"Our graduates - future leaders - must understand different health care systems, debate the merits of the different theories of illness and recovery driven by different value systems and cultures, select care practices based on evidence that is tested in different countries, value diversity of thought and interpretations, and be enriched by different perspectives. We want our nursing science to influence and be influenced by fundamental and translational research conducted in other countries." --- Dean Afaf Meleis

Educating our students to be well-informed citizens who understand global trends and appreciate international perspectives requires faculty members who have international experiences and a university that values our Penn Nursing global mission.

Our international students are a true asset to our educational program and Penn students who travel abroad to participate in exchange programs and leadership forums return transformed, personally and professionally. The become strong advocates for international programs and better critical thinkers about our national policies.

Building on our history in international nursing, we are forging forward in building an international presence to help decrease suffering, foster peaceful coexistence, and thus, in small ways, bring peace to the world. Nursing matters in foreign policy.