Shaping the Future Together

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis is more than a place of education. It is where we conceive a bold health workforce plan to prepare the next generation of nurses, physician assistants, nursing scientists and health professionals to care for families and communities. This year, we began an important refresh of our three-year strategic plan.

Last month, more than 150 faculty, staff and leaders gathered for a daylong retreat to chart our direction. It was the culmination of months long work, led by the UC Davis Health Strategy Team, to identify where we want to lead in the future while maintaining our mission first envisioned by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The energy was inspiring. People shared ideas, built new connections and created a vision that reflects who we are today and where we want to go tomorrow.

Innovation for a changing health care landscape

Health care is changing quickly. Our plan emphasizes preparing students to thrive in new care environments, from AI-enabled tools to advanced surgical centers such as our 48X Complex. Our new strategic plan calls us to move beyond adoption, positioning our school as a catalyst for innovation — working alongside industry and health systems to shape the future of care.

Addressing health care needs at home and around the world

Our vision for transforming health care calls for stronger global and local partnerships. We know we hold the expertise and vision to make meaningful strides in health equity across settings. Our ties with community clinics and public health departments show what is possible when we learn and serve together.

At the same time, we are growing to meet urgent workforce needs. This year we launched the first Doctor of Nursing Practice — Nurse Anesthesia program in the University of California system. We also earned long-term accreditations for our academic programs and welcomed faculty who will expand research in healthy aging and caregiving. We are positioned to support UC Davis Health’s goals creating a regional care system that reaches more people, delivers great experiences, tackles health disparities and grows patient-focused programs with strong partners.

Investing in people and belonging

Our people are the heart of our mission. Supporting the growth, well-being and sense of belonging of our faculty and staff is a top priority. When our teams feel connected and valued, our students, patients and communities benefit.

This plan is grounded in what makes our school strong: teaching, research and clinical practice that serve UC Davis Health and beyond. It is also shaped by the voices of our greater UC Davis community. Listening sessions and surveys gave us honest feedback about how to improve communication, celebrate success and expand partnerships.

Building a bold future together

This is an exciting time for the School of Nursing. Our plan is bold because our people are capable, committed and passionate about making a difference. We look forward to working with you, our health system partners, to bring this vision to life.

I invite you to look for new ways to partner with us and contribute to the success of the School of Nursing. Together, we can build a stronger, healthier and more equitable future