In November 2025, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KP NCAL) played a pivotal leadership role at the Caritas Community Conference, hosted by the Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI) in Deerfield Beach, Florida. As the largest WCSI affiliate and a proud conference sponsor, KP NCAL reinforced its longstanding commitment to advancing Caring Science. The annual gathering brought together Caring Science leaders, scholars, clinicians, and educators from around the world to deepen collective learning and advance the integration of Caring Science into practice, education, and leadership.
KP NCAL’s leadership presence was evident throughout the event. Jim D’Alfonso, DNP, RN, PhD(h), NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, served in his capacity as a WCSI Board Member, while Rayne Soriano, Ph.D., RN, NE-BC, FADLN, contributed as a WCSI Board Ambassador—both embodying Kaiser Permanente’s sustained commitment to stewarding Caring Science at strategic and operational levels.
A highlight of the conference was the Faculty Day Away, where Faculty from the KP Caritas Coach Education Program (CCEP) joined colleagues from across the WCSI community. Together, they reflected on the remarkable global growth and maturation of Caritas Coaches. This dedicated gathering honored the expanding faculty pipeline and underscored the shared responsibility of cultivating intentional caring practices within complex health systems.
The conference also showcased the worldwide momentum of Caring Science, with powerful examples presented by Caritas communities across Latin America, Europe, and Africa. These international perspectives highlighted the universality of Caring Science principles and their adaptability across cultures, care environments, and resource settings.
Academic–practice partnerships were another central theme. Soriano participated in a national panel focused on successful integration of Caring Science within academic-practice collaborations, sharing KP NCAL’s experience embedding Caring Science into leadership development, research, education, and clinical practice. This dialogue emphasized the vital role of nursing leaders in bridging scholarship and practice to build sustainable, values-driven systems of care.
A moment of celebration came with the presentation of the WCSI LOTUS Award. Kaiser Permanente Greater Sacramento Home Health and Hospice was honored as the first program worldwide to receive this distinction in a home health and hospice setting — affirming the reach of Caring Science beyond traditional inpatient environments and illustrating the transformative impact of intentional caring across the continuum of care.
The 2025 Caritas Community Conference reaffirmed Kaiser Permanente Northern California Nursing’s sustained leadership in advancing Caring Science locally, nationally, and globally. It further strengthened a collective commitment to human flourishing, equity, and compassionate care.