From international collaborations on planetary health and albinism research, to advancing person-centered health care in Canada, TWU School of Nursing faculty, students, and graduates are actively contributing to the well-being of our societies.
TWU celebrates national nursing week
During National Nursing Week (May 6–12, 2024), we celebrate the achievements of TWU nurses and express deep appreciation for their ongoing work in transforming the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
Here are several recent highlights:
Contributing to the nation's health care needs
TWU's School of Nursing has been preparing nursing graduates of excellence for over 30 years. Over 1,000 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates and close to 200 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates have received training at Trinity Western. The University has also welcomed its first cohort of PhD in Nursing students. Recognizing the importance of training nurses for Canada's health care systems, local Members of Parliament, John Aldag and Tako van Popta, have each visited TWU to learn about its Nursing program and meet with students and faculty members.
Ensuring better representation of patient perspectives in health care
Underserved populations, including people with pre-existing chronic conditions and older adults, are more likely to experience health inequities or preventable differences in health status due to the conditions and systems in which people are born and live. TWU Nursing professor and researcher Dr. Richard Sawatzky has been named Canada Research Chair in Equitable People-Centred Health Measurement. His research focuses on novel methods for equitably measuring diverse perspectives of health and health care.
See how Nursing research changes the way we measure health care needs from diverse perspectives
Planetary Health Conference 2024
Climate change. Biodiversity loss. Pollution. These are among the top planetary threats of the 21st century. Addressing these complex challenges requires creative and interdisciplinary approaches. TWU engaged national and international scholars from multiple disciplines and at a first-ever conference on planetary health, jointly organized by the School of Nursing and the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences. Conference co-chairs Dr. Barbara Astle and Dr. David Clements expressed, "Our shared conference goal is to foster global and transdisciplinary discussions for addressing the impacts of human disruptions to the Earth’s natural systems on human health and all life on earth."
See how TWU engages planetary health
Supporting the human rights of those impacted by albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa
Working to advance the human rights of those impacted by albinism, particularly mothers living in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers Dr. Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham, Dr. Barbara Astle, Dr. Kendra Rieger, and Meghann Buyco from TWU’s School of Nursing travelled to South Africa. They co-led an engagement workshop in Pretoria that brought mothers impacted by albinism to partner with the researchers, policy-makers, and societal leaders who seek to learn from and to improve the health and livelihood of persons with albinism. The goal was to bring together diverse experiences and expertise from multiple disciplines to help improve the well-being and security of persons with albinism and their families.
See how Nursing research advances human rights for those impacted by albinism
Multidisciplinary conference at TWU
TWU CREATE is a multidisciplinary conference showcasing outstanding achievements in creativity, research, exploration, arts, truth, and engagement. At the most recent CREATE conference (Oct. 2023), Dr. Kendra Rieger from the School of Nursing presented a keynote on the topic, “Creating Collaborative Arts-based Responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action in Healthcare.” Kathleen Lounsbury presented on, “Weaving Knowledges: Sharing Ni Noxsola Stories about Kwakwak'awakw Birthing Experiences.” Dr. Barbara Astle, Meghann Buyco, and Dr. Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham each presented research on human rights and albinism. All in all, more than 46 faculty and student researchers delivered oral presentations. Their areas of research spanned across topics related to health care, history, mathematics, linguistics, human kinetics, philosophy, biology, ecology, Indigenous knowledge, and more.
See the TWU CREATE research conference
About TWU School of Nursing
Caring for the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities is both motivating and rewarding. We give you the knowledge and skills necessary for a nursing career in hospitals and community-based settings and the practical experience required to be highly sought after when you graduate. Learn more at TWU School of Nursing.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.