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Topic : International, News and Press Type : Press Release

ABHI is pleased to announce that Shane DeGaris, Group CEO at Barts Health NHS Trust, will join its upcoming US Accelerator Tennessee Trade Mission (11 - 15 May 2026), bringing senior NHS leadership into a unique programme of peer-to-peer exchange with leading US health systems.

This mission goes beyond traditional trade activity. It is designed as a peer-to-peer learning platform, bringing together system leaders, clinicians, and innovators to share insight on the realities of delivering healthcare at scale, and the role HealthTech can play in transforming outcomes.

Across Nashville and Memphis, the delegation will engage directly with major providers, payers, and academic institutions, exploring how healthcare systems are evolving and how innovation is being deployed in practice.

A defining feature of the programme is its emphasis on open, system-level dialogue. Through roundtables, keynote reflections, and structured exchanges, UK and US leaders will share candid perspectives on operational pressures, adoption challenges, and opportunities for collaboration. Shane DeGaris will play a central role in these discussions, offering insights from one of the UK’s largest NHS Trusts.

His participation comes at a pivotal moment. Under his leadership, Barts Health NHS Trust is advancing ambitious initiatives such as the Barts Life Science Cluster in Whitechapel, an £800m+ partnership bringing together clinical excellence, research, and commercial innovation to accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies. This approach, embedding innovation directly within clinical environments, aligns closely with the objectives of ABHI’s Accelerator programme.

Shane DeGaris said: “This mission presents a valuable opportunity to engage directly with US health system leaders and explore how we can collectively respond to shared challenges. At Barts Health NHS Trust, we are focused on embedding innovation within clinical pathways to improve outcomes at scale. I look forward to exchanging insights, learning from international counterparts, and strengthening the partnerships needed to accelerate the adoption of impactful HealthTech solutions.”

ABHI’s own collaboration with Barts Health further strengthens this connection. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the organisations are working together to create clearer pathways for HealthTech innovators to engage with clinicians, co-develop solutions, and support faster adoption across NHS settings.

These themes will be brought to life throughout the Tennessee mission, including during the UK - US Healthcare Innovation Exchange at Belmont University and engagements with organisations such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Baptist Memorial Health.

Crucially, the programme ensures that technology is considered in context, not as a standalone solution, but as part of a broader system transformation. By connecting decision-makers with innovators, the mission supports a more integrated approach to adoption, helping ensure that new technologies deliver meaningful benefits for patients.

With shared challenges facing healthcare systems globally, from workforce pressures to rising demand, the need for collaboration has never been greater. By enabling leaders to learn from one another and explore practical solutions, ABHI’s US Accelerator programme is helping to unlock the full potential of HealthTech on both sides of the Atlantic.

The inclusion of Shane DeGaris reinforces the strength of this exchange, ensuring that NHS insight is represented at the highest level while building the relationships needed to drive long-term, transatlantic impact.