PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Power in Purpose: Putting People and Patients First

The 2026 Synova Perinatal Leadership Forum, Power in Purpose: Putting People and Patients First, will inspire nursing leaders to reconnect with the foundational purpose of leadership—ensuring people and patients remain at the center of every decision, interaction, and outcome.

Through meaningful dialogue and shared insight, the forum will explore how leaders can shape cultures that value trust, voice, and thoughtful decision-making while navigating the real-world pressures of healthcare leadership. Grounded in both reflection and connection, this experience invites leaders to reexamine how they lead, influence, and show up for their teams and the patients they serve.

At the 2026 Perinatal Leadership Forum, we will:
  • Reconnect with the core purpose of nursing leadership by centering people and patients in everyday decisions, even amid competing priorities
  • Strengthen your ability to lead with clarity and influence while balancing a commitment to excellence with realistic, sustainable expectations
  • Expand your approach to building accountable, high-performing teams where trust, growth, and psychological safety coexist
  • Model leadership practices that promote resilience, healthy boundaries, and long-term well-being for both you and your team

2026 PERINATAL LEADERSHIP FORUM

Speaker Lineup

Keynote Speakers

Megan Carter, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

President & Founder MC Health Care Consulting LLC

The Chaos Whisperer’s Guide to Healthcare Leadership

Jen Hamilton, RN, BSN, CEN, RNC-OB

Labor & Delivery Nurse and Keynote Speaker

Creating Informed and Empowered Experiences by Making Birth S.A.F.E.R.

Anna McLean

3x Guinness World Record holding ocean rower & Keynote Speaker

From Vision to Victory

Featured Speakers

Greg Chasson, PhD, ABPP

Professor, Licensed & Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, The University of Chicago

Flawed? Escape the Dangers of Perfectionism in Perinatal Leadership

Maggie Runyon, PhD, RNC-OB, CYT-500

Founding Executive Director of Your BIRTH Partners

People over Policies: Centering Consent, Autonomy, Respect, and Equity (C.A.R.E.)

Rachel Evers, MSN, RN, CNOR-E, CENP, CPXP, LSSWB

Assistant Vice President of Nursing, Women’s Health Service Line, Baptist Health Baptist Hospital

From Emotion to Influence: How to Get Executive Buy-In for Perinatal Needs

Sarah Lavonne, BSN, PHN, RNC-OB, CLEC, ICCE

Founder, Chief Executive Officer of Bundle Birth

Bringing Birth Back: Physiologic Birth as the Missing Link to Safer Outcomes, Stronger Teams, and Lower NTSV Rates.

Shawana Burnette, DNP, NEA-BC, ANLC, CLCN, FAWHONN

Director of Nurse Excellence Programs

Civilized or Compromised: The Respectful Choice That Impacts Safe care environments.

Featured Panel

Stigmatizing Language: Changing the Narrative

Stigma and bias are pervasive in U.S. obstetric care. Language that is stigmatizing or reflects bias can harm pregnant people, their families, and their communities. In this session, we will present an interactive, evidence-based panel discussion where we will give examples of stigmatizing language in obstetric care, such as “patient refuses”, “is noncompliant”, or “claims she has pain”, and how it harms patients.

Rose L. Horton, MSM, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Founder & CEO, Not On My Watch Consulting Partners

Panel Facilitator

Veronica, Barcelona, PhD, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC, FAAN

Associate Professor, Columbia University School of Nursing

Panelist

Jessi Barnes, MSN, RN, RNC-NIC, NPD-BC, C-ELBW

NICU Clinical Nurse Educator, Emory University

Panelist

Adrienne McIntyre, DNP, RNC-NIC, CNS

System Executive Director, Clinical Institute - Women and Children’s at Providence

Panelist

Cheniqua Morales, BSN, RNC-MNN, C-EFM, C-ONQS

Perinatal Patient Safety Nurse, New York Presbyterian - Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

Panelist

PERINATAL NURSE LEADERSHIP FORUM

Pre-Conference Events

How You Show Up: The Leadership Presence That Shapes Culture, Accountability & Performance

Every leader faces the ongoing challenge of strengthening accountability, improving engagement, navigating performance concerns, managing productivity pressures, and creating environments where people consistently step up, take ownership, and perform at their best. Yet while many leadership approaches focus primarily on processes, conversations, and tactics, the leaders who create lasting influence and meaningful cultural impact understand something deeper: how they show up shapes how others show up.

