Explore Opportunities for Growth and Innovation
From faculty development and scholarship showcases to AI and educational technology events, our conferences and institutes support teaching excellence, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
Samuel Merritt University's conferences, institutes, and scholarly events provide opportunities to discover innovative teaching practices, engage with emerging technologies, share research, and collaborate with colleagues across disciplines. From faculty development and scholarship showcases to AI, iPad, and healthcare-focused events, these programs support continuous learning and professional growth throughout the academic year.
In-person: Samuel Merritt University Oakland City Center Campus
Remote: Zoom Link will be provided
For more information visit the PED 2026 Event Webpage.
AI Institute
The AI Institute advances the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, and scholarship. The institute supports faculty in effectively integrating AI technologies to create transformative learning experiences that strengthen students' critical thinking skills. It also provides guidance on equitable student access to AI, promotes academic integrity and ethical practices, and encourages transparent, bias-aware AI applications that enhance accessibility, deepen insight, and prepare health sciences students for future professional practice.
Elevate Conference Teaching with the iPad 2023
Discover innovative ways to enhance teaching with the iPad. This conference explores the use of iPads in health professions education and provides practical strategies for integrating mobile technology into teaching and learning. Elevate 2023 brought together educators from institutions across the country to share best practices and explore the impact of iPad-enabled instruction in higher education, with a special focus on the health sciences.
iLearn Institute (formerly Connect to Success with the iPad) 2024 | 2023 | 2022
The iLearn Institute provides faculty with opportunities to explore the educational potential of iPads in higher education and healthcare professions. Participants engage in hands-on activities, discuss instructional use cases, and gain practical tips, resources, and strategies for increasing student engagement and improving learning outcomes through mobile technology.
HEARTS Conference 2022
Explore the role of expressive and narrative arts in healthcare, wellness, and personal well-being. The conference examines how the arts can help mitigate burnout, reduce stress, strengthen communication, foster teamwork, and support resilience. Participants engage in experiential breakout sessions and learn from leaders across North America about the research, implementation, and impact of arts-based practices in healthcare.
Professional Enrichment Day (PED) 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020-Part 1 | 2020-Part 2
Professional Enrichment Day (PED) brings faculty and staff together to launch the academic year with a day dedicated to learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Program topics have included diversity, equity, and inclusion; community building; institutional initiatives; and strategies for supporting student success.
Reimagine Teaching: Enhance your Teaching Toolkit 2026 | 2025 | 2024
This full-day event is dedicated to enriching teaching practice through active, hands-on learning. Sponsored by Academic and Instructional Innovation and the Provost's Office, Reimagine Teaching helps faculty prepare for the academic year by exploring classroom technologies, teaching strategies, and student-centered approaches to learning. Participants learn best practices for Canvas course design, inclusive teaching methods, active learning techniques, and effective ways to connect concepts that support student success.
Scholarship Symposium and Poster Session 2026 | 2025
Spring Scholarship Symposium 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
The Scholarship Symposium brings together scholars from across Samuel Merritt University to share innovative ideas, showcase scholarly work, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The event supports the scholarship of discovery, integration, teaching and learning, and service while helping participants prepare for presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. Most importantly, it strengthens a culture of scholarship across the university community.
Winter Poster Session 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
The Winter Poster Session encourages participation from individuals at all stages of the scholarly process. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to present early-stage collaborations, works in progress, and completed projects. The Faculty Development Committee (FDC) provides a supportive environment for presenting scholarship, receiving feedback, and advancing projects toward future dissemination opportunities, including publication and professional conference presentations.
