Antonio Bonacaro Archivi - HealthCareMaster HealthCareMaster

EASTER GREETINGS FROM THE MASTER’S PROGRAMS IN HEALTHCARE

April 3, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

On the occasion of the Easter holidays, the Master’s Programs in Healthcare at the University of Parma would like to extend their sincere Easter wishes to the entire community.

This period represents a valuable moment for rest and reflection, taking place at a particularly significant time for the Master’s programs, marked by the conclusion of the previous academic year and the beginning of the new 2025/2026 academic year. A transitional moment that invites us to look to the future with renewed energy, awareness, and a spirit of growth.

Easter, a symbol of renewal and hope, reflects the values that guide daily commitment to the education of healthcare professionals: person-centered care, responsibility, collaboration, and a continuous drive for improvement.

💬 “I would like to extend my sincere Easter wishes to all students, faculty members, and professionals involved in the Master’s Programs in Healthcare. May this time represent an opportunity for personal and professional renewal, in view of the beginning of the new academic year, to be faced with enthusiasm, commitment, and openness to change.” — Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master’s Programs in Healthcare.

THE FIRST SCREENING OF THE DOCUFILM ON MARISA CANTARELLI

February 27, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

The first screening of the docufilm “Marisa Cantarelli. Seeing First, Thinking Beyond. The Woman Who Forever Changed the History of Nursing” is scheduled to take place. The film is dedicated to a key figure in the cultural and theoretical development of nursing care, recognized as the first nursing theorist in Italy. Created under the patronage of the Marisa Cantarelli Association, the University of Parma, and the National Federation of Orders of the Nursing Professions, the project aims to portray—through images, testimonies, and reflections—the development of professional nursing identity and the value of care as a profoundly human and social act.

The first screening will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM in Milan, at Cinema L’Anteo (click here to register). The event will provide a moment of collective reflection for all those working in health and social care services. The initiative is supported by significant institutional and academic sponsors, highlighting the cultural and professional importance of this narrative. The docufilm offers an in-depth perspective on the historical and theoretical journey that helped define modern nursing, emphasizing values such as responsibility, autonomy, the relationship with patients, and the centrality of the person in the care process.

Following the premiere, a series of scheduled screenings will take place in educational, professional, and institutional settings, bringing this reflection to communities and healthcare services. Updated information on upcoming screenings will be made available on the dedicated webpage.

“It is a great honor to take part in this meaningful docufilm, which pays tribute to a colleague of extraordinary courage, vision, and professional stature. Marisa Cantarelli left an indelible mark on the history of nursing in our country, contributing to the construction of its cultural and scientific identity. Her example continues to serve as a source of inspiration for generations of nurses and healthcare professionals”. – Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master’s Programs in Healthcare.

“BEYOND THE WHITE COAT”: A NEW BOOK BY LEOPOLDO SARLI

February 3, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

“Beyond the White Coat” is the newly published book by Leopoldo Sarli, Professor Emeritus of Surgery at the University of Parma. The volume offers a broad and articulated reflection on the deeper meaning of caring, going beyond the purely technical dimension of the healthcare profession.

The book weaves together experiences, contexts and perspectives, guiding readers along a journey that spans diverse places and situations: from highly specialized hospital settings to care contexts in areas of the world marked by social fragility, and from community services to spaces dedicated to education and research. Through this journey, health emerges as the result of an encounter between different bodies of knowledge, cultures, relationships and life experiences.

Beyond the White Coat invites readers to rethink care as a process that does not end with the clinical act alone, but rather involves listening, sharing, responsibility and the construction of meaning. Healthcare practice is thus reinterpreted as a profoundly human and social experience, capable of generating knowledge, justice and awareness for both those who provide care and those who receive it. The volume aligns closely with the values that have long inspired the Master in Healthcare programmes, promoting a vision of education as a space for critical reflection, interdisciplinary dialogue and the development of competencies that bring together technical expertise, ethics and humanity.

A book presentation event with the author is currently being planned and will offer students and professionals the opportunity to further explore the themes of the book and engage in direct dialogue with Leopoldo Sarli. Further details regarding the date and format of the event will be communicated soon.

“Beyond the White Coat is a book that calls on all of us to look at healthcare in its most authentic dimension: the encounter between people, knowledge and responsibility. It is a valuable contribution for those involved in education and for those working in services, as it encourages the integration of professional competence and humanity, fully in line with the vision of the Master in Healthcare programmes”. — Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master in Healthcare programmes, University of Parma

INNOVATIVE TEACHING AWARD: RECOGNITION FOR ANTONIO BONACARO

January 28, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

The University of Parma celebrated the first edition of the Awards for the Development of Innovative Teaching during a ceremony held in the Aula Magna at the University’s main campus. The initiative, promoted by the University to recognize faculty members’ commitment to experimenting with new and meaningful teaching practices, awarded both individual projects and group proposals that introduced advanced educational methodologies aligned with students’ needs and the challenges of contemporary teaching.

Among the individual award recipients is Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master in Healthcare programmes at the University of Parma, recognized for his commitment to innovating teaching practices and for integrating active, participatory learning approaches aimed at building professional competencies.

The awarding of this recognition reflects the University’s strong focus on teaching models capable of responding to the needs of advanced educational pathways and enhancing the learning experience for students. Within the Master in Healthcare programmes, educational innovation translates into a training offer that combines theory and practice, the use of educational technologies, Project Work and opportunities for professional dialogue, with the aim of developing high-level competencies. At a time when education for healthcare and social care professions is required to continuously evolve in response to transformations within the socio-healthcare system, the promotion of innovative teaching experiences represents a key factor in improving teaching effectiveness and the quality of acquired skills.

