Source: Dean Afaf Meleis

About 15 years ago, Latin American countries decided they wanted an opportunity to share their developing science and to form a community of scholars. What started as a small gathering fifteen years ago turned into a 650-participant gathering of the 8th Pan American Nursing Conference in Mexico in October 2002, with about ten countries represented and more than 200 papers presented. While the University of Mexico, School of Nursing was the host, three other universities from North America co-hosted it – UCSF, University of Michigan, and University of Alberta. The presentations were a reminder of the level of sophistication that nursing research has achieved.

In the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr. Julio Frank (a dear friend and colleague from our Kellogg international fellowship year), affirmed his commitment to nursing and to women and their health. Dr. Naeema Al-Gasseer, WHO nurse consultant from Geneva, unveiled the nursing strategic plan for WHO, which calls on ministers to insure that nurses are part of health policy and decision making in their countries, that nurses are treated and rewarded with equity, and that nurse-patient ratios insure quality outcomes for patients. A strategic plan for nurses and midwives is a milestone for WHO, demonstrating an unprecedented commitment to nursing. Politically savvy and cognizant of the attendees and the gathering, Dr. Al-Gasseer insured that the minister listened to these plans and all but directly asked him for his commitment. A truly significant moment in Mexican nursing!

In addition to my attendance and keynote on international partnerships for knowledge development, UPENN was represented through a research presentation by Dr. Medoff Cooper and a plenary session presentation on “nursing shortage and policy” by Dr. Julie Sochalski. PENN nursing presence was felt! The University of Mexico requested our consultation to develop their masters program; a dialogue about specifics will ensue.

The dialogues were inspiring inside the conference. However, the discussions did not end there, rather extended throughout the conference center and social activities, over sumptuous Mexican dinners and late-night margaritas. We shared the woes of shortage, the pains of having disparities in health care, the constraints in developing programs of research and, above all, the deep commitment to nursing care and nursing knowledge.

A touching moment was the standing ovation for Maricel Manfredi, a WHO-PAHO nurse consultant who retired recently. She also was our nominee for honorary fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing, which she was awarded at the last AAN annual meeting in November. We were so proud and shared in her joy.

Along with the University of Michigan and UCSF, a Penn colleague volunteered to host the next symposium in 2004, the 9th Pan American symposium.