ANA-MI Empowered Leader Virtual Series
September 30, 2026 – November 18, 2026
The ANA-MI Empowered Leader Series (ELS) is designed for nurses interested in and/or involved in leadership to explore evidence-based practices with leadership experts, as well as to learn how to apply practical leadership strategies within their teams. Through the ELS, participants will have opportunities for self-assessment and self-reflection with highly interactive group sessions built with a focus on challenging and realistic work situations on critical healthcare topics. Through the ELS series of seven virtual sessions, each cohort will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to lead effectively in the challenging times that healthcare faces.
The Empowered Leader Series is designed for all levels of nursing leaders from all practice areas throughout the continuum of care. Groups of leaders from the same organization are encouraged to attend this seven-week virtual leadership series.
Hosted By:
Pricing
| $400 | ANA-Michigan Members |
| $450 | ANA State Affiliate Members |
| $500 | Non-members |
Group Rate – 10% group discount for 4 or more registrants from one hospital
Why Participate?
As an ELS participant, you will:
- Become a member of an ELS Cohort.
- Develop your personal strengths, identify, and strengthen your leadership competencies and develop an individualized plan for continued leadership development.
- Participate with national and regional leaders in core leadership sessions.
- Apply selected concepts of nursing leadership to daily practice.
- Prepare yourself to assume new roles and programs as healthcare systems evolve.
- Build leadership capacity within your practice and your organization.
The Program Includes:
- Seven virtual two-hour facilitated sessions with national, and regional content experts.
- Tools, assessments, and materials for content understanding and application.
- Reading material will be shipped directly to your address 2 weeks prior to the first course date.
- This series offers participants up to 14.0 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development credit. ANA-MI is the provider of contact hours for this activity series.
- ANA-MI ELS Micro-Credential certificate of completion
Empowered Leader Facilitator
Kari Szczechowski, DNP, RN, PCCN-K
Dr. Szczechowski is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Nursing and a Staff Specialist working with the Chief Nursing Officer at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Michigan focused on improving the unit climate for evidence-based practice by focusing on leadership training and mentoring.
Dr. Szczechowski has over 27 years of progressive nursing leadership and clinical responsibilities. In her various roles at the unit, hospital, and organizational levels, she has led organizational strategies to build infrastructures supporting clinical quality, safety, and operational effectiveness to elevate nursing practice.
Leading her previous organization to its first ANCC Magnet Designation, Dr. Szczechowski’s passion is focused on implementing evidence-based practice initiatives using shared decision-making models to provide nurses at all levels, with the knowledge and skills necessary to positively impact clinical outcomes.
Dr. Szczechowski is a member of the ANA-Michigan Nursing Practice Committee, the World Medical Relief Advisory Board, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the American Organization of Nursing Leadership, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society–Rho Chapter, among others.
Empowered Leaders Subject Matter Experts: Coming Soon!
Course Overview
Empowered Leader Series Agenda
Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting Sept. 30 through Nov. 19. (Partipants will not meet on Oct. 28.)
Session presenters for each topic will be posted soon.
- Introduction & Overview of ELS
- Dr. Kari Szczechowski
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Emotional Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence in Leadership
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Professional Development and Pivoting in Your Career
- Leading Diverse Teams and Patient Populations
- Financial Competency in Leadership
- Leading Through Change
- Leading Through Conflict
Continuing Education Credit: This series offers participants up to 14.0 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development credit. ANA-MI is the provider of contact hours for this activity series. It is the responsibility of participants to determine whether the content provided meets the specific requirements of their certifying or licensing body.
Requirements for Successful Completion: Participants must attend one or more live sessions in their entirety and complete the online activity evaluation for each session to earn that session’s contact hours. A link to the evaluation will be provided at the end of each session.
American Nurses Association-Michigan is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.