Penn Nursing Re-designated a WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Leadership
The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) has been re-designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Leadership for an additional four-year term. As a Collaborating Center, Penn Nursing commits to advancing the workplan of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) related to human resource development and the sustainable development goals (SDG’s) during each four-year cycle of work.
Under the Directorship of Penn Nursing Dean Antonia Villarruel; Co-director Eileen Lake, PhD; and with Nancy Biller as Associate Director, we will seek to increase workforce capacity to improve maternal health in Latin America and the Caribbean. The terms of reference are as follows:
- Support PAHO/WHO’s efforts to increase knowledge and understanding of maternal health and mortality.
- Support PAHO/WHO to build capacity in nursing education.
- Support PAHO/WHO to strengthen nursing research.
“Penn Nursing’s work as a WHO Collaborating Center has been central to our School’s commitment to developing nursing leaders, advancing science, and engaging in social justice—our redesignation is very meaningful,” said Villarruel. “It provides incredible opportunities to make a significant impact in the Latin American and Caribbean region and highlights Penn Nursing’s true strengths as a globally-focused health entity.”
This designation demonstrates Penn Nursing’s enduring commitment to advancing global health through nursing and midwifery leadership. Not only is Penn Nursing among the first nursing schools in the US to attain this prestigious designation, it is also the only WHO Collaborating Center at Penn.