Title:Nursing students learn from community partnership

Three faculty and six graduate students partnered with community leaders for the five-day immersive trip. They painted a mural, provided mobile outreach for HIV and hepatitis C testing to 30 unhoused people, co-hosted a health fair serving 75 residents, taught mindfulness to 600 adolescents, introduced 80 high school students to health care professions, and delivered health education to 30 seniors. Students also joined local youth in advancing the Blue & Green Space Project, transforming an unused schoolyard into a permanent wellness area.

“The entire trip was so fulfilling,” says Claire Burke (G’26). “The greatest learning for me came from working with the high school students. Their hope, maturity, passion, and perspective amazed me. This trip provided me with a visceral opportunity to experience the values we hear about in our courses—advocacy, justice, service, respect, and responsibility.”

“This partnership brought us visibility, compassion, and hope,” says Angela Brown, nurse practitioner and ambassador at Clay County Health Department. “By immersing themselves in our rural Appalachian community, these students not only confront the real challenges of obtaining health and wellness in an economically strained area, but also work hand-in-hand with us to seek sustainable solutions. What I value most is that they leave with not only a deeper understanding of our struggles, but also a lasting appreciation for the beauty of our geography, an awareness of our culture, and the resilience of our people.”

“Of all the opportunities I’ve had at Georgetown, this has been the most meaningful,” adds Wilkinson. “It is an honor to share such deep trust and partnership with the community—and profoundly humbling to witness our students’ transformation as they grow through the experience.”