Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University will serve as a second home for international students pursuing careers in health care from Chang Gung University in Taiwan. The one-month visit is part of a cultural exchange program to introduce students to Western medicine and American culture and foster the sharing of ideas to enhance patient care.

This year’s program, led by Deanna Gower and Melissa Kachaturoff from EMU’s nursing program, is funded through an educational grant awarded to the participating university. Gower and Kachaturoff aim to provide a well-rounded experience for international students, which includes 14 students and two faculty members.

“We designed the program to be structured yet immersive,” said Gower, part-time lecturer and supervisor for the Nursing Learning Resource Center for the School of Nursing. "They want to learn about American culture and education. So we aimed to provide them with the best of both worlds.”

The itinerary for the visiting students includes various activities ranging from academic lectures and cultural assignments to visits to museums and sporting events. A significant focus has been placed on ensuring that the lectures are relevant to nursing.

“While nursing education in Taiwan involves a lot of writing, the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in the U.S. are different,” said Kachaturoff, part-time lecturer and RN-BSN program coordinator. “For instance, American nursing students are expected to write in the American Psychological Association style, which our Taiwanese counterparts find very valuable. Hence, we included a lecture specifically on that.”

The cultural exchange program prepares students for the diverse and dynamic nursing field. “Encouraging diversity of thought and cultural exchange is crucial,” added Kachaturoff. “There's a noticeable difference in our students pre-COVID versus post-COVID, and I feel the same thing is happening in Taiwan.”

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral, and certificate degrees across various disciplines. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education.