The University of Miami School of Nursing & Health Studies (SONHS) is excited to announce that Cynthia Foronda, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, ANEF, is the recipient of an educational change award for 2018 from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. Foronda is the first-ever Macy Faculty Scholars Program Award recipient from SONHS. Her appointment begins September 1, 2018.
Foronda, an associate professor of clinical, is a pediatric nurse who studies simulation, cultural humility, patient safety, and technology. As a faculty member, she teaches pedagogy, research, and translational science to doctoral students. She is also president-elect of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning.
“Macy Faculty Scholars are paving the way for health professions education reform. Dr. Foronda’s project to teach family caregivers of young asthma patients, future nurses and other health professionals how to apply simulation and telehealth technology to improve patient and family health outcomes is an example of the innovations we need in order to meet the public’s changing health care needs,” said Holly Humphrey, MD, MACP, president of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.
The Macy Faculty Scholars Program—the first of its kind—launched in December 2010. The program aims to accelerate needed reforms in health professions education to accommodate the dramatic changes occurring in medical practice and healthcare delivery. Each Macy Faculty Scholar engages in activities to enhance their career as an educator, as well as pursuing a mentored educational innovation project at their home institution. Foronda’s selection as one of five 2018 Faculty Scholars was announced Wednesday, July 11, 2018.
“We’re delighted by this fantastic news from the Macy Foundation,” said Cindy L. Munro, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, FAAAS, dean and professor at SONHS. “The Caregiver Academy project that Dr. Foronda is developing holds great promise for helping family caregivers and improving outcomes for chronically ill children. The Foundation’s recognition and support will help propel Dr. Foronda to the next level as a driver of change whose bold vision for simulation teaching and research will greatly benefit the community at large. This award offers a tremendous opportunity for her and for the SONHS.”
Under the program, Scholars receive support of up to $100,000 per year over two years, spending at least 50 percent of their time pursuing education reform projects at their institution. The Foundation will develop a national network for the Scholars and provide career advice from a National Advisory Committee. Scholars participate in an Annual Meeting for the program and are part of the family of Macy Faculty Scholars for the remainder of their careers.
“This award is so exciting as it will provide mentorship for career development and support the creation of a new model of clinical education that not only bridges education with patient outcomes but also focuses on an often-overlooked area in our current healthcare system—that of caregiver education,” said Foronda. “This funding will enable us to help low-income family caregivers of children with asthma in our community by connecting them with our students and faculty through the use of simulation and telehealth.”
Complete list of the 2018 Class of Macy Faculty Scholars: http://macyfoundation.org/macy-scholars/meet-the-scholars.
About the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation
Since 1930, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation has worked to improve health care in the United States. Founded by Kate Macy Ladd in memory of her father, prominent businessman Josiah Macy Jr., the Foundation supports projects that broaden and improve health professional education. It is the only national foundation solely dedicated to this mission. Visit the Macy Foundation at macyfoundation.org and follow on Twitter at @macyfoundation.
About the School of Nursing & Health Studies
Established as Florida’s first collegiate nursing program in 1948, the School of Nursing & Health Studies has a distinguished tradition of preparing nurses and other health professionals to provide compassionate, quality care to local, national and international communities. Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels are educated by renowned scholars, exposed to a broad range of clinical experiences and cutting-edge research, and expertly trained within the 41,000-square-foot Simulation Hospital. The School has provided diverse educational opportunities for over 7,000 professionals at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels, with degree programs leading to the BSN, MSN, PhD and DNP, as well as the BSHS (Bachelor of Science in Health Science) and BSPH (Bachelor of Science in Public Health). Visit the School at miami.edu/sonhs and follow on Twitter at @UMiaminursing.
