Assistant Professor Jessica Zemlak, Ph.D., reflects on her most memorable moment while attending the Sigma International Nursing Research Conference in Singapore, which was shaped by contributions from nurse scientists from around the world and the variety of outcomes. emphasizes the importance of learning about collaborative relationships Researchers gather in a common space.
For example, Zemlak fondly recalled sharing a meal with a Thai researcher working on a similar research program focused on women’s health. These conversations and connections are important beginnings to potential research collaborations.
“Less structured, more informal interactions. These are critical to building the collaborations needed to move science forward,” Zemlak says.
Zemlak attended the Sigma conference along with assistant professor Dr. Jackie Christianson. Together, they presented research findings on topics ranging from the reproductive health of women recovering from opioid use disorder to the causes of nursing faculty shortages. The two professors acted as both teachers and learners, observing new research topics and methods from more than 800 nurse researchers, students, clinicians, and instructors from around the world.
“I’ve found that I benefit most when I’m at a conference, chatting with someone in the hallway about what was being presented, or when someone stays after the presentation to talk about their work,” Christianson said. Masu.
Bringing a global perspective to public health has always been important to Zemlak. He spent time as a nurse with the U.S. Department of State in Nigeria and accompanied students on trips to South Africa every winter break. She believes in embracing new perspectives by exposing yourself to other cultures when you get the chance.
“As academics who focus on public health issues, I think it’s really important to be mindful of the science that’s happening elsewhere so that the way we approach the research process and think about health doesn’t become siloed. “I think so,” Zemlak said.
“When you present at an international conference, you have people from all different cultures all over the world reacting to your work,” Christianson says. “While my research focuses on well-being in medical settings, the concept of what a healthy workplace looks like, or what rewards should be derived from work, is influenced by the culture of what work is. It is influenced by the understanding of
Conference attendees were asked to consider how their efforts fit into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, published in 2015 as a roadmap to a healthier and more prosperous world by 2030. Ta. Sustainable Development Goal 3 deals with health;Sustainable Development Goal 3 deals with health. It has ambitious goals such as achieving universal health coverage and reducing the global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
The researchers at the Sigma conference came from different countries, spoke different languages, and had very different areas of interest, but they shared a commitment to these goals.
“These goals are evident when researchers from other countries talk about their work,” Zemlak says. “For myself and many U.S.-based researchers working towards these goals, they may not be very visible in our projects. Attending conferences like this helps us realize our goals. It’s a reminder to always push it forward.”
In presenting her research to a multinational audience, Christianson and Zemlak had to keep in mind how public health abroad differed from her own American standards. For example, Zemlak’s presentation on the reproductive health of people recovering from opioid use disorder came in the context of America’s much higher opioid use disorder and overdose death rates than its peers.
But conversations with fellow researchers revealed surprising similarities across borders. As nurse researchers from other countries told stories of health inequalities, both professors were reminded of the challenges that lie ahead at home.
In the end, there was more that united rather than divided those who attended Sigma.
“That’s really my favorite part about this conference. You can sit at a table and be with people from anywhere, and we all agree on the core values of being a nurse,” Zemlak said. he says. “The openness, the willingness to connect and build international relationships for future research, is what is truly unique about the Sigma Conference.”
