Bridging Health Gaps
The School of Nursing brings asthma awareness to vulnerable communities.
In a bustling elementary school classroom, a group of third graders sits rapt as they learn how to use a device many have never seen before: a metered-dose asthma inhaler with spacers. Patiently explaining the proper use of the medical device are a group of nursing students from 鶹Ʒ, participants in The Asthma Initiative, an innovative program that increases access to health education for communities with high rates of asthma.
The program, inspired by Kenya Beard, Ed.D., AGACNP-BC, ANEF, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing, and led by Sindy Louisma, associate director of clinical operations, kicked off in September 2024 with a series of community health events aimed at increasing asthma awareness among children and other vulnerable members of the community. In partnership with the American Lung Association, the White Plains School District and the YWCA in White Plains, the program sends nursing students to visit schools and community organizations in Westchester to learn about the experiences of those who have asthma and may have been marginalized or overlooked by public health efforts.
The program is accomplishing key goals for community health and nursing education. “The Asthma Initiative benefits the community by providing strategies that affect health outcomes. And it benefits our students when we expose them to the rewards of community health,” said Beard. “We are building strong nurse leaders who will advocate for better policies for the health of the whole community. We are making a life-changing impact.”
Before fanning out into the community, the future nurses were briefed on how to demonstrate the correct use of asthma inhalers to children and adults effectively. They also prepared answers to common questions about asthma triggers, environmental factors and other health behaviors that can worsen symptoms.
“Asthma is a chronic disease, yet in recent years it has taken a back seat,” said Louisma. “Our goal is to raise the community’s awareness of asthma prevalence in their community, and to give them strategies for staying healthy. There are steps people can take to manage their asthma, such as knowing their triggers, having an action plan, staying in touch with their providers and following their treatment protocols. This reduces emergency room visits and improves the overall community health.”
Louisma added that Mercy students have also participated in the American Lung Association’s award-winning Open Airways for Schools® program, which provides action plans for children with asthma to share with their parents and pediatricians. “By providing a key source of support to vulnerable populations, we’re helping them improve asthma outcomes in their communities,” said Louisma.
The Mercy students who attended the outreach programs said the Asthma Initiative opened their eyes to the variety of options for nursing professionals, including roles in promoting public health.
Victoria Torres ’25, who was diagnosed with asthma as an adult, said she relates to the worry parents and children feel when facing the enormity of the disease. “I can only imagine how scary that can be for a child,” she said. “Having an asthma action plan can really help. It’s important for kids to feel they have some control.”
Minnu Benny ’25, whose mother was a nurse, was inspired to pursue the same career. “My mom genuinely enjoyed her work and had a passion for helping others,” Benny said. The Asthma Initiative offered a new perspective on nursing. “When we educate people to manage their condition, we are helping them to prevent future issues.”
“I’ve always had a strong desire to help people and to make a positive impact in their lives,” said Jennifer Lopez ’25. “[Learning how to] encourage communication between families and healthcare practitioners really sticks in my mind,” she said.
Grace Kim ’25 questioned a common misperception that health means stepping in after a disease or condition has set in. “But we learned that prevention is possible, and providing knowledge can help even little third-graders to control triggers before the condition worsens,” she said. “There truly is no limit to when health education can begin.”
The Asthma Initiative is part of the School of Nursing’s Health Equity Influencers Program. It exemplifies 鶹Ʒ’s commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and preparing nursing students to be effective leaders in public health.