U-M School of Nursing Redesignated as a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center
The School of Nursing retains status as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center.
The Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has redesignated the U-M School of Nursing as a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Clinical Training in Health Promotion Nursing, effective for a period of four years. The School of Nursing was first designated as a WHO Collaborating Center in August 1997.
“Since 1997, the World Health Organization Collaborating Center has provided an outlet for our School’s forward-thinking research in health promotion and human resource development in Latin America and the Caribbean,” commented Dean Kathleen Potempa. “This redesignation reflects our longstanding expertise in health promotion research and clinical practice. Through this relationship with the World Health Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization, we at the U-M School of Nursing are truly making a difference in the lives of real people across the developing world.”
Dr. Antonia Villarruel, Associate Dean for Research and Global Affairs, will serve as director of the Center. She said, “As one of only 10 Nursing Collaborating Centers in the United States, the U-M School of Nursing is at the forefront of global engagement in nursing research and practice. We look forward to renewed collaboration with PAHO and to extending the impact of our work in the Americas.”
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers are institutions—such as research institutes or departments of universities—that are designated to carry out activities in support of the Organizations’ programs. Currently, more than 800 Collaborating Centers in over 80 countries are working with PAHO/WHO on areas such as nursing, occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies.
Designation as a Collaborating Center provides institutions with enhanced visibility and recognition by national authorities, thus calling public attention to the health issues they are working on. In addition, Collaborating Centers are encouraged to develop working relations with other centers, thereby opening up improved opportunities for the exchange of information and development of technical cooperation with other institutions, in particular at the international level.
