Featuring US-based healthcare professionals, the Wesleyan University-Philippines College of Nursing (WUP-CON), in collaboration with the University Clinic, conducted the WUP Nursing Lecture Series at the University Closed Gym on January 14, 2026, sharing global insights and best practices with Level 4 Nursing students.
Dean Carissa Juliana Balaria opened the program with the message, “Listen, learn, and enjoy.”
The lecture series brought together distinguished speakers, each discussing critical and emerging areas in healthcare. Dr. Christie Simon-Waterman, a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner at Johns Hopkins Hospital, delivered an engaging lecture on mental health, highlighting the importance of holistic and patient-centered care.
“But I also believe that it is important to talk about mental health for ourselves, as student nurses and as future nurses. Not just because it is important for our patients, but also because it is important to us and our well-being,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sofia Wicker Velez, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Lactation Counselor who serves as a Pediatric Clinical Dietitian Specialist II at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, also discussed the importance of nutrition with a special focus on pediatric care, emphasizing proper nutritional support for growth and development and its vital role in improving pediatric patient outcomes.
“If you are thinking of going into pediatrics, nutrition is just so important because your babies or little patients are constantly growing and developing. Overall, nutrition impacts you, and it impacts your patients—and that’s something everybody needs,” she said.
Additionally, advancements in medical technology were showcased by Ms. Fe Francisco-Herald, a travel nurse, who presented on robotic cardiothoracic operations, offering students a glimpse into cutting-edge surgical innovations.
“This is a particularly new field, but it’s being taught everywhere. I am so lucky to be part of the team that came here to the Philippines. We went to St. Luke’s to introduce robotic cardiac surgery—the first robotic cardiac surgery in Southeast Asia,” she shared.
Lastly, Dr. Maria Sheilla Membrebe from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center ended the series with a discussion on the MAGNET Program, focusing on excellence, leadership, and quality standards in nursing practice.
“It is important for nurses to be represented at the highest level of decision-making. Hindi pwedeng sabihin na ‘nurses lang kami.’ So, advocacy is very important,” she emphasized.
Article by Ayumi San Cai Valerio (PIO)
Information and photos courtesy of The Impulse
