Sharing a common commitment, distinguishing diversity

A nurse researcher who works to make the chemotherapy experience less confusing and more coordinated. A sociologist who studies population health and disparity issues among Latina and Latino families. A microbiologist and physician assistant from Uganda dedicated to teamwork and interprofessional education. A neuroscientist who studies how mindfulness and other tools can be used for health promotion.

The faculty of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing represent more than a dozen disciplines and hail from all over the U.S. and beyond. Yet, this small but unique team of 38 shares a common commitment to achieve impact, as well as improve health and health care, whether through teaching, research or practice. In less than six years, this team launched five graduate-degree programs for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse leaders, researchers and more.

Students and faculty work in care settings as diverse as small, weekly, free clinics serving Afghan refugees, large federally qualified health centers, a county-wide hospice and busy emergency rooms at academic health centers.

The school’s growing research program includes projects to improve interprofessional education regarding treatment for pain, how innovative technology might improve management of chronic disease and care coordination, and also on studies to understand how Mexican-heritage Latinas care for their elderly. This engaged and collaborative commitment to a shared goal is being achieved by a faculty that is remarkably diverse. In addition to professional, cultural, educational and gender diversity, this faculty is also diverse in all the ways that make them human as well as academic.