30th Annual
Research and Innovation Conference
“A Legacy of Excellence, a Future of Innovation”
Join nurse educators, clinicians, and leaders for a milestone conference focused on research, innovation, and advancing nursing practice.
Date
October 22–23, 2026
Venue
Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center · 8695 Spectrum Center Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123
Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Central · 8651 Spectrum Center Blvd · Discounted group rates available — book early!
Conference Schedule
Keynote, education, breakout, and closing sessions currently confirmed. Additional details may be updated as the program is finalized.
Day One
Thursday, October 22, 2026
7:30 AM
to 8:30 AM
Registration, Continental Breakfast, Exhibits & Poster Viewing
8:30 AM
to 8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 AM
to 9:45 AM
Keynote Speaker
Benita Chatmon, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, FAAN
9:45 AM
to 10:15 AM
Break — Exhibit, Poster Viewing & Refreshments
10:20 AM
to 10:45 AM
High Stress ACLS Simulation to Strengthen Interprofessional Team Skills
Christine Kaford, DNP, RN — Upsilon Beta / Cal State Fullerton
10:20 AM
to 10:50 AM
Empowering Nurses to Support First In-Human Gene Therapy Trial
Kate Boughanem, BSN, RN; Rahel Bahru, MSN, RN, CPHQ; Kim McConnell, PharmD, BCPS, CCRP — UCSD
10:45 AM
to 11:10 AM
From Bedside Care to Student Support: A Phenomenological Pilot
Kristin Stagg, BSN, RN, MHI, NI-BC, CNOR — Loma Linda University School of Nursing
10:50 AM
to 11:20 AM
Scan Away the Anxiety: A Mobile QR-Code Resource for Floating Nurses
Rinka Shiraishi, MSN, RN; Aileen Espiritu-Tepper, DNP, RN, NEA-BC; Heejae Kwon, BSN, RN, CMSRN — Nu Mu / Cedars Sinai
11:10 AM
to 11:35 AM
Seven Decades of 20th Century Nursing: An Oral History
Gabriela Andrade, PhD, RN, FNP-C, WCC, DWC — Iota Sigma / Azusa Pacific University
11:20 AM
to 11:50 AM
From Engagement to Partnership: Co-Leading with the Clinical Nurse
Rhonda Infante, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NPD-BC, RNC-OB; Steven Dine, BSN, RN — Upsilon Beta / Kaiser
11:35 AM
to 12:00 PM
Presentation, Structure, and Storytelling of Perinatal Loss Memory Boxes
Elizabeth M. Drake, PhD, RNC-OB — University of San Diego
12:00 PM
to 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:05 PM
to 1:25 PM
Empowering Nursing Students Against Workplace Violence
Keirstin Uomoto, DNP, PMHRN-BC, CNE — Nu Mu / Cal State LA
1:05 PM
to 1:25 PM
Inclusive by Design: Transgender Advocacy in Education
Kate Bayhan, DNP, RN, CCRN — Upsilon Beta / Cal State Fullerton
1:25 PM
to 1:45 PM
Technology-Dependent Youth & HPV Vaccination: A Latent Class Analysis
Emily Bloom, PhD(c), RN — UCLA
1:25 PM
to 1:45 PM
Inclusive Clinical Teaching Strategies for Neurodivergent Learners
Najood Azar, PhD, RN — Upsilon Beta / Cal State Fullerton & Iota Sigma
1:45 PM
to 2:05 PM
Veterans' Preferences During Healthcare in the Community
Cynthia Grauvogl, DNP, RN, PMH-BC, CNE, CCM, PHN — Cal State Fullerton
1:45 PM
to 2:05 PM
Advancing Nurse Scholars & Leaders: A Student-Led Joint Initiative
Crystal Lee, BS; Ashra Denise Tugung, BS — Gamma Alpha / Loma Linda University
