Conference Faculty
P.O. Box 691287
Houston, Texas 77269-1287
The Highlights faculty is an impressive group of
doctors and experts with extensive knowledge
of neonatal medicine.
M. Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN
Professor and Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at the
University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX
Ellen Tappero, DNP, RN, NNP-BC
Coordinator of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program at
Neonatology Associates in Phoenix, AZ
Clinical Faculty Member in the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Program at the University of Missouri in Kansas City
R. Whit Hall, MD
Neonatologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, AR
Professor of Neonatology at University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences in Little Rock, AR
LuAnn Hall, MSN, CNS
Neonatal Clinical Specialist – Outreach at T.C. Thompson
Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga, TN
Michael Blaise, JD
Healthcare Litigation Defense and Personal Injury Defense
Attorney at Lorance & Thompson PC in Houston
T he 1 0 th A nnua l
Tuition
Full Conference Registration: $225
One-Day Conference Attendance: $160
Contact Hours*
Nurses can earn approximately
12 contact hours.
Thursday, January 16 &
Friday, January 17, 2014
The Westin Houston, Memorial City
945 Gessner Road | Houston, Texas
*Abbott Nutrition Health Institute is approved by the California Board
of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 11213 for 12 contact hours.
The commercial support provided by Abbott Nutrition has not
influenced the planner, presenter, objectives or content of this program.
The criteria for verifying successful completion of this activity are sign-in
before beginning of the speaker, attendance of the entire activity and
completing the evaluation form online.
The purpose of this conference is to provide current clinical evidencebased guidelines to nurses and other health professionals on neonatal
care to help in the development and support of premature newborns
and their families.
Helen Mintz-Hittner, MD, FACS
Pediatric Ophthalmologist at the Robert Cizik Eye Clinic in
Houston. Her specialties include genetics, premature babies
and renal disease.
The Westin Houston,
Memorial City
945 Gessner Road
Houston, Texas
281.501.4300
Reservations:
888.625.5144
https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/
StarGroupsWeb/booking/
reservation?id=1304152799
&key=3A54A
Room Rates:
Before December 31: $149
Location
The Highlights Conference will be held at The
Westin Houston, Memorial City, which offers
expansive meeting spaces. The hotel, ranked #9
on the 2013 U.S. News & World Report listing of
Best Houston Hotels, is connected to Memorial
City Mall and boasts a convenient location near
CityCentre, the Energy Corridor district and the
Westchase District.
The Westin Houston, Memorial City
945 Gessner Road | Houston, Texas
281.501.4300
Group Code:
Highlights Nursing
Conference
Keynote Speakers
Agenda for Thursday, January 16, 2014
Agenda for Friday, January 17, 2014
7:00 – 7:45 a.m. Registration and Breakfast (provided)
7:00 – 7:45 a.m.Registration and Breakfast (provided)
7:45 – 8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Tung Giep, MD
President, Newborn Intensive Care Specialist
7:45 – 8:00 a.m.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Cord Clamping: Delay? Don’t Delay?
Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN
M. Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN
M. Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN, is a Professor and
Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at the University of Texas Medical
Branch in Galveston, Texas, and is a consultant to professional
organizations and GE Middle East on matters related to care of the
healthy and high-risk neonate. For 18 years, she worked in Children’s
Memorial Hermann Hospital’s NICU in Houston. Her program of
research has been funded by The Eunice Shriver Kennedy National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Dr. Verklan is the
editor of Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, a
textbook referenced worldwide for the care of sick babies, as well as the creator of the Neonatal
Orientation and Education Program. She has been a guest editor for JOGNN’s Clinical Issues,
Critical Care Clinics of North America and the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing. In
2011, Dr. Verklan received the Award of Excellence in Research from the Association of Women’s
Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. She received her MSN in perinatology and PhD from
the University of Pennsylvania.
Ellen P. Tappero, DNP, RN, NNP-BC
Ellen Tappero, DNP, RN, NNP-BC, is the Coordinator of the
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program for Neonatology Associates,
Ltd., in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a clinical faculty member in the
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Missouri
in Kansas City. Ms. Tappero has more than 35 years of neonatal
experience as a staff nurse, transport nurse, nurse manager, clinical
nurse specialist and NNP. She is a frequent speaker at national
and regional neonatal workshops for nursing organizations such
as NANN, ANN and AWHONN. As a member of the National
Certification Corporation (NCC) NNP certification test committee,
she has served on the Boards of the National Association of
Neonatal Nurses (NANN), NCC and the council for the National Association of Neonatal Nurse
Practitioners (NANNP). She is co-editor of the book Physical Assessment of the Newborn.
Hosted by Newborn Intensive Care Specialist (NICS)
Highlights Newborn Intensive Care Conference is hosted by Newborn
Intensive Care Specialist (NICS). NICS provides 24/7 inpatient care
to infants who are born prematurely, experience difficulties during
delivery or show critical health problems, as well as caring for
well babies. Services include neonatal intensive care through
Level II and Level III NICUs and newborn hearing screenings. In
addition to neonatal care, NICS partners with area hospitals to
provide pediatric hospitalist services. For more information,
please call 281.477.8660 x7003 or visit newborndoc.com.
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
The Inside View: Neonatal X-Rays Made Simple
Ellen Tappero, DNP, RN, NNP-BC
10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Break (Refreshments & Exhibitors)
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Building a Pain Sensitive Environment in the NICU
R. Whit Hall, MD
Welcome and Introductions
Tung Giep, MD
President, Newborn Intensive Care Specialist
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.Neonatal Jeopardy: Is This Really a Teaching Strategy?
Ellen Tappero, DNP, RN, NNP-BC
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.Legal Aspects of Nursing Care
Michael Blaise, JD
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Break (Refreshments & Exhibitors)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Developing and Sustaining a Culture of Safety in
the NICU
Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.Lunch (provided)
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Neonatal Dysrhythmias
LuAnn Hall, MSN, CNS
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.Lunch (provided)
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.Alternative Therapy or Witchcraft? The Science Behind Massage, Kangaroo Care and Acupuncture
R. Whit Hall, MD
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Break (Refreshments & Exhibitors)
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.Review of Renal Disorders
Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN
4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Closing
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
High Frequency Oscillator vs. Conventional or Nonconventional Ventilation
LuAnn Hall, MSN, CNS
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.Results Following Avastin Use for Retinopathy
of Prematurity: Be Delighted… But Vigilant
Helen Mintz-Hittner, MD, FACS
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Break (Refreshments & Exhibitors)
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.NICU’s Got Talent
LuAnn Hall, MSN, CNS
Kathy Ogden, RN, MHA
Jennifer Hopkins, RN, BSN
4:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Closing and Evaluations
Highlights Conference
Registration Form Please print clearly.
Name___________________________________________
(include credentials)
Home Address___________________________________
City_____________________________________________
State_____________________
Zip_________________
Home Phone_____________________________________
Position_________________________________________
Specialty________________________________________
Hospital/Office___________________________________
Email ___________________________________________
Registration Fees (please check)
q Two-Day Registration............................................$225
q Thursday-Only Attendance..................................$160
q Friday-Only Attendance.......................................$160
Make checks payable to:
Newborn Intensive Care Specialist – Highlights
Credit card payments: Call 281.477.8660 x7003
Payment is due at the time of enrollment. Refunds will
not be given after December 31, 2013. A fee of $25
will be charged for any returned checks. Refunds will
be given only if cancellation is received in writing by
mail or fax by December 31, 2013.
P.O. Box 691287 | Houston, Texas 77269
281.477.8660 phone | 281.477.8662 fax
newborndoc.com