ACENDIO conference 2027
18-20 March, 2027
FROM VISIBILITY TO IMPACT: Advancing Nursing Through Standardized Nursing Languages, Artificial Intelligence,
and Interoperability
Acendio conference
Keynote Speakers
Dr Gregor Stiglic
PhD
Gregor Stiglic is a Professor at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Slovenia, where he serves as Vice Dean for Research and Head of the Research Institute. His research focuses on artificial intelligence in healthcare, explainable AI, and digital health, particularly clinical decision support and nursing informatics. He has published in leading journals such as the BMJ and Lancet Global Health, and his work has been cited in high-impact venues including Nature, Nature Medicine, and official WHO publications. He is Co-Chair of the AIME Society and an active member of several international editorial boards and research collaborations.
Dr Robin Austin
PhD, RN
Dr. Robin Austin is Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of
Nursing, Director of the Center for Nursing Informatics, and Specialty
Coordinator for the DNP Nursing Informatics program. Her scholarship bridges
nursing science, data science, and digital health, advancing standardized
terminologies, including the Omaha System, SNOMED CT, and LOINC, to represent
whole-person health across the lifespan. A particular focus of her work is
midlife women and menopause as a critical, under-measured health transition.
Dr. Austin develops interoperable, data-driven frameworks that capture
biopsychosocial needs, enabling rigorous clinical care, meaningful research,
and AI-ready health systems grounded in strengths-based, person-centered
practice.
Dr Mariann Fossum
PhD, RN
Mariann Fossum is a Professor of Nursing at University of Agder, Norway. Her research focuses on innovative technologies to improve healthcare, especially documentation quality, decision support and emerging technologies in health and care services. She leads a national project on service robots used in nursing homes and participates in projects on ambient scribe speech recognition and clinical decision support in municipal healthcare. She has published over 120 papers and leads or contributes to nationally and European funded projects. Dr Fossum supervises master’s and PhD students and collaborates widely with clinical, technological and international partners. She holds a master’s degree in nursing science from the University of Oslo, a PhD in medical science (nursing) from Örebro University, Sweden, and has completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Deakin University, Australia.
Anita Prelec
RN
Anita Prelec has over 27 years of clinical experience as a midwife at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. She obtained her Master’s degree in Midwifery from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2013. In 2016, she was appointed Chiex Executive Officer of the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia (NMAS). She also contributed as a board member of the European Midwives Association for nine years. Since 2025, she has held the position of President of the professional organization NMAS. She is a Senior Lecturer in the field of women’s health care and has authored more than 200 professional and scientific publications addressing midwifery, pregnancy and childbirth. Her academic and professional work focuses on the development of policies and strategic frameworks in nursing and midwifery, as well as on management and leadership within healthcare systems.
Conference topics:
Artificial Intelligence in Nursing
Prepare to be inspired by Prof. Dr. Gregor Stiglic as he explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in nursing documentation. His keynote will focus on AI nurse scribe systems and their global adoption, while sharing practical experiences from developing and implementing an in-house AI-based nurse scribe tool for nursing students. Following the keynote, explore how AI is transforming nursing leadership, clinical decision-making, healthcare applications, and everyday nursing practice.
Big Nursing Data an Learning Helth Systems
Explore the potential of nursing data to transform care, research, and continuous improvement. Building on the importance of high-quality, standardized, and interoperable data highlighted throughout the conference, this theme will showcase research and innovations in big data analytics, learning health systems, data reuse, and digital health research. Discover how nursing data can be used to better understand nursing-sensitive patient outcomes, evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions, and support evidence-based improvements in healthcare.
Research, Collaboration and Funding Opportunities
Explore new opportunities to strengthen nursing research and international collaboration. This theme will highlight research methodologies in digital health, grant writing, and funding opportunities, including the ACENDIO Grant. Researchers and ACENDIO members will share experiences and ideas to support the development of innovative projects and strengthen the evidence base for nursing practice, education, informatics, and digital health.
Documentation an Person- Centred Care
Discover the essential role of standardized nursing terminologies and data standards with Dr. Robin Austin. Her keynote will highlight how standardized nursing language can make visible what has been hidden, unmeasured, and overlooked for too long, while creating the essential infrastructure for AI-ready, whole-person health systems. ACENDIO members and experts will further explore nursing documentation, standardized nursing languages, data interoperability, and the accuracy and use of nursing diagnoses, outcomes, and interventions.
Nursing Leadership and a Unified Nursing Language
Join Anita Prelec as she highlights the important contribution of professional organizations to the development of a unified nursing language. Her keynote will focus on the planned implementation in Slovenia, including standardization, education, and integration into clinical practice and health information systems to support consistent communication, improved quality of care, and sustainable use. Following her keynote, explore the role of nursing leadership, policy, and strategic development in advancing innovation, digital transformation, and the future of nursing and midwifery.
General Assembly and Election of Board Positions
We warmly invite all ACENDIO members to the General Assembly, where we will share board reports and discuss our organization’s future. This year, we are thrilled to offer five board positions (president, vice-president, secretary, and two general members). If you’re ready to make a difference and contribute to ACENDIO's mission, consider joining the board—reach out to us to learn more!
Digital Transformation in Nursing Practice
Join Prof. Mariann Fossum as she explores what happens to nursing practice when speech recognition and clinical decision support systems are implemented in everyday healthcare. Her keynote will address important challenges including data quality, workflow disruption, trust, ethics, and new competence needs, while sharing practical strategies for implementing digital technologies in ways that strengthen clinical judgement and high-quality care. Presentations will further explore eHealth, digital health systems, person-centred digital care, patient participation, and innovation in healthcare services.
Nursing Education and Competencies for the Digital Future
Be inspired by ACENDIO members as they share innovations in nursing education for an increasingly digital and AI-enabled healthcare environment. From implementing standardized nursing languages, eHealth, and AI in curricula to strengthening clinical reasoning and developing new professional competencies, this theme will explore educational methods, models, and evaluations that prepare nurses for the future. Discover how nursing education can equip students and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to use emerging technologies critically, confidently, and responsibly.
Gala Dinner
Join us for an unforgettable evening at a beautiful castle overlooking the city! After two years since our last ACENDIO conference, this will be a special opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends, meet new people, exchange experiences, and strengthen our international nursing community. Enjoy great food, inspiring company, and meaningful conversations in a truly spectacular setting. The evening will offer a relaxed opportunity for networking, sharing ideas, reconnecting with familiar faces, and building new professional connections across countries and disciplines. After registering for the conference, you’ll receive an invitation to join us for this memorable evening of connection, conversation, and community!