Kent State’s College of Nursing sponsored the eighth annual “Driving the Future” Conference on Tuesday in the Kiva to discuss advances and issues in the health care field, especially nursing.

“The conference is focused on engaging educators, clinicians, administrators and students around key issues and ideas that impact health care and in particular the nursing profession,” said Michelle Bozeman, outreach program manager for the College of Nursing.

The wide range of speakers and presenters throughout the conference’s history has resulted in innovation, collaboration and funded research that has advanced nursing and optimized health care delivery, Bozeman said.

Kent State nursing professor Jeremy Jarzembak was one of the speakers at the conference. He spoke about an unusual collaboration between University Hospital Geneva Medical Center and the College of Nursing at Kent State.

 “The collaboration is using the latest distance technology to capture live operating-room procedures and beaming them into the classroom,” Jarzembak said.

Through the collaboration, students have the ability to speak directly with the surgeon and operating-room nurses and provide follow-up care to a simulated mannequin, Jarzembak said.

“The use of a simulated environment allows for the students to learn and foster skills in a safe environment, preparing before they interact with the live patients,” Jarzembak said.

The keynote speaker was Ulrik Christensen, the chief executive officer of Area 9, an education software company. He spoke about improved tactics to use in nursing education.

Other presenters included Rebecca Erickson, sociology professor from the University of Akron; Amitabh Goel, chief medical officer from University Hospitals, Geneva Medical Center; and Catherine Koppelman, chief nursing and patient experience officer from University Hospitals and University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

“The speakers focus[ed] on the use of current educational technologies and collaborations that support the seamless development of nurses in education and practice,” Bozeman said.

Jarzembak said this was a valuable educational opportunity for both nursing students and professors alike.

“I believe this event is very beneficial to nursing students as it provokes a means for them to be exposed to professional presentation between educators, researchers and service professionals,” Jarzembak said. “As an educator, nurse and future patient, I am thrilled that our nurses are being prepared in a manner that prepares them for a 21st-century health care.”

Contact Halie Rogers at [email protected].