Special Olympics Prince Edward Island has chosen the UPEI Faculty of Nursing to receive a 2024 Golisano Health Leadership Award in recognition of the faculty's ongoing collaboration and contributions to the Healthy Communities initiative on PEI. Dr. Patrice Drake, acting dean, along with several faculty members, accepted the award at a celebration on November 7 at the Florence Simmonds Performance Hall at Holland College's Charlottetown Campus.
Left to right: Robert Horne, president of the Special Olympics PEI board of directors; members of the UPEI Faculty of Nursing - Dr. Brianna Hughes, assistant professor; Dr. Patrice Drake, acting dean; Kathy Walsh, clinical nursing instructor; and Dr. Janet Loo, assistant professor.
Established in 2016 in partnership with Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation, the Golisano Health Leadership Award is given to selected individuals or organizations dedicated to improving the health of people with intellectual disabilities and advancing the health work of Special Olympics. It is the highest honour given by Special Olympics International to health partners and organizations.
Every other year, Special Olympics PEI has the opportunity to recognize up to three local organizations or individuals with Golisano Health Leadership Awards for their contributions to its health programs and to the promotion of equal access to health care, wellness, and fitness for people with intellectual disabilities.
UPEI nursing students in the third-year N3130 Developing Partnerships with Clients and the fourth-year N4010 Nursing and Population Health courses have been partnering with Special Olympics for many years for clinical experience in the community.
In Nursing N3130, students explore community health nursing through their partnerships with Special Olympics. They utilize the Primary Health Care Framework and Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards to provide care to clients and, in collaboration with the client population, develop a health teaching project.
"Our relationship with Special Olympics PEI is so meaningful as our students have the opportunity to partner with a vibrant community of driven athletes and support their health and wellness. We are grateful to be recognized through this award," said Lindsey Smith and Dr. Brianna Hughes, course coordinators for N3130 Developing Partnerships with Clients in the Community.
In Nursing N4010, students work with Special Olympics to learn about population health through application of the Canadian Community as Partner Model. Students perform a population assessment, develop a population health diagnosis, and develop a project to address a need that the population has. These partnerships provide valuable learning opportunities for the nursing students and provide helpful resources in return for Special Olympics.
"We are extremely honoured to receive this award from Special Olympics," said Dr. Janet Loo, course coordinator for N4010 Nursing and Population Health. "Matthew McNally, their program director, has been amazing to collaborate with and very supportive of our students."
For more information
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