The Kansai Medical University delegation met with faculty and staff from St. Kate's. Photos courtesy of Kara Koschmann and the School of Nursing.
This September, St. Catherine University’s School of Nursing welcomed a delegation from Kansai Medical University School of Nursing in Osaka, Japan, led by Dean Reiko Kato, PhD. The visit brought 11 nursing faculty to St. Paul for a four-day exchange focused on advancing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Japan, clinical nurse educator preparation, and fostering new research and learning collaborations between the two institutions.
The partnership between the two universities goes back several years; St. Kate’s previously hosted faculty members, including Kato, in 2023. This year’s visit was coordinated by Kara Koschmann, PhD, associate dean of nursing, alongside faculty colleagues Julie Sabo, PhD, of the DNP program, and Lois Sonstegard, PhD, of the Master of Science in Nursing: Entry Level program. The visit agenda highlighted St. Kate’s approach to nursing and health science education while also creating space for dialogue on shared challenges and opportunities in preparing the next generation of nurses.
The delegation’s primary goal was to gain deeper insight into the structure and outcomes of the DNP degree in the United States. The DNP has become the terminal professional degree for nurses seeking advanced practice and leadership roles. Over the course of their stay, the Japanese faculty reviewed DNP courses, met with faculty and students, and engaged in discussions on curriculum design, DNP regulation and scope of practice, and advanced practice nursing simulation. The visit also included a visit to the Rise Up Health Bear Care clinic in White Bear Lake, which was started by Jess Miehe, DNP, as a part of her own DNP project, and discussions about interprofessional clinical experiences and innovative clinic models.
Research collaboration was another central theme of the visit. Faculty from both institutions shared ongoing projects related to student mental health, healthcare for those with chronic health conditions, and elder care. Mio Ito, PhD, presented on the philosophy and care model of Humanitude, developed by Yves Gineste and Rosette Marescotti, which was a highlight for students and faculty alike who attended a “lunch and learn” on dementia and care of the elderly in Japan and the United States. Professors Cheena Borzalski, Amanda Davis, and Lori Winchell, DrPH, from the School of Nursing, shared challenges and opportunities in elder care in the United States, focusing on the work of faculty and students at Wisdom Wellness in St. Paul. These conversations laid the groundwork for a variety of future collaborations and connections.
“International collaboration such as this reminds us of how large, and yet how connected, the discipline is from a global perspective,” said Koschmann. “Dean Kato and her faculty hold tremendous expertise in nursing science and practice, and were eager to learn from us about strategies for expanding advanced nursing practice in Japan.”
Beyond academic sessions, the agenda included cultural exchanges and opportunities to strengthen personal and professional relationships. Many thanks to the St. Kate’s faculty, staff, and students who engaged in the successful visit, which also included community meals, the Office of Scholarly Engagement, tours of simulation labs and campus, the Women’s Health Integrative Research center, and a dialogue with economics and policy faculty and students. The collaborative campus effort highlights the importance of hospitality and relationship-building in global partnerships.
Continued conversations are underway about ongoing collaboration between Kansai Medical University and St. Catherine University, which promises to strengthen both institutions and, ultimately, benefit the students and communities they serve.