STIR 2026

Summit for Transforming Inpatient Rehabilitation

Sunday, March 15, 2026 11:45 am – 6:00 pm

Join us again for AMRPA’s Summit for Transforming Inpatient Rehabilitation (STIR). This 6-hour workshop will provide advanced training and dynamic discussion on rehabilitation management and strategy that leaders will not be able to find anywhere else.

STIR is designed for both clinical and business trailblazers who are ready to rethink how rehabilitation is managed and delivered. Attendees will explore what lies ahead for the field including

the evolving value of IRFs and how to communicate it;
emerging technologies;
the erosion of public trust in healthcare;
workforce challenges; and
the legislative and regulatory landscape that will shape the future of rehab.

This program will emphasize the critical balance and cooperation of administrators, physicians, and nurses in strengthening the rehabilitation workflow and policies. Facilitated breakout discussions will dive into the operational realities of nursing, physician, and advanced practice clinician workflows, referral and admission standardization across medically complex patients, encouraging attendees to share best practices and uncover new approaches for building effective interdisciplinary leadership and seamless IRF operations.

STIR offers an engaging, solutions-driven experience designed to prepare rehabilitation leaders to innovate boldly and advance the future of inpatient rehabilitation.

Registration includes an opening lunch at 11am and concludes with an evening reception at 6pm. Click here for more information on registration rates.

Preliminary Agenda*

10:00 am	Registration Opens
11:00 am – 11:45 am	Opening Lunch
11:45 am – 12:00 pm	Welcome & Introduction Lauren Shapiro, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Stroke Rehabilitation Program, Brooks Rehabilitation Sandeep Singh, MD, FAAPMR, Chief Medical Officer, SVP of Medical Affairs, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm	The Healthcare & Rehabilitation Horizon: What’s to Come over the Next Five Years Ken Adams, M.D., Interim CEO Quill Medical, Chief Clinical Officer, CareGenix
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm	Making Plans for your IRF’s Year Ahead: Tactics you can Implement Tomorrow Chris Rizik, DO, Medical Director of Inpatient Access, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Holly Banninga, MBA, BHSA, PTA, Director of Inpatient Access, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm	Break
2:15 pm – 4:15 pm	Breakout Work Groups: Facilitated Sharing of Best Practices and Challenges Participants will cycle through three breakout session topics (40 min/topic): · Nursing Impact on Interdisciplinary Team and Operations Valerie Vermiglio-Kohn, CNO, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital · Physicians and Advanced Practice Clinicians: Roles & Workflow Eric Wisotzky, MD, FAAPMR, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Chief Medical Officer, Program Director, MedStar GUH-NRH PM&R Residency Training Program Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine · Optimizing Referrals and Standardizing the Admission Process Cindy Buchman MHA, Vice President Strategic Planning and Operating Services, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Bob Bianchi, MSW, Experienced IRF Program Developer, Solid IRF Trainer, and CARF Surveyor. Currently ‎Rehab Consultant for Spaganero LLC‎
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm	Break
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm	The Value of Nursing in Rehabilitation: Models, Collaboration, and Outcomes Darla Perdue, Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer, Vibra Healthcare Deb Doherty, RN PhD, LSSBB, CCMSCP, SVP of Licensing and Accreditation, Vibra Healthcare
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm	Lessons from STIR & the Impacts for AMRPA’s Advocacy Kate Beller, JD, President, AMRPA
6:00 pm	STIR Reception

*This is a preliminary agenda, subject to change.

Learn more about the STIR Speakers.

STIR Preliminary Credit Count: 5.5 CME/CE credits (subject to change upon final approval). Click here for more information on continuing education credit.