2:05 PM
to 2:25 PM
HIV Awareness and Stigma Reduction Through Immersive Theatrical Drag Storytelling
Austin Nation, PhD, RN, PHN, NE-BC — Upsilon Beta / Cal State Fullerton
2:05 PM
to 2:25 PM
Scaling Virtual Reality Simulation Through a Peer-Led Fellowship Model
Joseph Kastely, MSN, RN, CMSRN; Jessica Lin, BSN; Harley Reyes, BSN; Justine Leung, SN; Alessandra Pador, SN — Nu Mu / Cal State LA
2:30 PM
to 3:00 PM
Break — Exhibit, Poster Viewing & Refreshments
3:00 PM
to 4:00 PM
Speaker
George Peraza-Smith, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, A-GNP-C, GS-C, CNE, FAANP
4:00 PM
to 4:30 PM
Daily Debrief & Raffle
Day Two
Friday, October 23, 2026
7:30 AM
to 8:30 AM
Registration, Continental Breakfast, Exhibits & Poster Viewing
8:30 AM
to 8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 AM
to 9:45 AM
Keynote Speaker
Sagie De Guzman, PhD, MSN, APRN, A-CNS, ANP-C
9:45 AM
to 10:00 AM
Poster Awards
10:00 AM
to 10:30 AM
Break — Exhibit, Poster Viewing & Refreshments
10:35 AM
to 10:55 AM
The Relationship Between Clinical Judgment and Written Exemplars
Linda Flores, PhD, MSN, RN — Phi Alpha / Western University of Health Sciences
10:35 AM
to 10:55 AM
Buffering Stress: Heart-Focused Breathing for Faculty Resilience
Rhonda Infante, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NPD-BC, RNC-OB — Upsilon Beta / Kaiser
10:55 AM
to 11:15 AM
Mental Wellness Intervention for Undergraduate Nursing Students
Mary Gars, BSN, RN; Stacey Warner, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC — Nu Mu / Cal State LA
10:55 AM
to 11:15 AM
Holistic Self-Care Practices and Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Resilience
Kristine Mandani, MSN, RN — Zeta Mu at-Large
11:15 AM
to 11:35 AM
Deaf Health Equity and Simulation Pedagogy in Nursing Education
Jenna Reyes, EdD, MSN/Ed, RN, PHN, CHSE; Katharine West, DNP, MPH, RN, CNS — Iota Sigma / Azusa Pacific University
11:15 AM
to 11:35 AM
Unlocking Nurse Practitioner Productivity and Value
Claudia Rizo, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, PHN — Upsilon Beta / City of Hope
11:35 AM
to 11:55 AM
Training Tomorrow's Clinicians Through AI Generated Scenarios
Terri Thompson, DNP, RN, C-EFM — Chi Mu / California Baptist University; Phi Alpha / Western University of Health Sciences
11:35 AM
to 11:55 AM
Improving SRNA Medication Preparation Through an Escape Room
Cara Gonzalez, MSN, RN; Patricia Roselle Tan, BSN, RN — Gamma Alpha / Loma Linda University
12:00 PM
to 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
to 2:30 PM
Mentoring Success: Inspiring Undergraduate Students to Become Nurse Researchers
Lina Najib Kawar, PhD, RNRM, CNS, FAAN; Veronica S. Timple, PhD, RN, CCRN; Stacey A. Warner, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, ACUE; Carmen N. Urbayan, DNP, RN, CNS, CPN, PCNS-BC; Regina M. Valdez, MA; Cristelyn Joyce Chua, BSN, RN, PHN; Arielle Jonna Guinto, BSN, RN, PHN — Iota Sigma / Kaiser Permanente
2:30 PM
to 2:45 PM
Break — Exhibit, Poster Viewing & Refreshments
2:45 PM
to 3:45 PM
Speaker
Kristen Kellogg, RN, FNP-C, DNP; Amanda Thurman, RN, MSN, FNP-C
3:45 PM
to 4:15 PM
Conference Summation & Raffle
