The Executive War College on Diagnostics, Clinical Laboratory, and Pathology Management is the world’s largest event focused exclusively on the management of medical laboratories and the ecosystem that supports them. Each year more than 1,000 lab executives, pathologists, and other thought leaders and experts in the field gather for this high energy event where they learn, connect, and collaborate to solve problems, develop strategies, and seize opportunities for their clinical labs.

Executive War College 2027 is organized around seven enterprise level themes that reflect the forces reshaping laboratory medicine and diagnostic strategy. This year’s program explores how leaders are modernizing operations, strengthening financial performance, navigating regulatory pressure, transforming the workforce, and advancing next generation diagnostics.

The 2027 themes include

• Laboratory Operations: Workflow Optimization and Innovation
• Automation, AI and Digital Pathology 
• Financial Performance and Reimbursement Strategy
• Leadership and Workforce
• Compliance, Regulatory, and Risk Management
• Business Development, Growth Strategy, and Market Positioning
• Innovation Frontiers in Diagnostics

Each theme anchors sessions that highlight real world case studies, measurable outcomes, and strategic insights from laboratory leaders across the country.

Laboratory Operations: Workflow Optimization and Innovation

This theme focuses on enterprise‑level operational strategy, examining how labs and health systems modernize laboratory performance through scalable workflows, LIS modernization, middleware orchestration, and interoperability. Sessions emphasize ROI, system‑wide standardization, data governance, and the strategic role of interoperability in improving efficiency, reducing variability, and supporting organizational growth.

The theme also incorporates Lab Stewardship, highlighting how standardized ordering pathways, test menu governance, and data‑driven utilization management reduce waste, improve clinical value, and strengthen system‑wide operational performance.

Automation, AI and Digital Pathology

This theme explores automation and AI as enterprise investments that reshape cost structures, workforce models, and diagnostic capacity. Leaders share how digital pathology, algorithm‑driven workflows, and intelligent automation deliver measurable business value—improving outcomes, strengthening quality, and enabling scalable, data‑rich diagnostic services across multi‑site networks.

Financial Performance and Reimbursement Strategy

This theme centers on financial stewardship and reimbursement strategy in an era of shrinking margins and rising payer scrutiny. Sessions address financial strategies, denial prevention, payer contracting, test‑utilization economics, and margin protection. The track also explores how AI‑enabled analytics, automation, and predictive modeling are reshaping revenue cycle performance, denial management, pricing strategy, and financial decision‑making. Executives gain insight into how financial strategy, pricing, technology, and reimbursement policy shape long‑term sustainability and competitive positioning.

Leadership and Workforce

This theme examines executive‑level leadership strategy for navigating workforce shortages, change management, and organizational transformation. Sessions highlight models for talent development, retention, succession planning, and leading change across complex, distributed laboratory operations. The focus is on building resilient, high‑performance organizations capable of adapting to rapid industry shifts.

Compliance, Regulatory, and Risk Management

This theme focuses on enterprise risk mitigation, regulatory readiness, and audit defense in a tightening enforcement environment. Leaders explore CLIA modernization, OIG/DOJ priorities, genetic testing scrutiny, marketing and ordering compliance, and frameworks for reducing legal, financial, and reputational exposure. Emphasis is placed on governance structures that protect the organization while enabling innovation.

Business Development, Growth Strategy, and Market Positioning

This theme explores laboratory growth strategy, competitive differentiation, and revenue diversification. Sessions highlight how laboratories and health systems expand outreach programs, strengthen client retention, optimize service offerings, and position their laboratories as strategic assets. Executives gain insight into market dynamics, partnership models, and strategies for strengthening their market position in increasingly competitive diagnostic markets

Innovation Frontiers in Diagnostics

The Executive War College will spotlight forward‑looking domains where laboratories are redefining clinical and business models. Sessions will explore Strategic Planning for Molecular & Genetic Testing, Direct‑to‑Consumer Testing: Market Evolution, and Precision Medicine, Pharma Partnerships & Diagnostic‑to‑Therapy Strategy as part of our commitment to showcasing the future of diagnostics.

