On Jan. 30, 2026, nursing leaders, scholars and professionals from across the state gathered at the J. Wayne Reitz Union for the 2026 Dorothy M. Smith Nursing Leadership Conference, marking a historic moment for the UF College of Nursing. Centered on the theme “Innovative Leadership in Nursing: Boldly Advancing the Future of Health Care,” this year’s conference also served as the official kickoff of the College of Nursing’s 70th anniversary celebration.
The event welcomed more than 430 attendees, making it the largest Dorothy M. Smith Conference in college history and the biggest attendance for a College of Nursing event to date. Since its launch in 2004, the biennial conference has brought together nursing leaders and health professionals to examine the forces shaping the profession, and this milestone year underscored both the college’s legacy and its momentum for the future.
The opening keynote was delivered by Christine Ardalan, PhD, adjunct lecturer in the History Department at Florida International University, who set the tone for the day by encouraging attendees to reflect on leadership through a broader historical and societal lens. Her remarks challenged participants to think boldly about how nursing leadership continues to evolve and influence health care systems.
The conference concluded with a powerful closing keynote from Linda H. Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN, FRCN (BSN ’64, MN ’66), a distinguished alumna of the UF College of Nursing and internationally recognized nurse researcher. Aiken shared insights drawn from decades of groundbreaking research on nurse staffing, workforce policy and patient outcomes, reinforcing the critical role of nursing leadership in shaping the future of health care.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in morning and afternoon breakout sessions featuring identical session offerings, allowing for deeper engagement with topics aligned to innovation, leadership and advancing care. The sessions fostered meaningful dialogue, collaboration and connection among nurses and health professionals from a wide range of practice and leadership settings.
- View the digital program here.
The 2026 Dorothy M. Smith Nursing Leadership Conference was proudly sponsored by UF Health, UF Health Jacksonville and the Alpha Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, whose support helped make this milestone event possible.
As the UF College of Nursing begins its 70th anniversary year, the record-setting conference served as both a celebration of the college’s enduring impact and a bold step forward in advancing the future of nursing leadership.
