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ForwardData-driven Engagement of Families to Improve the NICU Experience (DEFINE)
LIVE HYBRID ACTIVITY
Jointly provided by Children's Hospital Colorado Section of Neonatology and DEFINE Colorado.
Note: You must register in two places.
- On this site for NCPD Credit
- Spring 2026 Website (Register by 4/2 for onsite participation and 4/15 for virtual participation)
Target Audience
Through specific lectures and discussion led by experts in the field of Neonatology, the goal of the conference is for participants to enhance their knowledge and practical management strategies to better care for their patients. This program will be of interest to physicians, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and healthcare teams caring for these newborns in the NICU.
Needs Statement
The goal of DEFINE is to ensure that mothers, birthing individuals, and their families in Colorado receive culturally relevant, safe, equitable, high-quality care no matter who they are or where they live. We are working toward a future where all of Colorado’s pregnant and postpartum people have equitable access to care, safer birth experiences, and the support of their community and peers.
Learner Outcome
By the end of this forum, participants will be able to apply evidence‑based and culturally responsive neonatal and perinatal care practices to improve safe, equitable, high‑quality care for mothers, birthing individuals, newborns, and families across Colorado.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the Colorado FAMLI Legislation and recent amendment for NICU families.
- Identify strategies to support families affected by fetal and/or infant loss.
- Identify approaches to communicating effectively with Non-English Preferring Families in the NICU
Additional Information
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 2026 DEFINE Course Flyer.pdf | 382.29 KB |
| Participant Parking Guide DEFINE | 343.33 KB |
Subject to change.
Time | Topic/title | Speaker |
8:30-9:00am | Check-in & breakfast | |
9:00-9:10am | Opening remarks | Susan Hwang, MD, MPH, PhD |
9:10-9:30am | Policy presentation | TBD |
9:30-10:20am | Lived Experience Expertts Panel: | NICU Parents (Lived Experience Experts) |
10:20-10:50am | Integrate & Reflect Session Colorado FAMLI Leave NICU Expansion | Small Group Facilitators |
10:50-11:05am | Break | |
11:05-11:55am | When Loss Speaks: A Mother's Journey to Purpose Through Grief and Advocacy | Shay Jacobs, Founder of Adam’s Purpose |
11:55am-12:15pm | Lived Experience Expert Presentation | Brandilyn Tebo, NICU Parent Alex Gentile, NICU Parent |
12:15-12:45pm | Integrate & Reflect Session Grieving While Memory-Making/Honoring | Small Group Facilitators |
12:45-1:30pm | Lunch | |
1:30-2:30pm | Hospital Presentations
|
Victoria del Valle, MSN, RN, CNS, RNC-NIC, Clinical Nurse Specialist Alana Price, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, ELBW
Allison Dempsey, PhD, Professor
|
2:30-3:00pm | Integrate & Reflect Session Operationalizing Hospital Presentation Interventions | Small Group Facilitators |
3:00-3:15pm | Break | |
3:15-3:35pm | Effective Partnerships with Medical Interpreters | Bernie Zarrazola, Medical Interpreter |
3:35-3:45pm | Communication Update | Tina Fisher, MD MSCS |
3:45-3:50pm | Resource Presentation: Families Forward Resource Center | Alliss Hardy |
3:50-3:55pm | Annie Hall Award | Susan Hwang, MD, MPH, PhD |
3:55-4:00pm | Closing Remarks, Evaluation, & Drawing | Susan Hwang, MD, MPH, PhD |
This conference will be held on the Anschutz Medical Campus at the Donald M. Elliman Conference Center, located on the Second Floor of the Anschutz Health Sciences Building: 1890 N Revere Ct, Aurora, CO 80045.
See participant parking guide, located on the Overview page, for more info on location and cost of parking on campus. Children’s Colorado and University of Colorado Hospital employees must park in their designated area.
Conference Faculty
Planners, faculty, and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Julie Bjorklund
NICU Parent, Lived Experience Expert
Jeff Bridges
Colorado State Senator, District 26
Victoria Del Valle
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs
Christina Fisher, MD MSCS
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology
University of Colorado School of Medicine | Children's Hospital Colorado
Sunah Susan Hwang, MD, MPH, PhD
The Lula O. Lubchenco Chair in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Perinatal Health Services Research
Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Lexie Grant
NICU Parent, Lived Experience Expert
Jessalyn Kelleher, PsyD
CONNECTIONS Program Director Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
University Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Brianna Keller
NICU Parent, Lived Experience Expert
Kendall Perry
NICU Parent, Lived Experience Expert
Alana Price
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Shawn Taylor
Executive Director, Families Forward Resource Center (FFRC)
Bernie Zarrazola
MI Coordinator | Medical Interpreters Children's Hospital Colorado
Nursing
Children’s Hospital Colorado is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This offering for 5 nursing contact hours is provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado.
General Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be available upon completion of the online evaluation for all other attendees.
Registering, confirming attendance and completing an evaluation within 14-days of the event are required for crediting.
Note: You must register in two places.
- On this site for NCPD Credit
- Spring 2026 Website (Register by 4/2 for onsite participation and 4/15 for virtual participation)
Available Credit
- 5.00 Attendance
- 5.00 Approved Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) education
- 5.00 NCPD