The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) and the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) are collaborating on a cross-cultural curriculum focused on patient safety and the role of health care professionals during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Dr. Johis Ortega, associate dean for Hemispheric and Global Initiatives at SONHS and associate professor of clinical, announced the grant from the Department of State’s United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Funding will support facilities, materials, and other items needed to implement this inaugural program for up to 20 undergraduate nursing students from each university. The three-credit elective will be offered for the Spring 2021 semester in synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning environments.
“Our nursing students at SONHS will work alongside their counterparts in the Dominican Republic to learn about global health care and the role of nursing during the current COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dr. Ortega. “This program will provide a platform to prepare a new generation of competent health care professionals who will make a positive impact in health care to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.”
The project marks the start of an official relationship between SONHS and UASD, the Dominican Republic’s largest public university. “This multi-institutional collaboration grew out of the Florida-Dominican Republic Higher Education Summit, hosted by the U.S. Embassy, that Dr. Ortega and I attended in Santo Domingo last November,” explains SONHS Dean Cindy L. Munro. “We look forward to growing our hemispheric partnership with the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo as we share expertise in disaster preparedness and response, and simulation education.”
Over the course of the semester, participants will complete 11 progressive patient safety modules, attend three webinars, and gain up-to-date knowledge on patient safety procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic from practicing health care professionals at both institutions. In addition, students will acquire cross-cultural, bilingual experience by working together in small groups on their final presentations, which will be live-streamed at SONHS and UASD during the course’s concluding seminar.
“After several years of doing outreach in the Dominican Republic, we have identified with our institutional partners the need for nursing education development in some specific areas,” says Dr. Ortega. “We are very excited to be joining with Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo on our first grant to support nursing education in their country. This grant will undoubtedly open doors to ongoing collaboration, consulting, and curriculum development between our two institutions.”
The School of Nursing and Health Studies is a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Human Resources Development and Patient Safety. This new course builds on an existing patient safety course Ortega developed for the PAHO/WHO portal. Available in English and Spanish, the original course has been completed and evaluated by over 13,000 nurses and nursing students worldwide. Visit pahowho.sonhs.miami.edu for more information.
