About the Event
All nurses are leaders by their actions, knowledge, skills, and influence to positively impact patient outcomes. Leaders in all capacities are needed within the healthcare system from patient care to fostering a healthy work environment to operational efficacy. New opportunities and challenges exist within workforce and healthcare infrastructures, creating a need for contemporary leadership approaches to deliver evidence-based care.
This conference is designed to develop leaders at all levels through use and implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP). Participants will walk away with actionable ideas to foster their personal and professional growth. Learn about cutting-edge developments in topics impacting leadership in fast-paced healthcare settings to address highly complex patient needs. Join participants from across the U.S. and the world, to network with EBP experts, faculty, and clinicians motivated to make a difference in health care.
Thank You to our Event Gold Sponsors
Sigma
Alexion
Allen College
Wolters Kluwer
Johnson & Johnson
Evidently
Event Agenda
Meet Our Speakers
Jackie Medland, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
Associate Clinical Professor, Arizona State University, Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation
Paule Joseph, PhD, CRNP, FAAN
Senior Investigator, National Institutes of Health
David Gould
Faculty Emeritus, University of Iowa
Kimberly Hunter, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nurse Executive, University of Iowa Health Care
Taylor Bentler, MSN, RN, CCRN
Nurse Manager Surgical and Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit and Special Pathogen Unit, University of Iowa Health Care
Kathryn Carlson, BSN, RN, PHN
Registered Nurse, Allina Health
Caroline Chu, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Clinical Nurse Educator, University of Central Florida
Jennifer DeBerg, OT, MLS
User Services Librarian, University of Iowa Libraries, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences
Donna Dolezal, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Nurse Manger, Ambulatory Surgery Center, University of Iowa Health Care
Stephanie Edmonds, PhD, MPH, RN
Nurse Scientist,
Michele Farrington, BSN, RN, PMGT-BC
Program Manager, University of Iowa Health Care
Anna Liza Fernandez, DNP, RN
Nurse Manager, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System
Cassandra Fowler, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Research & EBP Specialist, University of Iowa Health Care
Elizabeth Fritz, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC, EBP-C
Nurse Scientist, SSM Health
Brandi Garrett, DNP, RN, CNL, NE-BC
Chief Nurse - Surgery & Specialty Care, Iowa City VA
Jenna Gibbs, PhD, MPH
Injury Prevention Program Manager, University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital
Autumn Gode, MS, APRN, CNS-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Allina Health
Lisa Guthrie, PhD, RN, NPD-BC
Nursing Research Scientist, The University of Kansas Health System
Kirsten Hanrahan, DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC, FAAN
Director, Nursing Research & EBP; Conference Co-chair, University of Iowa Health Care
Sam Hartley, BSN, RN
PMDB Coordinator/PMDB Master Trainer in Training, Madison VA Hospital
Courtney Heid, BSN, RN, BMTCN
Inpatient Oncology Research Liaison/Staff Nurse, Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University of Iowa Health Care
Bekki Hince, BSN, RN
Registered Nurse, St. Katherines
Carlisle Isley, MLIS
Research Support Librarian, Tulane Health Sciences Library
Seth Jackson, BSN, RN, E-AEC
Staff Nurse, University of Iowa Health Care
Christine Jewell, MSN, RN, CCRN
Clinical Nurse Manager, Infection & Quality Surveillance, Rush Copley Medical Center
Bri Kelly, RN
Registered Nurse, University of St Catherine
Élise Arsenault Knudsen, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Elyse Laures, PhD, RN
Nurse Scientist; Conference Co-chair, University of Iowa Health Care
Jannie Lew
Maureen Lugod, MSN, RN, CEN
Clinical Nurse Educator & Nurse Residency Program Coordinator, Rush Copley Medical Center
Mackenzie Mazhari, CCRN, BAN
Registered Nurse, Allina Health
Sarah Nemeth
Bree Powers, DNP, RN, NE-BC
Director Home Health Operations, OSF Healthcare
Heather Reisinger, PhD
Director, Implementation Science Center, University of Iowa
Claire Ronnebaum, MSN, RN
University of Iowa Health Care
Kaitlyn Schafer, BSN, RN, CV-BC
Assistant Nurse Manager, University of Iowa Health Care
Jason Sharp, BSN, RN
Ambulatory Registered Nurse, UW Health
Kaia Smith, ADN, RN
Registered Nurse, University of Iowa Health Care
Courtney Villarreal, MSN, RN, CCRN
Professional Development Leader, Houston Methodist Baytown
Lindsey Vogelman, MSN, RN, CNL,EBP-CH
EBP Clinical Nurse Leader, Madison VA Hospital
Dake Wang
Stacey Wattier, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Director of Nursing- Inpatient, The University of Kansas Health System
Amanda Weber, BSN, RN
Nurse Supervisor, UW Health
Michelle Williams, PhD
Research Fellow in Entrepreneurship, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business
Meridith Wulf, DNP, RN, RNC-NIC, NE-BC
Director, Patient Care, Ridgeview Medical Center
Marygrace Zamora, MSN, RN, CCRN
Professional Development Leader, Houston Methodist Baytown
Donna Brimeyer, MSN, RN, CAPA
Director of Nursing, Perioperative and Procedural Services, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
Laura Cullen, DNP, RN, FAAN
EBP Scientist, University of Iowa Health Care
Sarah Hackbarth, MSN, RN, CCRN
Nurse Manager, Medical Intensive Care Unit, University of Iowa Health Care
Abby Lewis, MBA, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager, Adult Medical/Surgical Cardiac Intermediate Unit, University of Iowa Health Care
Elizabeth May, MSN, RN, CNL, TIP
Clinical Practice Leader, University of Iowa Health Care
Jessica McDaniel, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN
Nurse Manager, Medicine Specialty Clinic, University of Iowa Health Care
Katie Reed, MBA, BSN, NE-BC
Nurse Manager, University of Iowa Community Clinics
Frequently Asked Questions
The conference registration fee is as follows. Please select the one that applies to you and submit payment here.
$100 Preconference Workshop (must also pay conference registration fee)
$225 Podium Presenter or Poster Display (maximum of 2 presenters per presentation or poster; paid by 3/2/2026)
$250 Conference Participant (paid by 3/2/2026)
$300 Conference Participant or Presenter (paid after 3/2/2026)
$175 University of Iowa Student or Employee (not presenting)
Yes. Click on Register at the top, scroll to the bottom of the window and click on Already Registered? Click Here. Then you can edit your selections.
Please email kristen-rempel@uiowa.edu with any edits to your Speaker profile.
Yes, the mobile app will be used during the conference. There will not be a desktop version.
The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center at 300 East 9th Street, Coralville, Iowa.
There is a hotel block reserved at the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, where the conference will be hosted. Reservations need to be made directly with the hotel by April 7, 2026.
Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is approximately 20 miles from the conference site.
Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) is approximately 64 miles from the conference site.
Please email a request to cancel to kristen-rempel@uiowa.edu by 3/20/26 to receive a refund less a $75 processing fee. Refunds will not be granted after 3/20/26, however, substitutions are permitted.
There will be continuing education offered for the conference, preconference, and VA conference. More details about each will be provided as they are available.
There will be limited printed materials provided at the conference. If you prefer to have printed materials, you will want to print your own and bring to the conference.
You will be able to access the conference information through May 31, 2026.
