“Heart of a Champion” will headline two days of conversations focused on women’s health, mobility, community and partnership.
DETROIT, Mich. — Olympic volleyball medalist Kimberly Glass will close the 2026 Movement Is Life Health Summit with “Heart of a Champion,” a featured conversation exploring resilience, leadership, health and the experiences that shaped her journey as an elite athlete.
The Summit will take place September 24–25 at the Fort Pontchartrain Detroit, bringing national experts together with Southeast Michigan healthcare professionals, community leaders, advocates, researchers, policymakers and residents committed to improving health and mobility.
During the closing conversation, Glass will join Mary O’Connor, M.D., chair of the Movement Is Life Board of Directors, for a candid discussion about overcoming challenges, sustaining physical and emotional well-being, and applying a champion’s mindset beyond competitive sports.
“Kimberly Glass represents the strength, perseverance and possibility at the heart of our mission,” said Danielle Hilliker, president and CEO of Movement Is Life. “Her story reaches far beyond athletics. It speaks to the determination required to move through adversity, care for our whole selves and use our experiences to inspire others. ‘Heart of a Champion’ will be a powerful way to close two days dedicated to transforming how communities and institutions work together to improve health.”
Themed “Strength in Motion: Reimagining Health Through Community, Policy, and Partnership,” the two-day Summit will examine women’s health, movement and mobility, chronic disease, access to care, and the community conditions that influence health outcomes.
“Bringing the Movement Is Life Health Summit to Detroit is deeply meaningful,” Hilliker added. “Detroit and Southeast Michigan are home to extraordinary healthcare institutions, community organizations and leaders. This Summit allows us to connect that local strength with national knowledge while ensuring that women and communities are part of shaping the solutions intended to serve them.”
Healthcare professionals can earn up to 14 Interprofessional Continuing Education credits during the Summit. Accredited continuing education is available for physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and other eligible members of the healthcare team.
Additional featured speakers include Tamara Huff, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Movement Is Life board member and founder of Vigeo Orthopedics; Renée Roberts, M.D., of RMR Ventures LLC; and Dr. Standifer-Barrett, a board-certified internist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner.
Summit programming will include:
• Keynote presentations and interactive educational sessions
• Conversations focused on women’s health and wellness
• Community-based approaches to improving movement and mobility
• The PowHER Pitch Competition, featuring women innovators presenting community-rooted solutions to health disparities
• National poster presentations highlighting research and community initiatives
• Workshops, networking and partnership-building opportunities
• Continuing education opportunities for eligible healthcare professionals
The Summit will also highlight Operation Change, Movement Is Life’s signature 12-week, community-based program. Operation Change supports women experiencing joint pain, mobility limitations and related chronic health conditions through movement, health education, motivational interviewing and peer support.
A VIP Reception hosted by the Movement Is Life Board of Directors will open the Summit experience Wednesday, September 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Top of the Ponch. Tickets available on registration page.
The 2026 Movement Is Life Health Summit will take place September 24–25 at the Fort Pontchartrain Detroit. Registration, featured speakers and the complete agenda are available at https://reg.eventmobi.com/MIL2026.
ABOUT MOVEMENT IS LIFE
Movement Is Life is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing health disparities and improving joint health and mobility. Through community-based programs, education, advocacy and cross-sector partnerships, Movement Is Life empowers underserved women and girls to move more, live healthier lives and have a stronger voice in the decisions affecting their health.
For more information, visit https://movementislifecommunity.org.
