By Allison Kozicharow; Edited by Elizabeth Fine
WiRED International is pleased to welcome Elaine Musselman, Ph.D., R.N., CNE, to the WiRED Advisory Board. Dr. Musselman currently serves as the director of the School of Nursing at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and brings considerable experience in pediatric intensive care and school nursing.
Dr. Musselman said, “I have been teaching at a university nursing program where community, social justice and health equity are the foundation of our mission and values. WiRED aligns really well with our school of nursing. I was impressed with WiRED’s history of working with underserved communities — appreciating their unique needs and resources — and empowering community members to provide highly needed health care education as community health workers (CHWs).
“The impact that the CHWs have had in their various communities due to the work of WiRED is humbling and inspiring. They provide culturally appropriate health education and help people get the care they need. I look forward to networking with other experts as WiRED responds to ever changing global healthcare needs.
“Joining WiRED International offers a unique opportunity for our faculty and nursing students to expand their knowledge of international health issues — ultimately enhancing their education and broadening their global perspective. Joining WiRED also provides us with unique research opportunities and a platform for contributing to and supporting global training programs to improve health outcomes.”
Dr. Musselman received her B.S. in nursing and her M.S. in nursing/healthcare education from the University of Phoenix and her Ph.D. in Nursing from Rutgers. She has served at the SFSU School of Nursing in various teaching and program positions in nursing since 2013 before taking on the role of director in 2021. Dr. Musselman’s articles have appeared in journals such as AORN Journal and Holistic Nursing Practice. She is on the advisory council of the SFSU Children’s Campus daycare center and works extensively with CavityFree SF to eliminate health disparities in childhood oral health.
Dr. Musselman hails originally from the east coast. She has been living with her husband in the Bay Area for 12 years. She has two children, a daughter who lives in San Francisco and a son who lives in New Jersey. Dr. Musselman likes to spend her free time reading, hiking and gardening.
I have admired Elaine in her professional capacity as director of the SFSU School of Nursing. She has demonstrated a genuine interest in facilitating access to underserved communities abroad for SFSU faculty and students through her collaboration with WiRED. Elaine’s review of the CHW program was specifically instrumental in supporting WiRED’s partnership with Maseno University in Kenya.
—WiRED Board Chair Charlotte Ferretti, Ed.D., R.N.
The SFSU School of Nursing has long been a valued partner of WiRED, starting 20 years ago with its participation in our educational video conferences with Iraqi medical professionals. That involvement was a testament to the school’s commitment to global health education.
I am therefore thrilled to welcome Dr. Musselman to WiRED’s Advisory Board. Her expertise will be invaluable as we expand our health training programs throughout underserved regions. Dr. Musselman’s leadership is a perfect complement to our ongoing efforts in community health worker training and other health education initiatives. All of us at WiRED look forward to working with Dr. Musselman and to a fruitful collaboration with the School of Nursing at SFSU.
—WiRED Executive Director Gary Selnow, Ph.D.