Open Source as an Agency Strategy

In this interview-style session, you will hear Bill Vass talk with Vish Sankaran about the role open source software has played as part of the strategy for the National Health Information Network (NHIN) as well as their respective views on agency opportunities and challenges.

About the Speakers:

Vish Sankaran was appointed Director of the Federal Health Architecture (FHA) program in the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in March 2007. As FHA director, he has driven collaboration among federal agencies to advance the adoption of interoperable health IT in order to allow for the secure exchange of health information within the federal government, and with state, tribal, and local governments and the private sector. This goal is being achieved through initiatives that provide federal business needs management, and systematic investment planning, reporting and interoperability architecture.

Bill Vass is the president and chief operating officer of Sun Microsystems Federal, Inc. and the chief technology officer of Sun's Global Accounts and Industry organization. Vass focuses on providing the U.S. government and elite global accounts with open, secure and efficient solutions to solve unique IT challenges for large scale organizations.