April 2, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | 1000 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Join us for an exciting in-person and virtual event at UNT Health Fort Worth, where patient safety experts, researchers, quality and safety experts, health care professionals, public health professionals and community members will gather to discuss the latest innovations in patient safety. We'll explore cutting-edge trends and best practices designed to enhance patient care and outcomes.
Conference Objectives:
Speaker submissions are now CLOSED.
Suggested Areas of Focus (Not Mandatory):
Interested in becoming an exhibitor? Fill out our form before Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST
Learn more about our speakers!
Keynote SpeakerPatricia is the President of the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety, a Senior Advisor at IHI, a co-chair of the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety, and has been recognized with multiple awards and positions on national committees, including being named to Becker’s Review List of Patient Safety Experts for 2023-2025.
SpeakerDr. Jacquelyn E. Alvarado is the Director of Rural Maternal Health at the Texas A&M Rural & Community Health Institute and a doctoral-prepared nurse-midwife who leverages over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience to advance maternal safety and equitable healthcare access in rural communities.
SpeakerRebecca Burns, a nurse educator with over 20 years of experience, is the Founding Associate Dean and Chair of Undergraduate Education at UNT Health College of Nursing, holding a PhD, DNP, MSN, and BSN, with research in nursing leadership, student success, and clinical competence, and is recognized for her work in culturally responsive education and student engagement.
SpeakerDr. Mir is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Texas College for Osteopathic Medicine Associate Professor who serves as the Program Director for the Medical City Fort Worth Residency, bringing extensive leadership experience and specialized training in Academic and Integrative Medicine to his role.
SpeakerLisa Hammett is a relatable transformational keynote and TEDx speaker, an international best-selling author, a Positive Intelligence PQ Certified Coach & Trainer, a wellness expert, and a champion for obliterating burnout in healthcare and HR.
SpeakerSierra Chaney (Rose) Villa is an osteopathic medical student and president of Advocates for Patient Safety at UNT Health who focuses on leveraging ethical AI and culturally responsive care to improve health literacy and safety outcomes for underserved and multilingual refugee populations.
SpeakerDr. Megan Wesling, an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy and an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist in Fort Worth, Texas, holds a PharmD from Midwestern University, completed two years of residency training, and focuses on optimizing medication therapy for chronic conditions through personalized treatment plans.
Speaker & Poster PresenterIvan Marrufo is a UNT Health medical student in the Texas College for Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) and a Dartmouth MPH graduate who leverages his background in AI research and leadership to improve health literacy and reduce preventable harm.
SpeakerShraddha is a second-year medical student with a background in case management and refugee health clinics who is passionate about addressing healthcare infrastructure gaps at the intersection of public health, disparities, and patient safety.
SpeakerKeneisha is a registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience who leverages her expertise in patient safety and system improvement to provide frontline teams with practical tools that strengthen trust, accountability, and quality care.
SpeakerIsabel Vecino has worked at the University of North Texas for over 22 years and currently serves as a Nurse Educator. Through her work at UNT as a Clinical Research Professional, she has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her professional focus includes clinical education, training healthcare staff, and promoting patient safety.
SpeakerDr. Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson is a Family Medicine Chief Resident at Medical City Fort Worth–UNT Health and a national AAFP Award for Excellence recipient who leads medication safety and quality improvement initiatives while championing equitable, patient-centered care.
Poster PresenterTobiloba Akinhanmi, from Lagos, Nigeria, is a master’s student in Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Texas Health. She holds an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences with a Chemistry minor from Texas Woman’s University. Tobiloba has worked as a Clinical Informatics Specialist, improving patient safety and care quality through accurate documentation in underserved communities.
SpeakerNeha Negandhi is a TEDx speaker, journalist, and public speaking coach who leverages her marketing expertise with Fortune 100 companies like T-Mobile and Starbucks to help leaders master brand storytelling and AI-driven communication through her company, Storytellers Table.
SpeakerDrawing on 20 years of healthcare and process improvement experience, Laura provides a unique expert-turned-patient perspective on surviving and managing a patient safety event.
