Ah Thanksgiving. A time of celebration for the abundance in our lives. A day to pause and reflect and give thanks for all we have to be grateful for.

This month, Jen Carter and I were on the road, getting in two final conferences before the holiday season. My trip took me to Japan, along with HL7 Vulcan, for the Japanese Association of Medical Informatics annual conference. J2 has been pretty involved with Vulcan this year; it’s a FHIR accelerator aimed at bringing interoperability to clinical research. J2 was one of 30 organizations participating in the first cohort of the Interoperability Bridge program, and I was going to Japan to present on the successes of the program. Throughout the afternoon summit, I learned so much about the landscape of healthcare in Japan—and this was one short month after we were in Copenhagen, hearing about the European Health Data Space.

The importance of our work in healthcare technology has never been lost on me. My parents both worked in healthcare, building medical equipment, so I grew up knowing the full importance of the healthcare ecosystem.

But exploring the complexities of healthcare systems abroad, hearing their stories and struggles- it all resonated differently. Some struggles and goals are universal, some are specific to the country. But what is absolutely ubiquitous is the passion and dedication healthcare tech leaders bring to the table. Be they American, Finnish, Irish, French, Japanese, British, or Italian, they all share a core sense of drive, a tangible gravity—they know that the impacts of these decisions will drive care outcomes for millions of people for years to come. And they wear that mantle with a keen awareness and humility.

As we head into the holidays, giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives, I am counting my work as a blessing. It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of an ecosystem dedicated to individual well-being and to solving some of society’s biggest challenges.

What incredible work we are all gifted to do.

Rachel Warnock 🦃
Director of Marketing

​​​​​​The Vulcan APAC Summit at JAMI



Last week, the Vulcan team (including J2’s own Rachel Warnock!) joined members and interoperability enthusiasts in Japan for the JAMI conference and a Vulcan-hosted APAC Summit. The trip included a very successful afternoon with the Japanese PMDA (pictured to the right).



Rachel presented fully in Japanese (no translator needed!) on the Vulcan Interoperability Bridge Program, in which J2 participated earlier this year. It’s a member benefit of HL7 Vulcan, which brings together industry professionals from tech, academia, and clinical research to test and implement different use cases based on HL7 implementation guides.

The summit included a review of ongoing Vulcan projects, Vulcan membership and community benefits, and some valuable conversations with stakeholders from all parts of Japan’s research to care continuum.



eHealth Exchange 2025 Annual Meeting



In a time when healthcare is being reimagined with advances in AI, data exchange, and policy, the eHealth Exchange annual meeting convenes leaders, innovators, and trailblazers for a day designed not just to inform but to inspire.

J2’s Jen Carter attended! HDUs, AI, QHINS, and CMS were the hot topics this year. Never fear, Friend of J2, Sutter Health’s Mike Marchant came dressed for the part to ensure that data security and patient privacy were at the forefront.

Insenna’s Kat McDavitt was another highlight, giving real-life examples and practical advice on finding common ground and negotiating disagreements. When public health is on the line, it isn't about partisanship. It is about human lives.

EVkids Expanding Horizons Gala

EVkids had their Expanding Horizons Gala on Nov 8th, and J2 was honored to be the presenting sponsor.

​​​​Founded in 1980, EVkids helps low-income, academically vulnerable children and teens succeed in school and life through its two programs, EVkids Tutoring and EVkids Summer Camp. These programs focus on strengthening academic competence, organizational habits, self-confidence, and other life skills.

One of the most inspiring moments of the Gala was the moving video interview with founders Marie-Claude & Brian Thompson with EVkids alum and former Board Member Tonya Pickett. Watch the four-minute video here:



​​​​​We highly encourage you to check out the EVkids website for more information on how the EVkids team is doubling their efforts to help each child reach their fullest potential and build an inclusive community based on mutual respect and understanding.​​​​​

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