Global Public Health Program Begins Exciting Program Year

WCU faculty coordinators (back row) Melissa Cebedo; Panama, Cheryl Rojas; Belize and Maribeth McKinney; Spain; (front row) Liliana Bovaird; Argentina and Eva Artates; Korea.

West Coast University’s Global Public Health Program held their Faculty Coordinator Orientation in late August to kick off planning for the 2015-16 academic year.

Upcoming Global Public Health Programs

• Fall II: Belize

• Spring I: Spain

• Spring II: Panama

• Summer: Korea

“We have an exciting year of programs ahead for the Global Public Health programs and I want to thank the coordinators for their work making these programs great for the students,” said Tina Newton, University Director for International Education.

Five Global Public Health Programs are available for West Coast University students to join in 2015-16 academic year. The application is open by individual session to BSN students taking Public Health.

Several faculty coordinators have experience in the International Education Programs at WCU. Professor Artates and Rojas participated in the Oxford Honors program and Professor McKinney has led GPH-Panama before. Each faculty coordinator is responsible for Pre-Departure Orientation facilitation support, a PowerPoint presentation that will be facilitated during the program in the country and facilitation of the NURS 340 Theory course. Fifty-three students participated in the GPH program during the past academic year and the same numbers are expected for the upcoming year.

“The Global Public Health program allows our students to truly appreciate how one can do much with little, as far as resources are concerned,” Bethany Thrasher, WCU International Education faculty manager, said. “Our students gain a keen understanding of the importance of culturally sensitivity and how a smile or a gentle touch can truly change a patient’s attitude for the better.”

Thrasher added that “the leadership skills gained in participation with the Global Public Health programs are something that many employers are looking for in new graduate nurses.”

For more information on the upcoming programs, visit WCU’s International Education program.

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