Regional One executive tapped as only American for global nursing program

A top leader at Regional One Health will be the only American to take part in the International Council of Nurses' Global Nursing Leadership Institute program .

The program will see nurses from 34 different countries meet virtually and in person over the next year to learn about how public policy can impact health. Regional One Senior Vice President and Chief Integration Office Susan Cooper was one of the 34 nurses selected for the program.

"I am honored to have been chosen to participate as a 2024 GNLI Scholar," Cooper said in a press release. "Learning from the other scholars and the esteemed faculty will help me develop a deeper understanding of geopolitical contexts which impact health. I look forward to gaining new policy skills and knowledge which will allow me to continue to advance health policy, advocate for change, and improve the health of our collective global communities. Sharing my experiences building programs for complex individuals with other scholars will aid in the development of regional projects that address social determinants and health policy on a global scale."

Cooper joined Regional One in 2013 to lead the population health strategy that would eventually become a "national model for helping vulnerable patients by addressing both their medical and social needs," the press release said. Prior to joining Regional One, she was a faculty member and assistant dean at Vanderbilt's School of Nursing.

After her time at Vanderbilt, Cooper was former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen's special policy advisor. In 2007, she was appointed Tennessee Department of Health commissioner.

"Susan Cooper is an advocate for patients as individuals. This means meeting the needs of the whole person, not just their medical needs, to improve health outcomes. She was instrumental in the development of our complex care program at Regional One Health to support the most vulnerable in our community, making Regional One Health a global leader in this work. Her participation in the GNLI will strengthen her skills and the knowledge of those around her to make positive impacts in the health of the communities we serve," Regional One President and CEO Dr. Reginald Coopwood said.

The International Council of Nurses was founded in 1899 as an independent, non-partisan and non-governmental group of national nurses' organizations. The group represents the nursing profession on the worldwide stage, working to create better conditions for nurses and push for a focus on health in public policies.

The organization weighs in on a myriad of topics including nursing roles in healthcare, the status of the nursing profession, socio-economic status of nurses, broad conversations about healthcare systems around the world and social issues.

"Ms. Cooper is one of a select group of GNLI 2024 scholars from across the globe," Global Nursing Leadership Institute program Director Diana J. Mason said in the press release. "This highly competitive policy leadership program aims to prepare a cadre of nurse leaders equipped to engage in global and regional policy work that focuses on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, all of which affect the health of the planet and its people."

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Regional One executive tapped as only American for global nursing program