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Nursing Center for Excellence at UVA Health University Medical Center hosted its annual Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Symposium — bringing together clinicians, researchers, and leaders at the North Fork Research Park to share knowledge, ignite innovation, and reaffirm our health system’s commitment to evidence-based care. 

The day began with a heartfelt welcome from  Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Karin Skeen, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, who reminded attendees that amid an ever-changing healthcare landscape — UVA Health remains grounded in its dedication to EBP as a cornerstone of excellent care. 

Skilled Nurse Researcher, Beloved Colleague

That commitment took on deeper meaning this year, as UVA Health University Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, announced that the symposium was dedicated to the memory of Claiborne Miller-Davis, MS, BA, BSN, RN. A skilled nurse researcher and beloved colleague, Miller-Davis passed away in April after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. The 2024 Virginia Nursing Association’s Nurse Researcher of the Year Award was a fitting capstone to her extraordinary career. Her legacy of inquiry, mentorship, and advocacy lives on at UVA Health.

“Today, as we share knowledge and pursue new questions, we carry Claiborne’s legacy forward,” says Baker. “Nursing research was her passion, and through us, her voice endures. This is exactly what she would want us to be doing. So, let’s honor her today and throughout the years to come by continuing to ask the hard questions and advancing our practice through research.”

Declaring Independence From Outdated Practice

Laura Cullen, DNP, RN, FAAN, nationally recognized EBP scientist, University of Iowa Health Care and author of Evidence-Based Practice in Action, delievered the keynote address: “Let’s Declare Independence From Outdated Practices,” Cullen energized the audience with insights on implementation science, including the Iowa Implementation for Sustainability Framework and the Precision Implementation Approach.

She explored why healthcare change is often so difficult — and how structured, people-centered strategies can overcome resistance. Her talk emphasized that knowing the evidence is only half the battle. Real change happens when we plan for diffusion, engage champions, and build infrastructure to support sustainable use.

Celebration of — and Commitment to — Learning in Action

Led by Associate Nurse Scientist Katie Platz, PhD, RN, participants engaged with a dynamic agenda designed to put theory into practice. Interactive modules explored the 10 steps of the Iowa Model, strategies for identifying and closing the evidence-practice gap, and tools for selecting targeted implementation strategies using local data.

The symposium also featured a round of rapid-fire poster presentations by nurses from across UVA Health who have presented nationally this year. 

In her closing remarks, Skeen emphasized the significance of the day — not just as a training, but as a reaffirmation of UVA Health’s identity as a learning organization. Whether attendees were new to EBP or seasoned in project work — the symposium offered tools, inspiration, and community.

As UVA Health continues to champion evidence-based care, the EBP Symposium serves as a celebration of progress and a call to future action — driven by curiosity, compassion, and the enduring legacy of nurse leaders such as Claiborne Miller-Davis.

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