Redefining the Future of Nursing Summit

Functional Medicine, Whole-Person Care & New Opportunities for RNs and NPs

FREE 3-DAY VIRTUAL EVENT | NOVEMBER 10–12, 2026

Join the Institute for Functional Nursing for three days of live education, conversation, and connection exploring how nurses and nurse practitioners are helping shape the future of healthcare.Hear from 15 nurse leaders, clinicians, researchers, and industry experts bringing together perspectives from functional medicine, whole-person care, specialty practice, research, clinical innovation, and emerging opportunities for RNs and NPs.

Registration is free. Reserve your spot to receive your Zoom access information and summit updates.

The Future of Healthcare Needs Nurses

Nurses and nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to help move healthcare beyond simply managing symptoms toward more personalized, preventive, and whole-person approaches to care.

The Redefining the Future of Nursing Summit brings together voices from across nursing, functional medicine, research, and industry to explore what that can look like in practice.

Whether you are already working within a functional or integrative model or are simply curious about new possibilities for your nursing career, this summit is an opportunity to learn from people doing innovative work across the profession.

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Three Days. 15 Expert-Led Sessions. One Evolving Profession.

During this free virtual summit, you’ll explore topics including:

Functional and whole-person approaches to care
Clinical applications for RNs and NPs
Specialty and emerging areas of nursing practice
Research and the growing evidence base for functional medicine
New tools, technologies, and healthcare innovations
Expanding roles and opportunities for nurses and nurse practitioners
Real-world perspectives from clinicians, educators, researchers, and industry leaders

Our goal is not to present one single way to practice nursing, but to bring together ideas, experiences, and expertise that help us think more broadly about what is possible.

Who Is This Summit For?

This event is designed especially for:

Registered Nurses exploring functional medicine, integrative care, health coaching, education, specialty practice, or new directions in nursing.
Nurse Practitioners interested in incorporating whole-person and functional approaches into clinical practice.
Nursing Students & Graduate Students who want to better understand emerging opportunities in healthcare, research, and advanced nursing practice.
Nurse Educators, Leaders & Entrepreneurs interested in innovative models of care and the changing role of nursing.

You do not need previous functional medicine training to attend.

Join Us November 10–12

Come for the sessions most relevant to you—or join us throughout all three days.

Registration is free, but advance registration is required to receive your Zoom access information.

Hosted by:

Functional Medicine, Reimagined for Nurses

Meet the Speakers & Explore the Schedule

15 talks. Three days. A wide range of perspectives on the future of nursing and healthcare.

NOTE: We are still finalizing our speaking times/topics, so stay tuned!

Nov. 10th 11-12 EST

The State of Functional Nursing: What We’re Learning, Where We’re Going & What’s Possible Together

In this opening keynote, Dr. Brigitte Sager will explore what IFN is learning from the growing functional nursing community and the trends emerging across practice, education, research, and partnerships. The session will look at where functional nursing stands today, where it may be headed next, and what becomes possible when RNs and NPs help build the field together.

Presented by Brigitte Sager

DNP, FNP-C, FMCP-M, CNE

Nov. 10th 12:15-1:15 EST

Before “Holistic” Was a Word: Reclaiming Florence Nightingale’s Vision for Nursing

Long before “holistic” became a healthcare buzzword, Florence Nightingale envisioned nursing as a distinct discipline rooted in careful observation, whole-person understanding, and the healing power of the environment. This session explores how her work honored the body’s innate capacity to heal, looked beyond diagnosis, and recognized the influence of psychological and emotional experiences, offering timeless guidance for today’s nurses.

Presented by Chelsea McGee

RN, BSN, NC-BC

Nov. 10th 1:45-2:45 EST

Beneath the Symptoms: A Root-Cause Framework for Depression and Anxiety for Functional RNs and NPs

Depression and anxiety can reflect influences far beyond a psychiatric diagnosis alone. This session explores a functional psychiatry approach to looking beneath symptoms, considering factors such as nutrition, sleep, stress, hormones, nutrient status, and the gut-brain connection while supporting whole-person mental health care.

Presented by Everest Goldstein

M.Ed, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FMCP-M

Nov. 10th 3:15-4:15 EST

Implementing Functional Medicine in an Outpatient Conventional Medical System

What does it take to integrate functional medicine into an established conventional healthcare system? Drawing on her experience leading a large integrative and functional medicine service line, attendees will hear practical lessons from building workflows, developing clinicians, and bringing whole-person care into a traditional outpatient setting.

Presented by Laura Sandquist & Kate Otremba

DNP, APRN, A‑GNP‑C, FMCP‑M | DNP, MN, APRN, A‑GNP‑C, FMCP‑M

Nov. 10th 5:30-6:30 EST

Cash Over Coverage: Rethinking Lab Payments in Healthcare

Explore how cash-pay lab options can offer patients, particularly those with high-deductible health plans, a more affordable and transparent path to recommended testing, often at prices 50–80% lower than insurance-billed rates. Attendees will learn how upfront pricing can prevent surprise bills, support informed financial decisions, improve testing adherence, and strengthen patient trust while reducing billing disputes, follow-up calls, and administrative burden for clinic staff.

