At the Institute, there are many great days every year. Today was one of those days for me. It was a home run kind of day. On one of the first really beautiful
Saturdays of this spring, there was intense activity inside the IHP. The third floor of the Shouse Building was almost
vibrating with learning. In each case
the learning was voluntary
(not required) and was collaborative.
Walking down the hallway I bumped into some of our students
who are enrolled in a voluntary
medical Spanish course. This is not part
of their curriculum, but something they have taken on at their own expense so
that they can reach out and serve the large group of individuals who are
non-English speakers. I admire these
students for their dedication and for the leadership that they model for all of
us. They inspire me.
Continuing down the hallway, I strolled (by accident) into a
group of DNP students and faculty. They
are here for one of their periodic intensive weekends of study. The rest of their program is completed
online. These are nurse leaders and
executives, all with at least a masters degree,
who have voluntarily
taken on this intensive two year course of study to complete their doctoral
study in our remarkable Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Learning together, these nurse leaders are
mapping next generation practices for our ever changing and ever challenging
healthcare systems. They inspire me too.
Across the hall was my final destination for the day. I had the good fortune to attend the
completion celebration for the 13 graduates in our MS In Health Professions
program. These individuals, from the
United States, Japan, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia are all earning this voluntary post-graduate
degree. They are an interprofessional
group that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants,
pharmacists, physical therapists, and the first ever speech-language
pathologist to complete this degree at the Institute. They attended a series of on campus
activities over the past three days.
Their scholarly projects and their commitment to the education of health
professionals will change the course and the quality of education in their own
institutions and beyond. Today’s event
was made even more special because it is the last such event for Dr. Deborah
Navedo, who was one of the founders of the program and served as program
director since its first class was enrolled in 2011. These students, all busy professionals who
have completed this rigorous program of study, inspire me too. (Special congratulations to Assistant
Professor Josh Merson of our PA program, one of today’s grads).
I know I am fortunate to have my professional home in an
institution deeply committed to serving such exemplary learners, to transforming
healthcare and education, and building tomorrow’s leaders. I hope you all share my pride and
inspiration.
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