35th Annual Maternal Child Nursing Symposium
October 23, 2026
Each year, the Maternal Child Nursing Symposium seeks to expand our knowledge in women’s, infant’s and children’s health care. This one day symposium brings national and local expert faculty to the platform to present on a wide variety of pertinent topics.
Attend in person at Wichita State University’s Marcus Welcome Center and enjoy an enhanced event experience, including vendor exhibits and networking opportunities.If you're looking to build connections, explore resources, and take advantage of exclusive event perks, we encourage you to attend in person.
Can't make it to campus? Join us via Zoom from wherever you are, just as in previous years. If you’re unable to attend live, you’ll also have access to the event recording to watch at your convenience.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:50 am | Welcome & Announcements |
| 8:00 am | Defense Through Documentation: The Loudest Voice Lori Ley, Perinatal Nurse Specialist, Perinatal Consultant From a medical and legal aspect, the medical record is the focal point whereby healthcare is measured. Every shift, nurses must navigate the care they provide through the maze of standards, policies, technology, relationships, and demanding situations. All of this, and more, can challenge the effectiveness and efficiency in entering meaningful information into the medical record that truly reflects the care given. This program aspires to provide examples of perinatal care and the documentation that helps or hinders the defense of care when questioned during quality and legal reviews. |
| 9:15 am | Break |
| 9:45 am | Strengthening Maternal Health Through Data and Collective Impact Emersen Frazier, Director, Community Health Engagement, Stormont Vail Health This presentation demonstrates how validated data can help healthcare organizations better understand maternal health needs and improve patient outcomes. Participants will leave inspired to apply practical, data-driven strategies within their own organizations. |
| 11:00 am | Break |
| 11:15 am | Neonatal Transport: A Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future Katie Filby, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrix With more than three decades of experience, Katie brings a unique perspective to the evolution of neonatal transport. Her presentation will explore where neonatal transport began, how it has evolved-particularly in Kansas, and what the future may hold caring for critically ill newborns beyond the walls of the NICU. |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch on your own |
| 1:30 pm | Beyond the Baby Blues: What Maternal & Child Health Professionals Need to Know Taryn Zweygardt, LSCSW, PMH-C, Flourish Wellness Collective This presentation provides a practical overview of four common perinatal mental health disorders, including how symptoms may present and how to distinguish expected adjustment from concerns that warrant further assessment or intervention. Participants will explore key risk factors and warning signs, including suicidal ideation, mania, psychosis, and significant impairment in functioning. The session will also provide practical guidance for initiating conversations about mental health, responding when concerns arise, and connecting individuals and families with appropriate resources and support. Through a trauma-informed and person-centered lens, participants will leave better equipped to recognize when something may be more than the “baby blues” and understand their role in helping families access care. |
| 2:45 pm | Break |
| 3:00 pm | Maternal Child Simulation – You Can Do It! Mary Koehn, Associate Professor - Retired The purpose of this activity is to enhance maternal child health care professionals’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in the use of teaching with simulation. This presentation will focus on foundational knowledge for designing a simulation scenario in a maternal child setting that is interprofessional and includes patient/family presence. The presentation will also address technical issues associated with simulation and conclude with a discussion of the value and techniques for simulation debriefing. |
| 4:15 pm | Adjourn |
Continuing Education
RN, LPN, or LMHT:
The Wichita State University College of Health Professions is approved as a provider
of continuing nursing education by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. This course
offering is approved for 7.5 contact hours applicable for RN, LPN, or LMHT relicensure.
Kansas State Board of Nursing provider number: LT 0090-0327
EMS/RRT:
Attendees are responsible for determining whether the educational content meets the
continuing education requirements for their specific license type. Participants will
need to self-submit.
Certificates
Certificates will be emailed within 45 days upon completion of the conference evaluation,
provided that registration has been paid and the conference evaluation has been complete.
Exhibitor Opportunities
Exhibition is on October 23, 2026 at Wichita State's Marcus Welcome Center.
Registration includes one 6'x30" table, two chairs, and two free registrations to the Symposium. Setup begins at 7:15am. Tear down after 4:00pm.
For-profit Exhibitor Rate: $300
Non-profit Exhibitor Rate: $150