My commitment to transcultural nursing can be viewed through many lenses. I have been a member of the TCNS since 1988 and ETNA since 2017. My commitment includes the lens of research and scholarship with a career focusing on the implications of culture, cultural competence, health and wellbeing. With peer reviewed publications, book chapters, funded studies, unfunded studies, peer reviewed presentations, invited presentations all related to transcultural nursing. My commitment to Transcultural Nursing through the lens of education includes developing a required transcultural nursing course for both undergraduate/ graduate students and a global studies requirement for PhD in Nursing students at Duquesne University. I have served as dissertation chair focusing on transcultural nursing. Through the lens of transcultural nursing leadership, I served on the BOT of the Transcultural Nursing Society as President and other elected positions. I was inducted as a charter member of the Transcultural Nursing Society scholars in 2004. I served as Director of the Transcultural Nursing Scholars and currently chair of the scholar’s selection committee. I serve as a peer reviewer, associate editor and now Senior Editor for the JTCN.
Transcultural nursing has been a beacon of light and hope for my professional journey and a moral compass in difficult political times. Transcultural Nursing is the lens in which I view the world and interact in a respectful and humble manner. It has served as a guide to be professionally and personally responsible and promote cultural congruence. I hope my professional and personal merge so that I am seen as the same person regardless of my environmental context. The amazing people I have met over the years in research, education, leadership who have inspired me to always be better, always move forward and never waiver in my commitment to the purpose of transcultural nursing. The call is to live my professional and personal life beyond the organization of transcultural nursing to those we serve and call friends, colleagues, patients, students and research participants. The opportunities to connect with transcultural colleagues around the world has offered limitless gifts resulting in more openness with every interaction. In summary, the lens of transcultural nursing has offered opportunities for mutual benefits for those I interact and the possibilities to grow and change for all involved.
I have been a member of ETNA since 2017, but I have known members of ETNA for many years since our mutual membership in the Transcultural Nursing Scholars. I attended the ETNA conference in 2017 in Denmark and was able to meet many members and their contributions to transcultural nursing. Since 2017 I have continued to attend and present at the ETNA conference with PhD students from Duquesne University. I have presented a pre-conference at ETNA in Denmark and have been invited to serve in the final panel as a presenter or commenter during several ETNA conferences. I hope to be more involved in ETNA activities and would like to serve as a liaison between ETNA and the JTN to promote increased publication for ETNA members.