In this practical and thought-provoking workshop, leaders will explore how leadership presence directly influences accountability, delegation, engagement, communication, trust, and team performance. Using (your) real-world leadership challenges, participants will discover how highly effective executive leaders move beyond simply managing problems to cultivating environments where individuals are more willing to contribute, collaborate, take ownership, and perform at higher levels. Participants will strengthen the mindset, presence, and ways of BEING that elevate executive influence and organizational impact.

Because executive leaders don’t show up to force accountability, they cultivate the environment where people choose it.

Faculty:

Diane Rogers, CSP, PCC, Founder & CEO, Contagious Change and Bobbie Smith, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, ANLC-P, Administrative Director Women’s Services, HCA HealthOne Rose

RATES:

SOLD OUT

HOURS:

10am – 3pm ET (lunch is included)

SUBMIT AN

Abstract

Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for the 2026 Perinatal Leadership Forum! We are grateful for the incredible ideas, original research, and valuable insights shared by our perinatal leadership community.

The abstract submission deadline has now passed, and our planning committee is reviewing all submissions for 60-minute sessions, 30-minute sessions, and poster presentations.

[THE ABSRACT DEADLINE HAS PASSED]

APPLY FOR A

Conference Scholarship

Synova will be granting tuition scholarship for perinatal nurse leaders to attend the 2026 Perinatal Leadership Forum. Scholarship application deadline is June 8th. Notifications will sent in July. If accepted, you commit to attend the event.

[THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED]

PERINATAL NURSE LEADERSHIP FORUM

Rates

MAIN CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

$849 USD Early Bird Registration (Ending July 26, 2026)
$949 USD Regular Registration (July 27 – September 20, 2026)
$1049 USD Late Registration (After September 20, 2026, if Available)

PRE-CONFERENCE

$185 USD (lunch is included)

Please note:

Out of consideration to registrants, children of any age and spouses/guests may not attend the Sessions. Guests 21 and older may attend the social event on Tuesday, November 10th for a fee (guest registration occurs onsite)

Tuition includes continuing education hours and many meals/snacks

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR

Brochure & Agenda

Brochure

Take a look at our Perinatal Leadership Forum brochure for an overview of the 2026 Perinatal Leadership Forum Event.

Agenda

Our agenda is ever expanding. Take a look to see what we’ll be talking about at this year’s event.

2026 PERINATAL LEADERSHIP FORUM

Conference Details

  • Who Should Attend?

    • Labor and Delivery & Mom/Baby Directors, Managers, Assistant Managers & Charge/Supervisors
    • Leaders of Perinatal Quality and Safety Initiatives & Perinatal Safety Nurses
    • Perinatal Educator, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Practice Specialists
    • Directors & Managers of Perinatal Outpatient or Virtual Services
    • Director & Manager of Lactation Services
    • VP/Executive Directors of Women’s Services or Patient Care Services
    • Director of Nursing
    • Advanced Practice Providers & Nurse Midwives
  • When & Where

    2026 Perinatal Leadership Forum will be held at the Sunseeker Resort, Charlotte Harbor, FL,  November 8-12, 2026. Pre-Conferences are on November 8 and the General Sessions will run November 9 – 12.

  • Program Changes and Tuition

    Synova reserves the right to make necessary changes in speakers, topics or schedule. The most up-to-date agenda is online. Due to rising costs of food, beverages, and travel, tuition is subject to change until conference registration officially opens.

  • ACCREDITATION

    The Perinatal Leadership Forum will be awarded contact hours depending on the length of the program through Abbott Nutrition Health Institute. The pre-conferences will be awarded contact hours depending on the length of the program.

  • TRAVEL

    HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

    The 2026 Perinatal Leadership Forum will be held at the Sunseeker Resort.

    Sunseeker Resort
    5500 Sunseeker Way
    Charlotte Harbor, FL


    At Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, escape to an endlessly entertaining, totally relaxing waterfront destination where life is so simple — and simply amazing. Stay and play here. Eat and drink here. Meet and greet here. Feel like a pampered guest whether you stay at our hotel or in one of our signature Sunsuites™.

    Conference room rates (resort fee is waived):

    • Standard room: $229
    • One bedroom/one bathroom suite: $259
    • Two bedroom/two bathroom suite: $289
    • Three bedroom/two bathroom suite: $339

    Booking link: https://book.passkey.com/go/SynovaPerinatal26

    Reservations must be made prior to October 15, 2026; rooms will be available as space allows. The normal daily resort service charge is complimentary for this event. Should you need to cancel your reservation, please ensure that you do so at least 72 hours prior to arrival to prevent a cancellation fee of one night’s room and tax.


    AIR & GROUND TRANSPORTATION

    RSW Southwest Florida International Airport is the closest airport to the conference center. Super shuttle, rental cars, taxis and Ubers are available.