Healthcare teams across community health centers are navigating extraordinary pressures—from workforce shortages and administrative burden to rising patient complexity and community need. This year’s Summit explores how primary care leaders, educators, and care teams can sustain the compassion, purpose, and mission that anchor community-based care.
Through research, real-world innovations, and reflective dialogue, attendees will examine both the challenges facing the workforce and the strategies that help teams reconnect with meaning, resilience, and shared purpose. This year’s program explores three questions:
What is driving the growing distress within the primary care workforce?
How can teams, organizations, and systems address these challenges?
How do we reconnect with the mission and meaning that sustain this work?
The annual Southwestern Primary Care Research & Innovation Summit is a two-day regional gathering designed to highlight and strengthen innovation across community health centers and primary care systems. Each year, the Summit creates space for collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, learners, and community partners who are committed to expanding access and improving patient outcomes across the Southwest.
When: May 7 – 8, 2026
Where: El Rio Health Manning House Ballroom
450 W. Paseo Redondo
Tucson, AZ 85701
Across both days, the Summit aims to:
This year’s event promises a dynamic space to learn, connect, explore new partnerships, and move our region’s work forward!
Our interactive Poster Fair showcases practice-based research, quality improvement projects, patient-centered care models, and community-engaged health initiatives from across the region. Presenters share real-world innovations that are measurably improving care—especially in geographically isolated and historically underserved communities. Judges provide structured feedback, and top projects are recognized during our awards celebration.
The second day features a series of educational sessions for clinicians, educators, and public health leaders. Sessions highlight practical strategies and emerging approaches in primary care delivery, workforce well-being, community partnerships, and system-level improvement. Speakers include CHC leaders, researchers, frontline clinicians, and regional subject-matter experts.
Transforming Health Outcomes and Access through Innovation & Excellence
Award-winning poster projects at El Rio Health spotlight innovative approaches to chronic pain care, hypertension management, antibiotic stewardship, and interprofessional, team-based quality improvement.
Step into the 2025 Southwestern Primary Care Research & Innovation Summit Poster Fair, held on May 6th at the El Rio Manning House. This photo gallery captures candid moments from a vibrant afternoon of poster browsing, discussion, and connection, culminating in the selection and announcement of this year’s Poster Fair Award Winners.
We strive to feature projects, works in progress, and care delivery models that:
Fostering innovation and the exchange of ideas through interactive, discussion-based educational sessions showcasing a broad range of community-driven health initiatives that are advancing patient care and improving health outcomes across the Southwest.
Providing a platform to showcase and recognize Quality Improvement and Research through a dynamic poster fair and awards competition that emphasizes collaboration, community impact, and innovation
Celebrating future healthcare leaders’ scholarly contributions to the healthcare community and connecting learners to faculty, projects, and potential future employers at diverse healthcare sites throughout the southwest region.