Cynthia Carroll is the Director of Interprofessional Education at UNT Health Science Center and an adjunct instructor at TCOM. She has a Master's in clinical psychology and a Bachelor's in psychology, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. As a TeamSTEPPS® Master Trainer and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, she recently joined the Psychology Academy of the National Academies of Practice. Her background includes addiction rehab, university counseling, and emergency behavioral health.
| Time | Session | Speaker | Presentation Title | Location/Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. | Breakfast & Check-In | MET Building | ||
| 8:50 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Opening Remarks | Justin Burton and President Calhoun | MET 124 | |
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. | Keynote | Patricia McGaffigan | What’s Old, What’s New, What Matters? The Crossroads of Innovation, Exnovation, and Reformation in Patient Safety | MET 124 |
| 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | First Breakout Session - A | Information coming soon | Information coming soon | MET 124 |
| 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | First Breakout Session - B | Dr. Jacquelyn E. Alvarado | Bridging Gaps in Maternal Safety: OB Emergency Simulation Training for Rural Emergency Department | MET 125 |
| 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. | Second Breakout Session - A | Laura Squires | Patient Safety: The Patient's Perspective | MET 124 |
| 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. | Second Breakout Session - B | Sierra Rose, Ivan Marrufo, Shraddha Bhonsle | From Advocacy to Action: A Student-Led Approach to Health Literacy in Refugee Care | MET 125 |
| 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m. | Lunch and Visit Exhibitors | MET 109-111 ; MET Lobby | ||
| 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. | Third Breakout Session (Workshop) - A | Neha Negandhi | Say It So It Sticks: Teaching Patient Safety Through Storytelling and Scenario-Based Learning | MET 124 |
| 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. | Third Breakout Session - B | Dr. Tasaduq Hussain Mir | Assessing the Quality of the After-Visit Summary (AVS) in a Primary-Care Clinic | MET 125 |
| 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. | Fourth Breakout Session - A | Isabel Vecino, Dr. Megan Wesling, Keneisha Houston, Dr. Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson | Medication Best Practices: A Systems Approach | MET 124 |
| 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. | Fourth Breakout Session - B | Dr. Rebecca Burns | Conduct to Care: The Hidden Link Between Student Behavior and Patient Safety | MET 125 |
| 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. | Workshop Session | Lisa Hammett | Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout with Mental Fitness Techniques | MET 124 |
| 3:50 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Justin Burton | MET 124 | |
| 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Network Hour & Visit Poster Presentations | MET 109-111 | ||
| 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Drawing of Door Prize Winners & Cocktail Hour | MET 109-111 |
There is NO charge to register for our conference!
Parking information and FREE passes will be given out closer to the date. Only those that've registered for the conference will recieve a FREE parking pass.
Yes. Attendees can earn up to six interprofessional continuing education credits. For a complete list of eligible professions, please review the information below.
In support of improving patient care, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth 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.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to award continuing medical education to physicians.
This activity is approved for up to 6 credits accepted by the National Board of Public Health Examiner’s Certified Public Health (CPH) recertification program.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth certifies this activity meets the requirements for continuing education for Texas-licensed Professional Counselors and Texas-licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.
This activity is offered by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Accredited Provider #2711035TX and meets continuing competence requirements for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure renewal in Texas. The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this program for up to 6 contact hours of AOA Category 2A CME credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician's participation in the activity.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this activity for up to 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth 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 up to 6 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
This knowledge-based activity has been assigned UAN JA0004637-0000-26-008-H05-P and will award up to 6 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognized ACPE Providers. Statements of participation will indicate hours and CEUs based on participation and will be issued online at the conclusion of the activity. Successful completion includes completing the activity, its accompanying evaluation and/or posttest (score 70% or higher) and requesting credit online at the conclusion of the activity.
Credit will be uploaded to CPE Monitor, and participants may print a statement of credit or transcript from their NABP e-profile. HSC complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education.
This knowledge-based activity has been assigned UAN JA0004637-0000-26-008-H05-T and will award up to 6 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE Providers. Statements of participation will indicate hours and CEUs based on participation and will be issued online at the conclusion of the activity. Successful completion includes completing the activity, its accompanying evaluation and/or posttest (score 70% or higher) and requesting credit online at the conclusion of the activity.
Credit will be uploaded to CPE Monitor, and participants may print a statement of credit or transcript from their NABP e-profile. HSC complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education.
This activity provides up to 6 contact hours.
This activity provides up to 6 contact hours.
This activity provides up to 6 contact hours.
This course provides up to 6 contact hours for PTs and PTAs licensed in Texas. For successful completion, a participant must attend the program, complete the evaluation, and request credit online at the conclusion of the activity.
Social Workers completing this course receive up to 6 contact hours of continuing education credits.
6 Non-certified CEU. This educational conference was not reviewed by DSHS but has six (8) sessions that are within the scope of a CHW/CHWI and covers one of these competencies. (Service Coordination, Knowledge Base on Specific Health Issues, Capacity Building, Communication, Teaching, Advocacy, Interpersonal, Organization Skills)
CHW/CHWI’s can claim HSC Participation credit upon the conclusion of the conference.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth certifies this activity for up to 6 hours of participation.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive up to 6 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
