Summer 2026 Gator Nursing Catalyst Scholars Symposium
Join the University of Florida College of Nursing for the Summer 2026 Gator Nursing Catalyst Scholars Symposium, a free fully virtual event showcasing the scholarly work of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students.
The symposium features rapid-fire presentations, a keynote address and interactive Catalyst Conversations highlighting evidence-informed practice, quality improvement and innovations that are transforming health care.
Program Overview
The Summer 2026 Gator Nursing Catalyst Scholars Symposium – Catalyzing Innovation, Scholarship, and Practice Transformation highlights innovative Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) scholarship that advances evidence-informed nursing practice and improves patient outcomes across diverse clinical and community settings. Through rapid-fire presentations and interactive Catalyst Conversations, scholars will share implementation experiences, project outcomes, and lessons learned from quality improvement and practice-improvement initiatives while exploring strategies that support clinical excellence, scholarly dissemination, nursing leadership, and practice transformation.
Sessions will explore topics including:
- Innovation and Practice Transformation
- Population Health and Care Coordination
- Patient Safety and Vulnerable Populations
- Leading Change Through Clinical Scholarship
- Quality Improvement in Action
- Advancing Specialty and Acute Care Outcomes
Learning Objectives
After participating in the symposium, attendees will be able to:
- Identify evidence-informed innovations, implementation strategies and practice improvement approaches presented across diverse health care settings.
- Describe key implementation experiences, outcomes and lessons learned from evidence-informed practice and quality improvement initiatives.
- Recognize opportunities to apply, translate or disseminate evidence-informed approaches that support quality improvement and practice innovation within their own professional settings.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. EDT
- Morning Session A: Innovation and Practice Transformation
- 8:30–9:30 a.m.
- Morning Session B: Population Health and Care Coordination
- 9:35–10:35 a.m.
- Morning Session C: Patient Safety and Vulnerable Populations
- 10:40–11:40 a.m.
- Keynote Address: Leading Change Through Clinical Scholarship
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Afternoon Session A: Quality Improvement in Action
- 1:10–2:15 p.m.
- Afternoon Session B: Advancing Specialty and Acute Care Outcomes
- 2:20–3:25 p.m.
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Who Should Attend: Students, faculty, alumni and health care professionals
Keynote Speaker
Laurie Duckworth, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN
Clinical Professor
Director of Clinical Research
Continuing Nursing Education
Participants may earn up to 6 contact hours.
To receive contact hours, participants must:
- Attend at least 50 minutes of each 60-minute session.
- Join Zoom using the desktop or mobile app. Telephone dial-in attendance is not eligible for contact hours.
- Complete the Qualtrics program evaluation by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 24, 2026. A link will be provided during the symposium.
Please note:
- Only full session credit available
- Attendance will be verified through Zoom participation records.
Continuing Education Provider
The Office of Professional Nursing Development at the University of Florida is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.