Few names have as much resonance as Harold (Hal) Wolf III, President and CEO of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), in a time when the global health ecosystem is rushing to adopt disruptive technologies. Under his direction, HIMSS has transformed from a North American-focused society to a globally interconnected force influencing healthcare delivery in the future.

Hal Wolf’s journey into healthcare didn’t come from a medical background, but from a mindset shaped by disruption and transformation. After launching his career at MTV Networks and contributing to the early development of video-on-demand, Wolf realized that technology—when applied with intent—could revolutionize how people connect, consume, and ultimately, heal.

Today, he leads HIMSS, guiding nations, institutions, and individuals toward a digitally empowered future of care. His remarkable journey blends personal experience, strategic vision, and a belief in the power of information, reshaping healthcare at every level.

“I’ve always believed that innovation begins with permission to question the status quo,” Wolf says. “That idea followed me from my first job all the way to HIMSS.”

Foundations Built on Unconventional Thinking

Wolf’s early professional years were far from the clinics and corridors of hospitals. Instead, he was immersed in the world of entertainment and emerging technologies. It was during this time that he encountered a book titled “If It Isn’t Broken, Break It.” While the book itself may not have left a deep impression, its title did.

“That phrase stuck with me,” he recalls. “It gave me the courage to think outside the box. I hope I bring that same drive to innovate into healthcare today.”

Though he initially pursued an education in corporate law, it wasn’t long before Wolf shifted course—drawn instead to business development and computer programming, both of which would later play critical roles in defining his leadership philosophy. His technical knowledge combined with a strategist’s eye gave him a unique perspective, one he would bring to bear in one of the most challenging and complex industries on the planet.

Growing HIMSS from a Society to a Global Force

Founded over 60 years ago, HIMSS was originally a North American-centric organization. But Wolf saw untapped potential. His top priority upon becoming CEO was clear: to take HIMSS global. “Today, two out of five HIMSS members are based outside North America,” he notes. “Soon, that number will rise to half.”

This international growth has been more than just expansion; it represents a philosophical shift. HIMSS is now a daily, connected force, enabling knowledge-sharing, community-building, and policy advocacy 365 days a year.

With over 125,000 individual members and 1,500 organizational partners, including health systems, non-profits, ministries, and technology providers, HIMSS has evolved into an ecosystem enabler. Its members span more than 25 global communities, creating region-specific impact across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

“We’re not just convening people once a year,” Wolf explains. “We are leading a sustained global movement to transform health through information and technology.”

The Power of Events to Mobilize Transformation

While HIMSS’s reach spans research, consulting, and media, its events are among its most visible contributions to the industry. The HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum, and the newly announced WHX Tech in Dubai are more than just gatherings; they are catalysts for system-wide transformation.

“In today’s interconnected world, events must go beyond conversation. They must be launchpads for ideas and accelerators of solutions,” says Wolf.

These conferences convene policymakers, innovators, providers, and private sector leaders to tackle healthcare’s greatest challenges—from digital maturity to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence to equity in care delivery. The upcoming WHX Tech (to be held at Dubai World Trade Centre in September 2025) exemplifies HIMSS’s expanding footprint in the Middle East, in collaboration with Informa Markets.

Events must go beyond conversation. They should be launchpads for ideas and accelerators of solutions.

Digital Health Transformation

At the core of HIMSS’s mission lies a transformative goal: to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology. Wolf and his team believe the traditional face-to-face model of care delivery can no longer support the demands of modern health systems, especially amid an aging population and a rapidly expanding chronic disease burden.

“The WHO estimates a shortage of at least 10 million healthcare workers in the next five years,” Wolf points out. “Even if we had the funding to build new facilities, we won’t have the people to staff them unless we change how we deliver care.”

HIMSS supports digital health transformation through a suite of tools, frameworks, and solutions. At the heart of these efforts is a shift toward person-enabled care, where patients are empowered with digital tools that support monitoring, decision-making, and engagement outside clinical settings.

By leveraging HIMSS’s proprietary tools like the Digital Health Indicator, Analytics Maturity Assessment Model (AMAM), and Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM), health systems across continents are benchmarking their progress, identifying gaps, and implementing future-ready strategies.

Healthcare thrives on information. The link between data, technology, and patient outcomes is undeniable.

One of the most dynamic elements of HIMSS’s current focus is AI in healthcare. Wolf is a strong advocate for responsible innovation, balancing excitement with realism.

“Artificial intelligence is already transforming clinical decision-making, diagnostics, patient engagement, and resource allocation,” he explains. “But if we don’t accompany its growth with ethical governance, transparency, and education, we risk losing public trust.”

