From the Dean: Where we live, learn, innovate, and dream

East Baltimore is a main character in the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing’s story because it’s where we began and will always remain. The founding documents in 1873 signaled a powerful commitment to the health of the people in our neighborhood. And since then, our school has trained top-notch nurses and expanded human knowledge to provide care in the hospital and throughout the community to improve health where people live their lives every day. 

It’s why in this issue of Johns Hopkins Nursing, we reintroduce We Are All East Baltimore, an ongoing collection of impactful stories of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni, with beautiful photos taken throughout our part of the city. This series will continue to illustrate the diversity of our school and how nursing should reflect the people of Baltimore, and the backgrounds, experiences, and cultures of all communities we serve. 

Even in our newest ventures, including a space nursing curriculum, we know commitment to community will be front and center, because no matter where in the universe our populations exist, our priorities will remain the same—to use nursing leadership for the health and good of all people. 

Nursing is indeed changing the world, and now is our moment. With feet on the ground or on the moon, and with a fifth consecutive No. 1 ranking from U.S. News & World Report under our belt, we learn the importance of advocating for people, understanding the goals of a society, and how technology and innovation, with a person-centered approach, can broaden our reach and strengthen our impact. 

As you read this issue, I hope you sense just how strong our community commitment is, and that all of us play a part. We are leaders, we are Hopkins Nurses, and We Are All East Baltimore.

Sarah L. Szanton
PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Patricia M. Davidson Professor of Health Equity & Social Justice