By Erica Techo
Dr. Tracie White works with educators at the University of West Indies - Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica.The UAB School of Nursing Office of Clinical and Global Partnerships builds relationships, promotes collaboration and enhances educational opportunities beyond one building or campus, and has again expanded the School’s global footprint through a memorandum of understanding and two recently completed activities with the World Health Organization Collaborating Center at the University of West Indies — Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica.
“We are committed to a close partnership with UWI, and we looked at where efforts could complement each other when deciding to enter this formal agreement,” said Associate Professor and WHOCC Deputy Director Ada Markaki, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC. “Identifying resources and strengths the Schools can share opens opportunities for both Schools’ students and faculty.”
Assistant Professors Penni Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, and Tracie White, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, CNOR, CRNFA, brought School resources to Jamaica mid-year in the form of a one-week training for UWI faculty, demonstrating how to teach with simulations and train other faculty to do the same.
“The educators saw how simple but impactful a simulation can be,” Watts said. “I think we made a significant, positive impact on their perspective of teaching modalities.”
White said they were also enriched by the enthusiasm of the educators.
Dr. Penni Watts discusses simulation with educators during a visit to UWI in Kingston, Jamaica.“Going to UWI, where there were fresh faces and you could see the changes in their teachings in a matter of days, was invigorating,” White said. “The faculty were hungry to learn and receptive to what we brought to the table. It excited me to see their enthusiasm for learning.”
Assistant Professor Rebecca Edwards, DNP, RN, AOCNP, ACNP-BC, also explored options for her PhD research while there, attending a conference and internship, building a network of contacts and identifying the country’s comprehensive palliative care needs.
“There’s a tremendous need for palliative care in Jamaica, and people I met were eager to have someone ready to tackle this important issue,” Edwards said. “My lifetime goal is to embed myself in global health, and this opportunity helps me reach that.”
The partnership will continue through online resources, including the UAB Nursing Network’s “Clinical Pearls” professional development videos and virtual debriefings.
“This will build support to sustain changes and optimize impact for UWI SON faculty and students. Sustainability is the key word for this partnership, which follows the School’s definition of global health and focus on the WHO's sustainable development goals,” Markaki said.
