Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
From September to December 2025, as part of the prestigious Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, Dr. Joni Thornwall, Clinical Professor at The Ohio State University (USA), served at the Department of Nursing of the I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy.
During her four-month appointment, Professor Thornwall made a significant contribution to the department's educational, scientific, and methodological activities. She actively participated in student education, faculty development, and strengthening the university's research capacity.
A major focus of her work was the educational process. She delivered lectures and practical sessions for students of the Higher Nursing Education Faculty in the course "Research Methodology in Nursing (Academic Writing)," aimed at developing students' research competencies, academic writing skills, and scientific writing abilities.
In addition, Professor Thornwall conducted a series of practical classes in the course "Fundamentals of Nursing: Professional Concepts in Nursing." These sessions addressed professional identity in nursing, critical thinking and clinical judgment, leadership and management in nursing, effective resource management, as well as interprofessional collaboration and teamwork.
To expand students' learning opportunities, she also developed a series of asynchronous online lectures for the elective course "Evidence-Based Nursing Practice." These learning materials will be incorporated into the curriculum for second- and third-year nursing students.
Faculty development was another important area of her work. A series of professional development seminars was organized for the academic staff of KSMA, focusing on contemporary approaches to curriculum design, innovative teaching strategies, and competency-based nursing education.
Professor Thornwall also actively contributed to the university's research activities. She delivered a presentation at the seminar "Grant Writing and Proposal Development," where she shared practical recommendations on preparing competitive grant applications for international research funding programs. In addition, she held a motivational meeting with nursing students to discuss professional development, academic mobility, leadership, and the future of nursing education.
One of the most significant outcomes of Professor Thornwall's appointment at KSMA was the launch of a collaborative research project using Q methodology to explore contemporary perspectives on nursing education in the Kyrgyz Republic. The project received approval from the KSMA Local Ethics Committee, establishing a strong foundation for future international research collaboration and joint scientific initiatives.
Professor Joni Thornwall's participation in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program marked an important milestone in the internationalization of KSMA. Her contribution promoted the implementation of modern educational approaches, strengthened the university's research capacity, and further reinforced partnerships with leading international universities.
