Continuing the momentum of global work, the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) welcomed three distinguished faculty members this week from The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong to discuss doctoral nursing programs. They also met with LHSON faculty who conduct research in the cardiovascular, gerontology, and long term care areas, plus visited chronic illness care clinics operated by nurse practitioners, meeting with clinical researchers in these clinics.
“The continued outreach through study and missions abroad is an important pillar of our mission at LHSON,” said Dr. Shelley F. Conroy, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, Dean and Professor, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing and Inaugural Dean, Baylor University Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. “The global need for highly qualified nurses is growing and it is inspiring to see the opportunity to immerse our students in other cultures to develop their awareness of global health nursing in other cultures and share the gift of Baylor with exchange students and fellow nursing colleagues.”
“We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to share strategies for expanding our research profile and to discuss potential collaborative endeavors,” said Dr. Tanya Sudia, Ph.D., RN, Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing.
Baylor’s global collaboration with Hong Kong was sparked in 2012 when the senior leadership of Baylor University traveled to Hong Kong for an exploratory trip. In 2013 LHSON offered a faculty led May study-abroad trip to Hong Kong, China along with five students who completed Complementary Therapies and Traditional Chinese Medicine during their visit. The course was hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with visits to The Nethersole School of Nursing, the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hong Kong Baptist Hospital. In November 2014, LHSON hosted six exchange students from The Chinese University in Hong Kong for three weeks.
“We have had an outpouring of support by the LHSON faculty, the Dean’s Board, the clinical community and Baylor Healthcare System,” said Lori A. Spies PhD, RN, NP-C, Coordinator Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Missions Coordinator, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing. “We are also appreciative to the Baylor University Bookstore that generously donated scrubs for the exchange students and Baylor t-shirts.” “There is incredible collaboration in research to support future endeavors,” said Dr. Spies.
The exchange students enriched their education with the opportunity to attend LHSON lecture classes and the simulation lab, as well as spend time with faculty and graduate students. They visited healthcare facilities and community organizations in Dallas such as: Baylor University Medical Center, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Our Children’s House – Baylor Health Care System, Dallas Life Foundation, and Cornerstone Baptist Church. Other highlights included: exploring the Dallas Arts District and Klyde Warren Park, traveling to Waco to tour Baylor University and attend a football game, relaxing at the private home of Baylor alums at Possum Kingdom Lake; enjoying dinner at Edgemere in Preston Hollow with Baylor donors John and Marie Chiles; and serving as the distinguished guests at a luncheon hosted by Sigma Theta Tau International on Global Health. Additionally, the LHSON Global Health Care & Missions class hosted a special event for fellow students, faculty and prospective graduate nursing students with a guest lecture by Gabe Hernandez, a missionary to Sierra Leone. The event included a presentation by the exchange students about nursing in China.