North Dakota Occupational Therapy Association (NDOTA) Annual Conference

This event is facilitated by the North Dakota Occupational Therapy Association and sponsored by the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program and Sheri's Smile and Skills Therapy LLC.

NDOTA Cost of Caring Conference:

Healthcare professionals across disciplines are experiencing increased burnout and compassion fatigue. The Cost of Caring Conference is a one-day interdisciplinary professional learning event designed to explore burnout, compassion fatigue, and workforce sustainability through an evidence-informed, practical lens.

This conference is open to occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, medical providers, allied health professionals, educators, supervisors, and students.

Featured Speakers

Dr. LaVonne Fox, PhD, MOTR/L

Project Director, ND THRIVES

Dr. Fox brings over 27 years of experience in occupational therapy and mental health, with work focused on suicide prevention, rural and tribal communities, and the impact of historical and generational trauma.

Elizabeth Evenson, PsyD

Research Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota

Program Director, Postdoctoral Psychology Residency

Sanford Health 

Dr. Evenson has worked in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings since 1992 and will address ethical implications, professional stress, and compassion fatigue among providers.

Katie Francis, MSW, LCSW, LICSW

Psychotherapist, Assessment and Therapy Associates 

Katie will explore compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and resilience-building strategies for helping professionals.

Conference topics include:

• Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress

• Moral distress and organizational pressures

• Burnout and workforce sustainability

• Strategies to support ethical and sustainable practice

Additional Opportunities

The conference will feature an Interdisciplinary Poster Showcase highlighting clinical initiatives, research, and system-level strategies related to workforce well-being. Poster submissions are currently being accepted (limited to 20 posters).

Limited vendor space is available for organizations aligned with healthcare workforce well-being and interdisciplinary practice.

Early Bird registration is currently available.

More information and registration:

www.ndota.info/the-cost-of-caring-conference