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: 
Rating: 
0

 

Final presenters and poster presenters will be announced prior to the symposium.

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
  • Rose Fjeld, APRN, WI; Advocate Health
  • Katie Krawzak, APRN, IL; Advocate Health
  • Kaylee Hawks, APRN, WI; Advocate Health
  • Chris Mayer, PA, WI & IL; Advocate Health
  • Chris Butzine, APRN, WI; Advocate Health
  • Christie Hanrahan, APRN, WI; Advocate Health
  • Sarah Frogge DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC; Advocate Health
  • Rebecca Westrate MSN, APRN-FPA, FNP-C, CPPS; Advocate Health
  • Emily Malloy, PhD, CNM; Director Midwifery Research, Midwifery and Wellness Center, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Advocate Health
  • Amy Carlson, APRN, IL; Advocate Health
  • Katlyn Bauer, APRN, IL; Advocate Health
  • TinaMarie Bauman, APRN, IL; Advocate Health
  • Leona Maksuti, APRN, WI; Advocate Health
  • Lindsay McKenzie, APRN, IL; Advocate Health
  • Tanya Pakulski, NP; Advocate Health
  • Theresa Hewitt, NP; Advocate Health
  • Emily Malloy, CNM; Certified Nurse Midwife, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Advocate Health
  • Nicole Horn, NP; APNP; Advocate Health 
  • Gina Barbaglia, PA; Advocate Health
  • Stacey Brandt, NP; Advocate Health
  • Danielle Storm, PA; Advocate Health
  • Jami Morley, NP; Advocate Health
  • Amy Krueger; Advocate Health
  • Maxine Clinton; Executive Assistant, Advocate Health
  • Sara Beno-Chambers, NP; Advocate Health
  • Elise Gentile, NP; Advocate Health
  • Lee-Anne Millas, NP; Advocate Health
  • Megan Lane, NP; Advocate Health
  • Ashley Kwasinski, APNP; Advocate Health
  • Katie Omelina, APNP; Advocate Health
  • Lina Melcher, NP; Advocate Health

Disclosure

Faculty disclosures are being reviewed and will be presented to the audience in advance of the program.

 

 

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]

Please take some time to view your profile to make sure all required fields are up to date.