Social Justice

Advancing Health for All

Many communities face significant challenges and conditions that adversely affect health (poor air quality, food deserts, transportation barriers, decreased opportunities to earn a living wage) and in accessing quality healthcare. At Penn Nursing, we are committed to improving health for those who need it most, ensuring that all individuals—regardless of background or circumstance—can lead healthier lives. Consistent with the Nursing Code of Ethics (ANA, 2025), we work “to enact and resource practices, policies, and legislation to promote social justice, eliminate health inequities, and facilitate human flourishing.”

A Mission of Impact

Penn Nursing Dean Antonia Villarruel

“Our mission has always been to make a meaningful impact on improving health for all,” says Antonia Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing. “We collaborate with individuals, families, healthcare systems and communities to address social and environmental drivers of health and barriers to health care.”

“Nurses play a crucial role in shaping health and health care through research, practice, education, and advocacy,” Dr. Villarruel adds. “Our faculty and students are engaged in work that enhances the overall quality of life in communities around the world.”

Student Perspective

Azucena Villalobos
Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Fellow

“I chose Penn Nursing due to the value this institution places on community engagement and social justice. It has challenged me to think critically and outside the box, and I’ve had the pleasure of learning not only from my instructors, but also from my cohort—everyone brings a multitude of experiences, ideas, and backgrounds.”

Related News

  •  
    A linograph of Minnie Hogan Clemens from the neck up. Her hair is styled in an updo and she is wearing a turtle neck.

    Who was Minnie Hogan Clemens?

    In 1888, Minnie Hogan Clemens (Dorchester) became the first Black student to attend the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Nurse Training School (HUP). In the local news coverage at the time, Clemens’ acceptance into the program was widely celebrated by the Black community as a sign of progress for Black women, who had “no opportunities for employment in factories, stores or at trades, teaching or menial service alone being open to them.”

  •  
    ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAYMOND BIESINGER

    The Path Forward

    Penn Nursing is forging a new path to a Healthier, More Equitable Future. Here’s how they plan on getting there.

  •  
    Illustrations by Jimmy Turrell

    Leading the Charge

    Faculty—both in their teaching and their research—are an increasingly vital link between nursing and social justice.

    • Show 2 more... (5 total)