Oldenburg Receives Grant to Advance Global Health Initiative

By SARAH GOLDTHRITE

Led by Molli Oldenburg, DNP, RN, FNP-C, clinical associate professor and Global Initiatives Coordinator at UB, this initiative provides students with opportunities to deliver care to underserved populations in Belize, Peru and rural Appalachia.

The Global Health Initiative allows nursing students, under the supervision of board-certified and doctoral-prepared nurse practitioners, to provide direct care, including hypertension management, disease prevention, hygiene education and oral health care. These hands-on experiences foster cultural competency and support students’ understanding of health care disparities.

“Cultural awareness is essential for nursing students because it deepens their understanding of each patient’s unique cultural background and needs,” Oldenburg said. “Immersing students in the culture helps them appreciate these differences firsthand. By recognizing and respecting these differences, students can provide more compassionate, individualized care and build stronger patient relationships.” 

The initiative also emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, giving students the opportunity to work with UB’s health sciences teams and local health care providers to deliver holistic, patient-centered care in resource-limited settings.

Expected outcomes include an increase in direct patient care, enhanced health education providers in underserved regions and growth in students’ cultural competency.