On the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the 2025/2026 academic year of the Master’s Programs in Healthcare at the University of Parma, Prof. Loredana Sasso, Full Professor of Nursing Sciences at the University of Genoa, delivered a lectio magistralis focused on the theme of proximity, offering an in-depth reflection on the ongoing transformations in contemporary healthcare systems.
The concept of proximity is framed within a global context marked by significant demographic and social challenges, including population aging and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions. In this scenario, healthcare is evolving from a performance-based model toward an approach centered on person-centered care, grounded in value, continuity of care, and the integration of services, increasingly developed at the community level. In her lecture, Prof. Sasso highlighted the main directions of the global health agenda, emphasizing the need to reorient healthcare systems toward primary care, ensuring continuous, integrated, and person-centered care pathways. Within this framework, nursing plays a strategic role, emerging as a key pillar in ensuring continuity of care, coordinating care pathways, and promoting patient autonomy. Among the key elements discussed, particular attention was given to accessibility, the reduction of inequalities, the integration between hospital, community, and social services, and the active involvement of patients and caregivers in care processes. In this sense, proximity is not only an organizational dimension but represents a true cultural shift, requiring a rethinking of care models and of the relationships between professionals and the people they serve.
A central role was attributed to advanced nursing education, considered a fundamental lever to address the complexity of emerging needs. The development of advanced competencies in care management, clinical complexity, and the use of data to support decision-making processes represents a concrete response to current transformations, while also requiring greater recognition of professional roles at both organizational and managerial levels. The reflection also highlighted that, although European policies increasingly recognize the value of patient and public involvement, this is still not fully integrated into decision-making processes, nursing research, and the evaluation of care outcomes. Strengthening participation models based on trust and dialogue therefore represents one of the most significant challenges for the future of healthcare systems.
The lecture concluded with a reflection on the transformative role of education:
“It is through education that we transform the present and make the future possible. With these Master’s programs, I am confident you will make a significant contribution” – Loredana Sasso. The theme of proximity thus emerges as central to the Master’s Programs in Healthcare, serving as a key to developing more equitable, integrated, and person-centered care models, capable of effectively responding to the challenges of today’s healthcare systems.
