Global Health for the Young Professional: How to Align Your Work With Global Initiatives

This presentation outlines a variety of initiatives that provide young professionals of all disciplines the opportunity to become involved in nursing and midwifery’s global health agenda. Presenters will provide a thorough review of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with special emphasis on ways these goals can be implemented in one’s own practice and research at the local, regional and international levels. A variety of opportunities focused on global health through Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) will be discussed. Presenters will provide an overview of the purpose and mission of the Global Advisory Panel on the Future of Nursing & Midwifery (GAPFON), which seeks to advance nursing and midwifery’s ability to lead interdisciplinary responses to the most pressing healthcare issues facing our global society (Klopper & Hill, 2015). Findings from GAPFON’s recent listening tour held with key stakeholders across the globe will be reviewed. In addition, action plans that young professionals may participate in to advance culturally relevant efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030 will be discussed. Information will also be shared about STTI’s special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (STTI, 2016). Information about upcoming application dates to serve as STTI UN Youth Representatives will be available. Finally, the presenters will discuss a number of institutes and grant programs available through STTI to provide both emerging and experienced healthcare leaders the resources necessary to influence policy and to improve the health outcomes of people and populations worldwide. Information will focus on the Emerging Global Leaders Institute and the STTI Global Nursing Research Grant, which was established to fund nursing research focused on addressing global health disparities. In outlining each of these programs and initiatives, presenters will provide young professionals the tools necessary to become further involved with international health initiatives and to align one’s own work with nursing and midwifery’s global health agenda.