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    • RICHIEDI INFORMAZIONI

    Month: July 2025

    HEALTHCARE MASTER’S PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PARMA: A YEAR MARKED BY INNOVATION, GROWTH, AND INTERNATIONALIZATION

    Federica Sorrentino

    The 2024–2025 academic year has concluded with extremely positive results for the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma. It was a year defined by significant educational achievements, international recognition, scientific exchange opportunities, and a strong focus on pedagogical innovation and internationalization.

    The academic year began with an official inauguration ceremony that saw the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty, and healthcare professionals. This symbolic event reaffirmed the mission of the Master’s programs: to train highly qualified professionals capable of responding to the complex challenges of the healthcare system through an interdisciplinary and global approach.

    One of the most notable milestones of the year was the first official graduation ceremony for the Healthcare Master’s Programs. More than just a celebration, the event recognized the value of the training journey undertaken by healthcare professionals from across Italy.

    Throughout the year, numerous opportunities arose for professional development and international dialogue. Distinguished guests, including Professor Sharon Brownie, Full Professor of Nursing at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Tais Vernaglia, Director of the “Alfredo Pinto” Nursing School at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (University of São Paulo, Brazil), led high-impact workshops on global health leadership, transformative health education, and patient engagement. Their contributions further strengthened the international profile of the Master’s programs.

    A major step forward in advanced training and internationalization was the integration of English-language workshops across all Master’s curricula. These sessions aimed to enhance communication skills in globalized, multicultural clinical environments, further boosting the European and transnational positioning of the programs.

    To support continuous improvement in teaching quality, a training course for educational tutors was introduced. This course aims to uphold excellent pedagogical standards and promote innovative teaching methods centered on simulation, empathy, and student-centered learning.

    Special attention was also given to theoretical and practical advances in nursing. Events included the presentation of the book on Marisa Cantarelli’s nursing model, organized in collaboration with Rede Unida and the National Association of Brazilian Nurses. This initiative offered an important moment of reflection on a foundational theoretical model for Italian nursing practice, which remains highly relevant today.

    Among the year’s most significant initiatives was the launch of the advanced training course for Infection Control Link Nurses (ICLN), developed in response to the growing need to train healthcare professionals with specific expertise in preventing and managing healthcare-associated infections. The course has generated strong interest and promises to be a great success thanks to its large and engaged cohort.

    In the scientific arena, students and tutors of the Master’s programs played a key role at the CEU 2025 Congress, contributing original work on topics such as nursing leadership, digital education, and innovation in postgraduate training.

    Crowning an already fulfilling year, Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Director of the Healthcare Master’s Programs, was awarded the prestigious title of Fellow of the European Transcultural Nursing Association (ETNA). This recognition acknowledges his longstanding commitment to promoting transcultural care, inter-university collaboration, and the development of international educational projects.

    The 2024–2025 academic year was thus a period of substantial growth in reputation, quality, and international engagement for the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma, solidifying their role as a leading reference point in postgraduate healthcare education.

    Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Director of the Healthcare Master’s Programs, stated:

    “Looking back, I can only express deep gratitude for the vision and dedication of Professor Leopoldo Sarli and Dr. Giovanna Artioli, whose contributions from the very beginning were instrumental in the creation and development of these Master’s programs. Today, we see a vibrant, international academic community—one that is innovative and responsive to the challenges of the healthcare system. We envision the future as a laboratory of ideas, open to the world, where education becomes a tool for social and professional transformation. It is with this spirit that we prepare to face the challenges of the coming academic year. I take this opportunity to wish a wonderful summer to all faculty, tutors, and students whose ongoing contributions make these Master’s programs a true path of excellence”.

    With a clear eye on the future, the Master’s programs are now gearing up to tackle the new academic year with renewed enthusiasm, strategic vision, and a strong spirit of innovation—driven by a dynamic, cohesive, and globally-oriented academic community.

    HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE RESPECT, LISTENING, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

    Federica Sorrentino

    In today’s complex and rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the importance of fostering work environments rooted in mutual respect, authentic listening, and psychological safety is becoming increasingly evident.

    A strong healthcare organization is not built solely on protocols and performance indicators, but also on the quality of professional relationships and the ability to create spaces where individuals feel confident and safe to express themselves. In particular, psychological safety—understood as the ability to speak openly, ask questions, report errors or raise concerns without fear of retaliation—is now recognized as a key factor in:

    • Improving care quality and clinical risk management
    • Supporting continuous learning within multidisciplinary teams
    • Enhancing workplace wellbeing and reducing the risk of stress and burnout
    • Strengthening collaboration among professionals and with patients

    Promoting respect and active listening within healthcare organizations also means adopting inclusive leadership models, building cohesive teams that value diverse skills and perspectives, fostering interprofessional dialogue, and supporting frontline workers.

    The Master’s programs in Healthcare offered by the University of Parma are aligned with this vision. These programs address relational dynamics in a structured way through targeted training activities focused on effective communication, conflict management, collaborative leadership, and the creation of more sustainable work environments.

