Nearly 800 nurses, educators, healthcare leaders, students, and advocates from the Philippines and across the world came together virtually today for the 2026 Filipino Nursing Diaspora Day Webinar, a landmark annual event that continues to strengthen the voice and influence of Filipino nurses globally. Now on its 7th year, the webinar once again demonstrated the enduring power of connection, learning, and shared purpose across borders.
Organized through the collaborative efforts of the Filipino Nursing Diaspora (FiND) Network, The World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA), Pacific Nursing Service Organization (PNSO), and partner academic institutions including St. Anthony’s College–Antique, the event highlighted how Filipino nurses continue to shape healthcare systems worldwide through leadership, innovation, and service.
The 2026 theme, “Empowering Nurses to Lead, Innovate, and Improve Patient Outcomes through Technology,” reflected one of the defining realities of modern nursing: technology is rapidly transforming healthcare, and nurses are increasingly at the forefront of that transformation.
The webinar’s keynote speaker, Dr. Joseph de Veyra, brought both inspiration and practical insights that deeply resonated with participants. A first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, Dr. de Veyra’s professional journey reflects resilience, leadership, and a commitment to innovation that mirrors the aspirations of many Filipino nurses globally.
Currently serving as Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Carexa, Dr. de Veyra has dedicated his career to reducing nurses’ workload, improving early disease detection, and advancing patient outcomes through technology that integrates seamlessly into clinical practice.
His distinguished career includes serving as Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Harborview Medical Center, the only Level 1 trauma center serving Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. During one of healthcare’s most challenging periods, he guided organizational nursing leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic while helping secure Magnet designation and leading a major electronic health record transition from Cerner to Epic.
Prior to Carexa, he was the founding Chief Nursing Officer of NPHub, where he worked at the intersection of technology, regulation, and workforce development. He also launched NPHire, the first nurse practitioner-specific job platform designed to strengthen primary care workforce pipelines.
His academic credentials further reflect his multidimensional leadership journey, holding an MBA from MIT, a Master of Public Health from Harvard, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from California State University Fullerton. He is also a co-author of the ANA Nursing Leadership Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition, while continuing his service to the Filipino nursing community as a founding executive board member of the Philippine Nurses Association–Emerald City in Seattle.
Throughout the webinar, Dr. de Veyra emphasized that technology should never replace nursing compassion—it should strengthen it. One message particularly resonated strongly among participants:
“Technology works best when it gives nurses more time to be nurses.”
The statement captured the essence of the webinar’s theme. Innovation is not simply about adopting new systems or digital tools; it is about creating environments where nurses can focus on healing, connection, and delivering better patient outcomes.
Participants engaged actively throughout the session, reflecting strong interest in emerging technologies, nursing leadership development, workforce transformation, and how Filipino nurses can position themselves at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
The webinar was masterfully facilitated by Dennis Amando, Vice President for Engagement of the Pacific Nursing Service Organization, who kept discussions dynamic and participant engagement strong throughout the event. Dennis highlighted the importance of global professional communities in strengthening nursing leadership and sustaining lifelong learning among Filipino nurses working in diverse health systems worldwide.
The event also featured welcome remarks from Dr. Aris Kendell Bungabong of St. Anthony’s College–Antique, who emphasized the importance of education and international collaboration in strengthening the nursing profession.
Dr. Bungabong shared:
“Nursing education must continue to evolve alongside healthcare itself. Through partnerships, innovation, and global engagement, we prepare nurses not only for today’s challenges but for the future they will help create.”
As the webinar concluded, Dr. Patria Manalaysay of the Pacific Nursing Service Organization delivered closing remarks that captured the spirit of the gathering and the continuing mission of Filipino nurses worldwide.
She reminded participants:
“Leadership is not confined by geography. Filipino nurses continue to lead, influence, and transform healthcare across borders, and together we strengthen one another through shared purpose and collective action.”
Seven years after its inception, the Filipino Nursing Diaspora Day Webinar continues to grow—not merely in attendance, but in significance. What began as an effort to connect Filipino nurses globally has evolved into a platform for advocacy, professional development, mentorship, and international collaboration.
As healthcare continues to evolve rapidly, one message from today’s webinar remains clear: Filipino nurses are not simply adapting to change—they are helping lead it.
And as nearly 800 participants logged off from different time zones around the world, they carried forward something far greater than webinar certificates or presentation slides. They carried forward renewed purpose, strengthened connections, and a shared belief that Filipino nursing leadership will continue to shape healthcare’s future—one innovation, one patient, and one community at a time.
