A Message from Dean Meredith Wallace Kazer PhD, CNL, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN
At Fairfield, we consider ourselves a community where excellent care is valued, and kindness is embraced. In the Jesuit tradition, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies strives for cura personalis or education of the whole person. The result of such an education is the development of caring professionals, who are morally reflective healthcare providers, working to deliver care to patients and families with consistent sensitivity to cultural differences and issues of social justice.
Advances in technology and access to healthcare have afforded society an unprecedented opportunity for extended quality and quantity of life. As healthcare professionals, we must work together with other members of the interprofessional team to ensure the highest level of healthcare for our patients and families. Our educational programs are prepared to meet the challenges of the future healthcare system. Our faculty are recognized around the world for their expertise in addressing the broad issues that impact global health. These faculty provide every student with the necessary tools and resources to become successful healthcare providers.
At Fairfield, we pride ourselves on the excellence of our program and faculty. Our students witness first hand, the dedication our faculty have to each and every student’s personal development. Relationships built with fellow classmates and faculty members at Fairfield substantially impact student’s lives and careers. Moreover, the effects of an education at Fairfield extend long past graduation.
At Fairfield, we strive to provide students with an educational experience rich in the Jesuit tradition of academic rigor and reflective practice. With a strong core steeped in ethics, communication, spirituality, care of vulnerable populations, and service learning, students receive all the education necessary to become excellent healthcare professionals. But, our program also provides analysis of global health issues, with a strong focus on issues of social justice and equality to prepare our students as members of society capable of generating change from within.
Our ability to provide this exceptional educational opportunity is accomplished through our strong partnerships with over 100 healthcare agencies, including acute care hospitals, community agencies, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Throughout these environments of care, students are provided the instruction to increase knowledge, skills, and understanding of the health issues that impact society. Practical experiences begin early in the program and our individual attention to education remains unwavering throughout the program. Our school also offers a number of study-abroad experiences to provide students with expertise and insight into healthcare beyond our national borders. The end result is the graduation of competent and compassionate professionals who will provide care to populations across the world!
– Meredith Wallace Kazer PhD, CNL, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN
Dean and Professor, Fairfield Egan
