Laura Cooley Ph.D. | NGPX

NGPX 2025

November 17 - 19, 2025

Westin Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, CA

Laura Cooley Ph.D.

Laura Cooley Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief Journal of Patient Experience

As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Patient Experience, Laura advocates for improved health and experience outcomes through evidence-based research and practice. As a mission-driven professional, she aims to drive value through strategic thought leadership, program development, and academic scholarship to improve patient experience outcomes. She provides consultative support and speaks at high-profile conferences as a recognized subject matter expert. She most recently led The Academy of Communication in Healthcare, where she consistently partnered with C-Suite leaders to support the development and implementation of their Patient Experience strategies. She developed and managed a robust portfolio of healthcare enterprise affiliates. Laura is Co-Editor for “Communication Rx: Transforming Healthcare through Communication and Relationships”, a popular book in the McGraw-Hill Professional Series.In her role as Editor-in-Chief at The Journal of Patient Experience (an open-access peer-reviewed academic publication) she leads a team dedicated to creating influential content focused on patient experience research and education.

Day 1: Rooted in Purpose: Reconnecting with the Why Behind PX

5:55 PM Daily Reflections: Reflect, Unpack, Connect

After an afternoon day of ideas, inspiration, and information, this is your space to pause, process, and turn all of that content and learning into clarity. So before we move on, let’s slow down, unpack what stood out, and connect the dots -- together. Guided by Dr. Laura Cooley, Editor-in-Chief of The Patient Experience Journal, this daily wrap-up creates a reflective space to discuss key takeaways, surface insights, and explore how to translate big ideas into meaningful action. It’s not just about what you heard, it’s about what you’ll do next.

  • Gain clarity on key takeaways by identifying the insights and themes that resonated with you the most
  • Turn learning into impact by choosing one thing to bring back to your team or practice
  • Share and hear reflections from your peers

Day 2: From Insight to Impact: Operationalizing Patient Experience

2:30 PM Track B: Panel: Bridging the Gap: Advancing Equity Through Language and Communication Access

In an increasingly diverse healthcare landscape, effective communication is foundational to delivering equitable, patient-centered care. Language barriers, health literacy gaps, and accessibility challenges can lead to misunderstanding, mistrust, and poor outcomes—especially among vulnerable populations.

Hear how leading health systems are leveraging innovative language and communication solutions to improve care quality, build trust, and drive better patient experiences. From real-time interpretation to accessible digital platforms, panelists will share best practices and lessons learned in breaking down barriers to understanding.

  • Explore scalable strategies to meet the needs of multilingual and low-health-literacy populations
  • Understand how communication access supports health equity, safety, and patient satisfaction
  • Hear case studies on implementing language services across clinical and non-clinical touchpoints

3:00 PM Track B: Panel Remix (Audience Breakout): Bridging the Gap: Advancing Equity Through Language and Communication Access

Continue the conversation from the main panel in this interactive, small-group breakout designed to help attendees turn insights into action. In just 15 minutes, participants will unpack the most meaningful takeaways, share real-world challenges from their own organizations, and exchange practical ideas for improving communication access across diverse patient populations. This fast-moving format creates space for candid dialogue, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving—ensuring the conversation extends beyond the panel and into concrete next steps.

Small-Group Discussion Prompts:

• Where do language or communication barriers most frequently appear in your patient journey, and what solutions—technology-based or human-led—have been most effective?

• How is your organization addressing health literacy and accessibility, and what gaps remain that impact equity, trust, or clinical outcomes?

• What operational or cultural changes would help your teams better support multilingual and diverse populations across clinical and non-clinical touchpoints?


4:20 PM DAILY REFLECTIONS: Reflect, Unpack, Connect

After a full day of ideas, inspiration, and information, this is your space to pause, process, and turn all of that content and learning into clarity. So before we move on, let’s slow down, unpack what stood out, and connect the dots -- together. Guided by Dr. Laura Cooley, Editor-in-Chief of The Patient Experience Journal, this daily wrap-up creates a reflective space to discuss key takeaways, surface insights, and explore how to translate big ideas into meaningful action. It’s not just about what you heard, it’s about what you’ll do next.

  • Gain clarity on key takeaways by identifying the insights and themes that resonated with you the most
  • Turn learning into impact by choosing one thing to bring back to your team or practice
  • Share and hear reflections from your peers

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Laura.

Download The Latest Agenda