suite, reinforcing how DRVS continues to evolve based on user feedback and real-world needs.

In true Azara fashion, we ended the day with our User Celebration! Attendees enjoyed an evening of dancing, food, and fun. Those in attendance even got the chance to custom laser engrave their own reusable coffee cup!

“It is great to connect with other PCAs and HCCN’s and health center staff and really exciting to learn about the innovations other people are making."

- Heidi Gullet, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers

Conference Day 2: Leading Through Complexity

Wednesday began with a thought-provoking general session, Leading Through Complexity: Primary Care Strategies for Integrated and Sustainable Healthcare, focused on the realities healthcare leaders face today as they work to build integrated, sustainable systems of care.

Aparna Mekala, CEO of Primary Care Development Corporation, Emily Brower, President & CEO of National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) and Dr. Troyen Brennan, Adjunct Professor at Harvard Chan School of Public Health, explored a growing alignment across the industry: strong primary care is the essential infrastructure for healthier communities, a resilient workforce, and sustainable healthcare costs. At the same time, panelists acknowledged the complexity organizations must manage as they operate across primary care, rural health, and critical access hospital settings which often juggle multiple models of care and reimbursement.

Through practical examples and candid discussion, the panel highlighted strategies for navigating overlapping requirements, aligning clinical workflows, and integrating fee-for-service, ACOs, and value-based programs. Attendees walked away with grounded, actionable insights on how thoughtful leadership and strong data infrastructure can help teams not just manage complexity but lead through it.

After we wrapped up our final section of breakout sessions, we gathered back into the ballroom where attendees heard focused conversation between Andy Eck, Partner at Facktor, and Dulcye Rodriguez, Director of Strategic Programs and Solutions and Emily Dutch, Support Program Manager of Azara, exploring how upcoming Medicaid redetermination and work‑requirement policies set to begin in 2027 could impact coverage continuity, operations, and revenue for health centers and rural hospitals. The discussion emphasized practical readiness, highlighting how leveraging tools such as Azara DRVS and Azara Care Connect can help organizations identify at‑risk patients, prioritize outreach, and coordinate teams around a proactive response.

The session transitioned seamlessly into closing remarks from Jeff Brandes, CEO of Azara, who reflected on the day’s themes and reinforced the importance of aligning data, strategy, and action as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve.

Looking Ahead

Three days passed in a flash, and soon attendees were heading home to more than 40 states. We left feeling energized, inspired, and equipped with new ideas. As always, the end of the conference is a special time well spent learning, laughing, and building relationships before returning to the important work at home.

As we celebrate 15 years of DRVS, we’re incredibly grateful to the clients, partners, and staff who have shaped this journey and continue to push population health forward. Thank you as well to our 2026 Conference Supporters, Upstream USA and the American Medical Association.

We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and even more excited about what’s ahead. Here’s to the next chapter.

Mark your calendars! We will be back in the Boston Seaport next year for our 2026 User Conference from April 12-14, 2027. I am already looking forward to seeing the innovative ideas and incredible success our DRVS users will achieve this year.

See you soon!