From analyzing COVID’s impact on health care professionals to assessing the needs of nurse educators, the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies has played an important role in supporting this hemisphere’s nursing workforce for over 15 years. The school was first designated a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre in 2008 and has since been redesignated four times consecutively.
This fourth and current redesignation period runs mid-September 2025 to mid-September 2029. This recognition reflects the school’s continuing commitment to initiatives that strengthen nursing education, leadership development, patient safety, technical expertise, research capacity, and more in the PAHO region, which includes North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.
“The School of Nursing and Health Studies is excited to announce the renewal of this prestigious recognition from PAHO/WHO,” said Dean Hudson Santos, co-director of the school’s Collaborating Centre. “We are eager to continue building bridges with our nursing partners throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.”
“Working with PAHO/WHO and our international partners to build capacity for nursing knowledge and education in the region is a privilege and a deep source of pride for me and for our many participating faculty,” said Dr. Johis Ortega, associate dean for hemispheric and global initiatives and co-director of the school’s Collaborating Centre.
A Collaborating Centre is an institution designated by the WHO Director-General as part of a global collaborative network that carries out activities in support of WHO programs. To accomplish these aims, the school is working with PAHO/WHO, its partner Collaborating Centres, Ministries of Health, and institutions of higher health care education throughout the region. The school’s 2025 PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre redesignation workplan and terms of reference are outlined below:
- Evidence-based research in nursing for Latin America and the Caribbean:
- Four-module training to build capacity and implement evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based research
- Online self-paced module and live webinars
- Writing workshop to develop skills to critically appraise quality and relevance of research evidence
- Capacity building activities on research enhancement in Public Health Research and implementation science:
- 10–12-week self-paced training with online modules, and live webinars
- 5 modules on public health challenges (SAVA+MH), equitable implementation science, intervention development, responsible-conduct research, grantsmanship, and funding strategies
- Transdisciplinary Training Education for Primary Health Care (PHC):
- 5-module package with live webinars for health care providers in Latin America
- Enhancing teamwork in primary health care
- Implementing community-oriented primary care in your practice
- Utilizing evidence-based practice
- Human Trafficking Awareness and Response:
- 4 self-paced/interactive modules to improve health care providers' ability to recognize and response to human trafficking
- Human trafficking awareness and recognition
- Trauma-informed care for survivors
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Simulation and practical application (1-week onsite and/or virtual simulation)
