I’ve always believed that nursing isn’t just a career, it’s a calling. And leading a graduate nursing school, with the inter-professional benefit of educating future physician assistants as well, means constantly asking, “What’s next?”
What do our students need to succeed? What do our communities need from us? And how can the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis make a bigger impact?
Refining our strategic direction
This summer, we kicked off a new strategic planning process to reflect on what we’ve done well over the past several years and how we can refine our direction to guide where we’re headed next. Working with the UC Davis Health strategy team, we gathered input from faculty and staff through listening sessions, surveys and team discussions. We’ve combined these insights with data on workforce trends, education and research to create a plan that’s ambitious, yet grounded. It is a shared vision with clear priorities for where we are now and where we’re headed.
Training for what the health system needs now
We recently launched a new Doctor of Nursing Practice — Nurse Anesthesia degree program. It’s the first in the University of California system and is designed to meet urgent needs across our state, such as in rural areas and in new surgical centers like our 48X Complex.
When our students step into those operating rooms, recovery units or clinics to help people manage their pain, they’re not just filling positions; they’re improving lives.
Keeping our standards high
We continue to be among the nation’s best graduate programs, 40th in PA studies and 30th in nursing. And this year, we hit a big milestone: three of our newer programs earned accreditation. It’s a testament that our teaching, faculty and curriculum are among the best in the country. Each of these programs targets a specific workforce need — family nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, psychiatric nurse practitioners — and allows us to fulfill our vision of optimal health and health equity for all.
Growing research that solves real problems
To grow our research initiatives, we welcomed our new Associate Dean for Research Jennifer Lingler this summer. With a strong background in clinical research and proven success in funding, she’s highly committed to bringing people together and empowering them to do their best work.
In addition, we have welcomed new faculty to advance our work and impact in the Healthy Aging in a Digital World space and are excited for new leadership for the Family Caregiving Institute. We want our research to change the way care is delivered. That means funding bold ideas, building strong teams, and making sure findings reach people and communities they’re meant to serve.
Reaching beyond our borders — locally and globally
We’re continuing to expand our global partnerships, especially in Kenya, where students and faculty work side by side with local leaders to improve team-based care and design models that support healthy aging.
Closer to home, we’re strengthening connections with public health departments, nonprofits and community clinics. These clinical sites and precepting partners ensure our students learn how to competently practice and compassionately serve.
This is an exciting time for the School of Nursing. We’re dreaming big and we’re building a plan to match. But we can’t do it alone. Whether you’re a donor, alum, preceptor, student, or work daily toward the goals of this school as your profession, your support helps power this next chapter.
