Inaugural Nashville-Israel Health Summit Connects Israeli Innovation with U.S. Healthcare Leaders to Advance Patient Care
More than 30 Israeli healthtech startups came to Nashville to explore paths to adoption in the United States
Nashville, Tenn., September 24, 2026
More than 120 healthcare leaders, founders, investors and operators gathered in Nashville on September 17 for the inaugural Nashville-Israel Health Summit. The invitation-only event focused on the practical steps needed to bring promising healthcare technologies into use and, ultimately, improve patient care.
Organized by the Friends of the Tennessee-Israel Caucus, the Summit connected Israeli entrepreneurs with U.S. healthcare leaders who evaluate, adopt and scale new clinical and operational solutions.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee addressed attendees by video.
“When Israeli companies create something, they need a marketplace to scale it up and to make it profitable and sustainable. That’s why the Nashville-Israel Health Summit is an important way to understand that — but more than understanding it, putting it into practice.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee
Sixteen startups showcased solutions spanning clinical artificial intelligence, diagnostic decision support, surgical safety, patient monitoring, behavioral health and healthcare workflow automation. Several participating companies have already established clinical pilots or commercial initiatives with U.S. healthcare institutions.
“Health systems need innovative clinical and administrative solutions that improve patient care while supporting financial sustainability. I was impressed by the Israeli companies that presented at the Summit and the real challenges they are working to solve.”
David Whelan, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development at HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Division
Through showcases, panels and individual conversations, founders heard directly from healthcare leaders about the clinical, operational and financial questions that shape adoption decisions. Participating leaders were affiliated with organizations including HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Lifepoint Health, Ascension Saint Thomas, Baptist Health South Florida, University of Rochester Medical Center, Mayo Clinic and Belmont University.
For Israeli founders, the Summit offered a chance to test their assumptions about the U.S. market and begin relationships with potential customers, investors and clinical collaborators.
“Events like this are invaluable for an early-stage startup. In one day, we heard directly from health system leaders about how they evaluate new technologies and what they need from a partner. As we grow beyond our work with U.S. neurology practices, large health systems are our next focus, and Nashville is one of the best places to build those relationships.”
Hanan Iserovich, Co-Founder and CEO of ActualSignal
Support for the Summit was provided by the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, FINN Partners, Holland & Knight, Yachad Capital Partners, the Pargh Family Foundation, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast United States, the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, Nashville Health Care Council, Global Health Connector, Link-IL, Georgia Israel Business Alliance, Florida-Israel Business Accelerator and GraphiteRx.
“In Jewish tradition, saving one life is understood as saving an entire world. That idea captures the purpose of this Summit. A connection made here could help an innovation reach a patient, strengthen a healthcare organization, or improve a life. This Summit was conceived as a beginning, not a one-day event. Its real measure will be what these relationships make possible.”
David Zilberman, Summit co-organizer and GraphiteRx Founder & CEO
For information about future initiatives, visit www.nashville-israel.health.
About Friends of the Tennessee-Israel Caucus
Friends of the Tennessee-Israel Caucus (FTIC) is a nonpartisan organization of Tennessee leaders dedicated to strengthening the partnership between Tennessee and Israel. By supporting the bipartisan Tennessee-Israel Legislative Caucus, FTIC promotes collaboration in business, technology, trade, healthcare, agriculture, education and culture for the benefit of communities in both regions. Learn more at www.TN-Israel.org.
Media Contacts
- David Zilberman — contact@TN-Israel.org
- Daniel Davis, FINN Partners Israel — daniel.davis@finnpartners.com