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.
- Reading material: The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy Edmondson
- 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
Dr. Szczechowski is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Nursing and serves as the Director of Quality, Safety, and Patient Experience for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital at Michigan Medicine. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Michigan, where her scholarly work focused on improving unit climates for evidence-based practice through leadership development and mentoring.
With more than 30 years of progressive nursing leadership and clinical experience, Dr. Szczechowski has led initiatives at the unit, hospital, and health system levels to strengthen quality, safety, patient experience, and operational excellence. Throughout her career, she has focused on building sustainable infrastructures that support professional nursing practice, evidence-based care, and continuous improvement.
A passionate advocate for nursing excellence, Dr. Szczechowski played a key leadership role in guiding her previous organization to its first American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet® designation. She is dedicated to advancing evidence-based practice through shared decision-making models that empower nurses at all levels with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to improve patient outcomes and elevate professional practice. Dr. Szczechowski serves as a member and co-chair of the Education Committee for American Nurses Association–Michigan, facilitator for the ANA-MI Empowered Leader Series, member of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Quality and Safety Committee, and board member of World Medical Relief.
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.)
- Introduction & Overview of ELS
- Dr. Kari Szczechowski
- Bethany S. Campbell, MPA, BSN, RN
-
Emotional Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence in Leadership
- Sarah Jennings, DNP, MPA, RN, NEA-BC
- John Knight, DNP, MSN, RN, CSSMBB, PMP
-
Leading Self, Others, and Change Day-to-Day
- Edie English, MSN
- LaToya Freeman, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CPPS, HNBBC,
EBP-C, FCNS - Helena Hardin, DNP, MSHA, RN
- Nick Strait, DNP, MBA HCM, RN, NEA-BC
- Leading through Conflict
- Nicole Figueroa, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, HWNC-BC
- Wanda Chukwu, DNP, MA, MSN, CNEcl, RN
- Sam Wu, RN
- Financial Competency in Leadership
- Barbara Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
- Leading Diverse Teams and Patient Populations
- Maria Bobo, DNP, RN, WHNP-BC, CENP, NPD-BC
- Professional Development and Pivoting in Your Career
- Kelly McMillan, MSN, RNC-OB, NP-C, C-EFM
- Panelists:
- Wanda Chukwu, DNP, MA, MSN, CNEcl, RN
- Fran Borg
- Casey Norris, DNP, MSN, RN, PCNS-BC
- Ashley Sims, MSN
- Sam Wu, RN
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.
No one with the ability to control content has any relevant financial relationship with an ineligible company.
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.