2025 Annual Statewide Conference and Awards Ceremony
Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel
Thursday, August 28 – Friday, August 29, 2025
Member: $199
Student Member: $79
Non-Member: $249
Student Non-Member: $99
Registration Deadline: Friday, August 15, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. ET
Join pediatric nurse practitioners and other pediatric-focused professionals at our Annual Statewide Conference this August!
Earn CE credits, network, and celebrate nursing excellence!
This program is pending accreditation by the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) for NAPNAP CE contact hours.
Conference Highlights
- National and local expert speakers
- Continuing Education (CE) sessions in:
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Psychopharmacology
- Category A CE (Ohio nursing law and rules), required for licensure renewal
- Poster Session with CE credit
- Expanded Exhibitor Hall
- Ohio Social: Networking on Thursday night at the Two-One Restaurant & Bar (on site)
Special Events and Giveaways
This year’s end-of-the-summer beach theme brings indoor fun in the sun, complete with palm trees, flamingos, and multiple opportunities to win prizes!
- Interactive Exhibit Hall Game
- Self-Care Gift Basket Giveaway
- 50/50 Raffle to support scholarships and programming
- Days for Girls Fundraiser supporting menstrual health equity
Awards, Honors, and Recognition (Thursday, August 28)
- Special Proclamation by Mayor Kenneth L. Wright
- Award and Honors:
- Nurse Practitioner of the Year: Jennifer Hays
- Student of the Year: Jennifer Huynh
- Child Advocate of the Year: Ohio State Highway Patrol
- Recognition of current and former board and committee members
Weekly Facebook Raffle Drawings – Every Sunday in July 2025
Register for the 2025 Ohio NAPNAP Annual Statewide Conference and Awards Ceremony by 12 p.m. (noon) ET on select Sundays in July, and you’ll be automatically entered into our weekly Facebook Raffle Drawings for exciting prizes! Winners will be announced every Sunday at 1 p.m. on the Ohio Chapter Facebook page. Already registered? You’re automatically entered into each upcoming drawing!
Weekly Prize Remaining:
July 27: Apple AirPods (4th Generation)
Board and committee members, complimentary registrants (including student scholarship recipients, sponsors, and exhibitors), and previous raffle winners are not eligible.
Unique Opportunity for Students!
Join the Ohio Chapter of NAPNAP and Get Free Conference Registration
We are currently offering complimentary registration for the 2025 Annual Statewide Conference and Awards Ceremony to any student — including DNP, PhD, and Post-Master’s students — who joins as a new member of the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
NAPNAP is a pediatric-focused professional organization that supports students across a range of specialties, including pediatric primary care, family care, and psychiatric-mental health. We offer valuable resources, networking opportunities, and leadership development tailored to students preparing for advanced practice, research, and advocacy in child and adolescent health.
For more information:
NAPNAP Student Membership – Join Now!
Ohio NAPNAP Annual Statewide Conference and Awards Ceremony
Apply for a Grant or Scholarship
Conference Program Schedule
2025 Annual Statewide Conference
and Awards Ceremony
Thursday, August 28 through Friday, August 29, 2025
Keynote Speaker
Podium Presenter: Donna Henderson, PsyD
Title: Is This Autism? Recognizing and Understanding the Less
Obvious Presentations of Autism: Pathological Demand
Avoidance (PDA)
Dr. Donna Henderson will is a clinical neuropsychologist with over 30 years of experience conducting neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. She describes her work as being like a detective – investigating why bright, capable individuals may be struggling at school, work, or in daily life. Through in-depth assessment and collaboration, she helps individuals and families understand underlying challenges and find a path forward.
Dr. Henderson is particularly passionate about ensuring that no one goes through life with an undiagnosed issue, feeling frustrated or misunderstood. She considers it a privilege to help clients gain clarity and confidence as they move forward on their journey. In addition to her professional training, she brings 25 years of real-world parenting experience with her three children. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and family and feels grateful for a fulfilling and purposeful life.
Dr. Henderson will present, “Is This Autism? Recognizing and Understanding the Less Obvious Presentations of Autism: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA),” a timely and practical session that will help clinicians recognize and better support individuals with this often-misunderstood profile.
Podium Presenter: Lori Catalano, PhD, JD, RN
Title: Medical Marijuana: Implications for Nurses in Ohio
This educational session fulfills the Ohio Category A continuing education requirement. An application has been approved for continuing education (CE #250424-1) contact hours for nurses.
Dr. Lori Catalano will provide an in-depth overview of therapeutic cannabis use, with a focus on legal, clinical, and regulatory considerations in Ohio. Participants will explore the history and indications for medical cannabis, review current state and federal laws impacting healthcare providers, and discuss the prescribing authority of advanced practice nurses.
Dr. Lori Catalano is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. She has over a decade of teaching experience and expertise in medical-surgical progressive care nursing and healthcare law and ethics. Her interdisciplinary background includes a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science from Indiana University and a Juris Doctor (JD) from Capital University Law School, as well as advanced nursing degrees from the University of Cincinnati.
Her research centers on patient-centered care, with a focus on early interventions to improve advance care planning rates, and on innovations in nursing education. Dr. Catalano is passionate about preparing the next generation of nurses through evidence-based teaching and mentorship.
Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel
409 Altair Parkway, Westerville, Ohio 43082
Book Your Hotel Room Now!
Deadline to Book Hotel Room at the Group Rate is Thursday, August 7, 2025, by 4 p.m. ET
Standard Room (2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed): $169.00 per night (excluding taxes)
Virtual Tour of Renaissance’s Modern Lake House Themed Hotel