Welcome to the UCSF Center for Global Nursing (and Advanced Practice)

at the Institute for Global Health Sciences.



In this newsletter, you can expect to find opportunities, events, and other information about UCSF nurses, advanced practice providers, and our global partners working toward global health solutions.

CGN's 2026-2027 Internship Program is now open for applications

If you’re a nurse or nursing student passionate about global health, advancing health equity, and shaping the future of nursing, this program offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working alongside global partners to address real-world health challenges through research and quality improvement.

Commitment: Monthly meetings with a minimum of 5 hours of work per week.

Learn more on our website: globalnursing.ucsf.edu

Thank you to our CGN community members who joined us from San Francisco to Tanzania to celebrate the power and impact of nursing. Highlights from the celebration include:



• Dr. Rebecca Silvers highlighted CGN’s work in education, quality improvement, research, and global partnerships.
• Joshua Eigenhuis and Enaanake Di Stefano shared their quality improvement work as UCSF Clinical Global Scholars
• Melissa Lincks highlighted CGN’s StART Pediatric BLS Program, developed with Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda.
• Katie Wang shared insights from her Global Nursing Internship evaluating advanced practice nursing in Kenya.
• Evelyn Bigini and Dr. Charisse Ahmed also highlighted their Global Nursing Research Seed Award projects, which we will learn more about during the upcoming June and July Global Nursing Impact Series.

We proudly celebrated our scholars and interns and announced our 2026-2027 Global Nursing Research Seed awardees, recognizing the critical role of nurse-led innovation in global health. Together, we are advancing a healthier, more equitable future for all.

Dr. Rebecca Silvers, CGN Director, participated in several global health and nursing leadership events during the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2026. Highlights include:

• Engagement with international nursing and WHO leaders on workforce development, education, and leadership, emphasizing the vital role of nurses in strengthening health systems and advancing equitable care.
• Participation in the G4 Alliance event, "Strategic Leadership for Nurses and Midwives: A Policy Pathway to Stronger Health Systems," and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) leadership luncheon, fostering global collaboration on nursing policy and leadership.
• Engaging in discussions with WHO CC and leadership focused on elevating nurses' voices in policy, research, and health system decision-making, recognizing nurses as essential drivers of sustainable and equitable healthcare.
• Reflecting her clinical expertise, Dr. Silvers represented the UCSF WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency, Critical and Operative Care (ECO) at the WHO Acute Care Action Network (ACAN) Meeting, joining global leaders, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, Ministries of Health, and a coalition of more than 90 organizations working to advance acute care through collaboration, education, implementation science, and policy.

Lisa Thompson, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN

Professor, UCSF School of Nursing

Dr. Lisa Thompson has more than 25 years of expertise in global environmental health research, with a particular focus on reducing household air pollution from solid fuel cookstoves in resource-variable settings. Her work has been extensively supported by organizations including the National Institutes of Health, Grand Challenges Canada, and private philanthropic foundations to develop behavioral change interventions that address this widespread public health challenge.

Dr. Thompson is a co-investigator on the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial in Guatemala, part of the largest multi-country randomized controlled trial focused on household air pollution. Through this work, she collaborates with an international team of more than 50 scientists, physicians, epidemiologists, and implementation experts dedicated to advancing global environmental health research.

Dr. Thompson is an active member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). Her critical contributions to environmental health research have earned her several prestigious honors, including the 2023 Episteme Laureate from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) and induction into Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2021.

We are honored to recognize Dr. Lisa Thompson for her pioneering contributions to global environmental health research, leadership in advancing interventions to reduce household air pollution in low-resource settings, and steadfast commitment to improving health outcomes and environmental sustainability.

Register Now!

CGN's Global Nursing Impact Series

Join the Center for Global Nursing for a conversation with Patricia Efe Azikiwe and Evelyn Bigini, who will highlight providers’ experiences caring for patients with perinatal depression, the occupational impact of this care, and the coping strategies used by clinicians at Koidu Government Hospital. This project was supported by the 2025 CGN Research Seed Award, and we’re excited to share the outcomes of this important work.

This series is open to all nurses, global partners, and professionals interested in global health.

• Register for CGN's June 9th Global Nursing Impact Series that will be held on Zoom from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. PDT (4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CEST)

Register for CGN's Introduction to Cultural Humility Course

CGN’s Introduction to Cultural Humility Course offers a foundational exploration of cultural humility within the contexts of nursing, advanced practice, and global health sciences. The course supports nurses and Advanced Practice Providers in recognizing personal bias, understanding how power and privilege shape clinical encounters, and building skills to foster more equitable, respectful partnerships in all settings.

This course is open to all nurses and Advanced Practice Providers, whether or not they are participating in CGN’s global programs.

• Register on Nursing Connect for CGN's October 20th or November 10th Cultural Humility Course.

3 CEs provided.

Funding Opportunities

Are you working with a global health organization and need to fund your own visa or flight? CGN is committed to supporting our members as they engage in meaningful global health work. Apply now to qualify for up to $1500 in travel costs, and take the next step in your global health journey!

