APP Empower: Elevating Practice--Recognizing Excellence 2026

Oak Lawn, IL US
September 25, 2026

This APP Empower symposium is an annual event designed to promote professional growth and development with a focus on research, wellbeing and individualized professional trajectories for Advanced Practice Professionals at all career stages. Participants will have the opportunity to network with APPs from other departments, learn about key programming and resources and wellbeing initiatives.

 

This conference is being held in person and virtually.

NOTE: Please note this activity will be presented 8:00am – 4:15pm CST / 9:00am - 5:15pm EST

Target Audience

This course is intended for Advanced Practice Professionals at Advocate Health Wisconsin and Illinois Divisions. 

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, learners should be able to:

  1. Utilize available resources for research development, quality initiative planning, and performance growth pathways. 
  2. Apply leadership, narrative, research and quality improvement strategies to positively influence patient care, clinical practice, and wellbeing at the cohort level.  

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 6.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 6.00 Continuing Nursing Education (CE)
    Aurora Health Care is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 6.00 contact hours have been awarded to this activity by the Wisconsin Nursing Association. To receive contact hours, participants must attend the entire activity.
  • 6.00 Physician Associates Credit
    Advocate Health has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Course opens: 
05/19/2026
Course expires: 
12/31/2026
Event starts: 
09/25/2026 - 8:00am CDT
Event ends: 
09/25/2026 - 4:15pm CDT
Cost:
$100.00
Add to calendar: 
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Time 

Program (Topic and Speakers) 

8:00-8:30am 

Registration, Breakfast, and Walkabout Poster Viewing 

8:30-8:45am 

Welcome & Opening Remarks 

Jennifer Hartlaub, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Advanced Practice Director Professional Excellence, Advocate Medical Group, Wisconsin & Illinois Divisions 

8:45-9:45am 

Posters Live: Four 15-minute presentations 60 minutes 

  • Enhancing Performance and Confidence in Ambulatory Cardiology Healthcare Workers Through Rapid-Cycle Deliberate Practice in Mock Code Simulations-A Quality Improvement Project – Rose Fjeld, APRN, WI 

  • Palliative Care Involvement in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Multi-Center Retrospective Observational Cohort Study – Katie Krawzak, APRN, IL 

  • Beyond the Diagnosis: Implementing Sensory-Inclusive Healthcare Practices to Improve Care for Autistic and Neurodivergent Patients – Kaylee Hawks, APRN, WI 

  • EKG Essentials for Clinicians: What Every Physician and APP Needs to Know – Chris Mayer, PA, WI & IL  

9:45-10:30am 

Plenary 1: From Denial to Approval: A Replicable APP Framework for Epic Documentation Optimization and Prior Authorization Success  

Chris Butzine, APRN, WI 

45 minutes 

10:30-10:45am 

BREAK 

10:45-11:45am 

Three Concurrent Breakout Sessions: 60 minutes 

  • Breakout 1: Aromatherapy – Scientific Background & Workshop – Christie Hanrahan, APRN, WI 

  • Breakout 2: Growth Pathways Framework: Your Professional Development Journey – Jennifer Hartlaub, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Sarah Frogge DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC; Rebecca Westrate MSN, APRN-FPA, FNP-C, CPPS 

  • Breakout 3: Advocate Research Institute – Calling All APPs – Emily Malloy, PhD, CNM; Director Midwifery Research, Midwifery and Wellness Center, Aurora Sinai  

11:45-12:30pm 

Poster Viewing with Authors 45 minutes 

12:30-1:00pm 

LUNCH 

1:00-1:45pm 

Keynote: Rhonda Hoyer, MS, RN, APRN, ANP-C 

Vice President Advanced Practice, Wisconsin & Illinois Divisions 

45 minutes 

1:45-2:45pm 

Posters Live: Four 15-minute Presentations 60 minutes 

  • An APP-Led Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve HPV Vaccine Series Completion in Adolescents – Amy Carlson, APRN, IL  

  • Blue Light Special: Visual Identification of High-Risk Patients in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit using a Cardiac Arrest Prevention Bundle – Katlyn Bauer, APRN, IL 

  • The Evolving Role of Advanced Practice Providers in Germline Testing for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes – TinaMarie Bauman, APRN, IL 

  • Educational Program to Improve National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scoring: A Quality Improvement Project for Stroke Team Clinicians – Leona Maksuti, APRN, WI 