    A more effective and humane healthcare system begins here: by recognizing the value of people, trust, and the quality of professional relationships.

    THE VALUE OF POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION IN HEALTHCARE

    Federica Sorrentino

    In a constantly evolving healthcare system—marked by increasing complexity, technological innovation, and organizational transformation—postgraduate education stands out as one of the most effective tools for advancing one’s career and strengthening one’s professional role.

    For those working in healthcare, investing in education is not just about acquiring new knowledge. It means building practical, recognized, and strategic skills essential for facing increasingly complex challenges: from clinical coordination to process management, from training colleagues to promoting quality and safety in care.

    This is precisely the mission of the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma: to enhance the professional profile of those working in the field, facilitating access to roles with greater responsibility, expanding employment opportunities, and fostering the development of competent, ethical, and self-aware leadership.

    The Master’s programs offer:

    • advanced and up-to-date clinical skills;
    • managerial tools to understand and lead organizational change;
    • soft skills to work effectively in teams, communicate clearly, and handle complex situations;
    • project design and research capabilities, essential for contributing to service innovation.

    Moreover, the strong connection with the professional, academic, and institutional world ensures that participants receive a solid, current education aligned with the real needs of the health and social care sector.

    Lifelong learning is now an integral part of the modern healthcare professional’s profile. It means learning better to act with greater autonomy, vision, and impact. Those who attend the Healthcare Master’s Programs equip themselves with a new set of tools to understand the present and shape the future—because every more empowered, aware, and well-prepared professional is also a vital ally for a fairer, more effective, and more sustainable healthcare system.

    LEADERSHIP IN HEALTHCARE: A NEW MODEL FOR TEAMWORK

    Federica Sorrentino

    In today’s healthcare settings—characterized by increasing complexity, interdisciplinarity, and interconnectivity—the traditional model of top-down leadership is revealing its limitations. Modern care dynamics require agile decision-making, shared responsibility, and a strong spirit of collaboration among all professionals involved. In this context, an innovative approach is emerging: distributed leadership.

    This model values the contributions of all team members, recognizing their skills, experience, and cross-functional abilities. Leadership thus becomes a collective function, expressed through interaction among professionals, constructive dialogue, co-decision-making, and a widespread sense of responsibility.

    In healthcare, this approach translates into:

    • improved communication among professionals;
    • greater involvement in clinical and organizational decision-making;
    • increased flexibility and adaptability to complex situations;
    • enhanced workplace well-being and individual motivation.

    In an era marked by rapid innovation and a growing demand for personalized care, no single professional can have all the answers. Distributed leadership allows teams to tap into their collective potential, building networks of trust, fostering mutual growth, and promoting a culture of continuous learning.

    This model proves particularly effective in environments where teamwork is essential: from critical care to home healthcare, from community medicine to clinical risk management. In all these areas, the ability to share leadership and support each member’s active contribution is key to improving care quality and patient safety.

    The Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma strongly support this evolving vision of leadership. Within these educational paths, significant attention is given to developing soft skills, group dynamics, and the building of self-aware teams. Leadership, in this context, is not seen as a position, but as a shared competence to be cultivated and activated according to collective needs.

    Preparing tomorrow’s healthcare professionals also means training them to take on active, collaborative, and responsible roles in their work environments, helping build more horizontal, inclusive, and innovative organizations. Today more than ever, leadership in healthcare is a team effort.

    CLINICAL RESEARCH: THE ENGINE OF HEALTHCARE INNOVATION

    Federica Sorrentino

    In an era where medicine is increasingly called upon to face complex challenges, clinical research stands as an essential tool to ensure quality, effectiveness, and safety in healthcare practices.

    Research is no longer a field reserved for a select few specialists: today, all healthcare professionals are expected to develop skills in collecting, interpreting, and applying scientific evidence. The ability to critically reflect on one’s work, analyze clinical data, compare approaches, and measure outcomes is what transforms care into a truly dynamic process, one that continuously evolves and improves. Doing research means cultivating a critical mindset—one capable of asking meaningful questions rooted in everyday clinical experience.

    It is within this perspective that the training offered by the Healthcare Master’s programs at the University of Parma is positioned. Here, clinical research is not a separate activity from practice, but an integrated tool for learning and professional growth. Through project work, thesis development, methodological workshops, and research mentoring, students are guided along a scientific development path that is practice-oriented and aimed at solving real-world problems.

    Promoting research also means fostering a cultural shift within healthcare organizations: moving beyond the automatic repetition of procedures, valuing best practices, and critically addressing the limitations of existing models. A healthcare system grounded in research is a system that is fairer, more transparent, and more effective. In a socio-health system that aspires to quality, safety, and human-centered care, healthcare professionals cannot simply apply knowledge—they must also help generate it. This is why the Healthcare Master’s programs are committed to training professionals capable of producing knowledge.

    Understanding the fundamentals of quantitative and qualitative research, designing a study, critically reading scientific articles, using outcome and quality indicators, participating in research networks—these are just some of the essential skills required today by those working in clinical, educational, and healthcare management settings. Training in research means contributing to the construction of professional knowledge, improving care, and—above all—giving voice to people’s real needs.

