For the 11th year in a row, Owens & Minor, Inc. (NYSE-OMI) will host its Annual Healthcare Supplier Diversity Symposium with a focus this year on Disruptive Innovation. Healthcare industry professionals from public and private companies, as well as leaders from women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses, will convene to explore new models for growth designed to improve the healthcare value chain and have a positive community impact. The symposium is a stimulus for strategic discussions by leaders across the entire healthcare eco-system about how dynamic industry changes are affecting patients, providers and players throughout the supply chain. The program will feature keynote addresses, a CEO roundtable, panel discussions and networking sessions. Scheduled for September 13-14, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia, the event will provide conference attendees with a unique opportunity to make vital business connections in the healthcare industry. Symposium speakers and events will focus on how a rapidly changing healthcare environment is creating opportunity for diversity businesses to succeed through innovation and disruption.

The keynote speaker for the Earl G. Reubel Awards Dinner on Tuesday, September 13, is Dr. Randal Pinkett, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of BCT Partners. Author of Black Faces in White Places, Campus CEO and No-Money Down CEO, Pinkett is a graduate of Rutgers, Oxford and MIT, and he was a Rhodes Scholar. Earlier in the day, the conference will feature a CEO Roundtable discussion featuring Bruce Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of GHX, Pamela Prince-Eason, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, and P. Cody Phipps, President & Chief Executive Officer of Owens & Minor. Pamela Sutton-Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Virginia Medical Center, will give the keynote address at the event luncheon on September 13, focusing on changes that are taking place in the healthcare industry.

“Diversity drives innovation,” said Phipps. “At Owens & Minor, we have long recognized that new ideas and innovative solutions come from a wide variety of perspectives. Each year at our Symposium, we welcome the opportunity to connect and share our experiences and our ideas.”

At the opening night gala on Tuesday, Owens & Minor will present the Earl G. Reubel Award in three categories: Diverse Business of the Year; Hospital or Integrated Healthcare Delivery System of the Year; and Civic Leader of the Year. Named for the founder of Virginia-based Kerma Medical Products, a noted minority-owned healthcare company, the award was established by Owens & Minor to honor the late Earl G. Reubel, whose vision of building a legacy for his family through Kerma Medical Products, Inc. demonstrated the true spirit of entrepreneurialism. The Earl G. Reubel Award honors recipients from the healthcare industry who embody the qualities that made Earl G. Reubel such a force in the healthcare industry.

The success of this industry-wide event is the result of many supporting partners. Owens & Minor extends special recognition to Diamond Sponsors – B. Braun Medical, Inc., Medtronic, VCU Health, Dell Inc., and founding sponsor Healthcare Supplier Diversity Association (HSDA) – whose long standing material support reflects a noteworthy commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

This year’s event will be held at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump located in Richmond, Virginia. As a kickoff for the event, Owens & Minor will host a pre-symposium Charity Golf Tournament on Monday, September 12. Proceeds from this year’s golf tournament will be donated toExcel to Excellence Foundation, Inc., founded by Super Bowl winning athlete and Seattle Seahawks fullback, Michael Robinson. One of the foundation’s programs, Team Excel, uses a 'reverse' fantasy football format, where students become the fantasy athletes and the professional athletes and community mentors serve as team coaches. Students compete weekly on grades, attendance and community service.

For more information about the Symposium, please visit www.hsdsymposium.com.

Owens & Minor, Inc. (NYSE: OMI) is a leading global healthcare services company dedicated to Connecting the World of Medical Products to the Point of CareTM by providing vital supply chain services to healthcare providers and manufacturers of healthcare products. Owens & Minor provides logistics services across the spectrum of medical products from disposable medical supplies to devices and implants. With logistics platforms strategically located in the United States and Europe, Owens & Minor serves markets where three quarters of global healthcare spending occurs. Owens & Minor’s customers span the healthcare market from independent hospitals to large integrated healthcare networks, as well as group purchasing organizations, healthcare products manufacturers, and the federal government. A FORTUNE 500 company, Owens & Minor is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and has annualized revenues exceeding $9 billion. For more information about Owens & Minor, visit the company website at owens-minor.com.