Qualtrics Application Process:

1. Complete the application questionnaire
2. Provide an invitation letter to work abroad
3. Attach your CV or resume for up to $1500 in travel costs



Applications are evaluated based on the project's sustainability and efforts to collaborate with local partners.

Scholarly Opportunities

Have you implemented or tried to implement a WHO Emergency, Critical, or Operative Care Tool?

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to strengthen health systems through integrated service delivery, connecting primary, emergency, critical, and operative (ECO) care into a seamless continuum. By improving how care is organized, planned, and accessed across the system, WHO aims to ensure that people receive timely, high-quality acute care that truly meets their needs.

To support this vision, WHO launched the Acute Care Action Network (ACAN), a global initiative to advance the implementation of WHO’s acute care tools. ACAN works to expand the reach and impact of these resources, while also identifying where additional, purpose-built tools may be needed to support effective implementation on the ground.

We invite you to share your experiences with implementing WHO’s ECO acute care tools. Your insights will directly inform the development of practical resources to strengthen implementation efforts worldwide. We’re particularly interested in learning about:

• How acute care tools are being applied in practice
• Key challenges and factors that enable successful implementation
• Gaps where additional resources or support are needed
• Locally adapted tools or materials that have proven effective
• Priority areas where ACAN can better support implementation



Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of acute care delivery.

9th Africa Interdisciplinary Health Conference

Register now for the 9th Annual Africa Interdisciplinary Health Conference (AfIHC), organized in collaboration with Mzumbe University, on the theme Bridging Disciplines to Address Dual Burden of Infectious and Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa. The conference will be hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and online on August 19-21, 2026, with the Pre-Conference Workshop on August 17-18, 2026. The conference is founded and co-directed by Dr. Jerry Ouner (Nutor), PhD, RN, Associate Professor at the UCSF School of Nursing and Faculty for CGN's Certificate in Global Nursing.

UCGHI GloCal Health Fellowship Opportunity

The GloCal Health Fellowship supports a 12-month, mentored research fellowship for investigators interested in studying diseases and conditions in developing countries to improve health for populations around the world.

Fellows must train in the LMIC where they plan to carry out their research plan. UCGHI manages and supports the GloCal Health Fellowship.

You are eligible to apply if you are a:

• Low- and middle-income country (LMIC) Postdoctoral Fellow (MD, MBChB, DDS, DVM, PharmD, PhD, etc.) with one of the 29 GloCal affiliated sites
• U.S. Postdoctoral Fellow (MD, PhD, DDS, DVM, PharmD, etc.)
• University of California Advanced Doctoral Student (PhD, DrPH, etc.)
• University of California Professional Student (MD, DDS, DVM, etc.)

Applications are due by September 15th.

Postdoctoral Nursing Opportunity (USA)

The National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP) is the only postdoctoral research fellowship for physicians and doctorally-trained nurses across multiple disciplines and specialties. Scholars explore diverse topics, from artificial intelligence and climate change to health systems innovation and implementation science, driving impact across clinical, public, and academic sectors.

If you are a UCSF doctorally trained nurse or physician, please consider applying for the two-year leadership and research training fellowship (2027–2029 cohort). This transformative program is designed to develop innovative clinical investigators and health care leaders.

Applications opened May 1, 2026, and close July 15, 2026. Selected applicants will begin the program in July 2027.

Global Opportunities

Pediatric Volunteer Opportunity in Laos

Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) is the only hospital in northern Laos that provides specialty pediatric care, offering free services to underserved families in the region. It focuses on improving access to essential health services while supporting sustainable healthcare through training local providers. Volunteering offers a meaningful way to contribute to the hospital's mission and make a difference in children's lives.

Lao Friends Hospital for Children accepts applications for medical and nursing volunteers throughout the year. All individuals interested in volunteering should be able to spend two months at LFHC during their first visit. Anyone interested is welcome to send their resumes to hr@fwablaos.org.

Reminders

Center for Global Nursing Membership

Become A CGN Member

We want to identify those committed to being a part of the UCSF Center for Global Nursing (& Advanced Practice) and prepared to join our global partners in collaborative initiatives. We look forward to having all those faculty, staff, and interested students become core members of the CGN.

Please take the survey below to identify your interest in the Center for Global Nursing (& APP) membership. Membership requirements:

1. Interest and/or Expertise in Global Health (including health equity)
2. Education & Training, including our Cultural Humility course (see registration information above) and Global Health 101x (more information on how to register in the attached survey)

Highlight Your Achievements

Share Your Achievements with CGN

We are excited to highlight your achievements in our newsletters, on social media, and on our website.

Have you been involved in global partnerships, earned a new degree, published research, or accomplished something noteworthy this past month? We want to hear about it!

Please email Anisha Rao (anisha.rao@ucsf.edu) to share your achievements and let us shine a spotlight on your contributions at home and abroad.

Follow us on social media!

We are now sharing our updates in real time on

Instagram and Linkedin, follow along here:

Please send all global nursing/APP announcements and shout-outs to our email: Globalnursing@ucsf.edu

We would love to celebrate with you and include these in our upcoming newsletter.

Feel free to refer colleagues interested in receiving our newsletter or those with inquiries about the Center to our website.