Keynote Speaker – 2026 UCLA Nursing Science and Innovation Conference
Keynote Speaker
The UCLA Nursing Science and Innovation Conference features keynote speakers whose work is shaping the future of nursing science, evidence-based practice, and innovation in an AI-enabled health care environment. These distinguished leaders bring national and international perspectives on how nursing intelligence, research, and ethical leadership are driving meaningful change across clinical practice, education, health systems, and health policy.
Join nurses, educators, researchers, and leaders from diverse practice settings to engage with keynote speakers and timely conversations shaping a nurse-led future in the age of AI.
Dr. Maxim (Max) Topaz, PhD, RN, FAAN, FIAHSI, FACMI, is an Associate Professor of Nursing and Data Science at Columbia University and a Senior Research Scientist at VNS Health. He is a leader in applying artificial intelligence and natural language processing to nursing documentation to improve care delivery and clinical decision-making.
Dr. Topaz has secured more than $25 million in federal research funding and published over 200 peer-reviewed articles. His work focuses on AI-driven solutions that predict patient deterioration from nursing notes, enhance clinical workflows, and reduce documentation burden for frontline nurses.
With clinical experience in internal medicine and urgent care, a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Topaz bridges nursing practice, research, and emerging technologies. His leadership in health policy, innovation, and informatics has earned him fellowships in the American Academy of Nursing, the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics, and the American College of Medical Informatics.
Dr. Topaz’s work reflects the evolving role of nursing science at the intersection of data, technology, and clinical care. By advancing the use of artificial intelligence in nursing practice, he exemplifies a nurse-led future where innovation strengthens decision-making, improves outcomes, and transforms care delivery.
Olga Kagan, PhD, RN, FHIMSS, FAAAAI, FIEL, is a nurse scientist, educator, and entrepreneur whose work integrates nursing informatics, innovation, and food allergy care. She is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Food Allergy Nursing Association (FANA), where she leads national and global efforts to advance education, policy, and professional development in this emerging area of nursing practice.
Dr. Kagan serves as an Associate Adjunct Professor, teaching graduate-level nursing informatics, and contributes to national initiatives shaping the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing nurse-led innovation while ensuring that emerging technologies are implemented in ways that are safe, equitable, and clinically meaningful.
Her scholarship and private practice focus on technology-enabled food allergy management, clinical decision support, and health equity. Dr. Kagan co-developed the HIMSS “5 Rights of AI for Healthcare,” contributed to the expansion of the HIMSS AI and Innovation Toolkit, and serves as Co-Chair of the AAAAI mHealth & Innovation HITE Subcommittee. Through this work, she continues to influence how digital tools and AI are integrated into clinical practice.
Dr. Kagan has authored numerous publications, contributed to national media, and co-edited The Informatics Guide to Healthcare: From Insight to Action. She is widely recognized for her leadership in building interdisciplinary collaborations, launching innovation programs, and elevating nurse-led research and practice.
With experience spanning clinical care, academia, nonprofit leadership, and health policy, Dr. Kagan brings a multifaceted perspective to the evolving role of nursing in an AI-enabled healthcare environment. She currently serves as President-Elect of the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, & Leaders (SONSIEL) and chairs the Nursing Section at the New York Academy of Medicine.
Her contributions have earned her fellowships in the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and SONSIEL—reflecting national recognition of her leadership, mentorship, and impact on the future of nursing.
Dr. Kagan’s work reflects the evolving role of nursing at the intersection of clinical expertise, data, and technology—advancing a nurse-led future where innovation, artificial intelligence, and human-centered care come together to improve outcomes and strengthen health systems.
Sponsors
Thank you to our conference sponsors for your valued support in advancing nursing science, innovation, and nurse-led leadership.
