Hillman Alumna Amplifies Nursing’s Voice at the United Nations

Hillman Scholar alumna Dr. Gill Adynski (UNC–Chapel Hill ’23), Health Policy Analyst at the International Council of Nurses (ICN), represented nursing leadership on the global stage during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York City.

In her role at ICN, Dr. Adynski supported the organization’s advocacy at the Fourth High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (HLM4)—a major global forum focused on advancing policy solutions for chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health. She worked to amplify nursing’s voice in international policy discussions, emphasizing the essential role of nurses in preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases through primary care and nurse-led models of care.

Nursing Leadership on the Global Stage

During the weeklong assembly, Dr. Adynski helped lead ICN’s official side event, “Shaping Global Health Policy Through Nursing Leadership: Partnerships and Solutions for a Healthier World,” co-hosted with New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Sponsored by TruMerit and Johnson & Johnson, the event drew more than one hundred nurses and global health leaders to explore how nursing leadership can drive progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The session closed a powerful week of advocacy highlighting how nurse-led innovation and research are central to achieving global health equity. Panelists and attendees discussed the need to strengthen the nursing workforce, expand access to primary care, and invest in education, policy, and research that support nurse-led solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

“Addressing global challenges—from noncommunicable diseases to mental health and climate change—requires collaboration across the world’s 30 million nurses and investment in nurse-led research and leadership to drive evidence-based policy and meaningful change.”
— Dr. Gill Adynski

Collaboration and Policy Impact

Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Adynski emphasized that nurses must be active participants in shaping health policy at every level—local, national, and global. Her work at ICN and presence at UNGA 80 underscored the growing recognition that nurses are not only essential to care delivery but also vital architects of systems that improve population health and equity worldwide.