FHIR DevDays: More than a conference

Every year, something special happens at FHIR DevDays. It’s not just another healthcare IT conference. It’s where the global FHIR community comes together — not to sell, but to build, learn, debate, challenge, and celebrate progress. It feels less like an event and more like a family reunion of people who genuinely care about improving healthcare through better data.

The sessions are always inspiring and deeply educational. Ideas are shared openly. Hard questions are put on the table so the community can think through them together. And alongside the serious work, there is always joy — creative openings, the DevDays run, unforgettable social events, and even the occasional spontaneous singing talent taking the stage.

This June, we return to Minneapolis. Two years ago, we were hosted at the McNamara Alumni Center — and we loved it so much that we immediately booked it again. It’s a fantastic venue for what DevDays represents: connection, depth, and energy.

For me personally, this year is special. Last year in Amsterdam, during the opening session, we announced that I would become CEO of Firely. This will be my first DevDays in that role. And there’s another first: HL7 also has a new CEO. Rachel Dunscombe will be attending her first DevDays as CEO of HL7. Two new CEOs, one shared commitment to the FHIR community.

From compliance to use

In the U.S. market especially, FHIR adoption has accelerated significantly. What excites me most is that we are moving beyond compliance. For a long time, regulations and industry pressure created momentum, and many organizations initially approached FHIR as a necessary step to stay compliant: publish the endpoints, enable access, meet the requirements.

Now the conversation shifts from availability to use. As FHIR becomes mainstream, it stops being the finish line and becomes the starting point. The conversation is changing from “Can we exchange data?” to “Can we actually use it — safely, consistently, and at scale?”

Because the hard part isn’t only connectivity. It’s making data usable across real-world complexity: mapping, terminology, governance, and continuous data quality.

Now we’re seeing organizations ask the questions that matter: How do we leverage FHIR for AI and automation? For quality improvement and reporting? For analytics and population insights? For reducing operational friction in prior auth, care coordination, and member journeys?

That shift — from compliance-driven interoperability to strategic data use — is where real value is created. This will be one of the topics people are talking about at DevDays this year, and I’m excited for the many insights we’ll gain from the community.

What’s new this year 

As the community grows, so does DevDays.

This year we introduce two preconference days:

• HL7 FHIR Foundations Bootcamp
  We’re hosting a full day focused on the basics of FHIR. It’s for people who are new to FHIR, or who want to make sure their foundation is solid. My hope is that you leave the day feeling more confident about the fundamentals — and that you’ve met a few people you’ll keep in touch with after DevDays. If you can’t join the whole conference, you’re very welcome to attend just this day.
• HL7 FHIR Strategy Forum
  We launched the Strategy Forum last year in Amsterdam and I really enjoyed the conversations — so we’re bringing it to the U.S. This isn’t a technical session. It’s a space for leaders to talk openly about the decisions behind interoperability: data strategy, governance, and what it takes to make data truly usable across an organization. I want this to be practical and honest — what’s working, what’s hard, and what we’re still figuring out. Because FHIR is not just an IT topic — it’s a foundational pillar for AI readiness, quality measures, analytics, and long-term business value.

The DevDays Experience 

And then there are the three core conference days. A true rollercoaster — packed with insights, practical sessions, hallway conversations, reunions with people you mostly see on chat.fhir.org or Teams calls, and new relationships that often turn into collaborations.

As someone who is not a technical expert myself, I am always struck by the level of detail and thought required to make seamless data exchange look effortless on the surface. It’s impressive. It’s complex. And it’s driven by an incredibly passionate community.

It’s an honor to attend DevDays as CEO of Firely. It’s even more inspiring to see how this community continues to push healthcare technology forward — not for the sake of technology, but for better care.

Is it worth coming?

Absolutely. You’ll get depth. The latest developments. Meaningful conversations. A lot of energy. And yes — we’ll take care of the food and drinks too.

See you in Minneapolis?

If you don’t have tickets yet, they’re available here.