Schumacher 2018: Dianne Tapp explores digital health paradigm and its implication on the future of nursing

More than 100 guests attended the 2018 Marguerite Schumacher Memorial Alumni Lecture at The Ranchmen's Club on Sept. 8, 2018 to hear former dean and professor Dr. Dianne Tapp, RN, MN'93, PhD'97 speak about "The Future of Nursing: health, human suffering and everything in-between."

Her talk explored genetic sciences and the role of technology in nursing care. Tapp reflected on her own personal career journey and discussed trends like the genomic revolution, wireless sensor technology and the digital health paradigm and its implication on the future of nursing.

In asking why developments in genome science matter to nursing, Tapp explains, "Biological explanations for health and illness are shifting to the cellular and microscopic level. These models lead to new ways of diagnosing and treating disease and/or advancing health.

"The digital health paradigm will also disrupt current approaches to medical diagnosis and treatment, pressing medical practice to move beyond the current modes of diagnostic rationality," she says. "Nurses must become involved as knowledge generators in these emerging developments."

Alumni executive president Kate Wong, BN’12, was emcee for the evening and new Faculty of Nursing dean Dr. Sandra Davidson also gave opening remarks.

For photos from both the student lecture and the evening talk, check out this Facebook album.