Join Vulcan at PHUSE US Connect 2026 for the Vulcan FHIR Forge Pavilion, an interactive, collaborative space focused on advancing interoperability across clinical care and research using HL7® FHIR® standards. Hosted as part of the new PHUSE Pavilion™ experience, the Vulcan FHIR Forge Pavilion brings together standards organisations, technology innovators, researchers, and implementers to explore how interoperable standards are improving data quality, efficiency, and global evidence generation.
About the Vulcan FHIR Forge Pavilion
At the Pavilion, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Meet the team behind Vulcan and learn how they support organisations adopting HL7® FHIR® standards
- Discover the Vulcan Interoperability Bridge (VIB), where 30+ organisations are piloting FHIR implementations
- Explore the active Vulcan projects
- Hear from standards organisations shaping the future of global interoperability and evidence generation
- Engage in interactive discussions and network with experts advancing data exchange across clinical care and research
This Pavilion is designed for anyone looking to understand how interoperability is accelerating research, reducing costs, and enabling faster, more reliable evidence generation worldwide.
What Is a PHUSE Pavilion™?
PHUSE Pavilion™ events are self-curated, themed environments that function as “conferences-within-the-conference.”
Unlike traditional presentation tracks, Pavilions offer hands-on, interactive experiences through live discussions, workshops, and showcases.
Pavilion Dates, Location & Program
The Vulcan FHIR Forge Pavilion takes place during PHUSE US Connect 2026 on Wednesday, 25 March 2026 and Thursday, 26 March 2026. PHUSE US Connect 2026 is held in Austin, Texas, from 22–26 March 2026. Throughout the Pavilion there will be opportunities for networking and open discussion where you can meet, match, and collaborate with peers, implementers, and standards leaders in an open, interactive environment.
Wednesday, 25th March 2026
- Vulcan Unveiled: HL7’s Research Accelerator Connecting standards, strategy, and community
- Vulcan Projects: From Design to Deployment Implementation Guides in action
Session Details
09:00 – 11:00 | Setting Real World Data on FHIR | Dr. Russ Leftwhich
HL7® Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources – FHIR® (fire) is a next generation standards framework for healthcare data. The healthcare industry at large has seen tremendous advancements in data and interoperability through the adoption of the FHIR standard, and the world of clinical research stands poised to do the same. If you’re new to FHIR, or still trying to understand what it is or how it works, this 2-hour workshop is designed for you. You’ll learn how FHIR offers a flexible data model for healthcare data that can be applied to use cases across healthcare including administrative, clinical, and workflow. That data can then be used by apps for clinicians, patients, decision support services, and for exchange, or customized for different use cases. You’ll use a web app on your laptop to help explore and visualize how real world data is represented as computable FHIR resources. Known as “The Best Explanation of FHIR Ever!” This workshop and hands-on exercise has proven to be a very effective way to understand the concept of FHIR. Join us and get ready to set real world data on FHIR!
Russell Leftwich, MD, FAAAAI, FCCP, FAMIA is Senior Clinical Advisor for Interoperability, InterSystems Corporation and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical School. He is one of the leads in the development of clinical resources for FHIR® and active in the HL7® standards development organization for over 2 decades. He has served as one of the leads in the Vulcan FHIR Accelerator in HL7 and on the Vulcan Advisory Council. As a recognized FHIR evangelist he has delivered over 50 FHIR workshops in the US and internationally. His prior roles include Chief Medical Informatics Officer for the Tennessee Office of eHealth Initiatives, over two decades in internal medicine practice in Nashville, and serving on the clinical faculty at Vanderbilt. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Allergy/Immunology, and Clinical Informatics.
11:15 – 12:45 | Vulcan Unveiled: From Interoperability Vision to Real-World Impact | Vulcan Project Leads
Discover how Vulcan is bringing the worlds of clinical care and clinical research closer than ever. In this energising session, we explore how HL7’s research accelerator is breaking down data silos, aligning global standards, and enabling faster, smarter evidence generation across the healthcare ecosystem.
You will gain a clear understanding of what Vulcan is, why it matters, and how collaborations with CDISC, TransCelerate, regulators, and industry partners are reshaping the future of clinical data. The session then brings Vulcan to life through real-world examples and standout project showcases, revealing how interoperability standards are being turned into practical solutions that work in everyday research and care settings.
With clear data flow visuals, practical insights, lessons learned, and a look at what’s coming next, this session offers a front-row view of how Vulcan is moving from vision to implementation, unlocking innovation, streamlining workflows, and elevating clinical research worldwide.
14:00 – 15:30 | Deep Dive:The VIB Integration Sandbox Connecting EHRs, CDISC, and Real-World Data, Test beds BETA building concepts, Tech Trials, Wire Frame, Sand Box, Pilot
Step behind the scenes of Vulcan’s Interop Bridge and explore how real interoperability happens. This hands-on deep dive takes you inside the VIB Sandbox, where EHR data, CDISC standards, and real-world data come together. Through live workflow examples and practical walkthroughs, you’ll see how FHIR automates data exchange, streamlines integration, and accelerates research. From early test-bed concepts to wireframes, tech trials, and pilot environments, this session gives technical teams a clear, actionable look at how Vulcan is building the future of connected clinical data. Bring your questions and our experts will walk you through the what, why, and how in real time.
16:00 – 17:30 | Vulcan Connect: Meet, Match, and Collaborate
Looking to meet the right people, spark new ideas, and help shape the future of Vulcan projects? Vulcan Connect is your opportunity. This interactive session blends guided speed networking with themed topic tables to bring together innovators, implementers, and problem-solvers from across the ecosystem. Participants will dive into real-world pain points like “FHIR saves me time when…”and collaborate on practical solutions and new project concepts. With facilitators at each table capturing insights for the Vulcan Idea Backlog, this is the place to form meaningful connections, validate challenges, and ignite fresh project ideas.
Thursday, 26 March 2026
- Deep Dive: Vulcan Interoperability Bridge (VIB) Real-world use cases and implementation insights
- Interactive Workshop What problems should the industry address next?
- Panel Debate The evolving Standards Development Organisation (SDO) landscape
Session Details
11:00 – 12:30 | The Standards Debate: Collaboration, Not Competition | Panel Session
Standards don’t have to compete and this panel proves it. Join leaders from HL7, CDISC, TransCelerate, OHDSI, and more as they break down the biggest misconceptions about the standards landscape, including the myth of “just another standard.” This lively, moderated debate will spotlight how SDOs are aligning, collaborating, and complementing each other to drive true interoperability across research and care. With real examples, bold questions, and live audience polling, think prompts like “Who owns interoperability? This session is designed to challenge assumptions and reveal the powerful opportunities that emerge when standards organizations work together.
13:30 – 15:00 | Vulcan Futures Workshop: What’s Next for Interoperability?
Help shape the next wave of Vulcan innovation. This high-energy, hands-on workshop brings the community together to identify the biggest interoperability challenges still holding the industry back. Participants will vote on priority problems, break into rapid ideation groups, and develop bold new concepts to advance clinical care research connectivity. Whether you’re technical, strategic, or operational, this is your chance to influence Vulcan’s future roadmap and pitch your ideas to peers and project leads. Come ready to collaborate, create, and spark what comes next.
Registration
The Vulcan FHIR Forge Pavilion is available to those attending PHUSE US connect. Pricing and booking information is available on the PHUSE website.
Contact Us
If you’d like to learn more about the Vulcan FHIR Forge Pavilion, Vulcan projects, or how to engage with the Vulcan community before or during the event, please contact us directly. We’d be happy to connect.
