Strategic Plan Update: Taking DUSON to the World and Bringing the World to DUSON

Strategic Plan Update: Taking DUSON to the World and Bringing the World to DUSON

As DUSON begins the strategic plan implementation process, we know that a clear vision is of utmost importance as we, faculty, staff, and students, engage and enroll in the process.

In an effort to provide continuous communication to promote our strategic plan goals, strategies and process, the Monday Update will include feature articles on various aspects of the implementation process.

For the next several weeks, we will feature more about the importance, goals and priority strategies of the six focus areas - Education, Research, Clinical Practice, Community Health Improvement, Global Health and People & Environment.

This week, we highlight Global Health. The three goals identified for this area are:

  1. Strengthen infrastructure and support for global activities within DUSON, optimizing external strategic partnerships.
  2. Align DUSON global endeavors to strategically optimize bi-directional research, education and service.
  3. Position DUSON to shape global nursing and to address targeted global health problems through capacity building and partnerships.

The group identified three priority strategies to focus on for the 2016-2017 academic year:

  1. Strategically identify global priorities and geographies.
  2. Develop sustainable business models to support and fund strategic global initiatives.
  3. Integrate global health concepts and experiences across all DUSON educational programs.

Let's hear from Executive Sponsor Michael Relf on what this all means.

Q: Why are the goals for global health so important?

Relf: Duke is a global university. As such, it is essential for DUSON to look outward and be a change agent and leader in global nursing. As we have seen with MERS, H1N1, and now Zika, communicable disease continues to be a major issue in global health. However, non-communicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are increasingly becoming major global health threats. Nurses are the largest cadre of health workers in the U.S. and globally; therefore, it is critical that we expand research and educational opportunities globally.

Q: Why were your three priority strategies chosen?

Relf: The three strategies selected were based on input from the strategic planning steering committee and the global health working group.

Q: What do you and your team hope to accomplish before the end of this calendar year?

Relf: By the end of the year, we hope to have the groups formed and actively engaged in their work.  

Past Strategic Planning Updates
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