Dean Marianne Baernholdt Shares UVA Nursing Perspectives at Sigma European Regional Conference
UVA School of Nursing Dean Marianne Baernholdt joined nursing leaders from around the world at the Sigma European Regional Conference in Kuopio, Finland, where she participated in a panel discussion exploring the future of nursing practice, education, research, and leadership.
Hosted by East Finland University, a School of Nursing collaborator, the conference brought together nursing scholars, practitioners, educators, and healthcare leaders from 30 countries to share research, expertise, and innovations aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and advancing the nursing profession. Conference themes included future nursing leadership, healthy workforces, technology-enhanced education, sustainability, patient partnerships, and methodological innovations in nursing science.
Dean Baernholdt served on a panel titled, "Possibilities and Challenges in Future Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Leadership," discussing the opportunities and complexities facing the profession as healthcare systems evolve to meet changing patient and community needs.
The conversation aligned closely with priorities already underway at UVA School of Nursing. Through initiatives focused on preparing the next generation of nurse leaders, expanding opportunities for advanced education, advancing nursing science, and strengthening partnerships with healthcare organizations and communities, the School is helping shape the future of nursing while responding to today's workforce and healthcare challenges.
"The themes of the conference reflect issues that are affecting nursing around the world," Dean Baernholdt said. "Whether we're talking about workforce wellbeing, leadership development, technology in education, or improving patient outcomes, these are shared challenges that benefit from collaboration and learning across borders."
Among the topics discussed were the importance of supporting a healthy and resilient nursing workforce, preparing nurses for increasingly complex care environments, and ensuring that research and innovation translate into meaningful improvements in practice.
Those priorities are reflected in UVA Nursing's strategic vision and in initiatives such as the Synergy Center, the School's academic-practice partnership with UVA Health that supports workforce development, professional growth, and lifelong learning. They are also evident in the School's commitment to advancing nursing science, developing innovative educational approaches, and preparing graduates to lead across clinical, academic, research, and community settings.
Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to share UVA Nursing's perspective while learning from colleagues around the world who are addressing similar challenges in different healthcare systems and cultural contexts.
"As nurses, our challenges may be local, but many of the solutions emerge through global collaboration," Baernholdt said. "Gatherings like this help strengthen the profession's collective ability to improve health and healthcare for the communities we serve."