Rho Chapter board meetings
Meetings are the second Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Zoom. All members are welcome to join meetings. Contact Chapter Administrative Assistant, Mary DeBardeleben if you wish to participate in a board meeting.
FALL PROGRAMS 2026
Cardiovascular Symposium: Don’t Skip a Beat: Guiding Hearts, Leading Change
Join the Rho and Eta Rho chapters for updates on the care of patients with cardiovascular issues across various phases of care and age continuums.
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Location: The Kensington Hotel, 3500 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI
Registration: Register for the Cardiovascular Symposium
- Conference includes pain management CEs
- Discount available for Rho members
Spotlight on Ambulatory Care Nursing 2026
Join Sigma Rho for this informative conference. Session topics include managing challenging communication, pain management, and AI in nursing.
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: The Kensington Hotel, 3500 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI
Registration: Register for Spotlight on Ambulatory Care Nursing
- Conference includes pain management CEs
- Discount available for registration by August 21
2026 Great Lakes Nursing Innovation Conference
This year’s theme is “Nursing Voices: Innovating the Future of Healthcare Together.” Join nursing innovation colleagues, including clinical nurses, nurse educators, nurse researchers, nurse administrators, nursing students, and clinicians, for a day of education and inspiration.
Date: Monday, October 26, 2026, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: North Campus Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI
Registration: Register for the Great Lakes Nursing Innovation Conference
Rho Chapter Research and Evidence-Based Practice Grants
Applications due: September 30, 2026
More information: Rho Chapter Grants
Carri & Scott Polick Fund Advancing Health Equity and Social Justice
Applications due: December 31, 2026
More information: Rho Chapter Grants
WINTER PROGRAMS 2027
Rho Chapter Awards Nominations
Nominations due: February 15, 2027
Nominate your colleague for a Rho Chapter Excellence Award. Nominations are sought for excellence in practice, education, research, mentorship, and more.
More information and nomination link: Rho Chapter Grants and Awards
Rho Chapter Research and Evidence-Based Practice Grants
Applications due: January 31, 2027
The chapter provides grants to support research and special projects, such as patient education programs, media projects, and more.
More information: Rho Chapter Grants
The Patricia Averill Krapohl Women's Reproductive Health Grant
Applications due: February 1, 2027
More information: Rho Chapter Grants
Rho Chapter New Member Induction and Awards Ceremony
Join us to welcome the newest Rho Chapter members and acknowledge your colleagues’ leadership and excellence in nursing. Look for your invitation by email.
Date: Sunday, April 11, 2027, 1-3 p.m. ET
Location: School of Nursing Building 2, 426 N. Ingalls St., Ann Arbor, MI
Questions about programs?
Contact the Chapter Vice-President or Chapter Publicity Chairperson for more information.
Current News
Rho Chapter Pain Management Session
- John (Drew) Sturgeon, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School will be our speaker. CE’s will be available. More information coming by email.
- March 19, 2026, 5 - 6 p.m. ET
Rho Chapter New Member Induction and Awards Ceremony
- Join us to welcome the newest Rho Chapter members and acknowledge your colleagues' leadership and excellence in nursing. Look for your invitation by email.
- Saturday, March 28, 2026; 1 - 3 p.m. ET
- School of Nursing Building 2, 426 N. Ingalls, Ann Arbor
IPN Spring Program
- Co-sponsored with IPN Nursing and Eta Rho Chapter. Theme: Honoring the legacy of nursing and introduction to the VA Whole Health model. More information coming soon.
- Thursday, May 14, 2026, 5 - 8:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Mediterrano Restaurant, 2900 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI
January 16, 2026
Exploring the Roy Adaptation Model (RAM) for Graduate Nursing Students
The workshop included: an overview of the Roy Adaptation Model; applications for master’s-level work; use of RAM in DNP projects and PhD research; and opportunities for participant questions and discussion about applying RAM in graduate work.
