The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Global Health Nursing Fellowship offers CHOP nurses the opportunity to strengthen clinical skills, expand leadership capacity, and contribute to sustainable global health initiatives through immersive, collaborative work with international partners. For nurse fellow Megan Chiu, RN, BSN, the program became a defining chapter in her professional journey.
From September through December 2025, Megan served at Princess Marina Hospital’s Neonatal Unit (NNU) in Gaborone, Botswana, where she worked closely with local clinicians to support quality improvement projects and evidence-based practices. Princess Marina Hospital is Botswana’s largest hospital and cares for many of the sickest neonates in the country. The experience was transformative, “I was taught early in my public health training that meaningful global health work must be rooted in cultural humility and genuine partnership,” Megan reflects. “My goal was never to transplant CHOP practices to PMH, but to listen first, learn deeply, and work collaboratively so that improvements were sustainable and locally owned.”
A Fellowship Built on Partnership
Throughout her time in Botswana, Megan focused on understanding the unit’s workflow, constraints, and strengths. She emphasized asking questions and co-creating solutions with staff rather than assuming what was needed. This approach shaped the heart of her experience.
“The relationships I built with nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, porters, and support staff were the greatest privilege. Their trust and partnership made every accomplishment possible.”
Translating Evidence into Sustainable Practice
One of Megan’s most impactful initiatives was an evidence-based practice project co-led with fellow nurse Emily Teschko in partnership with nurse colleagues in the NNU at Princess Marina Hospital. After reviewing research on safe IV tubing change intervals, the team introduced a practice change from a 4-day to a 7-day IV tubing change schedule. This change was both supported by evidence and aligned with the hospital’s need to conserve supplies. The project exemplified the fellowship’s core principles: engaging colleagues in dialogue to achieve solutions, adapting evidence to context, and empowering local leadership. “What mattered most wasn’t the practice change itself,” Megan explains. “It was the trust built along the way. Colleagues in the NNU embraced the evidence and championed the change themselves.”
Strengthening Nursing Systems and Quality of Care
Throughout her three months at Princess Marina Hospital, Megan worked alongside local partners on a range of quality improvement and nursing leadership efforts, including:
- Reinforcing peripheral IV (PIV) care through daily huddle engagement
- Updating nursing documentation and standardizing cannula insertion and assessment forms
- Conducting twice-weekly REDCap audits that demonstrated a measurable reduction in severe PIV infiltration injuries
- Presenting monthly audit data to unit leadership to track progress and reinforce bundle compliance
- Supporting improvements to bedside handover processes and finalizing updated handover tools
- Educating staff on infusion set labeling to reduce supply waste
- Guiding mothers on breast milk pumping, safety, storage, and troubleshooting equipment
- Streamlining quality improvement of data management systems
Lessons to Carry Forward
Working in a resource-constrained setting reinforced for Megan that excellent outcomes do not depend on high-tech equipment, but on strong systems, empowered nurses, effective communication, and meaningful family engagement. Low-cost, high-impact interventions like kangaroo mother care (KMC), breastfeeding support, strict hand hygiene, and bubble CPAP demonstrated the power of foundational nursing care. “Resource constraints often reveal what is truly essential,” Megan says. “Nursing leadership, family partnership, and context-appropriate protocols save lives.”
A Fellowship Grounded in Mutual Learning
Megan is grateful for her CHOP mentors, including Sally Poliwoda, MPH, BSN, Daisy Carter, and Anthony Flaherty, as well as the dedicated neonatal staff and new friends at Princess Marina Hospital.
“Their resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to families shaped me far more than any single project,” she reflects. “I was honored to represent CHOP and to learn from partners whose leadership will stay with me always.”
The CHOP Global Health Nursing Fellowship continues to champion ethical, sustainable global partnerships that support nursing leadership while fostering mutual learning across continents.
For Megan, the experience was both humbling and inspiring—one that will continue to influence her practice for years to come.
“I am incredibly proud to have been part of this fellowship. I’m excited to carry forward the lessons I learned in my practice.”