2:45-3:30pm 

Plenary 2: Palliative Care for All Clinicians - A Scalable Digital Model for Real-Time Clinical Decision Support 

Lindsay McKenzie, APRN, IL 

45 minutes 

3:30-4:00 

Wrap Up, Thank yous, Awards 

Advocate Christ Medical Center Stein Auditorium or Microsoft Teams
4440 W 95th St
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
United States

Faculty
 

  • Jennifer Hartlaub, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC; Advanced Practice Director Professional Excellence, Advocate Medical Group, Wisconsin & Illinois Divisions
  • Rhonda Hoyer, MS, RN, APRN, ANP-C; Vice President Advanced Practice, Wisconsin & Illinois Divisions
  • Martin Hevesy, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Primary Care, Aurora Medical Group
  • Rose Fjeld, APRN, WI; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Katie Krawzak, APRN, IL; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Children's Hospital
  • Kaylee Hawks, APRN, WI; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aurora Medical Group
  • Chris Mayer, PA, WI & IL; Physician Assistant, Advocate Health
  • Chris Butzine, APRN, WI; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora Medical Center Summit
  • Christie Hanrahan, APRN, WI; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora Medical Center West Allis
  • Sarah Frogge DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Health
  • Rebecca Westrate MSN, APRN-FPA, FNP-C, CPPS; Market Director Advanced Practice, Aurora Medical Group
  • Emily Malloy, PhD, CNM; Director Midwifery Research, Midwifery and Wellness Center, Aurora Sinai Medical Center
  • Amy Carlson, APRN, IL; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
  • Katlyn Bauer, APRN, IL; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • TinaMarie Bauman, APRN, IL; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
  • Leona Maksuti, DNP, APNP, AGACNP–BC; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Lindsay McKenzie, APRN, IL; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Condell Medical Center
  • Tanya Pakulski, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Critical Care, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Theresa Hewitt, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Primary Care, Aurora Medical Group
  • Emily Malloy, CNM; Certified Nurse Midwife, Aurora Sinai Medical Center
  • Nicole Horn, NP; APNP; APNP Specialty Non-Procedural Lead, Aurora Medical Group
  • Gina Barbaglia, PA; Physician Assistant Neurosurgery, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Stacey Brandt, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Primary Care, Aurora Advanced Healthcare
  • Danielle Storm, PA; Physician Assistant Surgery, Aurora Medical Group
  • Jami Morley, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Virtual Health, Aurora Medical Group
  • Amy Krueger; Advanced Practice Administrative Director, Aurora Medical Group
  • Maxine Clinton; Executive Assistant, Aurora Medical Group
  • Sara Beno-Chambers, NP; Market Director Advanced Practice, Aurora Medical Group
  • Elise Gentile, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Pediatrics, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Lee-Anne Millas, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Post Acute, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Megan Lane, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Rheumatology, Aurora Advanced Healthcare
  • Ashley Kwasinski, APNP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Infectious Disease, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Katie Omelina, APNP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Neonatology, Aurora Medical Group
  • Lina Melcher, NP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Primary Care, Aurora Medical Group
  • Natalie Vertucci DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC, Advanced practice Registered Nurse Pediatrics Palliative, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Medical Center
  • Kristi Waddell MSN, APRN, CPNP, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Pediatrics Pain and Sedation, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Medical Center
  • Lauren Rissman MD, Physician Pediatric Critical Care/Intensivist, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
  • Rani Ganesan MD; Physician Pediatric Critical Care/Intensivist, Advocate Health and Hospitals/advocate Lutheran General Hospital
  • Jessica Gonzales APRN, MSN, FNP-BC, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Primary Care Family, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Sara Marzinski DNP, RN, AGCNS-BC; Director Nursing Excellence Magnet Program, Aurora Healthcare Metro Inc
  • Heather James PA-C, Physician Assistant Non-Procedural Cardiology, Aurora Medical Group, Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan
  • Cheryl Vilimek, Manager Learning Instructional Design, Advocate Health
  • Patricia Padgurskis DPT; Learning Instructional Designer, Advocate Health
  • Raquel Temesvari APP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Pediatrics School Based, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Carly Krajci DNP, CPNP-AC, Pediatric Cardiology Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner, Advocate Children's Medical Group
  • Nicole Riley BSN, RN, Registered Nurse Pediatric Cardiology ICU. Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Jean Dinovella BSN, RN, CCRN, Assistant Clinical Manager Pediatric Cardiology ICU, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Tracey Nye MSN, RN; Manager Clinical Operations Pediatric Cardiovascular, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Tina Caponigro RRT, RRT-NPS, Respiratory Therapy Services, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Jaime Zapata Sanchez MD, CIC, CLSSGB, LTC-CIP, Audit Services Internal Auditor Clinical Operations Senior, Advocate Health
  • Jessica Murglin, APP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Sleep Medicine, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Jacqueline Brownson, APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Lauren Konkel, APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Grace Arfstrom, APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Diane Ward  RN; Registered Nurse Ambulatory and Outpatient Pediatric Cardiology, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Allison Fatherree, RRT; Repiratory Therapist, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Nisha Pappachan, FNP BC; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Specialty Non-Procedural - Sleep Medicine, Advocate Virtual Sleep Services
  • Jennifer Saldana MPH, RHIT; Manager Clinical Operations Cardiology, Aurora Medical Group
  • Kelly Pesek BS, RDCS, RVT; Supervisor Sonography Cardiac, Aurora Medical Group
