Fireside Chat

Watch the video here.

Jean Watson, renowned nurse theorist of Caring Science and Joan Vitello, Dean and Professor of Graduate School of Nursing, UMass Chan Medical School will hold a “Fireside Chat on Holistic Nursing”. This gathering offers students and nurses time to personally meet and explore Caring Science and caring-healing holistic nursing with these outstanding nurse leaders.

Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, (LL-AAN) Distinguished Professor Emerita and Dean Emerita, University of Colorado Denver, College of Nursing, Anschutz Medical Center; author of many publications; and Founder/Director of the Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI). Dr. Watson is honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing and recipient of many awards, including 15 Honorary Doctorates, 12 of which are international. Dr. Watson’s Caring Science theory and practice model for quality human care have evolved since the 1970's, and are founded on a humanistic, moral-ethical philosophy of loving-kindness, compassion, authentic presence, transpersonal/transformative relationships, and caring moments of human to human connections. She teaches and writes about caring with love (caritas) and healing practices, guiding health care practitioners and health care systems worldwide to foster and sustain personal and professional well-being, healing relationships with colleagues and patients, and healthy work environments. These things support human flourishing and dignity and encourage the best outcomes in patient care. Caring Science fosters deeper dimensions and meaning to nursing science, humanizing each person's health and illness experiences. For more detail about Dr. Watson’s biography and resume, publications, and theory of Caring Science, please visit www.watsoncaringscience.org.

Joan Vitello, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAAN, Dean and Professor of the Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester. Dr. Vitello has authored many publications in cardiac care and nursing leadership. She was designated a “Living Legend” by the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses, was recognized with the alumnae achievement award by UMass Dartmouth, and received the 2017 Mary B. Conceison Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership from the Organization of Nurse Leaders of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Dr. Vitello rose through management roles at Boston Medical Center, hospitals within the Caritas Christi Health Care System and Heywood Hospital. She served as the chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Lawrence Memorial Hospital before joining Brigham & Women’s. An educator throughout her career, Dr. Vitello mentored graduate nursing students, coached new nurses and taught in several hospitals, culminating in her leadership role in graduate nursing education at UMass Chan Medical School. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Regis College and Bentley College.