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Appointment will broaden visibility and reach for the College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Following an extensive career of teaching and research in family nursing, June Andrews Horowitz, associate dean for graduate programs and research in the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, was named to the board of directors of the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) for 2020-2022. She is also co-chair of the IFNA Conference Planning Committee.
According to its mission statement, IFNA aims to serve as a unifying force and voice for family nursing globally, enhance and nurture family nursing practice, and provide family nursing leadership.
Horowitz’s extensive academic research in this area involves perinatal mental health disorders, including postpartum depression, maternal-infant interaction, and family mental health. She also serves as professor of nursing in the nursing programs at UMass Dartmouth.
This appointment follows Horowitz’s dedicated service to the organization in recent years. “IFNA is a young organization so there is opportunity to shape its work and future,” she said. “Family is the lens for nursing practice, education, and service, which matches my perspective. I always approach nursing from a family perspective because it is always prevalent in a patient’s life.
“IFNA brings together nurses from around the world with a common focus on family health across diverse geography, cultures, and clinical specialties/practice areas,” Horowitz added.
Board members and the conference planning committee team are from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. “Setting up meeting times is really interesting,” said Horowitz.
She has co-chaired IFNA’s past two conferences in Pamplona, Spain and Washington, DC. “During our Conference Planning Committee meetings, I have had the opportunity to interact with nurses from diverse countries," said Horowitz. "I learn about their perspectives as well as developments in nursing globally. By serving on the board, I will expand that opportunity and have a direct role in leading the organization in collaboration with other directors and officers.
“It’s a real privilege to interact and deal with people around the world,” said Horowitz. “You may think we have the same outlook, but we don’t necessarily. What brings people together is families and care.”
Those collaborations, developed through connections made at conferences and professional organizations, have been valuable, Horowitz said, and can be helpful to fellow CNHS faculty and graduate students in their own research.
A graduate of the School of Nursing at Boston College, Horowitz earned her master’s degree at Rutgers University and her PhD at New York University.
2020 brought international recognition for nursing
This year has been one of markedly increased visibility for nursing. The World Health Organization has designated 2020 the “Year of the Nurse” to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nursing has never been so visible and valued internationally as it has been during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being engaged in IFNA at this crucial time allows me to help shape family nursing and collaborate with nurses globally,” Horowitz added.