At Penn Nursing, the next generation of nursing students, researchers, and clinicians are getting a 21st century education in social justice.
A Shared Vision for Future Health Equity
Penn Nursing students are engaging in social justice in innovative ways
Published: December 16, 2021
As part of their holistic training to become the healthcare leaders of tomorrow, Penn Nursing students are learning about health equity, anti-racism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) scholarship.
A recent grant from The Trustees’ Council of Penn Women is supporting an effort to further integrate DEI into curricula. “We’re developing classes that really engage our students—whether it’s design thinking, community health in underserved populations, or collaborating with engineering students to problem solve,” says Maria LoGrippo, the Kehler Family Assistant Dean of Curricular Affairs and Innovation and a Practice Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health.
Social justice is not a new focus at Penn Nursing, it’s been ingrained in the work we do for quite some time. These exciting new initiatives will have a real impact in the lives of our patients, the communities we serve, and future nursing clinicians and researchers.”Lisa Lewis, Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion
At the intersection of social justice and healthcare, several other Penn Nursing projects are ongoing or in the pipeline to enhance an already robust approach to modern nursing. “Nurses don’t necessarily see themselves as innovators, but we’re developing future problem-solvers with a strong moral compass,” says Dr. Terry Richmond, Associate Dean for Research & Innovation.
“The pandemic has emphasized the importance of community health,” says Melina Lopez, NU’22, president of the Minorities in Nursing Organization (MNO). Lopez cares deeply about social justice and recently completed a term as the initial Karen Edlund Nurse Leader Fellow. As a student leader, she has a seat at the table with Penn Nursing faculty and staff, and suggests original ideas about culturally competent healthcare, education around body autonomy, and securing funding for social justice projects. “In my own Latinx community, I’ve lost family members to health problems—so improving social determinants of health is my passion.”
Penn Nursing students at a recent Minorities in Nursing Organization event.
At Penn Nursing’s Center for Global Women’s Health (CGWH), a critical area of social justice related research has been looking at why 3 to 4 times more Black and Brown women are dying in pregnancy or childbirth than white women. This type of scholarship allows students to get involved through clinical practice, research, and service work. Recently, Penn Nursing students found a way to fight against the larger inequities that the COVID-19 pandemic unearthed—by collecting supplies for the Period Poverty Drive to benefit No More Secrets MBS, a nonprofit organization that offers free menstrual products to Philadelphia woman in need. “Buying products for our menstrual cycle is a privilege that we often take for granted,” says Dr. Monique Howard, EdD, MPH, CGWH Senior Director of Women’s Health Initiatives. By considering people, populations, and social justice-minded nursing, the team at Penn Nursing truly has an opportunity to do things differently.
“Innovation in healthcare is the new lens through which we’re examining social justice,” says Dr. Lewis. “And we’re not just teaching our students, they’re also teaching us.”
Learn more about Penn Nursing’s plan to raise additional funds to incorporate social justice into teaching and community health to promote positive change in Philadelphia and beyond.
