Thailand
Diana Baptiste
This summer, Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah and I had the privilege of completing a two-week visiting professorship at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Nursing in Salaya, Thailand, hosted by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing alum Dr. Thitipong Tankumpuan. It was an enriching experience, full of knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Dr. Commodore-Mensah, recently appointed Associate Dean for Research at JHSON, led insightful workshops on grant writing and crafting NIH biosketches, tailored for the faculty and PhD students. She also shared her groundbreaking epidemiology research, “Nurse-led Community Engaged Research to Improve Cardiovascular Health,” with cardiovascular nurses at Siriraj Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine in Bangkok.
As the Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Open, I focused on leading workshops that emphasized writing for publication, guiding students and faculty on how to effectively disseminate their research in high-impact scientific journals. Additionally, I taught a lecture on cultural diversity in research and facilitated a workshop on quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and research design.
Dr. Tankumpuan, the Associate Dean for Research at Mahidol University, plays a pivotal role in the MU-JHU NCDs Research Collaborative Center. This center, established through a partnership between MU Dean Ameporn and former JHSON Dean Patricia Davidson, is dedicated to fostering and sustaining research collaborations between both institutions. It supports the education, training, and mentoring of new investigators, provides comprehensive administrative and mentoring services, and disseminates findings and resources on a global scale.
Our time in Thailand was a testament to the power of global collaboration in nursing research and education, and I look forward to continuing this valuable partnership.
Singapore
After completing a fulfilling visiting professorship in Thailand, I set off on my next adventure to Singapore. There, I had the distinct honor of presiding over the Opening Plenary Session at the Sigma Theta Tau International’s 35th International Nursing Research Congress. As a Director on Sigma’s Board of Directors, I had the pleasure of welcoming over 900 in-person attendees and more than 250 virtual participants to the five-day conference.
The event was a vibrant gathering of nursing professionals from around the globe, featuring countless posters, podium presentations, and continuing education programs. It was inspiring to see the wealth of knowledge and passion that filled the conference halls.
During the congress, I also had the opportunity to present our latest research alongside my colleague, Dr. Tamar Rodney. We shared insights from our recently published paper, “Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus Among Haitian Americans: A Hidden Epidemic,” in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. This prevalence study, led by Dr. Balkys Bivins, a lecturer at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Sciences and a proud JHSON alum, was also co-authored by JHSON PhD candidate Brenice Duroseau.
The congress was a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of global conversations in advancing nursing research and practice. I left Singapore feeling inspired and excited about the future of our profession.
Reflections from Australia and Ireland
Yvonne-Commodore-Mensah
I recently had the incredible opportunity to share my research on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a particular focus on applying cultural humility to achieve cultural safety. Drawing on the seminal work of Professor Cynthia Foronda, formerly of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) and now at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Sciences, I was able to present these insights to a global audience of cardiovascular research colleagues at the Cardiovascular Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) 2024 conference.
Being invited as a speaker at CSANZ was an honor, especially alongside such esteemed Australian colleagues and heavy hitters in the cardiovascular research world. I was thrilled to share the stage with former Dean of JHSON, Professor Patricia Davidson, Professor Caleb Ferguson, Professor Rochelle Wynne, and JHSON alum Dr. Nilfuer McKay. The exchange of ideas was rich and invigorating, underscoring the importance of cultural safety in our field.
By the end of the summer, my journey took me to Dublin, Ireland, where I had the privilege of delivering a keynote speech at the University College Dublin School of Midwifery and Health Systems (UCDMHS) 2nd Annual International Conference. In my talk, I emphasized the need for an inclusive strategy in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease—the world’s biggest killer. We must ensure that our approaches are equitable and culturally sensitive to make a real impact.
One moment that particularly resonated with me was a tweet from Assistant Professor Dr. Maria Hayes of UCDMHS. She highlighted my discussion on cultural safety, noting, “The presentation about cultural safety was a serious reminder of how our glossy education leaflets may be worthless once a patient exits the hospital. Patients may not have access to fundamental needs and services, as basic as a shop that sells fruit and veg. An eye-opener for sure.”
The conversations that unfolded during these conferences—centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare systems—were truly inspiring. Engaging with faculty and students sparked great discussions and opened doors to potential collaborative research with this amazing group of nurse leaders and scholars. I’m excited about the possibilities that lie ahead!
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About the Authors:
Dr. Diana Baptiste is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and specializes in cardiovascular care and prevention. She focuses on cardiovascular health across the care continuum for underserved populations, grounded in responding to social justice issues influencing health outcomes.
Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah is an Assistant Professor and the Associate Dean for Research at the Johns Hopkins school of Nursing. Her research focuses on reducing cardiovascular disease risk among African populations both in the United States and Africa through community-engaged research and implementation science.
