Advancing Women’s Health Through Global Nursing Leadership

PK Board Chair Barbara Glickstein & Polina Guk at the ICN Conference in Finland, Summer 2025

With support from a Women’s Opportunity Fund of Ukraine travel grant, Polina Guk recently completed her fellowship with the International Council of Nurses’ Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GLNI), focusing on “Enhancing Menopause Services in Primary Healthcare.”

“Throughout the fellowship, we engaged in a rigorous, collaborative process,” Polina shared. “A highlight was a week-long in-person session, where we developed essential leadership, advocacy, and communication skills.”

Her team’s work—culminating in a policy brief—aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO’s strategic directions for nursing, particularly in expanding access to quality health services and advancing gender equity.

“It was a truly valuable and inspiring experience,” Polina reflected. “It gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader and become part of a vibrant international community of nursing professionals.”

Along the way, Polina also connected with PK Board Chair Barbara Glickstein at the ICN Congress in Finland and with PKU & WOF-UA CEO Vlada Nedak to discuss the future of her research on menopause. Project Kesher is proud to support leaders like Polina who are shaping the future of women’s health.

Read Polina’s full statement below:

I'm pleased to share that I have successfully completed my fellowship with the International Council of Nurses’ Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GLNI), as part of the EURO regional group. Our group project focused on “Enhancing Menopause Services in Primary Healthcare,” a critical yet often under-addressed area in women's health.

Throughout the fellowship, we engaged in a rigorous, collaborative process. We held regular online meetings with our mentor, Maria do Céu Barbieri, and additional sessions within our group to advance our work. A highlight of the program was a week-long in-person session, where we developed essential leadership, advocacy, and communication skills.

Our work involved conducting a thorough literature review, team-based writing, and policy analysis. On July 15, we successfully presented our final project to the GLNI community. We are now in the process of finalizing our policy brief, which will be reviewed by our mentor. Upon completion, we will receive our Certificates of Completion.
This project aligns strongly with both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery, particularly in promoting access to quality health services and advancing gender equity.

Overall, it was a truly valuable and inspiring experience—both professionally and personally. It gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader, develop new skills, and become part of a vibrant international community of nursing professionals working together to drive change in healthcare.

Thank you, Project Kesher, for such a great opportunity.

Best regards,

Polina