The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing hosted the 2nd Annual Endowed Lectureship Symposium on Sept. 24, 2025, bringing together a community of health care professionals, educators and researchers from around the world. Under the theme Global Leadership in Nursing and Health, the event provided a platform for insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of global health and the pivotal role of nursing leadership in shaping its future.
“The Endowed Lectureship Symposium embodies our School’s vision of preparing nurses to lead on a global stage,” said Dean Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN. “By bringing together scholars and practitioners from around the world, we are strengthening connections, sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of nursing leaders to address today’s most pressing health challenges.”
Supported by UT Austin Dell Medical School and Texas Global, the event was held both in-person at the School of Nursing and virtually. This year’s symposium was made possible through the generous support of the LaVerne Gallman Lectureship in Nursing and the George and Diana Sharpe Perinatal Lectureship.
Emcee Linda Kim, PhD, MSN, RN, PHN, CPHQ, CGNC, director of the School’s Center for Global Nursing and Health, moderated a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers and panelists whose expertise spans continents and disciplines. Attendees—joining both in person and virtually—engaged in presentations, Q&A sessions and networking opportunities designed to spark ideas and build global partnerships.
Featured Speakers and Presentations
Michael H. Chung, MD, PhD, MPH, FRCP, spoke on "The Importance of Nursing in Global Health Research in Kenya," highlighting the essential role of nurses in advancing research and patient care in resource-limited settings.
Chung is Director of Treatment, Research and Expert Education and the Associate Director of Emory Global Health Institute. He is also a Professor at the Emory University School of Medicine and an Affiliate Professor at the Rollins School of Public Health at the University of Washington.
He spent nearly 20 years living in Kenya and Vietnam conducting research, teaching medicine, building health systems, and treating patients before returning to America. He co-founded the Coptic Hope Center for Infectious Diseases, one of the largest single-site HIV treatment clinics in Kenya, and he chaired the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University in East Africa.
Chung received his MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, PhD from Ghent University and MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Hae Won Kim, PhD, RN, addressed "Leadership in Women’s Health Nursing in South Korea," offering insights into strategies for improving reproductive health and shaping nursing policy.
Kim is a Professor in the College of Nursing at Seoul National University (SNU), where she previously served as Dean. Kim has held key positions at Catholic Kwandong University and SNU, including Director of the Department of Nursing and Director of the Research Institutes of Nursing Science, respectively.
She earned her BS, MS and PhD in Nursing from SNU and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan and Catholic University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium.
Kim is a leading scholar in women’s health, reproductive health and nursing science, with extensive publications in international journals. She has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing and Perspectives in Nursing Science published by the Research Institute of Nursing Science at SNU. Kim currently sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Korean Medical Science. She also serves as Vice President of the Korean Association of Sexology and President of the Korean Academy of Women’s Health Nursing. Kim’s work continues to shape nursing education, research, and policy in Korea and beyond.
Ameporn Ratinthorn, PhD, RN, presented "Leading the Future of Nursing: Driving Value, Innovation, and Lasting Impact," exploring how nurses can lead transformative change in health care systems.
Ratinthorn is Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing at Mahidol University in Thailand. She has over four decades of clinical, academic and research experience, making her a leading scholar in obstetric and gynecological nursing.
She earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco, and holds advanced degrees in maternal-newborn nursing and counseling psychology.
Ratinthorn’s research focuses on maternal-child health, labor and delivery care, and women's health issues with numerous publications in international journals and research collaborations with global institutions such as the World Health Organization. She is an active member of the Nurses’ Association of Thailand, Sigma Theta Tau International and the International Council on Women’s Health Issues, among others. Ratinthorn is committed to advancing nursing education, and her leadership continues to shape maternal and reproductive health care in Thailand and beyond.
Fan-Hao Chou, PhD, RN, FAAN, discussed "Global Leadership in Maternal Health and Nursing Education: From Local Research to International Impact," sharing her experiences in elevating maternal health standards across Asia.
Chou is the Senior Vice President of Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan and a Distinguished Professor in the KMU College of Nursing.
She earned her PhD in Nursing from UT Austin and, as a trailblazer in nursing education and research, specializes in multiple areas such as maternity nursing, parental-child nursing, nursing education, women’s health, gender issues, traditional Chinese medicine in nursing, problem-based learning and quality of life.
Chou’s scholarly contributions span over 180 peer-reviewed publications and numerous book chapters. She has served as a member of multiple governmental and academic committees, currently serving as Executive Supervisor of The Kaohsiung City Nurses’ Association and Vice Chairman of Nursing Education Committee of the Taiwan Nurses Association, among others. Chou is a passionate leader who continues to shape the future of nursing across Taiwan and globally.
Reiko Sakashita, PhD, RN, PHN, FAAN, delivered a talk on "Caring for a Super-Aged Society: Geriatric Nursing and Health in Japan," focusing on innovative approaches to supporting aging populations.
Sakashita is the Executive Vice President of the University of Hyogo, Japan. She is a Nursing Foundation professor, teaching Nursing Research and Theoretical Nursing to undergraduate and graduate students.
As a researcher, Sakashita has conducted over 35 studies—13 as the PI—and aggressively disseminated her findings with over 330 publications—over 150 refereed journal articles—that have been continuously funded during the past decades. She is also a researcher in data-driven health care systems, analyzing large datasets from health checkups and receipts using AI, which leads to a population-based approach and personalized care to prevent severe diabetes.
Her research focuses on developing comprehensive nursing support systems for older adults in both community and institutional settings, with particular emphasis on nutritional care and mealtime support to enhance quality of life and foster autonomy. Sakashita is an Associate Editor of Health Emergency and Disaster Nursing, an Advisory Board Member of Advanced in Nursing Science and a Life Member of the American Association of Physical Anthropology.
Jeung-Im Kim, PhD, MSN, RN, presented "Global Leadership in Nursing and Health: The Korean Experience in Maternal Nursing," detailing advancements in maternal health and the growing influence of Korean nursing science on the world stage.
Kim is a professor at the School of Nursing atSoonchunhyang University. Kim received her BSN and MSN from Seoul National University and earned her PhD in Health and Nursing from the University of Tokyo.
She has served as President of the Korean Society of Women’s Health Nursing and the Korean Society of Maternal & Child Health Nursing. Kim currently serves as President of the Korean Society of Nursing Science, as well as a board member of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies and the Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing Education. She has also served as Editor-in-Chief of Asian Nursing Research, Journal of the Korean Academy of Nursing and Korean Journal of Women’s Health Nursing. Her recent work focuses on digital health interventions for pregnancy stress.
In recognition of her contributions, she received the Prime Minister’s Commendation in 2024 and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Award in 2023.
Global Insights on Nursing’s Expanding Role
Marsha Hyslop, BSN ’75, School of Nursing advisory council member, said she attended the symposium to learn more about what’s happening outside of the U.S., especially related to nursing research and practice.
"It’s interesting to see what’s happening outside the U.S. It’s fascinating to see nursing advancing all across the world,” Hyslop said.
The success of this year's symposium emphasizes the School of Nursing's commitment to fostering global partnerships and advancing the field of nursing through education, research and practice. By facilitating these important conversations, the symposium not only enhanced the professional development of attendees but also contributed to the broader conversation on global health leadership.
As the School of Nursing looks forward to future events, it remains dedicated to its mission of preparing nursing leaders who are equipped to meet the challenges of an interconnected and rapidly changing world.