Preconference Field Trips

Kick off your conference experience and join us for a unique preconference field trip! Field trips will be available on Monday, July 27, the day before the 2026 INFORMS Healthcare Conference begins. All Preconference Field Trips will depart from and return to the Raleigh Convention Center. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Additional details and opportunity to register coming soon!

Registration: $TBA. One tour per person. Space is limited.
Cancellations: No refunds will be given unless tour is cancelled by INFORMS or the facility.

SAS Workshop and Hackathon

11:00am to 5:00pm

Description

Workshop attendees will receive an overview of SAS Viya’s capabilities for healthcare analytics, including cloud integration, scalability, and interoperability with other industry tools. Expert-led sessions via SAS instructors will showcase the impact of machine learning and AI on improving patient care, operational efficiency, and decision-making along with relevant use cases, such as patient risk stratification, demand forecasting, and fraud detection.

This workshop will include a hands-on hackathon experience. Attendees will work directly with SAS tools, building models and running analyses on sample healthcare datasets, guided by SAS instructors.

No prior SAS experience is required for the workshop. Access instructions and learning resources, however, will be provided in advance of the workshop date. Attendees are encouraged to complete these access instructions and review the learning resources in advance of the workshop.

A credential badge will be provided for those who complete the workshop.

NCSU Centennial Campus (BTEC, ISE, and Hunt Library)

12:45pm to 3:15pm

Description

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of NC State’s cutting-edge research and innovation spaces! This guided experience will showcase the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), the Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics (CAMAL), and Human Systems facilities featuring immersive CAVE virtual reality, biomechanics labs, and driver simulation. The tour will also include a visit to the award-winning Hunt Library, a hub for technology, design, and collaboration. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how NC State is shaping the future across engineering, biotechnology, and human-centered design.

NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine

1:00pm to 4:00pm

Description

Join a special tour of NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Hospital, where animal and human health intersect. This experience will highlight hospital operations, infectious disease research, and translational science, along with innovative work in lab automation and the Global One Health Academy. Designed for the INFORMS community, the tour offers a unique look at how analytics and systems thinking are applied to complex challenges in healthcare and global health.

UNC Rex Hospital

1:00pm to 4:00pm

Description

Visit UNC Health Rex, a nationally ranked, community-based health system, and see firsthand how artificial intelligence and healthcare analytics are transforming clinical care, operational efficiency and the patient experience. During this field trip, participants will have the opportunity to explore how UNC Health Rex is integrating AI-enabled ambient listening technology to reduce administrative burden and enhance provider-patient interactions, leveraging AI to support clinical decision-making, and applying advanced analytics to improve the quality, outcomes, and patient experience. The visit will also highlight UNC Health Rex’s clinical research and innovation.

Field Trip Coordinator

Fay Cobb Payton

Rutgers University
Executive Director, Institute of Data, Research & Innovation Science;
Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science