Perioperative professionals from across the region will meet Nov. 13-15 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the 2026 Southeast Councils of periOperative Nurses conference, a perioperative nursing conference powered by OR Today magazine. The three-day event offers CE-accredited education, an exhibit hall featuring leading vendors and networking with more than 250 perioperative professionals.
The conference is supported by the Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee Councils of periOperative Registered Nurses.
Theme honors nurses who lead and advocate
This year’s theme is “The Power of Legacy and Advocacy: Advancing Excellence, Inspiring the Future.” It celebrates nurses who speak up for patients, support colleagues and strengthen the profession, from ensuring safe surgical environments to mentoring the next generation of leaders.
“Perioperative nurses stand at the intersection of precision, protection and advocacy,” conference organizers said. “Our voices matter – in the policies that shape our practice, in the education that shapes the next generation, and in the compassion that shapes every patient’s journey.”
Earn up to 9 CEUs
Attendees can earn up to nine continuing education units. OR Today is a continuing education provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider No. CEP 16623.
The conference also has been approved for six CEs by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, approval code OR Today 260605, and for six contact hours by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.
Keynotes and education sessions
National nursing leaders headline the education program:
- Welcome address, Saturday, 8:30-9:30 a.m.: David Reinhart, president of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and director of education for Emory Healthcare perioperative services, and Stuart Downs, president-elect of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, present “Shared Vision, Collective Action: Unifying Nursing Voices for Nation-Wide Impact.” They will discuss how mentorship and leadership initiatives can break down silos and amplify nursing’s influence in policy and decision-making.
- Morning keynote, Saturday, 9:45-10:45 a.m.: DeNene G. Cofield, vice president of perioperative services at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, shares leadership lessons from more than 40 years in perioperative nursing in “Leadership Legacy from a Lifetime in Perioperative Nursing.”
- Education session, Saturday, 11 a.m.-noon: Jason Lesandrini, assistant vice president of ethics, advance care planning and spiritual health at WellStar Health System, leads “Balancing Technology with Human Judgment: AI & Safety,” an interactive look at when clinicians should trust algorithms and when to trust themselves.
- Afternoon keynote, Saturday, 2-3 p.m.: Rebecca M. Patton, endowed perioperative nursing chair at Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, presents “Beyond the Mask: Professional Citizen,” highlighting nurses whose advocacy has made a difference beyond the operating room.
- Education session, Sunday, 10-11 a.m.: Katie Boston-Leary, senior vice president of equity and engagement at the American Nurses Association, presents “The Healthy OR,” with practical strategies to foster psychological safety, strengthen teamwork and retain OR staff.
- Closing keynote, Sunday, noon-1 p.m.: Joshua A. Wymer, chief health information and data strategy officer at Health Data Consortium, presents “Professionalism, True North and Finding the Human Connection.”
Schedule highlights
The conference opens Friday, Nov. 13, with a welcome reception from 4:30-6 p.m., sponsored by C8 Health.
Saturday, Nov. 14, begins with registration at 7 a.m. and breakfast sponsored by Sanara MedTech. A lunch and learn runs from noon-1:30 p.m., sponsored by Piedmont, SteriCUBE, Irrisept and Northeast Georgia Health System. The day closes with an exhibit hall reception from 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 15, features an exhibit hall brunch from 8-10 a.m., a tribute to Brenda Ulmer and the DAISY Award presentation. State council and chapter meetings follow the closing remarks.
DAISY Awards recognize extraordinary nurses
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. His family saw firsthand how his nurses’ clinical excellence and compassion shaped his care, and they founded the award so patients, families and staff could thank and honor exceptional nurses.
Exhibitors and sponsors
More than 40 companies and health systems will exhibit, including Baxter, BD, ConMed, Essity, Molnlycke Healthcare, Solventum, STERIS and Turbett Surgical.
Pegasys Medical is the Diamond sponsor, and ConMed is the Platinum sponsor. Gold sponsors are Piedmont, Irrisept, SteriCUBE and Northeast Georgia Health System. Silver sponsors are PreOpApp Kids, Sanara MedTech, C8 Health and MUSC Health. Bronze sponsors are Flamingo Funnel, Incision, CCI, RepScrubs, Opmed and PKT.
Register Today
For registration and full program details, visit southeastperiop.com or view the 2026 conference brochure. Attendees can share their experience on social media using #SEPeriop.
The 2027 Southeast Periop conference will be held Oct. 1-3, 2027, in New Orleans.
Visit southeastperiop.com to register or for more information.
