If you work in physician staffing, the NALTO/NAPR Annual Convention isn’t just another date on the calendar.
It’s the place where the locum tenens industry shows up, compares notes, talks shop, and does some of its best networking all year.
After a sunny stop in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, last year, the convention heads west in 2026, landing at the Bellagio in Las Vegas from February 4–6. Yes, the location alone is a draw. But the real reason people keep coming back is the mix of smart programming, candid conversations, and social events that actually feel worth your time.
Whether you’re on the fence about attending or already booking flights and blocking your calendar, here’s a closer look at what’s on tap in Vegas.
An Electric Agenda Awaits
The 2026 NALTO/NAPR Annual Convention kicks off Wednesday, February 4, with the President’s Welcome Reception and Exhibit Hall Grand Opening from 6–7 p.m. It’s the first chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, and ease into the week before the schedule fills up.
Thursday morning gets rolling after breakfast and registration, with sessions starting at 9 a.m. The opening keynote is delivered by Dr. Amy Gutman, whose talk, From Burnout to Breakthrough: Resuscitating the Human Side of Staffing, sets the tone for the day. Drawing on more than 30 years in emergency medicine, metabolic health, and executive leadership, Dr. Gutman delivers a candid, high-energy look at how staffing leaders can rebuild energy, performance, and connection across their teams. Expect a mix of tough truths, practical takeaways, and science-backed strategies you can actually use.
At 11 a.m., NALTO takes the stage for a panel titled Mitigating Risk While Mobilizing Talent: Trends in Credentialing. NALTO President Liz Hale (MPLT Healthcare) is joined by Karen Hayes (Hayes Locums), Caroline Strickland (Jackson & Coker), and Stephanie Castor (CHG Healthcare), with Ethan McWilliams (Wilderness Medical Staffing) moderating. The group will dig into how organizations are adapting credentialing processes as demand for temporary staffing continues to grow and timelines get tighter.
After award presentations and a refreshment break, the afternoon wraps with a 4:30 p.m. keynote from Dr. Andrew Anderson, The Future of Physician Work: What Membership Medicine Means for Recruiters. Dr. Anderson brings a physician’s perspective to the rise of membership medicine and what those shifts could mean for recruiters and staffing leaders.
Thursday evening ends on a lighter note with a networking social event starting at 6 p.m. There will be good food, a Vegas-inspired atmosphere, and plenty of room to unwind and keep the conversations going.
Friday’s schedule starts at 8 a.m. with Breakfast with Exhibitors, followed by the convention’s final session, Leadership Unplugged: An Open Forum with NALTO and NAPR Leaders. It’s a last chance to hear directly from association leadership, ask questions, and leave with a few final takeaways before heading home.
Connections Are Where the Real Value Shows Up
Let’s be honest. While the sessions matter, one of the biggest reasons people keep coming back to the NALTO/NAPR Annual Convention is the networking. There aren’t many places where you can have real, unhurried conversations with so many industry leaders, peers, and partners under one roof.
Attendees often point to these smaller, more personal interactions as the highlight of the event. It’s a welcome change from Zoom calls and oversized conferences where meaningful conversations are harder to come by.
Register now for the 2026 NALTO/NAPR Annual Convention.
