by Billy Rosa, PhD, NP-BC, FCCM, FAANP, FAAN
2019 Leininger Award Recipient
Receiving the Leininger Transcultural Award in 2019 was a high point of my career. Being in the company of leaders that embody Leininger’s vision at the annual conference in Richmond, VA was inspiring to say the least. This award is not simply an accolade or feather in one’s cap but rather is a representation of the organization’s commitment to culture care for every human being in our service, particularly the marginalized and/or underserved. If we are to accomplish any of the humanitarian tasks of our day – the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, universal health coverage, universal access to palliative care, widespread attention to the social determinants of health – we will need nurses at the front lines who stand confidently in the heritage of Leininger and the ethos of the Transcultural Nursing Award. Healthcare is void of impact when it lack attention to cultural needs, considerations, humility, respect, and inclusion.
According to the recent United Nations World Social Report 2020, two-thirds of the global population live in nations where inequality has increased. The writers go on to discuss how the detrimental consequences of climate change, as well as the technological advancements that are benefiting highly-skilled workers while disrupting job opportunities for low-skilled workers, are deepening the poverty and health equity gap worldwide. During this World Health Organization endorsed Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, transcultural nurses have an invitation to advance policy, advocacy, and research efforts that will promote health inclusion for all people everywhere across cultures and contexts. I stand with each of you as we move this agenda of culture care forward and continue to celebrate Leininger’s legacy with the annual Transcultural Nursing Award.