November 2025
Holiday Food Drive
We teamed up with UM Student Nurses Association and Nursing Student Government to support the Whitmore Lake Area Human Services Food Pantry, serving needy residents in the Whitmore Lake area.
October 2025
Breast Cancer Fundraisers
We supported life-saving research, patient programs, and a stronger community united against breast cancer with two fundraisers - Conchos, Doughnut Cider sale and the Breast Cancer Walk.
May 6, 2025
Nursing at Michigan Poster Day
This annual event featured research, evidence-based practice innovations and quality improvement projects by U-M Health nurses. The Peoples Choice Award was sponsored by Rho Chapter.
April 4 - 5, 2025
Region 10 Biennial Conference: Bridging Nursing Leadership, Research & Practice
April 2, 2025
School of Nursing Research, Scholarship & Innovation Symposium
March 29, 2025
Rho Chapter New Member Induction and Awards Ceremony
March 12, 2025
Innovative Behavioral Approaches to Pain Management
Rho Chapter presented Dr. Afton Hassett, Associate Professor and the Director of Pain and Opioid Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at U of M, who discussed behavioral pain self-management , pain mechanisms and neurobiology, and role of resilience in pain.
March 4, 2025
Critical Care Conference: Stitching Evidence Into Practice—A Cut Above (co-sponsored by Rho Chapter)
Attendees explored current innovations in critical care, identify strategies to broaden clinical skills in caring for critically ill patients utilizing best practices, and network with colleagues in critical care and progressive care environments.
January 16, 2025
Taking The Lead 2025: The Power Of Resilience To Enhance Your Professional & Personal Success
The annual IPN conference addressed resilience, defeating burnout navigating career transitions and emerging technologies.
April 3, 2024
UMSN Research, Scholarship & Innovation Symposium
March 23, 2024
Annual Awards and Induction Ceremony
March 5, 2024
Critical Care Conference (co-sponsored by Rho Chapter)
Attendees explored current innovations in critical care, identify strategies to broaden clinical skills in caring for critically ill patients utilizing best practices, and network with colleagues in critical care and progressive care environments.
March 2024
Mott Toy and Book Drive
New books and toys were collected to benefit the patients at CS Mott Children's Hospital.
January 18, 2024
Taking the Lead 2024 (co-sponsored by Rho Chapter)
The theme for the annual leadership conference was Generating Transformative Engagement. Sessions focused on positive thinking skills to decrease stress and improve coping. Practical, evidence-based strategies to facilitate retention and workforce supply and demand were addressed. Results and recommendations from a Michigan nurse’s well-being study were also presented.
October 23, 2023
Reimagining Pain Management in 2023 (presented by Rho Chapter)
Dr. Terri Voepel-Lewis provided updates on chronic pain management in light of the opioid epidemic and changes to CDC chronic pain guidelines, along with mental health implications of chronic pain.
October - November 2023
Holiday Food Drive (co-sponsored with U-M Student Nurses Association and Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners U-M Student Chapter)
All donations benefited Northfield Human Services Food Pantry, serving needy residents in the Whitmore Lake area.
April 3 - 4, 2023
Research Day: Research and Practice in Health Care Post 2020
March 26, 2023
Annual Awards and Induction Ceremony
March 24 - 25, 2023
Region 10 Conference: Voices of the Vulnerable
February 28, 2023
Leaping Forward: Stitching Evidence into Practice
The annual critical care conference provided information about new and innovative practices.
February 6, 2023
Sigma Social: Implicit Bias Training
January 19, 2023
Taking the Lead 2023: Mapping Your Personal Leadership Path (co-sponsored by Rho Chapter)
The annual leadership conference explored how nurses lead and demonstrate their value in the era of health care transformation as they work to manage change and improve care in their practice settings.
January 19, 2023
Graduate School Information Session
This information session for nurses considering graduate school covered a number of FAQ's, including how to maximize applications and interviews for success.