Local and international health organizations to collaborate at annual BPSO Symposium and BPSO OHT Summit

TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2026 /CNW/ -- To celebrate and advance the continued uptake of evidence-based care locally and globally, more than 200 leaders and champions will come together at the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario's (RNAO) annual Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) Symposium and BPSO Ontario Health Team (OHT) Summit, happening Sept. 24 and 25 in Toronto.

RNAO will welcome participants from BPSOs, BPSO OHTs and OHTs to connect, collaborate and share knowledge about formally implementing recommendations outlined in RNAO's best practice guidelines (BPG) – the foundational part of the BPSO partnership.

The theme of this year's BPSO Symposium, From capacity to impact: Building, implementing and measuring change, focuses on moving evidence into practice and measuring outcomes. The event includes knowledge exchange and networking sessions, as well as in-person and virtual poster presentations highlighting BPSO experiences, innovations and results.

The focus of the BPSO OHT Summit is Advancing integrated, evidence-based care across Ontario. It will unite BPSO OHTs and other OHTs interested in the program to share experiences and strengthen collaboration for the benefit of all Ontarians.

"The BPSO Program is a social movement of science that continues to expand among health professionals and teams eager to improve care and outcomes in their organizations," says RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun, founder of the BPG and BPSO programs. "Bringing our BPSO community together is incredibly impactful as we learn from one another, celebrate our collective influence and continue strengthening practices for people, families and communities wherever they access health care."

"Evidence can spark meaningful, measurable change when it moves into practice," says Janet Chee, associate director of Guideline Implementation & Knowledge Transfer with RNAO's International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines (IABPG) Centre. "RNAO's signature BPSO events create a space for BPSOs to exchange knowledge, share lessons learned through implementation and demonstrate how evidence is improving care in different settings."

WHAT: RNAO hosts its annual BPSO Symposium and BPSO OHT Summit from Sept. 24-25 in Toronto.

• BPSO Symposium: The symposium brings together BPSOs for knowledge exchange, networking, and in-person and virtual poster presentations showcasing implementation experiences, outcomes and lessons learned.
• BPSO OHT Summit: The summit will bring together BPSO OHTs and other OHTs interested in the BPSO program to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and advance integrated, evidence-based care across Ontario.

WHO:

• Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO and founder of the BPG and BPSO Programs, RNAO
• Jennifer Yoon, chief operating officer and interim director, IABPG, RNAO
• Hon. Minister Natalia Bashta-Kusendova, minister of long-term care (video remarks)
• Janet Chee, associate director, Guideline Implementation & Knowledge, IABPG, RNAO
• Dr. Shanoja Naik, director, Research Unit, RNAO
• Dr. Julia Fineczko, associate director, Long-Term Care Best Practices Program, IABPG, RNAO
• Kristen Campbell, implementation science manager, IABPG, RNAO
• Health leaders, clinicians and champions from BPSOs, BPSO OHTs and OHTs

WHEN:

• BPSO Symposium: Thursday, Sept. 24
• BPSO OHT Summit: Friday, Sept. 25

WHERE:

• In person at Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel, Algonquin Ballroom (33 Carlson Crt, Toronto)
• Virtual via Zoom

Both events will be livestreamed via RNAO's YouTube channel. Reporters interested in attending the events and/or interviewing an RNAO representative are encouraged to reach out to one of the contacts listed below.

Visit RNAO's website to learn more about the 2026 BPSO Symposium and BPSO OHT Summit.

RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) Program is funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health. It was envisioned by CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun in 1998 and launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across all health sectors and settings, with more than 50 guidelines developed to date. The Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) program supports service and academic institutions that have formally agreed to implement multiple RNAO BPGs over a three-year period, and evaluate their impact on patients, organizations and health systems. Launched in 2003, the BPSO program now has more than 1,500 BPSOs in Ontario, Canada and internationally.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public we serve. For more information about RNAO, visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

For more information, please contact: Madison Hietkamp, Communications Officer/Writer, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), 1-800-268-7199 ext. 274, 416-408-5645, [e-mail]; Marion Zych, Director of Communications, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), 1-800-268-7199 ext. 209, 416-408-5605, 647-406-5605 (cell), [e-mail]