    COMMUNICATING WITH PATIENTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: EMPATHY MEETS TECHNOLOGY

    Federica Sorrentino

    In the era of digital healthcare, the way we communicate with patients is undergoing profound changes. Digital portals, electronic health records, symptom-tracking apps, and intelligent chatbots are becoming everyday tools in care management. While these innovations improve accessibility, traceability, and service efficiency, they also raise a crucial question: how can we preserve the human connection in clinical communication?

    Despite the growing use of technology, active listening, personalized care, and empathy remain at the heart of the healthcare professional–patient relationship. Communication in healthcare is never just an exchange of information; it is a delicate process rooted in emotional understanding, trust, and shared decision-making. Digital tools should not replace human contact—they must support and enhance it.

    Chatbots and virtual assistants can provide quick answers and guide patients, but they cannot grasp emotional nuances, interpret unspoken concerns, or manage vulnerability. Healthcare professionals must therefore learn to integrate these tools into their clinical practice while maintaining the ability to interpret context, tailor language, and support patients through uncertainty. In this evolving landscape, digital literacy—the ability to critically and responsibly understand and use technology—joins interpersonal skills as an essential component of healthcare professionalism.

    The Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma pay close attention to these transformations. Their goal is to prepare professionals who can combine technological expertise with empathy, fully aware that every interaction—even when mediated by a platform—is an opportunity to build trust, listen deeply, and provide care. Future healthcare professionals must be able to master digital tools without ever forgetting that at the heart of every act of care, there is always a person.

    INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PROF. ANTONIO BONACARO: AWARDED THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN TRANSCULTURAL NURSING ASSOCIATION

    Federica Sorrentino

    During the 10th International Conference of the European Transcultural Nursing Association (ETNA), recently held in Budapest, Professor Antonio Bonacaro – Associate Professor of Nursing Science at the University of Parma and coordinator of the Healthcare Master’s programs – was awarded the prestigious ETNA Fellowship. This is the highest honor conferred by the Association to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of health from a transcultural perspective.

    The award celebrates an academic and scientific journey marked by consistency and vision, built over more than a decade of international activity. Professor Bonacaro has passionately dedicated himself to the development of care models that are sensitive to cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity. His work has taken shape through teaching, research, and the design of educational programs that promote equity, inclusivity, and intercultural dialogue.

    ETNA emphasized the value of Professor Bonacaro’s contribution, describing him as a shining example of nursing leadership committed to social justice and the creation of truly accessible healthcare systems for all communities. At a time when health systems are increasingly interconnected, transcultural competence is emerging as a fundamental pillar for ensuring quality, safety, and the humanization of care.

    The award aligns with the broader mission of the University of Parma’s Healthcare Master’s programs, which promote advanced education that is attuned to global challenges and inspired by the values of openness, respect, and pluralism. The focus on the cultural dimension of care – integrated into the educational content of the Master’s programs – equips professionals with the awareness and responsibility needed to operate effectively in today’s multicultural environments.

    “Receiving this recognition from an important association like ETNA is not only a great honor for me,” said Professor Antonio Bonacaro, “but also a strong encouragement to continue pursuing my commitment to a truly intercultural nursing education, rooted in the values of respect, dialogue, and compassionate care.”

    ADMISSION NOTICE FOR HEALTHCARE MASTER’S PROGRAMS – ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026

    Federica Sorrentino

    The University of Parma has published the admission notice for its Healthcare Master’s Programs for the 2025/2026 academic year. Starting from July 2, 2025, it will be possible to apply for the first- and second-level Master’s courses designed to address the latest challenges in the healthcare and social care systems, with an up-to-date, interdisciplinary, and innovation-oriented educational offering.
    Applications will remain open until January 30, 2026.

    The Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma are a benchmark in advanced training for healthcare professionals. These programs are developed in close collaboration with clinical, academic, and institutional partners, and aim to strengthen participants’ clinical, organizational, managerial, educational, and interpersonal skills.

    Educational Offer for 2025/2026

    First-Level Master’s Programs:

    • Case/Care Management in Hospitals and Community Settings for Healthcare Professions
    • Palliative Care and Pain Therapy for Healthcare Professions
    • Family and Community Nursing and Integrated Care for Public Health
    • Critical Care Nursing
    • Management of Healthcare-Associated Infection Risk

    Second-Level Master’s Programs:

    • Leadership/Coordination of Services for Healthcare-Associated Infection Risk
    • Educational Strategies in the Social and Healthcare Fields; European Standards and Innovation

    The programs are designed to support the balance between study and work, with a predominantly online learning format featuring live-streamed lectures. Strong emphasis is placed on personalized learning paths through tutoring, project work, and research thesis development.

    The Healthcare Master’s Programs remain a dynamic, inclusive, and constantly evolving initiative, committed to training a new generation of healthcare professionals capable of combining technical expertise with ethical vision.

    ADMISSION NOTICE

    HealthCareMaster
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