By John Wallace
Baltimore is called “Charm City” because of a 1970s marketing campaign designed to rebrand the city, highlighting its unique, historic and often hidden appeal.
MD Expo Baltimore lived up to the city’s moniker as approximately 800 people from across the nation flocked like Ravens to the highly anticipated spring event for healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals.
MD Publishing and TechNation’s signature conference delivered continuing education sessions that address today’s most pressing HTM topics. Education is at the core of MD Expo’s mission, and the Baltimore slate featured a diverse mix of continuing education seminars and workshops designed to deepen technical expertise and professional skills. Sessions focused on real-world topics and emerging trends in HTM. In addition to these sessions, attendees could participate in H.O.T. (Hands-On-Training) Workshops.
MD Expo Baltimore also featured an informative Leadership Summit, a lively Reverse Expo, engaging networking events, the awe-inspiring Tech Choice Awards presentation and a busy exhibit hall with more than 100 companies staffing booths to share their products and services with attendees.
Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive.
Ian Rickerby, director of business development with Intelas, posted his impression on LinkedIn.
“Innovation is the wind in our sails, and this week in Baltimore proved just how powerful our industry can be. The MD Expo was nothing short of incredible. From meaningful connections to impactful conversations, it’s clear our industry is moving forward together, anchored in innovation and sailing toward better service for the patients and communities we support,” Rickerby wrote.
Shawn Molloy, a director of clinical engineering, praised MD Expo as the perfect HTM event.
“I’ve been participating in the MD Expo throughout my HTM career, and every event has been a fantastic opportunity for both professional growth and valuable connections – both as a clinical engineer and as someone leading engineering teams,” Malloy shared.
“The MD Expo is more than just a place to meet vendors – it’s a thriving community that has always delivered valuable networking opportunities among engineers and opened doors to new partnerships,” he added. “These experiences highlight how MD Expo continues to play a pivotal role in advancing our field and supporting the work we do.”
Malloy’s was not alone. Several attendees shared positive feedback with MD Expo staff.
Norton Healthcare Quality Management System Leader Mark Cooksey, BSME, MBA, LSSMBB, called MD Expo a must-attend event.
“MD Expo Baltimore was one of the most valuable HTM events of the year for me. What sets it apart is the balance between practical education, leadership discussions and meaningful peer and vendor engagement,” Cooksey said. “The size and structure make it easy to have real conversations – both planned and spontaneous that you just don’t get at larger conferences.”
“It felt very much like a working conference rather than a traditional trade show, which is exactly what HTM professionals need,” he added.
Cooksey shared one aspect of MD Expo Baltimore that made it different from previous ones.
“I have attended a number of MD Expos and HTM Mixers over the past few years, and what set the Baltimore conference apart was the opportunity to interact with HTM leaders from various military branches,” he said. “That perspective added a unique leadership dimension to the event, and the training sessions were second to none.”
He said MD Expo once again helped him make a connection that will help him and his department continue to deliver safe, working equipment to clinicians and quality care to patients.
“I found several new service approaches and technology use cases that sparked ideas we can realistically apply within a large health system environment. MD Expo does a great job of attracting vendors who understand HTM workflows, compliance pressures and budget realities,” he said. “Many of the vendors I spoke with were well prepared to clearly articulate their value propositions and how they could supplement our service offerings and improve operational effectiveness.”
“I was particularly impressed with the value propositions around IS and medical equipment calibration solutions,” Cooksey added.
Zachary Silas, MBA, is a clinical engineering department senior site manager with TRIMEDX. He said that he took away information from the exhibit hall that will benefit his department.
“One product that stood out was the self-calibrating infusion pump from Fresenius Kabi under the Ivenix Infusion System platform. The concept of eliminating traditional preventative maintenance requirements is particularly compelling,” Silas said.
“From an operational standpoint, innovations like this directly align with the strategic priorities I focus on, reducing maintenance burden, improving device uptime and allowing our teams to reallocate time toward higher-value activities,” he said. “Solutions that challenge traditional service models are especially important as healthcare systems continue to demand greater efficiency without compromising patient care.”
The educational sessions also stood out.
“From a leadership perspective, the availability of accredited education at MD Expo strengthens the case for investing in team attendance. It allows organizations to simultaneously achieve operational coverage, professional development and industry engagement in one setting,” Silas said. “More importantly, it reflects MD Expo’s commitment to elevating the HTM profession, not just through networking, but through structured, meaningful learning opportunities that directly impact competency and career progression.”
Allison Woolford, M.S., CBET, clinical engineering operations manager at Duke Raleigh Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital, shared feedback from her experience at the Leadership Summit.
“I attended the Leadership Summit, and the experience was enlightening. I especially enjoyed A. Ray Dalton’s presentation,” she said. “It was fascinating to hear his HTM story and learn how his contributions helped shape the field as it is today. I also attended the Reverse Expo for the first time, and it was a great experience. It was really cool to have brief, direct conversations with a variety of vendors.”
Silas agreed.
“(The Leadership Summit) was one of the most valuable components of the event. Hearing from this year’s Icon Award recipient, A. Ray Dalton, was both inspiring and grounding. His core message, ‘Think about the problem and focus on the solutions,’ is deceptively simple, yet incredibly powerful. It reflects a mindset that I’ve found essential in leading large, complex healthcare environments,” he said.
“Beyond the keynote, the summit created a space for authentic dialogue among leaders,” Silas added. “These conversations are critical because, while our environments may differ, the challenges we face – staffing, technology integration, cost containment and regulatory pressures – are shared. Being able to exchange ideas and strategies at that level is invaluable.”
In summary, MD Expo is “essential.”
“MD Expo continues to be more than just a conference, it is a catalyst for growth, connection and innovation within HTM,” Silas said. “For me personally, the experience extends beyond the event itself. It reinforces the importance of leadership, mentorship and community involvement. Whether through my role in leading a high-performing healthcare technology team or helping build initiatives like HTM-GA, the relationships and insights gained at MD Expo directly translate into real-world impact.”
“As our industry continues to evolve, forums like MD Expo will remain essential, not just for keeping pace with change, but for helping shape the future of healthcare technology management,” he added.
When asked if he had anything to add, Cooksey replied: “MD Expo continues to deliver strong value because it listens to the HTM community and adapts accordingly. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, there is always something to take back and apply on Monday morning. Events like MD Expo Baltimore play a critical role in strengthening our profession by building connections, sharing lessons learned and pushing HTM forward.”
“I am also grateful to the vendors who continue to sponsor these events, making it easier for HTM leaders at all levels to attend and participate,” he said.
Find out more at MDExpoShow.com and search #MDExpo on LinkedIn.