To support this vision, HIMSS has published Global AI Policy Principles, which emphasize safety, equity, accountability, and patient-centered design. Through its AI Forums and its research ecosystem, HIMSS helps organizations adopt AI thoughtfully, spotlighting real-world examples, pilot successes, and challenges to avoid.

Cybersecurity: Strengthening the Backbone of Digital Care

With digital innovation comes vulnerability. Healthcare remains one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks, and HIMSS is tackling this threat head-on.

For Hal Wolf and HIMSS, the message is clear: securing patient data is fundamental to building trust in a digital-first future. “We need more adaptation, more innovation and better navigation of our increasingly digital world,” he said. That’s why HIMSS has prioritized cybersecurity as a strategic domain, one that must be addressed in tandem with technology adoption.

HIMSS conducts one of the most robust research efforts in this space, publishing its Healthcare Cybersecurity Survey annually for the past 16 years. The findings inform health systems, vendors, and policymakers of emerging risks and evolving best practices. The HIMSS Cybersecurity Forum, in turn, brings together leading experts to develop practical, scalable solutions.

“Cybersecurity is no longer a siloed discipline. It is integral to clinical care, operational continuity, and patient confidence,” says Wolf.

Through partnerships with government, academia, and the private sector, HIMSS is helping the healthcare industry move from reactive defense to proactive resilience.

Interoperability and Data Access

Despite widespread investment in digital tools, one of the most persistent bottlenecks in healthcare remains interoperability—the seamless and secure exchange of health data across platforms, providers, and systems.

“HIMSS is actively working on standards-based interoperability and promoting emerging health information technologies for advanced health information exchange,” Wolf explains. He sees bidirectional access to timely, accurate data as essential to delivering truly coordinated, high-quality care.

Efforts to eliminate information blocking and enable open APIs are central to HIMSS’s advocacy agenda. “We want to see developers creating platforms that speak the same language,” Wolf notes, “so that patients and providers can finally benefit from the full power of digital health.”

True interoperability, in his view, is more than a technical achievement. It’s a moral imperative, one that underpins patient empowerment, clinician efficiency, and system-wide accountability.

Building the Future of Health IT

As systems digitize, the need for a skilled, agile workforce grows. HIMSS is addressing this head-on with a comprehensive suite of education and development programs designed to future-proof the health workforce.

From certifications and micro-credentials to executive training and continuing education, HIMSS is equipping professionals at every level, C-suite executives, clinicians, data scientists, and digital health leaders, with the tools they need to lead transformation confidently.

“We’re constantly developing learning opportunities,” says Wolf, “with industry-recognized credentials and comprehensive trainings. With help from experts, we guide people in sharpening their competitive edge.”

HIMSS’s platforms support both individual growth and organizational readiness, ensuring that as technologies evolve, the people behind them are ready to adapt, lead, and thrive. Whether through self-paced courses, cohort-based programs, or community knowledge-sharing, HIMSS is building the human infrastructure essential for the future of global health.

Artificial intelligence can transform care, but without ethical governance and trust, we risk losing the very people who matter most.

Strategic Partnerships with Global Reach

HIMSS’s ability to scale is strengthened by its partnerships with governments, ministries, and institutions across the globe. In recent years, they have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with:

• Korea Health Industry Development Institute – adopting HIMSS’s Digital Health Indicator nationwide.
• Turkiye’s Ministry of Health – promoting HIMSS Maturity Models and co-hosting annual HIMSS+Eurasia events.
• Careclinics Health Services in Malaysia – accelerating digital health adoption with tailored HIMSS support.
• Missouri’s Department of Health (USA) – evaluating statewide digital transformation readiness.
• Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS) – forming a powerful alliance to shape global clinical IT leadership.

Each collaboration underscores HIMSS’s role as a trusted advisor and convener of cross-sector transformation.

Looking Ahead: A Vision Anchored in Equity and Innovation

As Wolf reflects on HIMSS’s expanding role, his tone is optimistic but measured. The path forward, he insists, requires global collaboration, bold thinking, and ethical clarity.

“We’re in a defining era of healthcare,” he says. “It’s not just about adopting technologies. It’s about integrating them responsibly, equitably, and in a way that keeps the human at the center.”

With Hal Wolf at the helm, HIMSS is more than a society. It is a global movement, an advocacy platform, and an engine for ideas. From conference halls in Dubai to ministries in Korea, from AI frameworks to patient empowerment tools, its fingerprints are visible wherever meaningful change is underway.

Healthcare may never return to the systems of the past. And thanks to leaders like Hal Wolf, it may never have to.