Download the Brochure

Download the 2026 Nurse Leadership Program Brochure.

Wednesday, May 27

9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Attendee Registration

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

General Session

#1 - SOARING Into Strengths: Discover Your Innate Potential
Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Grab & Go Lunch

1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

#2 - CMS Guidelines for Appropriate Dressing Selection
Martha Kelso, Chief Executive Officer, Wound Care Plus, LLC

#3 - How to Lead Your Team to Succeed in Section GG
Katie Slier, Senior Director of Clinical Reimbursement & Analytics, and Carolyn Streaker, Director of Clinical Reimbursement & Analytics, both with RB Health Partners, Inc.

#4 - The Latest Trends: Using Data to Identify and Improve Facility Incidents
Jonathan Teter, Director of Epidemiology & Analytics, RB Health Partners, Inc., and Robin Allen, Chief Risk Officer, The Lilac Health Group

2:30 to 2:45 p.m.

Refreshment Break

2:45 to 4:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

#5 - 2025 Multisociety Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Centers - What's Different?
A.C. Burke, Vice President of Healthcare Quality, RB Health Partners, Inc.

#6 - Nowhere Else to Go: Psychiatric Care of Nursing Center Residents
Dr. Pari Deshmukh, Medical Director, CEO, Balanced Wellbeing, LLC

#7 - Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Data Evaluation for Nurses - What We Miss
Melissa Fijalkowski, Administrator, Chautauqua Rehabilitation Suites by Harborview, and Susan Anderson, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Florida Health Care Association

4:15 to 6:15 p.m.

Tabletop Exposition & Cocktail Reception

Enjoy food, beverages and excellent prize giveaways while networking with exhibitors and fellow attendees.

Thursday, May 28

7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Attendee Registration

7:30 to 8:00 a.m.

Refreshment Break

8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

#8 - Empowering Infection Preventionists as Leaders Through Professional Growth and Education
Jodie H. Thompson, Director of Infection Prevention and Control Services, Life Care Centers of America, Inc.

#9 - Leading with Purpose: Evolving from Manager to Motivator in Clinical Leadership
Julie Morris, Senior Administrator, Fairway Oaks Center

#10 - Dermatological Conditions and Emergencies in Long Term Care: Recognition, Early Detection, and Referral for Nurses
Vitaly Blatnoy, Dermacare Senior Care Solutions

9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Tabletop Exposition & Brunch Reception

Enjoy breakfast light bites and more prize giveaways while networking with exhibitors.

10:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

#11 - Transforming Long Term Care with Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future
DeAnna West, Regional Nurse Consultant - Aegir Region, Kane Financial Services, LLC

#12 - The MDS Connection: Empowering Nurse Leaders to Drive Quality, QRP, and VBP Success
Alicia Cantinieri, Managing Director, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group, LLC

#13 - Empower Nursing Leadership
Andres Vallejo, Doctor, Shannon Abbott, CEO, both with Spectrum Medical Partners, and Luisa Vega, CEO, Psych Health Associates

12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

Grab and Go Lunch

1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

#14 - Clinical Champions for Complex Care: Empowering Staff to Lead Bariatrics, Falls, and Positioning
Karen Lerner, Clinical Vice President, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare

#15 - Optimizing Psychiatric Quality Measures and Behavioral Health Collaboration in Skilled Nursing Facilities: Enhancing Care and Maximizing Reimbursement
Farid Chekaoui, MD, Long Term Care Geriatric Psychiatry Consultant, TeamHealth

#16 - Overview & Benefits of an On-site SNF Dialysis Program
Jasmine Arguinzoni, Vice President of Operations, Concerto Renal Services

3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Refreshment Break

3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions (Repeated)

#11 - Transforming Long Term Care with Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future
DeAnna West, Regional Nurse Consultant - Aegir Region, Kane Financial Services, LLC

#12 - The MDS Connection: Empowering Nurse Leaders to Drive Quality, QRP, and VBP Success
Alicia Cantinieri, Managing Director, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group, LLC

#13 - Empower Nursing Leadership
Andres Vallejo, Doctor, Shannon Abbott, CEO, both with Spectrum Medical Partners, and Luisa Vega, CEO, Psych Health Associates

Friday, May 29

7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Attendee Registration

7:30 to 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Excellence in Long Term Care Nursing Awards and General Session

#17 - Potential Demands a Higher Standard
Demetrius Kirk, Senior Consultant, SMK Medical

10:00 to 10:15 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

General Session

#18 – Agency for Health Care Administration Update
Kimberly Smoak, Deputy Secretary/State Survey Agency Director, Agency for Health Care Administration