Presented by Ryan Obermeier

Chief Commercial Officer, Evexia Diagnostics

Nov. 11th 11-12 EST

Top Myths of Functional Nursing

What do nursing professionals most commonly misunderstand about functional nursing? Drawing from her own experience as a functional nurse and conversations with hundreds of RNs and NPs exploring this field, Samantha will unpack common myths and offer a clearer picture of what functional nursing can—and doesn’t have to—look like.

Presented by Samantha Hamilton

MSN-Ed, RN

Nov. 11th 12:15-1:15 EST

Beyond the Single Draw: Longitudinal Hormone Tracking from Fertility Through Menopause

Hormones fluctuate across the lifespan, and a single lab draw may not tell the whole story. This session explores how longitudinal hormone tracking can provide additional insight into changing patterns across fertility, perimenopause, and menopause and help clinicians better understand what is happening over time.

Presented by Rose MacKenzie

BSN, RN, CEN, Clinical Manager, Mira

Nov 11th 1:45-2:45 EST

Tickborne Infections Presenting as Psychiatric Conditions

Lyme and other tick-borne infections can have effects that extend well beyond physical symptoms. This session explores the connection between infection, neuroinflammation, and brain and mental health, including how neurologic Lyme may contribute to changes in mood, behavior, cognition, and psychiatric presentation.

Presented by Zendi Moldenhauer

PhD, NPP, PNP, RN-BC, FMCP-M

Nov. 11th 3:15-4:15 EST

HeartMath in Practice: Building Resilience, Heart Coherence & Connection in Nursing Care

HeartMath offers practical tools for supporting self-regulation, resilience, and more intentional connection in healthcare. This session will introduce HeartMath principles and explore how RNs and NPs can incorporate simple coherence-based practices into their own well-being, patient interactions, and whole-person approach to care.

Presented by Robert Browning, PhD (h.c.)

HeartMath Co-Director of Healthcare, Director for Health Partnerships and Senior Master Trainer

Nov 11th 5:30-6:30 EST

How Nurses Are Using Functional Nursing in the Real World

A panel of functional nursing professionals will share how they are applying this approach in clinical practice, private practice, professional roles, and everyday life. This open panel discussion will explore what they are learning, how their thinking has evolved, where they are finding opportunities and challenges, and what functional nursing looks like in the real world.

Panel Discussion hosted by Brigitte Sager, DNP

Nov. 12th 11-12 EST

The Multiplier Effect: Automating the Business Freedom System through Programs

Growing a practice doesn’t have to mean adding more one-to-one hours. This session explores how programs, automation, and scalable client experiences can help practitioners streamline repetitive work, expand their reach, and create greater flexibility while continuing to provide meaningful support to their clients.

Presented by Natalie Mullin

MEd, Partnerships Manager, Practice Better

Nov. 12th 12:15-1:15 EST

Running Out of Fuel: How a Starving Gut Drives Chronic Symptoms

The gut can influence far more than digestion alone. This session explores how disrupted gut function may contribute to fatigue and persistent whole-body symptoms, and how a functional nursing lens can help RNs and NPs connect gastrointestinal patterns with the broader clinical picture.

Presented by Megan Kroeker

MSN, NP, FMCP-M

Nov. 12th 1:45-2:45 EST

Functional Nursing in Practice: A Real-World RN Case Study

Through a real-world case from her private nursing practice, Jennifer will explore how she applies a functional nursing lens to patient care, including assessment, pattern recognition, and individualized support. The session will also offer a practical look at how functional nursing can take shape within an RN role and evolve in everyday practice.

Presented by Jennifer Anderson

RN, NC-BC

Nov. 12th 3:15-4:15 EST

Lingo: The Over-the-Counter Continuous Glucose Monitor by Abbott

Continuous glucose monitoring is becoming more accessible beyond traditional diabetes care. This session will introduce Abbott’s Lingo over-the-counter CGM and explore how real-time glucose data can help RNs and NPs better understand patterns related to food, activity, sleep, and daily habits while supporting patient education, behavior change, and more personalized conversations around metabolic health.

Presented by Molly Kearney

Sales Representative, Lingo

Nov. 12th 5:30-6:30 EST

Creating Your Own Opportunity: Lessons From Nurses Building New Models of Care

In this closing session, Dr. Brigitte Sager will share common patterns and lessons from RNs and NPs creating new roles, businesses, services, and models of care. Attendees will explore what helps ideas move forward, common misconceptions about nurse entrepreneurship, and how nursing professionals can use their existing expertise to create new opportunities.

Presented by Brigitte Sager

DNP, FNP-C, FMCP-M, CNE

Don’t Miss This Transformative Event!

Join RNs, APNs, and industry experts for three days of cutting-edge education, practical tools, and inspiring conversations. Whether you’re launching your own practice, expanding your clinical skills, or building connections in the holistic nursing community, this summit will equip you with strategies to grow and thrive.

Seats are limited—reserve your spot today to be part of the future of nursing.