The McGuireWoods’ 21st Annual Healthcare Private Equity and Finance Conference, held May 14-15, 2025 in Chicago, convened a large and diverse group of healthcare and private equity professionals for two days of networking and strategic dialogue. The event drew key players in healthcare finance and private equity, packed with sessions and panels addressing the most pressing topics in the industry.
Keynote speakers Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner and general partner at NEXT Ventures, and Anousheh Ansari, the first female private space explorer and CEO of XPRIZE Foundation, delivered addresses to attendees. Both shared stories of overcoming challenges and pushing boundaries.
Panels tackled pressing topics, including AI’s role in healthcare, with discussions on investment in AI-driven diagnostics and workflow tools, fueling M&A interest in digital health platforms. Behavioral healthcare sessions explored scaling mental health and addiction treatment services, with private equity driving consolidation of integrated care models. Regulatory panels highlighted antitrust scrutiny, such as FTC oversight and state policies, impacting deal timelines and reinforcing investor caution in M&A strategies. Networking was also a highlight, with events like the Black Professionals in Private Equity Breakfast, Women in Private Equity and Finance Breakfast and the 21st Anniversary Celebration at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The LevinPro HC team actively participated, engaging in insightful conversations about the healthcare mergers and acquisitions market and speaking with several experts in the space. A recurring theme from attendees was a “wait and see” approach, with many investors pausing to assess regulatory changes and market dynamics before committing to new deals, a trend LevinPro HC data reflects through a slowdown in deal volume. Discussions emphasized strategies for navigating these uncertainties, particularly in high-growth sectors like behavioral health, digital health and outpatient care. Stay tuned for future stories covering the conference and its key takeaways on the LevinPro HC platform.
