What is the AHEPP Annual Conference?

• The AHEPP Annual Conference is the national conference of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals (AHEPP), a professional association founded in 2014 for people who plan, coordinate, and lead emergency preparedness and disaster response programs in hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations. It's held every year and brings together healthcare emergency management professionals for education sessions, networking, and access to vendors and solutions serving the field.

When and where is the AHEPP Annual Conference 2027?

• AHEPP Annual 2027 takes place February 23–24, 2027, with an optional pre-conference day on February 22, 2027, at the DoubleTree Hilton at the Entrance of Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

Is the AHEPP Annual Conference in person or virtual?

• AHEPP Annual is currently an in-person-only event.

Who should attend the AHEPP Annual Conference?

• The conference is built for administrators, emergency preparedness coordinators, directors of public health preparedness, emergency managers, RNs, and other professionals responsible for emergency preparedness at hospitals, health systems, long-term care and assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities, public health agencies, and universities.

How many people attend?

• AHEPP Annual 2027 is expected to draw 250-300+ healthcare professionals and healthcare leaders.

What topics and sessions does the conference cover?

• Sessions cover practical, healthcare-specific emergency management topics — for example, building the business case for EM/BC program funding, exercise design, and behavioral threat assessment.

• On the optional pre-conference day (February 22, 2027, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), attendees choose one of four full-day sessions, all delivered in a workshop format combining interactive and didactic training:

  • Designing an Effective Operations-Based Exercise

  • Leadership Solutions: The Why, How, and What of Building, Growing, and Excelling in Your Career and EM Program

  • Resilient Hospitals: Mastering IT Downtimes Preparedness

  • You Already Have the Warning Signs. You Just Don't Have a Process. (A 6-Hour BTAM Intensive for Healthcare)

 

Choosing the Right Conference

What conference should I attend if I work in healthcare emergency management?

• For professionals specifically responsible for emergency preparedness, disaster response, or business continuity inside a healthcare organization, the AHEPP Annual Conference is built specifically for that role. Unlike broader emergency management conferences that cover public safety, government, and general disaster response across all sectors, AHEPP's sessions, networking, and certification pathway are healthcare-specific.

What makes AHEPP different from general emergency management conferences?

• AHEPP is built around the needs of healthcare facilities specifically — sessions address healthcare's particular regulatory and operational requirements, attendees connect directly with peers doing the same job at other hospitals and health systems (rather than a broader mix of public-safety and government EM professionals), and conference attendance and presenting both count toward AHEPP's own HcEM (Healthcare Emergency Manager) certification.

Is AHEPP a legitimate, established organization?

• Yes. AHEPP was founded in 2014 and represents healthcare emergency preparedness professionals across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Canada, Singapore, and other countries.

 

Certification & Continuing Education

Does attending the AHEPP Annual Conference count toward continuing education?

AHEPP doesn't offer formal CEUs/CEs. Instead, conference attendance and presenting earn CE Points that count toward recertification for AHEPP's own Healthcare Emergency Manager (HcEM) certification, at every level (HcEM-B, HcEM-P, HcEM-M):

• Attending the AHEPP Annual Conference: 13 CE Points

• Attending an optional Pre-Conference session: 6 CE Points

• Presenting at the conference or a pre-conference workshop: 3 CE Points per hour presenting solo, or 1 CE Point per hour as part of a panel/shared presentation

These points can be applied to either the Continuing Education bucket or the Professional Contribution bucket of an attendee's recertification requirements.

What is the HcEM certification?

• The Healthcare Emergency Manager (HcEM) certification is AHEPP's professional certification for healthcare emergency preparedness professionals, offered at three levels: HcEM-B (Basic), HcEM-P (Professional), and HcEM-M (Mastery). Details and eligibility are at hcemcertification.org.

Can I take the HcEM certification exam at the conference?

• Yes. AHEPP offers an in-person HcEM certification exam option at the conference site on the pre-conference day, the day before the main conference, each year.

 

Registration & Pricing

How much does it cost to attend the AHEPP Annual Conference?

• 2027 pricing: AHEPP members pay $625 (early bird, through January 6, 2027) or $725 (regular). Non-members pay $800 early / $900 regular, which includes a complimentary one-year AHEPP membership. The optional pre-conference day is $300 at either rate tier.

Do I need to be an AHEPP member to attend?

• No. Non-members can register at the non-member rate, which includes a one-year AHEPP membership.

How do I register?

• Registration is available at aheppannual.org/register.

 

Location & Travel

Where do I stay for the AHEPP Annual Conference?

• The conference hotel is the DoubleTree Hilton at the Entrance of Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. A discounted conference hotel block is available — see the Hotel & Travel page at aheppannual.org for booking details.

 

Sponsors & Exhibitors

Can sponsors and exhibitors attend the conference sessions, not just staff the exhibit hall?

• Yes — sponsors and exhibitors are welcome to attend sessions, workshops, and networking events, not just staff a booth. AHEPP Annual is designed as a collaborative event for vendors and attendees alike. (See the separate Sponsor FAQ page for vendor-specific questions.)

 

Getting Started

How do I learn more or get in touch about the AHEPP Annual Conference?

• Email AHEPP at AHEPP@AHEPP.org, or visit aheppannual.org for the current agenda, pricing, and hotel information.