May 1, 2025
U荔枝视频 and MRU to co-host global nursing conference on pressing public health issues
The 荔枝视频鈥檚 and Mount Royal University鈥檚 School of Nursing and Midwifery will co-host public health nurses from across the globe to address some of the world鈥檚 pressing public and population health issues.
The 7th International Global Network of Public Health Nursing Conference will take place from July 28 to 30 at the MacEwan Hall Conference Centre on the U荔枝视频 campus.
鈥淭his conference is more than a gathering, it鈥檚 a global call to action,鈥 says Dr. , an associate professor (teaching) and associate dean (undergraduate programs) in the Faculty of Nursing at the 荔枝视频 and co-chair of the conference.
鈥淧ublic health nurses are the backbone of our health-care systems and their leadership is essential in shaping a healthier, more equitable future for all.鈥
Advancing global public health change
The theme of this year鈥檚 conference is 鈥淏uilding resilience and innovative solutions: Amplifying impact and advancing positive global public health change.鈥 Areas of focus will include leveraging partnerships to tackle global health security, healthy recovery after COVID-19, global leadership on population data science and how this impacts public health initiatives, and climate and environmental change.
Attendees will hear from keynote speakers like Dr. Leigh Chapman, the chief nursing officer at Health Canada, Howard Catton, the CEO of the International Council of Nurses, and Dr. Salimah Walani, the dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Aga Khan University.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to bringing together a wide variety of people working in public health,鈥 says Dr. Aliyah Dosani, a professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University and co-chair of the conference. Dosani is a member of the O鈥橞rien Institute for Public Health and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine.
鈥淏uilding partnerships with people who work globally in education, research, policy and practice as well as people working in sectors that have the potential to impact population and public health is exciting; together we can devise stronger and sustainable solutions to various concerns we share worldwide.鈥
Nurses respond to root causes of health disparities
The co-chairs say public health nurses are uniquely positioned to recognize and respond to the root causes of health disparities. By bringing nurses from across the globe together, ideas can be exchanged, assumptions can be challenged and solutions that serve communities can be created together, to benefit all no matter where they are on the planet.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a power in bringing expertise from all over the world together in one room as a think tank to tackle a growing list of concerns and propose solutions together,鈥 says Shajani.
Dosani says the key is coming together to build relationships and respecting one another鈥檚 expertise knowing that everyone brings something unique to the table.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about figuring out what the best approach to take is in any given situation, respecting that contexts are different across the globe,鈥 she says.
Previous conferences have been held in Japan, Kenya, and Denmark. The co-chairs say 荔枝视频 would have previously been considered an underdog, but there is such great work happening in the city that it is a worthy host.
鈥淲e are proud that this is happening in 荔枝视频 and Alberta, and that we are leading the way,鈥 says Shajani.
How to register
The 7th International Conference of the Global Network of Public Health Nursing, is co-hosted by the 荔枝视频 Faculty of Nursing and Mount Royal University School of Nursing and Midwifery. GNPHN is a global network of public health nurses, health visitors and community nurses working in public health nursing with a focus on strengthening practice, policy, research, leadership, and education. .