  • Jacqueline Cajigas Cruz MA; Pediatrics School Based Clinics. Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Bryanna Biszewski RN; Registered Nurse Ambulatory and Outpatient Pediatric Cardiology, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Children's Hospital
  • Nina Censoplano DO; Physician Pediatric Critical Care/Intensivist Cardiac, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Kristin Stoehr PA; Physician Assistant Urgent Care WP-Immediate Carem Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Nicolas Quinte PA; Physician Assistant Urgent Care, Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Elina Yegoroff, PA; Physician Assistant Urgent Care-Immediate Care, Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Lisa Daury MS, BSN, RN, CVRN; Simulation Education Site Specialist, Advocate Aurora Health, Inc.
  • Debra Mahlum CNMT; Manager Imaging Medical Group, Aurora Medical Group
  • Steve Rommelfanger MD; Physician WI Palliative Care Medical Director, Aurora Medical Group
  • Patrice Fedel APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse WI lead Palliative Care APP, Aurora Medical Group
  • Kimberly Battle-Miller MD; Physician IL Palliative Care and Hospice Medical Director. Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Nancy Zaborowski; Physician Palliative Care: Enterprise Palliative Care Director, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Muhammad Zaman MD; Physician Osteopathic, Telespecialists, LLC
  • Besher Kashlan MD; Physician Resident, Advocate Medical Group
  • Colleen Brady MBA, MSN, RN, CCRN; Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Administration-Pediatrics, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Sarah Annmarie Wendorf APNPGardner Yelton MD; Physician Pediatric Critical Care/Intensivist Cardiac, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Annmarie Wendorf APNP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular Surgery, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Ruth Payne; Chaplain Senior/Chaplain Services, Advocate Aurora Health/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Jodie Graul RN; Manager Patient Care, MRICU, Aurora Health Care Metro/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Kenneth Sherry, APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Surgery/Trauma, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Lina Piech, PharmD; Clinical Specialist Pharmacy, Advocate health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • James Doherty, MD; Physician Trauma Surgery, Advocate health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Rachel Conlin, APNP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Hyperbaric and Wound Care, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Laurie Gesell MD; Physician/ Medical Director, Hyperbaric and Wound Care System, Aurora Medical Group/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Kathy Loveless, APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Cardiology, Aurora Medical Group[/Aurora Medical Center Summit
  • Courtney Hlavinka, APRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Cardiology, Aurora Medical Group
  • Sandi Kaebisch DNP, RN; Cardiac Community Educator, Aurora Healthcare Metro, aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Emily Smith MS, BSN, RN, SCRN; Stroke Program Supervisor, Aurora Healthcare Metro/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Mindy Hinkel BSN, RN, CBN, RN-BC; Bariatric and Safe Patient Handling Program Coordinator, Advocate Health and Hospitals-Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
  • Nicole Obrochta BSN, RN; Registered Nurse Oncology, Advocate Health and Hospitals-Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
  • Laurie Polakoff MSN, FNP-BC, CGRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Gastroenterology, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Ravi K Prakash MD; Physician Gastroenterology, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Danielle Zelaya BSN, RN; Charge Nurse Lead Oncology, Advocate Health and Hospitals-Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
  • Alexis Miles PA-C; Physician Assistant Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Vanessa Harvey DNP, CPNP-AC; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Pediatric Critical Care, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Children's Hospital
  • Sandra McIntyre MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, FNP-BC, CCRN; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Pediatric Critical Care, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Ashley Lange Pharm. D; Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
  • Alexis Craven Pharm. D; Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Advocate Health and Hospitals
  • Mervat Abdel-Jawad MS, RRT, CES-P, E-NPEC; Program Coordinator ECMO Respiratory Therapy, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Cynthia Urbas CCP; Chief Perfusionist Surgery, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Kristen Nelson McMillan MD; Physician Pediatric Critical Care, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Children's Hospital
  • Laura Lofye PA; Physician Assistant Urgent Care WP-Immediate Care, Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Robert Pachner MD; Physician Urgent Care-Immediate Care, Aurora  Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Stephanie Barelmann RN; Registered Nurse Lead Urgent Care, Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Amber Schnitzler RN; Registered Nurse Ambulatory and Outpatient Immediate Care, Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Sarah Tuszkiewicz RN; Manager Clinical Practice Operations -Immediate Care, Aurora  Advanced Healthcare, Inc
  • Holly Everts APRN, CAA, PA; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Electrophysiology, Aurora Medical Group Inc, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Maggie Wheat, RN, BSN, OCN; Nurse Navigator Oncology JC305007 - Cancer Prevention Clinic, Advocate Health
  • Lindsay McKenzie, APRN, IL; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Advocate Health and Hospitals/Advocate Condell Medical Center 
  • Stacie Binter APNP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Aurora Advocate Healthcare 
  • Katie Stephens; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Trauma Surgery, Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp/Advocate Christ Hospital
  • Risa Anderson Dentice, MSN, APNP, BC-GNP; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Specialty Non-Procedural - Hyperbaric Medicine/Wound Care, Aurora Medical Group Inc, Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Maharaj Singh, Ph.D.; Research Professor Marquette University College of Nursing, Research Professor Marquette University 
  • Jill C. Kuester, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC; Clinical Associate Professor, Childrens Wisconsin/Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University

