SHSMD Connections Justification Toolkit
Justify Your Attendance at SHSMD Connections 2025
Thank you for your interest in SHSMD Connections 2025 — the nation’s leading conference for health care strategy, planning, marketing, and business development professionals.
Below are easy-to-use tools and tips to help you estimate the investment and clearly communicate the professional and financial return on attending. Use this toolkit to demonstrate the value of the conference to your organization — and start planning your experience today!
Plan Early
- Register by August 11, 2025 to secure the early bird rate and maximize your savings.
- Planning ahead can also help lower your airfare and ensure access to the discounted room rate at the Hilton Anatole, our official conference hotel.
- If five or more people from your organization are attending, contact shsmd@aha.org to receive a group discount code (up to 20% off per person).
- Note: Membership is not included in the registration rate for Non-Exhibiting and Non-Sponsoring Vendors, Solution Providers, and Consultants. Membership may be added or renewed at a discounted rate of $200.
Communicate with Your Employer
- Customize and share a justification letter outlining the tangible benefits of attending SHSMD Connections 2025 — from professional development to real-world solutions that support your organization’s goals.
- Highlight your plan to engage with solution providers in the exhibit hall, many of whom offer tools to solve health care’s most pressing challenges.
- Provide a coverage plan for your responsibilities while away and reassure your team that you’ll remain accessible.
- Offer to share what you learn via a short post-conference presentation or summary report to extend the value to your colleagues and department.
Justification Letter Template
Download and customize the Justification Letter Template to explain how attending SHSMD Connections 2025 will improve your performance and directly benefit your organization.
Download Justification Letter Template
Determine Expenses and Benefits
Before making your case, estimate your costs using our 2025 Expense Worksheet, which includes updated travel and registration rates.
Then, use the Benefits Worksheet to articulate how your attendance will bring back new ideas, expanded networks, and tools that align with your team’s strategic priorities. Identify specific sessions, keynote speakers, and solution providers who can help accelerate your projects and goals.