The Untold Story of Henrietta Villaescusa: A Hispanic Nurse Trailblazer Advancing Health Equity

Henrietta Villaescusa, RN, FAAN, a pioneering Hispanic nurse, dedicated her career to advancing health equity for Latino communities. Through her tireless efforts in government, healthcare, and community activism, Villaescusa left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire nurses and policymakers today. A new article – just published in Nursing Outlook – written by Penn Nursing Dean Antonia Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Professor of Nursing Julie Fairman, PhD, RN, FAAN, examines Villaescusa’s career and the factors influencing her impact across government, health, and nursing sectors.

Penn Nursing Dean Named to Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives Class of 2024

Penn Nursing is proud to announce that Penn Nursing Dean Antonia M. Villarruel was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2024. The profiles of all the honorees are featured in the June 10, 2024, issue of MH magazine.

Director of Harvard Global Nursing Leadership Program to be 2024 Penn Nursing Commencement Speaker

Stephanie Ferguson, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Director of the Harvard Global Nursing Leadership Program and Professor of the Practice of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will serve as the 2024 Penn Nursing commencement speaker.

Penn Nursing Receives $1 Million Grant to Support Nursing Education

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) has received a $1 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF, a donor-advised fund established by Philanthropists William (Bill) E. Conway Jr., co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, and his wife, Joanne. The couple have given millions to support nursing education and scholarships to address the nation’s nursing workforce shortage.

Penn Nursing Launches New Masters-Entry Program

Penn Nursing’s new Master of Professional Nursing (MPN) degree offers students with a bachelor’s degree in another field an exciting alternative path to a career in nursing. This entry-level nursing program, offered at the graduate level, prepares students to deliver a full array of health care services to meet the demands of patients and families with increasingly complex health needs.

Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania Partners with Gaingels to Devote Five Million Dollars in Research that Supports Advances in LGBTQ+ Health Start-ups

The Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) is partnering with Gaingels, an LGBTQIA+/Allies private investment syndicate, to provide their portfolio of companies access to Penn’s academic research to make an impact into the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities.

US News & World Report Ranks Penn Nursing BSN Program # 1 in the Nation

PHILADELPHIA (September 13, 2021) – Penn Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the number one undergraduate nursing program in the nation according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. What makes this designation even more special is that this is the first year the national magazine has ranked undergraduate nursing programs and Penn Nursing takes the top spot.

Penn Nursing Offering Free Online Transitional Care Course to Clinicians

Penn Nursing is offering a free course on transitional care, “Advancing High Quality Care: The Transitional Care Model”. The course – being offered for free now through December 31, 2021 – is designed for nurses and other health care professionals seeking to improve care systems through application of the Transitional Care Model (TCM). TCM is proven in multiple NIH funded clinical trials to improve the health outcomes of older adults coping with complex care needs while reducing health care costs. This introductory learning opportunity connects clinicians and clinical leaders with the evidence to advance meaningful and measurable change in their organizations and communities. Click here to learn more and register. Use code ASPIRE21TCM (case sensitive) to access the course for free.

Penn Nursing Dean to Chair National Committee

Antonia Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, will Chair the second phase of the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Culture of Health Program (CoHP) Advisory Committee, which engages a diverse group of experts/advisors to provide strategic guidance to ensure the CoHP meets its intended aims. Her term runs from 2021 through 2023.

Re-envisioning the Nursing PhD Degree

The PhD degree prepares nurse scientists to advance knowledge through research that improves health, translates into policy, and enhances education. However, as the role of the nurse has changed, and health care has grown more complex, there is a need to re-envision how PhD programs can attract, retain, and create the nurse-scientists of the future and improve patient care.

For the Sixth Consecutive Year, Penn Nursing is # 1 in the World

Since 2016, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) has been the #1 nursing school in the world. Penn Nursing again retains the top spot for 2021 according to a recent ranking by QS World University. The rankings highlight the world’s top universities in 51 different subject areas based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact.

Miyamoto to be 2020 Penn Nursing Commencement Speaker

Suzanne Miyamoto, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer of the American Academy of Nursing, will be the 2020 Penn Nursing commencement speaker. The ceremony, which will be virtual due to the coronavirus, will take place on Monday, May 18th at 3pm. Details about the virtual event, including a link to the livestream, can be found at www.nursing.upenn.edu/commencement2020.

Penn Nursing Offering New Telehealth Online Course Free to All Healthcare Providers

During these times of uncertainty, we’re all having to change what we do and how we do it—including health care providers who have had to swiftly migrate to telehealth to offer care that doesn’t require patients to travel and visit crowded facilities for treatment. To help meet this urgent need, Penn Nursing is offering its new online training in best practices for telehealth to all health care providers, free of charge, and each completed course provides 2 CEUs.

Penn Nursing Ranked #1 Nursing School for Fifth Straight Year

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) continues its streak of being the number one nursing school in the world according to a recent ranking by QS World University. The rankings highlight the world’s top universities in 48 different subject areas based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact. This is the fifth consecutive year that Penn Nursing has taken the top spot.

José A. Bauermeister, PhD, Appointed Chair of Penn Nursing’s Department of Family and Community Health

José A. Bauermeister, PhD, MPH, Presidential Professor of Nursing, will be the next Chair of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing’s (Penn Nursing) Department of Family and Community Health, effective July 1, 2020.

Daron G. Ferris, MD, to Receive 2020 Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health

Daron G. Ferris, MD, the Founder of CerviCusco, will receive the 2020 Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health for his dedication to cervical cancer prevention among the indigenous women in Cusco, Peru. Ferris created CerviCusco, a non-profit organization that ensures all women, including those with limited economic resources, have access to high quality and affordable health education and care, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. Ferris will receive the award – which comes with a $100,000 cash prize – during an event at the University of Pennsylvania on April 23, 2020.

2020 is the Year of the Nurse and Midwife

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 to be the Year of the Nurse and Midwife and Penn Nursing is joining in on the celebration. We want to help the public – in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond – better understand the impact these professions have on health and health care.