Keynote Speaker: Stephen Ferrara, DNP, RN, FNP

AI in NP Practice: What Matters, What's Hype, and What's Next

Dr. Stephen Ferrara is the immediate past president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP). He is an actively practicing nurse practitioner (NP), executive and faculty member. Ferrara combines years of clinical and health policy development experience to increase access to NP-partnered care. He is a member of the senior leadership team at Columbia University's School of Nursing, serving as the associate dean of artificial intelligence and professor. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the school’s office of AI and teaches health policy in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Ferrara previously served as the executive director of Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare and the Nurse Practitioner Association New York State, where he was instrumental in removing many statutory barriers to NP practice.

Ferrara is passionate about health information technology and the implementation of evidence-based practice. His doctoral work examined the impact of group medical visits for patients with Type 2 diabetes and whether this intervention led to better health outcomes. Ferrara holds many accolades, including the AANP New York NP State Award for Excellence. He is a Fellow of AANP, the American Academy of Nursing, the National Academies of Practice and the New York Academy of Medicine.

Breakout Topics

Pharmacology and Clinical Updates

• Top 10 Medications NPs Prescribe to Women of Reproductive Age with Jennifer Garate
• Improving Diabetes Outcomes Through Health Literacy and AI with Kathy Derrick
• NP Led Optimization of GDMT in Heart Failure with Vidette Villareal-Argente
• Chronic UTI and Smarter UTI Care with Shelley Vaughn and Katie Wall
• Tuberculosis Screening and Post-Positive Test Management: Toolkit for NPs with Erlinda Singarajah
  
• Spots and Stripes Confound Me: Management of Sexual Health "Zebras" with Melissa Lyapustina
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Incidence, Diagnosis & Treatment with Delaney Stratton
• Obesity Meds with Angela Golden
• New Medication Update with Bessie Burke
• Hypertension/Hyperlipidemia Guideline Update for 2026 with Sharon Morgan and Steven Baik
• Nurse Practitioners Addressing Alzheimer's Disease Disparities: from Awareness to Action with Adriana Perez

Advance Your Career

• NP Decision Fatigue with Andrea Kemp
• Working Smarter: Practical Artificial Intelligence for Nurse Practitioners with Sun Jones
• From Bedside to Courtroom with Cassandra Welling
• Self-Care Strategies for Enhancing Wellbeing, Resilience, Balance and Mindfulness with Ibukun Odutola
• AI Workshop with Keynote Speaker, Stephen Ferrara

Registration:

Early Registration has ended. Rates will increase again on July 1st. Save $50 by registering before July 1st!

AzNA Member $200  

Non-Member $250

Student* $75

*NP Student rate is available only for students in NP programs and have not yet completed studies to practice as a Nurse Practitioner at any level. NPs currently licensed but also enrolled in further educational offerings are not eligible for the student rate.

Early registration will take place until June 1st. Late registration costs will increase by $100 beginning July 1st. Online registration closes on July 10, 2026. Registration will also be available on-site on the day of the event at the late registration cost.

Cancellation Policy: Refunds for registration cancellations will be processed until July 17, less a $35 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued after July 17.

Download the Event Brochure

Hotel Rooms

For those traveling, the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West offers rooms at a discounted rate of $104 a night. Click here to book your discounted stay for the NP Symposium. Discounted rate rooms must be booked by July 3, 2026.

Continuing Education

Information coming soon!

^{The Arizona Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.}

Exhibitor and Sponsor Information

AzNA and the AzNPC are now accepting applications for exhibitors and sponsors.

View the Prospectus

Register as an Exhibitor/Sponsor