Planting Seeds of Innovation Conference provides tools for identifying alignment, empowering advocacy

Whitney Line, DNP, RN, PHN, Healthcare Innovation and Insights lead for Solventum, delivered the keynote The Alignment Advantage: Leadership and Innovation in Complex Systems at the 2026 Planting Seeds of Innovation Conference on April 24 at the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub.

“The work that creates meaningfulness, that is more energized, more creative, more impactful and more sustainable doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from alignment,” says Line.

As a global medical respiratory application engineer at 3M during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was responsible for customer education and support for respirators during extreme PPE shortages. 

“My impact was helping healthcare systems to function as seamlessly as possible while in chaos,” says Line. From that experience and others, she identified personal pillars –connection, exploration, impact and creativity – and observed that when her work aligned with those pillars it created a lasting impact. 

“Once I defined those for myself and operated in alignment with them, opportunities showed up that I had never planned for,” says Line.

She encouraged participants to identify their pillars by asking themselves what they naturally move toward and what gives them energy. “What shows up when you aren’t trying?” she asked.

By identifying those patterns and naming personal pillars, they can be used to filter opportunities and pursue ones that will bring more impact.

“When you are aligned you are planting the right seeds at the right time and that is innovation,” says Line.

Jo Bjorgaard, DNP, RN, PHN, CSSBB, RISE Climate + Health Collective founding director, delivered Empowering Nursing Leadership for Planetary Health, which discussed how nursing leadership can continue to evolve to support healthier outcomes for people, communities and the planet.

The panel Leadership in Policy: Local to National, moderated by Professor Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN, FADLN, included panelists Brian Quinn, MSN, RN, PHN, CPP, Lake City mayor; Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD, Minnesota Department of Health commissioner; Jen Prochnow, DNP, MBA, RNC-MNN, NEA-BC, PHN, Winona State University professor; and Brian K. Goodroad, DNP, APRN, CNP, FAANP, FAAN, University of Minnesota clinical professor.

Clinical Associate Professor Stephanie Gingerich, DNP, RN, CPN, Clinical Assistant Professor Stacey Grenier, DNP, RN, and Densford Center Director Kelaine Haas, PhD, led the interactive workshop Personalized Policy Advocacy to refine personal advocacy goals.

Grenier delivered Innovating the Human Element: Leadership's Role in Driving Wellbeing and Sustainable Healthcare, demonstrating how a focus on the human element leads to staff satisfaction, superior patient outcomes, and sustained operational success.

The Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership co-hosted the conference with M Health Fairview. The first Planting Seeds of Innovation workshop was held in 2015 in partnership with M Health Fairview. 

The 2027 Planting Seeds of Innovation will be April 23, 2027.