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Penn Nursing is the #1-ranked nursing school in the world. Its highly-ranked programs help develop highly-skilled leaders in health care who are prepared to work alongside communities to tackle issues of health equity and social justice to improve health and wellness for everyone.
Penn Nursing’s rigorous academic curricula are taught by world renowned experts, ensuring that students at every level receive an exceptional Ivy League education. From augmented reality classrooms and clinical simulations to coursework that includes experiential global travel to clinical placements in top notch facilities, a Penn Nursing education prepares our graduates to lead.
Penn Global Nursing Fellowship: Alumni
Thanks to a $1 million endowment, Penn Nursing has expanded an exciting program to provide our skilled graduates and faculty with the opportunity to engage in meaningful projects that support the health-related work of global organizations committed to serving vulnerable populations.
Background
Building on the success of Penn Nursing’s first Global Nursing Fellow, who worked on a community mental health project in India in 2018, the Global Nursing Fellows Program (GNFP) catalyzes personal and professional growth and leadership to advance competitively selected projects of organizations operating in a global context. Fellowships available through the Penn Global Nursing Fellowship program have been made possible through the Beatrice Renfield Foundation and individual funders. These Fellowships provide an opportunity for extended global engagement of three months to a year, depending on the needs of the organization. Continue reading to learn about benefits, how to participate and to enjoy the stories of former Fellows.
Global Nursing Fellow Advantages
The Penn Global Nursing Fellowship Program (PGNF) was designed in response to the desire of our graduates (alumni) to engage in meaningful global health work. The PGNF program provides financial and mentoring support that allows selected alumni to make a significant contribution to a worthwhile global effort. The mechanics of the PGNF program involve matching of host-organization-specified needs with skills that can be provided by our alumni when supported by a Penn Nursing faculty mentor.
Benefits:
Real-life, often on-the-ground experience with a global organization
Exposure to another nation and culture with guidance from country hosts
Visibility of your global engagement via website and presentation platforms
Small stipend that helps to make travel possible
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</a></span><h4><a href="/live/profiles/17532-luca-koritsanszky">Luca Koritsanszky</a></h4><h2><p> This fellowship was an opportunity for me to apply my public health skills to support the field of nursing beyond the clinical setting. My favorite memory is the greater experience of watching incredible nurse leaders from low- and middle-income countries overcome immense challenges to not only complete the fellowship and grow in their leadership skills, but to support each other across the world.</p></h2>
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</a></span><h4><a href="/live/profiles/17540-barbara-doyle">Barbara Doyle</a></h4><h2><p> The fellowship gave me an opportunity to get back into nursing, support the School, and revisit global nursing from the Peace Corps work I did 30 years ago. [It] exceeded my expectations as we were really able to help shape and grow the [Partners In Health] program.</p></h2>
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</a></span><h4><a href="/live/profiles/17704-lauren-welch">Lauren Welch</a></h4><h2><p> I had previously worked in Global Public Health and was interested in returning to the work and was grateful for the opportunity to do so through a Global Nursing Fellowship. It was wonderful to work with Partners in Health – I respect the mission and organization immensely. It was valuable – and challenging - to work with a team in numerous geographic locations.</p></h2>
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</a></span><h4><a href="/live/profiles/17527-stephanie-chu">Stephanie Chu</a></h4><h2><p> I’ve had the desire to work with vulnerable, under-resourced populations in my heart ever since I decided to become a nurse in high school. I knew this fellowship would open my eyes to the world of health care outside of the U.S. and leave me with a richer perspective and the ability to help those who need it most.</p></h2>
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</a></span><h4><a href="/live/profiles/17517-alison-ercole">Alison Ercole</a></h4><h2><p> While completing my BSN, I was able to take Penn’s Comparing Health Care Systems in an Intercultural Context course with a study abroad experience in India. When I saw this [fellowship] opportunity, I went for it. The fellowship was a perfect fit because The Banyan serves women with mental health issues, and I am a Psychiatric-Mental Health NP. </p></h2>
Commitment of a Global Nursing Fellow
Fellows are terrific representatives of our formidable alumni community. When they agree to take on a given project for a given period of time, we look forward to their respect of that commitment.
Successful Host Organization Characteristics
Penn Nursing engages with host organizations that we believe can provide excellent opportunities for our Fellows. The following are characteristics we seek in a host organization.
Commitment to improving life for vulnerable populations
Possession of a track record of effective mentoring and use of resources
Reputation for positive impact on the communities they serve
Ability to propose impactful projects with opportunities for meaningful collaboration by Fellows
Capacity to provide active supervision and logistical support
How to Become a Global Nursing Fellow
At Penn Nursing, Global Health Affairs (GHA) works with Alumni Affairs to advertise opportunities offered by selected organizations.
Interested alumni should respond as quickly as possible, submitting required resumes and statements of interest, including relevant skills and availability
Replies are sent by GHA, indicating whether host organizations request an interview.
If a match is made…
Contracts / informal letter (email) agreements with the host organization and the Fellow are prepared by GHA, specifying the commitments each party is making, including:
Support offered by host organization
Stipends offered to Fellows and to Penn Nursing Mentor
Additional advice will be made available regarding travel, required visas (business visa/tourist visa) using CIBT Penn Portal, and the use ofPenn resources like My Trips and International SOS
Fellowship Period
When travel is possible, this period begins with a one-week trip by the Fellow(s) and Mentor so that the scope of the project and the on-the-ground situation can be better assessed.
The Mentor returns to the SON and the Fellow remains in country for the duration of the agreed upon period, contributing on a full-time basis to the agreed-upon activities. Note, if the Fellowship is deemed best undertaken remotely, the commitment will likely be less than full-time.
At a minimum, the Fellow(s) and Mentor meet remotely on a weekly basis for a discussion of progress, challenges, advice, and identification of needed resources for success.
It is recommended that Fellows maintain an activity log and/or reflections journal as a souvenir of the experience and reference for future talks and/or interviews.
Depending on the length of the commitment, the Fellow/Mentor may also communicate with Marketing and Communications for sharing of progress via Penn Nursing news / social media / website outlets.
End of Fellowship
Within one month of ending the Fellowship, Fellows should complete required documentation. Feedback on the Fellowship experience is welcome at the end of and throughout the engagement period.
Fellows are invited to be a resource for future Fellows and to share their experiences with the Penn Nursing community via interviews, social media, website, etc.
If the host organization and the Fellow wish to continue to collaborate beyond the Penn Global Nursing Fellowship period, it is the responsibility of those two parties to discuss the terms of that continued collaboration; e.g. a paid consultancy. That continued collaboration will no longer receive direct support from Penn Nursing.
Questions?
Please contact Penn Nursing’s Global Health Affairs office at globalhealth@nursing.upenn.edu if you need additional information.
Penn’s Global Nursing Fellowship Program adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, actively engaging remotely. Our collaboration with Partners In Health was documented in the June 2021 issue of LINKS MAGAZINE.
