Strategic Imperatives for Safety Leaders in 2026

Aparna Ahuja, Divisional VP of Medical, Clinical, and Scientific Affairs at Abbott (ID Rapid Diagnostics), opens the 3rd American MedTech Medical Safety and Compliance conference with a keynote address on the strategic imperatives facing safety leaders in 2026. The role of safety leadership is expanding beyond traditional pharmacovigilance and complaint management into a strategic function that shapes product development, market access, and organizational resilience.

Aparna will draw on her experience at Abbott to outline the key trends, regulatory developments, and technological shifts that safety leaders must navigate in the coming year. Topics include the convergence of FDA and international regulatory frameworks, the growing importance of real-world evidence, and the imperative to build proactive rather than reactive safety organizations.

This keynote will set the tone for the conference, providing a strategic framework that will be explored in greater depth through subsequent panels, breakouts, and workshops.