Traversing the Shift:
Critical Thinking & Patient-Centered Care in an Era of Emerging Technology
NOVEMBER 6 & 7, 2026
BOSTON, MA
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
John Della Volpe
John Della Volpe is the Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, where he has led research initiatives on American youth since 2000. His work focuses on understanding the attitudes, values, and behaviors of young Americans and their impact on politics and public life.
A contributor to NBC, MSNBC, and The New York Times, John is the author of the critically acclaimed book Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (St. Martin’s Press, 2022).
An Eisenhower Fellow, John’s global research spans Asia, Europe, and beyond. He previously served on the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission on Media and continues to explore the intersection of public opinion, media, and democracy. He is also the executive producer of Power of Z and associate producer of De Slag om Florida (The Battle for Florida).
A graduate of the University of San Diego, John has been honored with its Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award and holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Stonehill College.
This year, we are moving beyond the AI hype and diving into the human side of technological evolution. This year’s highly collaborative event will bring together students, educators, and industry leaders to confront the following issues:
Understanding Gen Z & Evolving How We Teach
Examine not only how tech-native students learn, but how we must adapt our teaching methodologies to cultivate critical thinking in the next generation of optometric leaders.
Confronting Our Own Biases
Challenge our knee-jerk skepticism as established leaders to move past the reflex to dismiss new technologies simply because they break traditional models.
Defining Human-in-the-Loop Practice
Unpack genuine fears surrounding automation, de-skilling, and diagnostic over-reliance to establish clear standards where human clinical judgment must always lead.
Elevating Patient-Centered Care
Ensure active listening, empathy, and diagnostic inquiry remain front-and-center.
