Greetings from School of Nursing, Mae Fah Luang University!
It is with great pleasure I welcome you all to the International Conference Series “Moving Forward in Unity: Nursing through the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
The past two years have witnessed constant turbulence and disruption to the world we live in. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted millions of lives across the globe in different ways. It caused too many untimely deaths, job losses, social and family isolation, fears and emotional turmoil. Despite these disappointments, the pandemic does have some positive sides. Never before has the world had to come together to meet the same goal of restoring health and wellbeing of humankind regardless of nationality, race or religion. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn us humans morally and emotionally closer. It teaches us why sharing and caring is critical for us to survive these challenging times. The crisis has made the otherwise impossible possible. Many values and practices have been re-examined and reinvented to offer new meanings and new possibilities for life. In particular, the landscape of health care, nursing and education of health professionals have been affected, shaped, reinvented and innovated in many unimaginable ways.
The School of Nursing at Mae Fah Luang University, like other schools and universities around the world, is navigating the challenges brought about by the pandemic in order to safeguard the health of the nation and the globe. The COVID-19 has awakened us to the fact that lives can never be the same as they used to be or as we wish them to be. Importantly, we need to move forward in what we do instead of moving backward or just moving on. Please, however, be reminded that walking alone can be unbearably tough during this time. On our own, we can easily get lost on the way and may never make it to the desired outcomes. To move forward with confidence, we need a platform where people care enough to share, learn and grow together.
In collaboration with our local, national and international partners, the School of Nursing is organising a virtual conference series where nurses and allied health professionals around the world can participate and present their work. The conference series consists of two mini-conferences and intermission workshops. Conference I: Moving Forward: Embracing Computers in the Next Normal of Nursing and Health Profession Education is scheduled 22-23 November, 2021. Conference II: Unmasking the COVID-19: Protecting Health during the Global Crisis is 1-2 December, 2021. Intermission Workshop: Clinical Leadership Programme is offered between 24-30 November, 2021. These virtual gatherings will promote the sharing of expertise and experiences, and help us move forward with unity and confidence. Everyone contributes his or her input for the betterment of nursing and the education of health professions and the health of the public and individuals.
I am very pleased to let you know that attending and presenting at the conference is free of charge. I encourage you to be part of this sharing and caring platform by presenting your experience at this conference. In doing so, you are helping your country and the global nursing and health community learn and grow.
Together we can move forward.
Stay strong and safe!
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Chomnard Potjanamart
Dean, School of Nursing
Mae Fah Luang University