Background
With nearly a decade at Siemens Healthineers, Megan McBride brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and strategic leadership. She began her career training technologists on Siemens imaging equipment, then gradually transitioned into event content and speaker development.
That hands-on experience made her a natural fit to lead Innovations for Healthcare, the company’s flagship educational event. By the end of 2022, she had taken over full program management and now oversees the event’s direction through 2029.
Innovations for Healthcare is Siemens Healthineers’ only external, customer-facing event and holds a unique position in the industry. Launched around 2005, it was created specifically for frontline professionals such as radiologic technologists, radiation therapists, and imaging specialists who operate Siemens equipment every day.
Over three immersive days, attendees earn valuable CEUs while exploring leadership development, clinical advancements, and equipment-specific training across modalities like MRI, CT, and ultrasound. With approximately 1,000 participants each year, the event remains the only vendor-led program focused entirely on this specialized audience.
Challenge
Innovations for Healthcare is more than a typical conference. For many attendees, it represents a rare opportunity to travel, learn, and connect with peers. Since education credits are often bundled with equipment purchases, many participants are able to attend with airfare and lodging fully covered.
Delivering that high-value experience requires operational precision. Siemens Healthineers needed a platform that could:
- Handle complex registration workflows
- Provide efficient onsite badge printing
- Track session attendance for CEUs
- Adapt quickly to changing accreditation requirements
Just as importantly, they needed a partner that could offer hands-on support and dependable project management from early planning through post-event follow-up.
Solution
Siemens Healthineers has worked with A2Z Events (formerly GTR) for several years and maintained the partnership through the company’s ownership transition. Because A2Z Events was already an approved vendor and consistently met expectations, there was never a reason to look elsewhere.
A2Z Events provided a comprehensive event technology solution, including:
- Onsite badge printing and check-in
- Session tracking tied to CEU credits
- Certificate generation and distribution
- Dedicated project management to oversee timelines, logistics, and issue resolution
McBride highlighted just how impactful that support has been.
“The biggest difference-maker is having a dedicated project manager,” she said. “Emily, Brittni, and Saquaya have all been amazing. They give me one point of contact and just make everything easier.”
She also praised A2Z Events’ responsiveness when customization was needed.
“Your developers are freakish fast,” she said. “There have been maybe three things we’ve asked for, and even if you said it wouldn’t be ready until next year, we had it within a month. It’s crazy.”
When accrediting bodies introduced last-minute changes to certificate requirements, the A2Z Events team quickly implemented a workaround and began developing a long-term solution.
Results
- Seamless on-site operations with reliable badge printing and check-in
- Accurate CEU tracking and certificate delivery, even amid shifting requirements
- Responsive support and real-time escalation paths
- Ongoing growth and high attendee satisfaction, year after year
McBride described the partnership as collaborative and dependable.
“A2Z Events makes it feel like we’re working with a true partner,” she explained. “Even when something isn’t their responsibility, they jump in and help. It’s just really nice.”
She noted that while the platform dashboard includes a wide range of functionality, it can take time to navigate efficiently. The A2Z Events team has always been proactive in offering guidance, training, and tips to help streamline the experience.
Looking Ahead
Innovations for Healthcare is confirmed through 2029, with strong momentum and growing demand. Siemens Healthineers is currently evaluating whether the event should remain a value-added experience for customers or evolve into a revenue-generating initiative. Regardless of the path forward, the mission remains clear: to empower frontline healthcare professionals through high-impact education.
To support continued growth, the event is moving to larger Gaylord properties. These venues offer more space, enhanced capabilities, and an upgraded experience for attendees.
Although McBride is stepping into a new role, she will continue to guide the event’s vision and contribute to strategic decisions.
“I’ll still be the person with the vision,” she said. “And hopefully, we’ll keep growing. There’s nothing else like this for our customers.”
