Evolve, our annual customer conference has officially wrapped. This year’s theme — Reimagine — pushed us to challenge the status quo, embrace bold new ideas, and rethink what’s possible in healthcare and benefits innovation. From inspiring keynotes to tactical breakouts and thought-provoking discussions, Evolve 2025 brought together industry leaders, HR and benefits professionals, physicians, and healthcare experts to chart a brighter path forward.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans, the energy at Evolve was palpable. As we reflect on these transformative few days, one thing is clear: the future of healthcare is here, and we’ve got the power to improve it together.

The big ideas that defined Evolve 2025 A vision for the future – keynote highlights

The opening keynote from Rajeev Singh, Accolade’s CEO, set a bold tone for Evolve 2025, challenging us all to reimagine what’s possible in healthcare. He framed the conversation around a few key themes:

• Everyone deserves better healthcare, but the system is simply not designed to deliver on that promise.

• Employers have the most power to demand change and create accountability for a better healthcare experience.

• Technology, especially AI, will be the key to unlocking a new era of smarter, more accessible care.

Rajeev highlighted how Accolade continues to innovate, leveraging AI and data-driven insights to enhance healthcare navigation, empower consumers, and improve care team efficiency. With over a decade of insights from 14 million Member interactions, Accolade has advanced its AI capabilities in clinical intelligence, population health assessment, and engagement. These innovations create a seamless, data-driven experience that enhances accessibility, improves outcomes, and makes healthcare navigation more intuitive.

In closing, Rajeev emphasized a clear call to action for HR and benefits leaders: demand transparency from healthcare vendors and partners, push for accountability with measurable outcomes, and refuse to accept the status quo. With technology and innovation accelerating at an unprecedented pace, now is the time to embrace change and build a healthcare experience that is truly personalized, intelligent, and accessible to all.

Our second keynote, delivered by Accolade board member and CHRO of Intuitive Surgical, Pat Wadors, brought a whimsical yet powerful perspective on how storytelling shapes leadership.  In her keynote based on her recently published book, Unlock Your Leadership Story, Pat wove together tales from traditional childhood narratives — and her own Nanny — to demonstrate how leaders can connect, inspire action, and drive positive change.

Innovation in action: Product & strategy announcements

We believe innovation isn’t about adding features — it’s about transforming healthcare into an intelligent, seamless experience. During our product vision panel, Abhi Pathak, EVP and Chief Product Officer, and Jeff Waibel, Director of Product Solutions, shared how we’re making healthcare smarter, more intuitive, and more accessible. To bring this vision to life, they introduced a suite of digital innovations designed to simplify healthcare navigation, improve provider selection, and offer real-time support when members need it most. The game-changing innovations include:

• Next-generation Accolade App – A centralized, AI-powered platform for seamless care navigation

• True Health RightMD – A data-driven, enhanced steerage solution that connects members with top-quality providers

• AVA, the Accolade Virtual Assistant – 24/7 AI-driven support for real-time healthcare guidance

These advancements deliver personalized, connected care — right in the palm of members’ hands. By simplifying healthcare navigation, we empower members to access more care and benefits, leading to better engagement, more intelligent decisions, and improved health outcomes.

Live demos & customer collaboration

Accolade’s innovations don’t happen in isolation — they’re built with and for our customers. Attendees at our session got a first-hand look at how these solutions work live on stage, with an interactive demo of AVA and the Accolade App in action.

We also invited our customers to explore these innovations at our demo booths, where our product and engineering teams showcased these and other key capabilities.

Breakout paths: Personalized learning for every leader

This year, attendees could choose between three distinct breakout paths tailored to their interests:

• Clinical path – Tackled pressing topics like GLP-1 medications for weight management, mental health solutions for complex needs, and strategies for managing the rising costs of cancer care. Experts from Trusted Partners like Noom and Virta Health, and Accolade customer leaders shared actionable insights on balancing access, cost, and outcomes.

• Value path – Focused on proving ROI to executive teams, featuring real-world customer success stories. Attendees gained tangible takeaways for measuring impact, driving engagement, and justifying healthcare investments.

• Ecosystem path – Explored how Accolade’s Trusted Partner Ecosystem simplifies benefits navigation, ensuring employees use the available solutions. HR and benefits leaders also shared success stories on boosting engagement and integrating vendors seamlessly.

The power of partnerships: Healthcare’s next frontier

As the front door of healthcare increasingly shifts to virtual solutions, many patients still require in-person care for critical needs such as childbirth, diagnostic procedures, and surgery. Addressing the full spectrum of healthcare access and costs requires strong partnerships between employers, health systems, and technology innovators.

In the panel Optimizing Care Journeys, Shantanu Nundy, MD, Chief Health Officer at Accolade, led a discussion with Reshma Gupta, MD, Chief of Population Health at the University of California, and William Shrank, MD, Venture Partner at a16z, on the challenges and opportunities of integrating data, technology, and care coordination to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

Employers and benefits leaders play a crucial role in shaping network strategies that bridge the gap between virtual and in-person care, ensuring employees receive timely, high-quality care while managing costs. The key takeaway: Partnerships that align technology, data, and care delivery are essential to building a more connected and efficient healthcare system.

Celebrating Excellence: The 2025 Evolve Honors

The Evolve Honors recognizes organizations leading the way in healthcare transformation each year. Congratulations to this year’s honorees:

• Health Equity Champion: Bank of New York – Recognized for breaking down barriers and ensuring equitable access to care.

• Engagement Powerhouse: Raymond James – Leading the way in benefits engagement, maximizing participation, and driving meaningful action.

• Clinical Outcomes Leader: Humana – Setting the standard for data-driven, results-focused care improvements.

• Clinical Specialty Architect: Morgan Stanley – Championing specialty care solutions to enhance outcomes for employees and families.

• Ecosystem Curator: Shamrock Foods Company – Integrating benefits solutions seamlessly to create a more effective, user-friendly experience.

• Benefits Strategy Change Agent: McKesson – Pioneering innovative benefits strategies that drive measurable impact for employees.

Congratulations to this year’s winners — your dedication to transforming healthcare inspires us all.

Networking & New Orleans magic

Beyond the sessions, Evolve 2025 provided countless opportunities for networking, learning, and celebrating. From the jazz-filled welcome dinner at the Orpheum Theatre and cocktails in the speakeasy below to the elegant Dining in the Garden event at Il Mercato, attendees experienced the best of New Orleans while making meaningful connections.

These moments reinforced that collaboration is key — when we come together, share ideas, and challenge each other, we move the industry forward.

Looking ahead: What’s next?

As Evolve 2025 comes to a close, one thing is clear — this is just the beginning. The insights, connections, and ideas shared during the conference will continue to shape the future of healthcare long after the event ends. Now is the time to take what you've learned and put it into action, bringing new strategies and innovative solutions back to your teams to drive meaningful change.

The conversations started here don’t have to end. Staying engaged with Accolade’s growing community of industry leaders will ensure the dialogue continues, fostering collaboration and new opportunities to advance healthcare. By challenging the status quo and embracing bold, people-first solutions, we have the power to create a system that truly works for employees, employers, and healthcare providers alike.

Thank you to our customers and partners for being part of Evolve 2025. We look forward to seeing how you turn these insights into action and continue to reimagine what’s possible. Until next year!