To submit a proposal for Executive War College 2027, presenters should prepare a session concept that aligns with one or more of the conference’s core themes. Strong proposals typically feature real‑world case studies, measurable outcomes, lessons learned, and strategic insights that other laboratories can apply immediately. Submissions should clearly identify the problem addressed, the approach taken, and the business, operational, financial, or clinical impact achieved.

When crafting your proposal, consider how your topic fits within Workflow Optimization & Innovation, Automation, AI & Digital Pathology, Financial Performance & Reimbursement Strategy, Leadership & Workforce Transformation, Compliance, Regulatory & Risk Management, Business Development & Growth Strategy, or Innovation Frontiers in Diagnostics. Proposals that demonstrate innovation, operational excellence, financial stewardship, or forward‑looking diagnostic strategy tend to resonate strongly with the Program Committee.

What is the approval process?

Approval Process
Proposals are reviewed by the Executive War College Program Committee. Each submission moves through a multi‑step evaluation process. If your proposal advances past the first round, the Program Committee may reach out to schedule a meeting to gather additional details about the case study, speakers, or outcomes. This meeting is part of the review process and does not guarantee final acceptance. All proposals approved for inclusion in Executive War College will receive formal notification.

When and how will I know if the proposal is accepted?
When and How You Will Be Notified
If your proposal is selected, all speakers listed in the submission will receive a formal acceptance notification and invitation. To ensure timely communication, please disclose every proposed speaker—including customer speakers—when submitting your proposal.

Can I submit another proposal?
Submitting Multiple Proposals
Yes, you may submit more than one proposal. To ensure balanced representation and accommodate limited program space, vendor companies are asked to submit no more than three proposals per company

Can I edit my already submitted proposal? Editing an Already Submitted Proposal
If you need to add or update information for a previously submitted proposal, please contact aharris@darkreport.com. Do not submit a new, separate proposal to make changes to an existing submission.

Please visit the WHY ATTEND page for a list of benefits of attending and specific info to convince your boss.

Please visit the Why Attend page and click on the Who Attends button at the right to see the titles, roles, and companies that attend Executive War College

The event takes place April 26-28, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Please visit the TRAVEL & HOTEL page (link) for all the details and to book your room.

Please visit the REGISTER page, call us at (512) 264-7103, or transmit a PO to acurtis@darkreport.com

EXECUTIVE WAR COLLEGE CONFERENCE — April 26 – 28, 2027
Super Early Bird, through Dec. 4, 2026: $1,695
Early Bird, through Feb. 5, 2027: $1,795
Last Early Bird through March 12, 2027: $1,895

Full Price Registration: $1,995
Onsite Registration: $1,995

Group rates are available!
Groups of 3-4 $100 off each
Groups of 5-9 $150 off each
Groups of 10+ $200 off each

POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS — April 29, 2027
Add to your Executive War College Experience!
Select one of the valuable workshops!

Price with EWC Registration: $695

Yes! We’re confident you will find the 2027 Executive War College to be time and money very well spent.

With that said, here is our commitment to you and your lab: If by the end of Day One, you are not convinced that the 2027 Executive War College has delivered a value that exceeds the cost of tuition we will gladly issue a refund.

Fine Print: Before 6:00 PM New Orleans Time, please see Amanda Curtis at the registration area or ask a staff member to find her for you.

The post-conference sessions deliver an in-depth learning experience focused on key areas that let you and your peers dive much deeper into a topic than is possible during the main conference sessions. These sessions deliver a ton of value to attendees through expert speakers and group collaboration. The sessions are an additional $595 to attend, and the current Day3 Sessions are:

Executive Forum on Digital Pathology Management

Executive Forum on Future-Proofing Clinical Lab Revenues

Basically, a lot of learning, idea exchange, connecting with other leaders, collaborating, and some fun. Please visit the ACTIVITES page for more details.

Please see the Agenda-at-a-Glance graphic at the top of the AGENDA page.

Please scroll through the session details on the AGENDA page for specific session topics and speakers.

Please scroll through the session details on the  AGENDA  page for session speakers and then click on their names for specific speaker bios

Please visit our PARTNERS page and scroll down to see a list of our Benefactors and Sponsors

Please visit the PARTNERS page for more information about sponsoring or contact Amanda Curtis directly at  acurtis@darkreport.com or Phillip Atkinson directly at
patkinson@darkreport.com