BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Health Professions Network - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Health Professions Network X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://hpnonline.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Health Professions Network REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260528T140000 DTSTAMP:20260510T203356 CREATED:20260312T165918Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T223618Z UID:11385-1779814800-1779976800@hpnonline.org SUMMARY:HPN Spring Conference 2026 DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nScroll Down to Register!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHotel Information\n\n\n\nThe following hotels are offering special discounts for attendees of the HPN conference. Secure your spot today! \n\n\n\nHotelHPN RateLink to BookAloft by Marriott Hotel Downtown El Paso$140/nightALOFT Group Rate for Health Professions NetworkHotel Paso del Norte$192/nightHotel Paso del Norte Group Rate for The Health Professions Network\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSchedule of Events\n\n\n\nTUESDAY\, MAY 26\, 2026\n\n\n\n6:00 - 8:00 PM Welcome Reception at the Alcantar Sky Garden \n\n\n\nWEDNESDAY\, MAY 27\, 2026\n\n\n\nTheme: The Human Cost of Healthcare — Workforce & Burnout \n\n\n\nSuggested Attire: Casual with comfortable shoes \n\n\n\nTimeSessionWhat to Expect8:00 AM - 8:30 AMBreakfast8:30 AM - 9:00 AMWelcome\, Introductions & FramingDan Olson opens with overview of two-day arcOpening 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 SupplyDr. Lauryn 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 PossibleEffects on Allied Health EducationDon 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/debriefDiscussion will focus on compassion fatigue in mission-driven work; small staff & outsized expectations; salary inequity; building sustainable organizational culturesDay One Morning Wrap-UpPreview afternoon / Day Two12:30 pm - 6:30 pmLunch\, Exploration\, and DinnerTours include: Hotel Paso del Norte; Plaza Hotel; Aloft Hotel; Hotel Indigo; Courtyard Hotel\n\n\n\nTHURSDAY\, MAY 28\, 2026\n\n\n\nTheme: The Ecosystem — Associations\, Education\, and the Integrity of Credentials \n\n\n\nSuggested Attire: Casual with comfortable shoes \n\n\n\nTimeSessionWhat to Expect8:00 AM - 8:30 AMBreakfast8:30 AM - 8:45 AMDay Two Opening: Reconnecting the ThreadsBrief facilitator framing; revisit key commitments from Day One8:45 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 AlliedHealth?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 debrief12:00 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\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOur 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFeatured Speakers\n\n\n\nDan Olson\, HPN Board Member\, Health Professions Network\n\n\n\nOpening Remarks (virtual) from Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. Congresswoman Escobar proudly represents Texas’ 16th Congressional District in El Paso. \n\n\n\nDr. Ginger Raya\, Associate Professor Management\, Policy and Community Health\, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health\n\n\n\nDr. Lauren Byrne\, DrPH\, MPH\, is a health policy and analytics leader with extensive experience at the intersection of data\, workforce policy\, and population health.\n\n\n\nDon Balasa\, Chief Executive Officer and Legal Counsel at the American Association of Medical Assistants\, American Association of Medical Assistants\n\n\n\nNick Yaghmour\, MPP\, Director\, Resident Experience\, Well-Being\, and Milestones Research\, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)\n\n\n\nDana Stringer\, Executive Director of National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE) \n\n\n\nAubrey 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.\n\n\n\nConnie 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.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister below!\n\n\n\n\n \n \n HPN 2026 Spring Conference Registration\n \n \n Name(Required)\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email(Required)\n \n Organization(Required)PhoneAre you an HPN member?(Required)\n \n \n Yes\n \n \n \n No\n Registration Category(Required)MemberRegistration Category(Required)MemberTotal\n \n Credit Card\n American ExpressDiscoverMasterCardVisaSupported Credit Cards: American Express\, Discover\, MasterCard\, Visa\n \n Card Number\n \n \n Expiration Date\n \n \n Month\n \n Month010203040506070809101112\n \n \n \n Year\n \n Year20262027202820292030203120322033203420352036203720382039204020412042204320442045\n \n \n \n \n \n  \n Security Code\n \n \n \n Cardholder Name URL:https://hpnonline.org/event/hpn-spring-conference-2026/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://hpnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-HPN-ConferenceWebPage.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR