Paul's Place, a human services outreach center in the Washington Village/Pigtown neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore with which UMSON has had a longstanding partnership, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. The occasion was marked with a celebratory event on Thursday, April 20, at the B&O Railroad Museum in West Baltimore, which Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and several UMSON faculty attended.
Paul’s Place serves as a catalyst and leader for change, improving the quality of life in the Southwest Baltimore communities it serves. It provides programs, services, and support that strengthen individuals and families, fostering hope, personal dignity, and growth.
The partnership between Paul’s Place and the University of Maryland School of Nursing spans more than 35 years; the School created the original Nurses Clinic at Paul’s Place in 1986. Over the past two decades, this partnership has continued to evolve, and today, School of Nursing students provide basic health and wellness services as well as medical case management there. Innovations have included an interprofessional street outreach program, as well as outreach to nearby homeless encampments for on-site triage and recovery support.
Under this partnership, Megan Doede, PhD, RN, assistant professor, serves formally as director of health and wellness for Paul’s Place, a position previously held by Kelly Doran, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate professor. This model enhances opportunities for student learning around delivering community-based care, while also ensuring continuity of care for area residents when School of Nursing classes are not in session. In 2016, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing recognized this partnership with its Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award.
pictured, l. to r.: Susan Wozenski, JD, MPH; Doede; Michelle Spencer, DNP, RN; and Dean Kirschling at the Paul's Place 40th anniversary celebration