Invitational summit: Re-envisioning research focused PHD programs of the future

Ten years ago, in response to the growing discussions, a seminal report, The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing –Pathways to Excellence was endorsed by AACN members. A re-envisioning of PhD programs is urgently needed to ensure the advancement of nursing science and to situate research focused nursing PhD graduates for success – in academia and beyond. To address these issues, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing held a summit in October 2019, Re-envisioning Research Focused PhD Programs of the Future, with stakeholders from 41 educational, governmental, professional and philanthropic institutions. Results from a pre-summit poll shaped the Summit agenda, which consisted of panels and roundtables. Prior to and throughout the Summit, attendees identified and discussed challenges facing research intensive nursing PhD programs, emerging innovations within programs, and suggested changes to re-envision the future training of nurse scientists. These changes include better preparing PhD program graduates to bridge the research and practice divide, redesign funding and support for accelerated PhD students, and to reconceptualize outcome measures and evaluations of graduates. A synthesis of roundtable discussions will be used to frame other manuscripts in this issue as well as to prepare a roadmap for next steps.