USF Nursing makes global impact

USF College of Nursing is transforming healthcare globally. And that’s evident through the college’s partnerships, global summer programs and research in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Making an international impact is one of the college’s biggest priorities. Associate dean of faculty affairs and community engagement, Connie Visovsky, PhD,  and instructor, Stephen McGhee, MSc, lead those efforts at USF Nursing.

“The global activities at the USF Nursing are a critical component to the development of Florida’s nursing workforce,” Dr. Visovsky said. “As a nursing college,our goal is to embrace a global culture, enhance partnerships and increase engagement in communities abroad to help achieve student success.”

In collaboration with global university partners, every summer, USF Nursing provides a global community health experience in Scotland, Panama and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Faculty and students spend an intense two-week trip in each country to provide care for local communities.

This gives students an opportunity to learn about global healthcare and also use their skills to provide various health services for patients of all ages in the rural areas of Chitre, St. Croix and Stirling.

“This experience allows students to learn about global issues impacting the health of populations abroad, and how nursing can positively intervene to enhance the patient outcomes,” Dr. Visovsky said.

For the first time in 2015, the college also hosted the first Joining Forces to Restore Lives conference in Cumbria, United Kingdom in partnership with University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). The event brought together international leaders in military and veterans’ research, education and social care to help support veterans, service members and their families.

Dr. Visovsky along with Denise Maguire, PhD, associate professor, and Cheryl Zambroski, PhD, associate professor and director of undergraduate student success, traveled to Panama to attend the country’s first ever national education for evidence-based practice and research conference. This opportunity was initiated by one of the college biggest partners: University of Panama (UP). The college has collaborated with UP for almost ten years.

Global partnerships have also encouraged research collaborations. Several USF Nursing faculty and leaders have expanded their research abroad. The college’s life-changing research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for veterans and service members is one of them. After successful results in the United States, the research is being tested in military and service members in Scotland, in collaboration with University of Stirling.

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