College of Nursing will Host a Day of Celebration Saturday, April 6
Villanova University College of Nursing Celebrates 60th Anniversary
VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova University College of Nursing will hold a conference in celebration of its 60th anniversary Saturday, April 6. Titled, “Partners in Advancing Global Health: Educating the Next Generation,” the event will feature two distinguished keynote speakers as well as a number of break-out sessions focused on topics such as global healthcare and international health concerns. The speeches and sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center, located on Villanova’s Main Campus.
Since it celebrated its 50th Anniversary, the College has launched several initiatives. They include: the BSNExpress Program, a 14-month course of study that incorporates all the standard components of the traditional Bachelor of Science program in a concentrated and accelerated timeframe; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a practice-focused doctoral program designed to prepare Post Master’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to lead innovation in nursing practice and healthcare; the MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education (COPE), an education and research initiative that promotes healthy weight management as well as the prevention and reduction of obesity-related diseases; and the Center for Global and Public Health launched in 2010 and which addresses health-related factors important to the quality of life in various regions of the world and among various populations across the United States.
The “Partners in Advancing Global Health: Education the Next Generation” conference will feature keynote speeches from two renowned healthcare professionals. Louis Hugo Francescutti, MD, PhD, MPH, FRCPC, FACPM, a leader in the field of public health and safety, will open the program with a presentation titled “Let’s Get Rid of the Patient.” For over 25 years, Francescutti has spearheaded a number of public safety awareness initiatives and campaigns, including the development of an award-winning multimedia injury prevention program for teens called HEROES. He also created an innovative emergency medical response computer program that helps emergency responders better treat and track injuries at the scene.
Naeema al-Gasseer, PhD, FAAN, a nurse and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Assistant Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region and WHO’s representative in Egypt, will deliver a lecture titled, “Building Evidence in Partnership Towards a Healthy Population in a Changing Environment.” In her talk, al-Gasseer will share stories about her work in Africa and the Arab Spring. During al-Gasseer’s time as WHO Assistant Regional Director in Cairo, she led the development of health strategy research and coordinated emergency response to countries in the region. Al-Gasseer was the first Arab to receive the honorary award of Doctorate of Science (DSci) from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland and has also received the American Academy of Nursing Fellowship Award.
In addition to the keynote speeches, break-out sessions and panels will discuss topics such as primary care and health promotion in Chulucanas, Peru; environment-related health problems in North America; delivering care to the disenfranchised in Duran, South Africa; and a panel discussion by international students.
Saturday evening the College celebrates its 60th Anniversary Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony. The 60th Anniversary Medallion will be given to the Connelly Foundation and to alumna Helene Moriarty Cincotta, PhD, nurse researcher at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's five colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing and the Villanova University School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.
Contact:
Emily Walsh
Media Relations Coordinator
Villanova University
(610) 519-5152
emily.walsh@villanova.edu