November 3 – 5, 2021
Registration: FREE
Encourage, Educate and Empower NICU Families and the Professionals that care for them.
The Hand to Hold NICU Community Conference is a FREE online conference designed for current and NICU graduate parents, caregivers and NICU professionals. Join us for 3 days of education, encouragement and empowerment for all that love and care for NICU babies and their families.
Una pista en español para familias NICU (UCIN)
Keynote Speaker
Susan David, Ph.D.
Susan David, author of the #1 The Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Emotional Agility, TED Speaker, and award-winning Harvard Psychologist is one of the world’s most influential management thinkers. Her TED talk on emotional agility went viral with over one million views its first week!
With powerful and engaging stories, humor, and insight, Susan creates a deep and authentic connection with each person in the audience, enabling them to feel understood, inspired, and able to drive real, pragmatic change.
Conference Agenda
Day 1: Wednesday, November 3
Green: NICU Parents (English)
Blue: NICU Professionals
Orange: NICU Parents (español)
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Welcome
Kelli Kelley and Sarah Inbau
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Keynote: Emotional Agility
Speaker: Susan David, Ph.D.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Integrating Therapy into Everyday Activities
Speaker: Doug Levine, MS, PT
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Communicating with NICU Families
Marni Panas, BHAdmn, CCIP
En Español
MSalud Mental Materna / El trasorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT)
Orador: Dr. Susana Marquez, LMFT, Psy.D
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
What Advocacy Looks Like In and Out of the NICU
Parent panel moderated by Deb Discenza, MS
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Compassion Fatigue: Understanding the Cost of Caring
Speaker: Pamela Spivey, MSN, CCNS, RNC-NIC, CCFP
En Español
¿Hablar de inclusión o ser inclusivo?
Orador: Lola Hernandez
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Helping Siblings Feel Included and Empowered
Speaker: Katie Taylor, CCLS
En Español
Sobreviviendo el NICU: una perspectiva de las hermanas
Orador: Cynthia Garcia Coll, PhD
Day 2: Thursday, November 4
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Welcome & Day One Recap
Kelli Kelley
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
YOUR LIFE AFTER TRAUMA: How to Move Forward When You Keep Looking Back
Speaker: Michele Rosenthal, CPC, NLP, CHt
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Difficult Conversations in the NICU: Helping Families When They Need Us The Most
Dr Anthony Orsini, D.O.
En Español
Integración de la terapia en las actividades cotidianas
Orador: TBA
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Meeting Milestones: The First Three Years
Speaker: Adiah Spinks-Franklin, MD, MPH, FAAP
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Feeding & Nutrition
Christina Valentine, MD, MS, RD
En Español
Cumplir los hitos: los primeros 3 años
Orador: Silvia Pereira-Smith, M.D.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Life After Loss
Parent Panel moderated by Marty Barnes, BSN, RN
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Psychological Issues Affecting Parents of Premature Infants
Speaker: Richard Shaw, MD
En Español
Buscando apoyo y esperanza: Como Lidiar con el Luto
Orador: Tania Paredes, PhD, LCSW
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
How to Practice Self-Care (when you feel like you’re drowning)
Speaker: KC Davis, LPC
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Self-Care is not Selfish: Practical Options for NICU Nurses
Speaker: Kathi Randall, MSN, CNS, NNP-BC
Day 3: Friday, November 5
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Welcome & Day Two Recap
Kelli Kelley
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Feeding and Nutrition
Speaker: Christina Valentine, MD, MS, RD
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Stories Matter: Embracing our shared stories to connect and heal
Speakers: Mary Coughlin, MS, NNP, RNC-E, April Castaldi, RNC-NIC
En Español
METAMORFOSIS: La Transformación de los Padres hacia el Bienestar
Orador: Dra. Dulce Lopez, Psy.D.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Parental Mental Health: Factoring in Fathers in the NICU
Parent Panel moderated by Daniel Singley, MD
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Importance of NICU Discharge Planning Guidelines and Standards
Speaker: Vincent Smith, MD, MPH
En Español
Alimentación / Nutrición
Orador: Sergio Golombek, MD, MPH
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
PARENT TRACK
Setting the Tone for Our Challenges
Speaker: Mindy Henderson
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Health Disparities and Cultural Competency in the NICU
Speaker: Anese Barnett, M.Ed, LMHP, Ph.D Student &
Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez, BSc, MSc, ACC, Certified Professional Coach
En Español
Salud Mental Paterna
Orador: Patricio Solari
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Kelli Kelley
The Hand to Hold NICU Community Conference is
The first and only conference built for NICU parents to address the mental, emotional and social challenges families may face, and further educate parents about the long-term medical and developmental needs of their fragile babies.
The only conference for NICU professionals providing tangible takeaways on NICU family support.
Highlighting leading subject experts, leaving attendees educated, empowered and inspired.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Thank you to our additional sponsors:
Educational Grant support provided by: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals