Teng-Yuan (Erica) Yu, PhD, RN, ARNP assistant professor, coordinator for Simulation Laboratory, School of Nursing
	UTSON-H/Taipei Medical University College of Nursing Exchange Program
Teaching and service, the two major missions of UTHSC-H, are what Teng-Yuan (Erica) Yu, PhD, RN, ARNP, hopes to instill in the students of both UT School of Nursing and Taipei Medical University at Taipei, Taiwan.  Yu, associate professor and coordinator of the Simulation Laboratory for the School of Nursing, grew up in Taiwan where she received her BSN.  She has hosted international exchange students, been a visiting faculty member at other schools, and has spoken at several universities as an expert in her field.  In December of 2006, a group from Taipei Medical University visited UTHSC-H and the School of Nursing.  They were impressed with the simulation laboratory, especially the way simulators have been integrated into the nursing curriculum.  When the visitors returned home, they e-mailed Yu about establishing an exchange program for faculty and students.  Yu’s students also expressed an interest participating in this exchange.  The UTHSC-H students’ were particularly interested in caring for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and prevention of the Avian Flu.  Yu saw an advertisement for the Office of International Programs Award and spoke with Sharon Ostwald, PhD, RN, FGSA, professor & Isla Carroll Turner chair of gerontological nursing and coordinator of international activities, about the faculty/student exchange idea.  Ostwald encouraged Yu to submit her idea and apply for the award.  In March of 2007, Yu traveled to Taipei, where she gave a presentation on simulation labs.  She was stunned at the number of people who had traveled as far as four hours away to hear her speak because the next closest training class was in Australia. Upon Yu’s return, she received the 2007 Office of International Programs Award.  This award will pay for travel expenses for herself and one other graduate level faculty member. Yu and Yuh-Fong Hong, assistant professor of nursing clinic, will travel to Taipei in March of 2008 to establish the collaborative project between The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston (UTSON-H) and Taipei Medical University.  A medical simulator (SimMan) was recently purchased by Taipei Medical University for use in nursing education courses; however, the faculty is struggling to creatively integrate simulation into their nursing curriculum.  Yu and Hong’s first task will be to evaluate the existing equipment.  Then by reviewing the individual needs of the school, faculty, and students, a curriculum will be designed to meet each one’s specific goals.  Using UTSON-H as a model of expertise, Yu and Hong will and improve the development of nursing in Taiwan by integrating the SimMan into the nursing curriculum.
Dr. Yu in the Simulation Laboratory with SimMan.