About the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing

We are the first Institute dedicated to promoting positive change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the vehicle of nursing.

The Golisano Institute is the only nursing institute in the country designed to transform the health care and support of people with IDD through the integration of specialized IDD curriculum into nursing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education.

The Institute focuses on developing the future of nursing through professional and academic education, experiential learning, and creating a robust network of thought leaders through the Golisano Fellowship in Developmental Disability Nursing. 

Meet a St. John Fisher Wegmans School of Nursing alumni, Juli Williams, as she describes the impact that the Institute’s curriculum had on her life and career.

Golisano Institute Mission

The mission of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing is to generate an international cadre of health care professionals prepared with the knowledge, professional skills, and competencies to effectively support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) throughout their life span and across settings.

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History

The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher University was established in 2018 with support from The B. Thomas Golisano Foundation and a personal donation from Tom Golisano.

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Achievements

The institute has evolved into a catalyst for transformation, leading the way in nursing workforce education, leadership development, and ultimately, organizational, policy, and systems change. The Golisano Institute has created and integrated content and experiences for nursing students and nursing professionals in the care of people with IDD. Golisano Institute faculty have created simulations and standardized patient experiences in IDD care and developed a series of avatar-based IDD patient case studies for a national market.

In June 2021, the Golisano Institute completed its first cohort of the Golisano Fellowship in IDD Nursing, a year-long program designed to advance thought leadership, expert practice, nursing education, scholarship, and advocacy in support of people with IDD. In 2023, the Institute will begin its next iteration of the Fellowship.

The Golisano Institute has an extensive network of partnerships across the globe, which support, inform and broaden the Institute’s reach.

Nurses at the Forefront

Nurses are the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and - as the most frequent clinical touchpoints for individuals with IDD - are critical to improving the quality of care for this population. The institute focuses on addressing the needs of nursing professionals in order to achieve greater health equity.

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Accreditation

The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing is accredited by the ANCC NCPD. ANCC NCPD Accreditation formally recognizes organizations that provide high-quality continuing nursing professional development and ensures educational activities are designed using evidence-based criteria. By participating in NCPD learning provided by an ANCC accredited organization, registered nurses maintain continued competence in a rapidly changing health care environment.