LettersCanada to make our healthcare system more effective,more caring, more efficient– and ultimately sustainable.At the leadership level,<strong>Bloomberg</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> workswith government, regulatorsand pr<strong>of</strong>essional associationsto advance health careand support our nursing colleaguesat home and aroundthe world in meeting theneeds <strong>of</strong> their communities.For us, there is nodivide between researchand the pr<strong>of</strong>essional world.<strong>Bloomberg</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> lives inthe world <strong>of</strong> practice andbrings to that world the scienceand scholarship <strong>of</strong> thebest research, be it in education,research or policy. Ourstudents benefit; our facultymembers – both standingand cross-appointed – benefit;the university benefits inthe quality <strong>of</strong> the researchand our programs; andultimately, society benefits.Better nursing researchand education means betterpatient care. For <strong>Bloomberg</strong><strong>Nursing</strong>, that’s the truemeaning <strong>of</strong> partnership.SIOBAN NELSON, RN, PHD, FCAHS1 Clark, I.D., D. Trick, and R. VanLoon. (2011). Academic Reform:Policy Options for Improving theQuality and Cost-Effectiveness<strong>of</strong> Undergraduate Education inOntario. Montreal and Kingston:Queen’s Policy Studies Series,McGill-Queen’s University Press.MYFAVOURITETEACHERCongratulations on anothervibrant and interesting edition<strong>of</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> <strong>magazine</strong>. In theFall/Winter 2011 issue, I waspleased to see “A Conversationwith Ellen Hodnett,” whichably pr<strong>of</strong>iled her renownedscientific talents. However,many in the research communitymay not know what a fantasticteacher Ellen is.I had the privilege <strong>of</strong> being herstudent in the research course <strong>of</strong> themaster’s program in 1988, and in thecore nursing theory course for Year II <strong>of</strong> the undergradprogram. She is one <strong>of</strong> the finest teachers I ever cameacross during my university years, and I had somegood ones.Ellen was innovative in teaching us fresh-facedundergrads “lessons” about life that were not in anybook, and I’m sure were not part <strong>of</strong> any approvedcurriculum! Sharp-witted and hard-edged attimes, she insisted we be fully awake andimmersed in life. I was just crazy abouther teaching style. More than 30 yearslater, I’m grateful that many <strong>of</strong> her wordsand actions are still seared in my memory.I know the science side is critical, but<strong>Bloomberg</strong> is a pr<strong>of</strong>essional faculty thatwill always have to graduate pr<strong>of</strong>essionalswho can actually “do” nursing. I hopefuture grads will have the benefit <strong>of</strong>brilliant, funny, no-nonsense, groundedteachers like I had in Ellen Hodnett.Continued success with <strong>Pulse</strong>, whichis just terrific.Michael J. Villeneuve, BScN 8T3, MSc 9T3Executive Lead,National Expert Commission Secretariat,Canadian Nurses AssociationTELL US WHATYOU THINK!Do you have an opinionor question about anarticle in this issue <strong>of</strong><strong>Pulse</strong>? Drop us a line atpulse.<strong>magazine</strong>@utoronto.ca or the<strong>Bloomberg</strong> <strong>Faculty</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> at:155 College St.Suite 130Toronto, ONM5T 1P8Published letters maybe edited for lengthand clarity.PHOTO: REBECCA BARANN o 3