Recently, UC Davis Health CEO David Lubarsky outlined a blueprint for building the next generation of UC Davis Health for the next five to 10 years and beyond.
At the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, our sights are laser-focused on how we complement the health system’s vision and multiply its impact for the individuals, families and communities we serve.
Our new strategic plan capitalizes on our strengths, leverages opportunities to optimize health for all, and bolsters our collaboration across the health system.
It begins with how we educate the next generation of health care providers, researchers and educators. We must ensure that future nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants (P.A.s) and nursing researchers experience the most innovative technology in their coursework, and encounter the most diverse populations and environments in their clinical rotations.
We take the innovation bred through the pandemic and apply it to future education in ways that better prepare students for the evolving state of health care. Earning a top-25 national ranking in our first decade speaks to our reputation for producing transformative nursing leaders, which is evident in our more than 700 alumni.
Diversity not only lies in the experiences we provide our students, but also in the experiences they bring with them upon matriculation. In June, 68% of our
newest P.A., nursing and nurse practitioner students are first generation. Of our certified P.A. alumni in the Class of 2020, Black and Hispanic graduates represent roughly double the national averages.
Our value of cultural inclusiveness goes beyond the numbers. I’m proud that the School of Nursing’s Piri Ackerman-Barger and Jann Murray-García (and our alumni) lead Anti-racism and Cultural Humility Training at UC Davis Health and for School of Nursing faculty.
We strengthen community partnerships where engagement improves health. This includes supporting rural health care providers, increasing opportunities for students to work with the underserved, and boosting referral patterns that benefit UC Davis Health.
In the past year, the School of Nursing has brought more value to UC Davis Health’s delivery of care than ever before. As providers and preceptors, our faculty increase our integration within the health system. Our nurse practitioners and P.A.s care for patients and expand access in clinics within the UC Davis Health network.
These providers also play a major role in the new Healthy Aging Clinic at UC Davis Health, the multispecialty clinic designed for older adults and their caregivers. The clinic will serve as a site for students to learn better how we care for older adults in community.
Our contribution complements traditional clinical care thanks to the expertise of the Family Caregiving Institute. Nursing caregiving experts consult with family caregivers who care for their aging family member in decline. Our interprofessional team, led by institute director Terri Harvath, currently consults caregivers and will soon launch decisional support for the dilemmas that caregivers face.
From providing direct services to caregivers to brokering international discussion on caregiving, our Family Caregiving Institute is poised to drive major research and policy advocacy to positively affect the more than 40 million caregivers in the U.S. Currently, institute researchers Heather M. Young and Janice Bell lead the evaluation of the $30 million California state investment to expand services and support for family caregivers.
In addition to our growing cadre of faculty with geriatrics expertise, our research program expands to include health equity research.
Our best is yet to come — here in Sacramento, throughout California and across the nation.
Next-generation education. Diverse and inclusive approaches. Innovative partnerships. Amplified collaboration. Unparalleled leadership. The School of Nursing serves a unique role at UC Davis Health. We’re honored to bring our unique lens and expertise to the table to partner with you, as we achieve all that’s possible at UC Davis Health.
