School Notes: School of Nursing
May/June 2020

YSN midwifery program reaccredited

Yale School of Nursing recently received reaccreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. ACME highlighted the YSN self-study report as an example for certified nurse-midwifery programs throughout the country. YSN’s midwifery practice is the oldest continuously in operation in the nation.

REI clinic opens on West Campus

The Yale Medicine (YM) Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) section recently opened as the first YM clinical practice on West Campus. YSN dean Ann Kurth ’90MSN noted the strategic opportunity this brings to move the existing YSN-YM collaboration further and create better health outcomes for patients. YM and YSN leaders, including Dr. Sandra Carson (REI) and Dr. Hugh Taylor (YM/YSM), expressed hope that the introduction of REI paves the way for other clinical programs to relocate to West Campus.

Rwandan program helps increase nurse and specialist workforce

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study on Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health Program found that the program produced a six-fold increase in the numbers and qualifications of nurses and midwives, and tripled certain physician specialists in the country. Dean Ann Kurth, chair of the committee that wrote the report, said, “People with HIV are living longer, which means they have long-term HIV care needs while also needing care to manage other diseases and to enhance their quality of life. Supporting the entirety of their needs depends on the same strong health system that is needed to address all people’s health needs.”

John Kerry inaugurates speaker series

Former Secretary of State John Kerry addressed a capacity crowd at a discussion sponsored by the Yale Institute for Global Health, a YSN partnership with the schools of medicine and public health. Kerry said individuals currently involved in the natural sciences, medicine, nursing, and public health have a critical role in what he described as “a genuinely perilous moment” and “the fight of our lifetime.” He underscored the need for preparation by health systems and leadership from America on climate change and other global health challenges.