Alison Ridge, DNP, Program Director of the Master of Science in Nursing Program and Associate Professor in the department of Nursing and Health, attended the 1st Annual Cook County Health Nursing Scholl Collaboration Summit on June 24, 2023.

Below is a description of the event by Beena S. Peters, DNP, MS, RN, FACHE, FABC, Chief Nursing Executive, Cook County Health.

I am delighted to share with you the wonderful news of the Nursing department’s first Nursing School Summit, which took place on June 24, 2023. The event was a tremendous success, and I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved.

The Nursing School Summit brought together over twenty esteemed nursing educational institutions from across the Midwest. It was an incredible opportunity for us to collaborate, exchange ideas, and strengthen the bonds between academia and Cook County Health. We firmly believe that nurturing these partnerships is essential for developing a skilled and compassionate nursing workforce.

During the summit, Cook County Health leaders had the privilege of sharing our organization’s Strategic Plan, emphasizing our workforce strategies. Our focus remains on creating viable pathways to cultivate an innovative and sustainable future nursing workforce.

The engagement and enthusiasm displayed by all participants were truly remarkable. The discussions and presentations centered around exploring innovative educational models, addressing workforce challenges, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. These conversations have provided valuable insights and will guide our future initiatives.

As we move forward, let us continue to embrace the spirit of collaboration and innovation. Together, we can build a strong and sustainable future nursing workforce that meets the evolving needs of our patients and community.

We remain committed to nurturing a workforce that embraces innovation, adapts to the evolving healthcare landscape, and provides the highest quality of care to our patients.

Thank you for your continued support.