UMass Amherst to Host Nursing and Engineering Innovation Symposium on April 8
AMHERST — Researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders will gather at UMass Amherst on Wednesday, April 8 for the 2026 Nursing and Engineering Innovation Symposium, an event highlighting collaboration between nursing and engineering to advance patient care.
Hosted by the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation, the symposium will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public, though online registration is required by clicking here. Parking is available at the Campus Center Garage, 91 Campus Center Way.
Sponsored by a gift from UMass alumni Mike and Terry Hluchyj, the symposium will explore the theme, “Building the Next Generation of Healthcare Innovators.” The program will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions designed to highlight interdisciplinary research and strategies that empower future innovators in healthcare.
At 9:30 a.m., keynote speaker Kirk Taylor, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, will discuss why Massachusetts remains a global leader in life sciences. He will address the evolving biomanufacturing workforce, the integration of artificial intelligence with human-centered health systems, and ways to close the gap between innovation and implementation.
At 1 p.m., keynote speaker Kavita Radhakrishnan, associate dean for Research at the University of Texas’s Austin School of Nursing and a UMass Amherst alumna, will share her professional journey bridging engineering and nursing and discuss how collaboration between the disciplines is shaping the future of healthcare innovation.
The symposium will also include a panel from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. featuring nurses from across the country who will discuss how frontline clinical experience drives innovation in the medical industry. During the lunch period, interdisciplinary teams of nurses and engineers from various institutions will present research posters highlighting emerging projects and technologies.
Additional speakers will include Allison Vorderstrasse, dean of the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing (9 a.m.); Sanjay Raman, the Daniel J. Riccio Jr. dean of Engineering (9 a.m.); Karen Giuliano and Frank Sup, co-directors of the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation (11:30 a.m.); Javier Reyes, UMass Amherst chancellor (1 p.m.); and Sundar Krishnamurty, vice provost for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Creativity (2 p.m.) A complete symposium schedule is available online by clicking here.