In this context, it is worth noting that applications for the Master in Healthcare programmes at the University of Parma are open until January 30, offering the opportunity to enroll in highly specialized training pathways that combine advanced learning with practical skills for today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare system.

“It is a true honor to have received this recognition, for which I am immensely grateful. This award for innovative teaching is not only a personal acknowledgment, but also a confirmation of the direction we want to give to the Master in Healthcare programmes: high-quality education, the development of skills applicable within healthcare and social services, and a continuous dialogue between academic knowledge and professional experience, fully aligned with the University’s strategic guidelines”. Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master in Healthcare programmes – University of Parma

THE SHOOTING OF ALEX PRETTI: SHOCK AND SOLIDARITY

January 27, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

The tragic shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse in Minneapolis, has caused shock and deep sadness, particularly within the professional nursing community. Pretti, known by family, colleagues and friends as a compassionate healthcare provider dedicated to patient care, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.

The incident occurred amid widespread protests against federal immigration enforcement actions and has heightened national tensions over the use of force by law enforcement. The shooting of Pretti has led to public outcry and renewed calls for transparency and accountability in how the events unfolded.

As a nursing and health-care community, we are saddened and deeply affected by what happened. The nursing profession is founded on profound ethical values, including the protection of life, safeguarding the most vulnerable, and respect for human dignity. In moments of great sorrow such as this, we extend our solidarity to those affected and reaffirm the importance of conducting objective, transparent and thorough investigations so that the circumstances can be clearly understood.

“As the community of the Master’s programmes in Healthcare at the University of Parma, we express our deepest sympathy to the individuals and families affected by this tragedy. We join in the call for truth and clarity, without any form of political instrumentalisation, in respect of human dignity and the ethical values that guide our profession.” – Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master’s programmes in Healthcare

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY NURSING: ADVANCED EDUCATION AND INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE

January 21, 2026 Federica Sorrentino

The Master’s Programme in Family and Community Nursing, part of the Master in Healthcare courses at the University of Parma, represents a highly relevant educational pathway for strengthening community-based care and for the evolution of models of care for individuals, families, and communities. In a socio-healthcare context increasingly focused on proximity, service integration, and continuity of care, the role of the family and community nurse plays a strategic part in health promotion, prevention, and the management of complex population needs.

The Master’s Programme is fully embedded in this scenario, offering advanced education that integrates clinical, organizational, relational, and public health competencies. It prepares professionals to operate in community settings, work within multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable healthcare services.

Within this framework of openness and dialogue, on February 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a study morning and roundtable discussion dedicated to the role of the family and community nurse will take place. The event is conceived as an inter-university study day, involving the University of Parma together with international partner universities, including the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and the University of Rio de Janeiro.

During the morning, academics and experts will share contributions and reflections on community-based care models, the competencies of family and community nurses, and the future development of the profession at both national and international levels. The exchange between different experiences and contexts will provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue and mutual enrichment, in line with the international vocation of the Master in Healthcare programmes.

The study day will also include the participation of professionals from the Local Health Authorities of Piacenza and Parma, who will share contributions and experiences developed within community care settings, offering a concrete perspective on the evolving role of the family and community nurse in healthcare services. The Master’s Programme is also built upon the continuous contribution of faculty members and students, who play a central role in a learning pathway based on the integration of academic knowledge and professional experience, critical reflection, and the shared development of competencies aimed at strengthening community-based care.

This initiative confirms the commitment of the Master in Healthcare programmes to promoting high-quality education that is attentive to changes within the socio-healthcare system and capable of enhancing the role of healthcare professions in building services that are increasingly close to people and communities.

“Investing in the education of family and community nurses means investing in a healthcare model that is closer to people, capable of responding in an integrated and continuous way to the health needs of communities. This Master’s Programme represents a fundamental element in supporting the ongoing transformation of community-based services,” emphasizes Antonio Bonacaro, President of the Master in Healthcare programmes at the University of Parma.

PROGRAMME OF THE STUDY DAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF PARMA AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE ALFREDO PINTO SCHOOL OF NURSING IN RIO DE JANEIRO

October 7, 2025 Federica Sorrentino

The University of Parma took part in the 4th International Congress of the EEAP: Global Perspectives of Nursing for the Challenges of the Millennium, held in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the founding of the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing (EEAP) at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO).

The event, officially endorsed by the University, brought together academics, professionals, and students from various countries, offering an important opportunity for discussion on global perspectives in nursing and on the healthcare challenges of the new millennium. It focused on education, research, and international cooperation as key levers for developing a fairer, more inclusive, and innovative healthcare system.

Representing the University of Parma and its Master’s Programs in Healthcare, Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Associate Professor of Nursing Sciences and Director of the Master’s Programs in Healthcare, shared experiences and best practices from the Italian context, contributing reflections on the role of nursing leadership in transforming healthcare systems.
“Taking part in this event – he said – means not only celebrating the long and prestigious history of the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing, but also laying new foundations for an international dialogue that is increasingly essential in nursing education and research. Only through exchange and global cooperation can we meet shared challenges and promote a form of nursing capable of innovating, including, and improving the health of our communities”.

The University’s participation further strengthened its relationship with the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro and the Alfredo Pinto School of Nursing, with which collaborative teaching and research projects are already underway on topics such as advanced training, clinical simulation, and digital health.

The presence of the University of Parma at such a significant event reaffirms the international vocation of its Master’s Programs in Healthcare, which have long been committed to promoting the growth of healthcare professionals capable of combining scientific competence, global vision, and ethical responsibility.