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The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Global Health Nursing Fellowship offers CHOP nurses the opportunity to strengthen clinical skills, expand leadership capacity, and contribute to sustainable global health initiatives through immersive, collaborative work with international partners. For nurse fellow Megan Chiu, RN, BSN, the program became a defining chapter in her professional journey.
From September through December 2025, Megan served at Princess Marina Hospital’s Neonatal Unit (NNU) in Gaborone, Botswana, where she worked closely with local clinicians to support quality improvement projects and evidence-based practices. Princess Marina Hospital is Botswana’s largest hospital and cares for many of the sickest neonates in the country. The experience was transformative, “I was taught early in my public health training that meaningful global health work must be rooted in cultural humility and genuine partnership,” Megan reflects. “My goal was never to transplant CHOP practices to PMH, but to listen first, learn deeply, and work collaboratively so that improvements were sustainable and locally owned.”
A Fellowship Built on Partnership
Throughout her time in Botswana, Megan focused on understanding the unit’s workflow, constraints, and strengths. She emphasized asking questions and co-creating solutions with staff rather than assuming what was needed. This approach shaped the heart of her experience.
“The relationships I built with nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, porters, and support staff were the greatest privilege. Their trust and partnership made every accomplishment possible.”
Translating Evidence into Sustainable Practice
One of Megan’s most impactful initiatives was an evidence-based practice project co-led with fellow nurse Emily Teschko in partnership with nurse colleagues in the NNU at Princess Marina Hospital. After reviewing research on safe IV tubing change intervals, the team introduced a practice change from a 4-day to a 7-day IV tubing change schedule. This change was both supported by evidence and aligned with the hospital’s need to conserve supplies. The project exemplified the fellowship’s core principles: engaging colleagues in dialogue to achieve solutions, adapting evidence to context, and empowering local leadership. “What mattered most wasn’t the practice change itself,” Megan explains. “It was the trust built along the way. Colleagues in the NNU embraced the evidence and championed the change themselves.”
Strengthening Nursing Systems and Quality of Care
Throughout her three months at Princess Marina Hospital, Megan worked alongside local partners on a range of quality improvement and nursing leadership efforts, including:
- Reinforcing peripheral IV (PIV) care through daily huddle engagement
- Updating nursing documentation and standardizing cannula insertion and assessment forms
- Conducting twice-weekly REDCap audits that demonstrated a measurable reduction in severe PIV infiltration injuries
- Presenting monthly audit data to unit leadership to track progress and reinforce bundle compliance
- Supporting improvements to bedside handover processes and finalizing updated handover tools
- Educating staff on infusion set labeling to reduce supply waste
- Guiding mothers on breast milk pumping, safety, storage, and troubleshooting equipment
- Streamlining quality improvement of data management systems
Lessons to Carry Forward
Working in a resource-constrained setting reinforced for Megan that excellent outcomes do not depend on high-tech equipment, but on strong systems, empowered nurses, effective communication, and meaningful family engagement. Low-cost, high-impact interventions like kangaroo mother care (KMC), breastfeeding support, strict hand hygiene, and bubble CPAP demonstrated the power of foundational nursing care. “Resource constraints often reveal what is truly essential,” Megan says. “Nursing leadership, family partnership, and context-appropriate protocols save lives.”
A Fellowship Grounded in Mutual Learning
Megan is grateful for her CHOP mentors, including Sally Poliwoda, MPH, BSN, Daisy Carter, and Anthony Flaherty, as well as the dedicated neonatal staff and new friends at Princess Marina Hospital.
“Their resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to families shaped me far more than any single project,” she reflects. “I was honored to represent CHOP and to learn from partners whose leadership will stay with me always.”
The CHOP Global Health Nursing Fellowship continues to champion ethical, sustainable global partnerships that support nursing leadership while fostering mutual learning across continents.
For Megan, the experience was both humbling and inspiring—one that will continue to influence her practice for years to come.
“I am incredibly proud to have been part of this fellowship. I’m excited to carry forward the lessons I learned in my practice.”
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