Disclosure

The following faculty speakers and/or planning committee members have disclosed the following:

Faculty Name

Name of Ineligible Companies

Nature of Relationship

TinaMarie Bauman, APRN,

Myriad Genetics

GoPath Laboratories

Learn Look Locate

Speaker, advisory board member providing education on hereditary risk assessment, genetic testing, and identification

Consultant/speaker education molecular diagnostics/utilization. Advocate Health does not utilize GoPath laboratory services.

Volunteer Medical Contributor providing educational content on breast health, hereditary cancer genetics, and prevention

Martin Hevesy, NPBecton DickinsonSpeaker at town hall; specimen collection in ER

The other planner(s) and speaker(s) have indicated that there are no relevant financial relationships with any ineligible companies to disclose. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for [this individual/these individuals] have been mitigated.

 

Accreditation Statement
 

In support of improving patient care, Advocate Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Credit Statement(s)
 

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 
Advocate Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
Advocate Health has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

 

Available Credit

  • 6.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 6.00 Continuing Nursing Education (CE)
    Aurora Health Care is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 6.00 contact hours have been awarded to this activity by the Wisconsin Nursing Association. To receive contact hours, participants must attend the entire activity.
  • 6.00 Physician Associates Credit
    Advocate Health has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Price

Cost:
$100.00
Please login or register to take this course.

How to Register
 

Complete the form above and click "Add to cart."

Click "Checkout" and follow the prompts to complete your order.

For those attending this conference virtually, a link to the meeting will be provided prior to the event

 FEE
APPs (APRN, CAA, PA)$100.00
Students$50.00
Planning Committee/Speaker $0.00 Must have coupon for discount registration 

Payable by credit card only

Registration for this activity can only be completed through the CE Learning Platform. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored. 

Cancellation and Refund Policy


Cancelation/Refunds/Substitutions

  • Cancellations must be in writing (email)
  • Registrants cancelling between two weeks and five full business days prior to the first day of the event are "refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee."
  • No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than five full business days prior to the event.
  • No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows.
  • No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund.

Participation Options


For those attending this conference virtually, a link to the meeting will be provided prior to the event

For Further Information
 

If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Tanya Pakulski at [email protected]

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the IPCE Office at [email protected]

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