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HPN Spring Conference 2026

May 26 @ 5:00 pm - May 28 @ 2:00 pm EDT

Join the Health Professions Network for a two day conference in El Paso, Texas this May for an inspiring conference. Each day of the conference will feature a different theme to be explored by our speakers and participants.

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Hotel Information

The following hotels are offering special discounts for attendees of the HPN conference. Secure your spot today!

HotelHPN RateLink to Book
Aloft by Marriott Hotel Downtown El Paso$140/nightALOFT Group Rate for Health Professions Network

Schedule of Events

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026

6:00 - 8:00 PM Welcome Reception at the Alcantar Sky Garden

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026

Theme: The Human Cost of Healthcare — Workforce & Burnout

Suggested Attire: Casual with comfortable shoes

TimeSessionWhat to Expect
8:00 AM - 8:30 AMBreakfast
8:30 AM - 9:00 AMWelcome, Introductions & FramingDan Olson opens with overview of two-day arc
Opening Remarks
(Virtual)		Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)
9:00 AM – 10:00 AMFrom the Edge to Influence: A Leadership Story Shaping HealthcareDr Ginger Raya will explore her leadership journey from frontline healthcare operations to shaping statewide strategy through HB18 and the Rural Hospital Officers Academy. 
10:00 AM - 11:00 AMState Regulation of Music Therapy and Its Impact on Music Therapy
Workforce Supply		Dr. Lauren Byrne will review state-level workforce laws for music therapists, share an integrated data model of the profession, and examine how those laws have shaped workforce size across the U.S.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PMInvisible Strain, Visible Data: Understanding Well-Being Across the GME EcosystemNicholas Yaghmour examines patterns of burnout and professional fulfillment among residents, fellows, faculty, and program coordinators.
11:30 AM - NoonThe Proposed Department of Education Earnings Accountability Rules and Possible
Effects on Allied Health Education		Don Balasa will share what the OBBBA's new "Do No Harm" provision means for allied health — by the numbers.
Noon - 12:30 PMSmall group discussion/debrief
Discussion will focus on compassion fatigue in mission-driven work; small staff & outsized expectations; salary inequity; building sustainable organizational cultures
Day One Morning Wrap-UpPreview afternoon / Day Two
12:30 pm - 6:30 pmLunch, Exploration, and DinnerTours include: Hotel Paso del Norte; Plaza Hotel; Aloft Hotel; Hotel Indigo; Courtyard Hotel

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026

Theme: The Ecosystem — Associations, Education, and the Integrity of Credentials

Suggested Attire: Casual with comfortable shoes

TimeSessionWhat to Expect
8:00 AM - 8:30 AMBreakfast
8:30 AM - 8:45 AMDay Two Opening: Reconnecting the ThreadsBrief facilitator framing; revisit key commitments from Day One
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM"From Workforce Crisis to Association Value: Education Programs as a Strategic Win"Aubrey MJ Wanner and Connie Wildeman will share how the National Society for Histotechnology used education as a strategic response and what other associations can learn about positioning education as a tool for leadership, relevance, and long-term sustainability.
9:45 AM - 10:00 AMNetworking Break
10:15 AM - 10:45 AMWhy is the New Workforce Pell Grant Program (Operational July 1, 2026) Relevant for Allied
Health?		Don Balasa takes practical look at the new Workforce Pell Program and its potential impact on allied health education, training pathways, and the future of the workforce.
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM"NCHSE & Your Association: A Two-Way Partnership for the Future of Health Science Education"Executive Director, Dana Stringer, Will share how the National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE) supports associations like yours — and the meaningful ways your association can support the next generation of health science professionals in return.
11:45 Am - 12:00 pmClosing: Where Do We Go from Here?Full-group debrief
12:00 pm - 1:00 pmLunch, Exploration, Happy Hour, and DinnerTours include: Plaza Theatre, Abraham Chavez Theatre and Convention Center; La Nube STEAM Discovery Center for Children; Mexican American Cultural Center

Our program and speakers will include interactive sessions, panels, and opportunities to explore El Paso! Keep up to date with HPN to learn more about this conference and access the full schedule.

Featured Speakers

Dan Olson, HPN Board Member, Health Professions Network
Opening Remarks (virtual) from Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. Congresswoman Escobar proudly represents Texas’ 16th Congressional District in El Paso. 
Dr. Ginger Raya, Associate Professor Management, Policy and Community Health, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Dr. Lauren Byrne, DrPH, MPH, is a health policy and analytics leader with extensive experience at the intersection of data, workforce policy, and population health.
Don Balasa, Chief Executive Officer and Legal Counsel at the American Association of Medical Assistants, American Association of Medical Assistants
Nick Yaghmour, MPP, Director, Resident Experience, Well-Being, and Milestones Research, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
Dana Stringer, Executive Director of National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE)
Aubrey MJ Wanner, serves as Chief Executive Officer of the National Society for Histotechnology (NSH), where she leads the organization’s strategic direction in education, workforce advocacy, professional standards, and member engagement for histology professionals nationwide.
Connie Wildeman, MPA, is the Education Director for the National Society for Histotechnology (NSH), bringing extensive experience in education program leadership, professional development, and workforce support within the histotechnology profession.

Register below!

$350 – $450 HPN Members | Non Members