Dr. Karlene Kerfoot, PhD, RN, FAAN, symplr’s beloved Chief Nursing Officer, was an influential voice in her field, contributing to over 400 articles on data-driven staffing, workforce management, leadership, and patient safety. As CNO, Karlene was pivotal in integrating the science of patient care, staffing, and clinical informatics into technology solutions that helped streamline hospital workflows. She authored a popular leadership column for Nursing Economics and served on The DAISY Foundation Board. Prior to joining symplr, Karlene was the Corporate Chief Nursing and Patient Care Officer at three of the largest US healthcare systems. She achieved her PhD from the University of Illinois, Chicago, an MA and BSN from the University of Iowa, and completed executive leadership programs at the Wharton School for Nurse Executives. She was elected as a Fellow to the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), was a Fellow of the American College of Health Data Management, and has received numerous awards and honors. In partnership with AONL and The DAISY Foundation, symplr established the Karlene Kerfoot Nursing Leadership in Technology Education Grant in honor of her passing. The grant recognizes nursing leaders for pioneering contributions advancing technology in nursing with a focus on innovation and leadership to improve patient care. Kerfoot’s contributions, including co-founding AONL’s Leadership, Innovation, and Technology Transformation (LITT) initiative in 2022, highlight her commitment to inspiring change and empowering nurses through technology.