Wednesday, August 30, 2000

The UNCW School of Nursing will host 10 students and two professors from Japan Monday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Sept. 17.

The delegation from Iwate Prefectural University will "shadow" students in classes and during clinical visits to observe patient care. Dr. Akiko Araki and ProfessorYoko Ishida from the nursing faculty at Iwate Prefectural University will participate with UNCW faculty during the classroom and clinical experiences. Twenty juniors from UNCW's School of Nursing will serve as "buddies" for the Japanese students during their visit.

"The goal of this visit is to expose the Japanese students to a day in the life of an American nursing major," said Dr. Bettie Glenn, chair of the undergraduate program at UNCW. "In an ever-increasing global business economy, it is inevitable that the health care community evolve similarly. Hopefully, this visit will be another step in bridging the distance between our cultures and in building an international health care community of scholars and practitioners."

In addition to visiting the UNCW School of Nursing, the delegation will tour the New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The group will also visit the historic downtown Wilmington district.

During a welcome reception hosted by the School of Nursing, the visitors will perform a Japanese dance in traditional dress. While the reception is by invitation only, media are invited to attend this event from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 6, in Wagoner Hall, Madeline Suite. This exciting cultural experience should be an interesting photo opportunity.

Iwate Prefectural University is a participant in UNCW's Division for Public Service and Extended Education Global Virtual University, a pilot project offering distance education opportunities.

For more information, contact Dr. Glenn at 910/962-3200.