Health Summit Earns High Marks for DHCD

Health Summit Rewarded for Months of Planning

– Audience members attend a session at the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit on Sept. 10 at The Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage. Photo by Andrew Cabral.

PALM SPRINGS — Organizers of the Third Annual Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit on Sept. 10 worked for months, committed to ensuring attendees received useful information. From all indications, the sweat equity reaped significant dividends.

Survey results show Healthy Desert Healthy You attendees give 2026 summit high marks

Panelists discuss housing as a social driver of health at the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit on Sept. 10. Photo by Andrew Cabral.

With more than 400 participants on Sept. 10, the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation’s third annual Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit drew its largest attendance to date, according to Will Dean, director of communications and marketing for the District,

A post-event survey reveals what attendees gained from their summit experience and shares their opinion of the event overall. Read the survey results.

Throughout the day, the summit audience chose from a variety of panel discussions on four social drivers of health to attend. The main topics were healthcare access, behavioral/mental health, healthcare workforce development, and housing. Healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, advocates and others led the discussions, which were moderated by Coachella Valley media personalities.

Vendors pose during a break between panel sessions at the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit on Sept. 10. Photo by Andrew Cabral.

The summit also provided a keynote address, call-to-action speech, nearly 40 vendors to explore, an art exhibition, free breakfast and lunch and more. While the general vibe in the conference rooms at The Omni Resort in Rancho Mirage was one of inspiration and opportunities to collaborate, the survey results of 58 attendees provide more concrete data.

A District & Foundation goal for attendees appears to have been achieved. As Interim CEO Donna Craig said during closing remarks at the summit, “My hope is that you leave here with something that encourages you and motivates you to learn more about the social drivers of health shaping our community.”

If you missed the summit, you can watch a video of the opening remarks.

Photo above: A vendor discusses her display with a guest on Sept. 10 at the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit at The Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage.

All photos are by Andrew Cabral.

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