Nearly a hundred dedicated nurse leaders from several Adventist healthcare institutions across the Southern Asia-Pacific Division gathered in Cebu City from June 3 to 5, 2025, for the Adventist Health Care Nursing Conference.
Hosted by Adventist Hospital-Cebu and held at the Central Philippine Union Conference headquarters at 112 Gorordo Ave., Cebu City, the conference centered on the theme: “Nurses as Essential Catalysts for Resilience, Renewal, and Wholistic Healing.”
The conference commenced with a keynote address by Joshua Goh, a retired hospital executive and consultant who delved into “Resilience: The Quiet Behind the Care.”
Goh likened nurses to the calm eye of a storm, emphasizing their quiet strength amidst the harsh and destructive winds of adversity. He highlighted their ability to “bend without breaking,” referring to their mental and emotional fortitude.
They are flexible and adaptable, enabling them to endure immense pressure, stress, and demanding situations without collapsing or giving up. With courage in motion and a firm commitment to finding strength even when no one is watching, they advocate for the voiceless while moving with God’s grace.
Goh then transitioned to the critical concept of “Renewal: The Necessity of Restoration.” He urged attendees to “step into the sunlight again,” dispelling harmful notions that self-neglect is not a badge of honor, burnout is not the rite of passage, and compassion fatigue is not a cost of caring.”
He passionately advocated for nurses to be permitted to rest, grieve, laugh, and grow,” emphasizing the importance of restoring the “flowing fountain that runneth over.”
Moreover, this three-day event drew a distinguished roster of guest speakers aside from Go, who contributed richly to the plenaries and discussions, addressing common issues healthcare professionals face. They also gave insights into leadership development, especially when the current workforce is mostly from Generation Z.
They were Jo Ann Amparo, the healthcare director from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division; Patricia Toor, RN, BA, MSN, and the chief nursing officer at Advent Health-Florida; and Roy G. Perez, MBA, the Adventist International Health System Philippines, Inc. (AIHSPI) chief executive officer.
Other guest speakers were Jannelie Sumatra, RN, MAN, PhD, FPCHA, the Adventist Medical Center Valencia president, and Dr. Noraidah Phua, chief nursing officer of Penang Adventist Hospital in Malaysia.
In a plenary session, Toor took the stage to address the vital subject of “Leadership Development: What Are We Missing?”
Her insights spurred an engaging afternoon session, where delegates grappled with pressing issues such as strategies for addressing high turnover rates in nursing.
The event’s second day offered more insights and learning, such as the elaboration of “Faith Community Nursing (FCN).”
In a lecture by Phua, she related her personal experience to emphasize what FCN truly means and why it matters. She stressed the concept of Faith Community Nursing (FCN) as an initiative that offers a unique approach to care by providing holistic care that addresses not only the physical needs of individuals but also their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This concept recognizes the interconnectedness of these aspects in true healing.
Meeting clients in the communities where they are promotes unparalleled levels of trust and accessibility, effectively bridging health systems and communities. This approach promotes deep trust and accessibility within communities, as FCNs typically operate from familiar and non-threatening faith-based environments, allowing them to build rapport and serve as a trusted resource.
Toor also added insights when she shared how they implemented FCN through health ministry in the church, home visitations, and offering health assessments.
Another concept emphasized during the lectures and discussions was the “Wholistic Approach to Wellness iCARE,” a client service program aiming to train doctors, nurses, workers, and staff to offer excellent and Christ-like care to clients.
Additionally, the nurse explored more about Generation Z, the demographic cohort that follows millennials and precedes Generation Alpha, with birth years ranging from 1997 to 2012.
One of the challenges faced by nurse leaders is that the current generation of nurses is composed of digital natives. This group is technologically savvy, socially aware, and pragmatic, often prioritizing what is effective and realistic over theories, ideals, or abstract principles. When they find that their ideals do not align with the realities of the workplace, they are more likely to leave, which can negatively impact the institution’s staffing levels.
“When you, a leader, are not tech savvy, you’ll find it hard to get their cooperation. They are time conscious, that’s why you should be mindful of time when calling their attention,” Puah stated.
Many more situations and scenarious discussed and enlightened, equipping these leaders with invaluable insights and strategies to champion renewal, and promote resilience, and wholistic healing within themselves and the communities they serve.
Venus Vargas, one of the nurse leaders from AH-Cebu, said, “How I wish seminars like this would be a little longer.” She referred to the learnings she gained, and the refreshing break from the routine hospital scenes she encounters during her shifts.
On the third day, the administrative team of Adventist Health Care institutions treated these nurse leaders to a one-day getaway on the beaches of Southern Cebu. They went to Oslob, a place that has become world-renowned for its whale shark watching experience.
The nurses also enjoyed a trip to the iconic Sumilon Island, with its famous sandbar. The sandbar constantly changes shape and location with the tides and seasons, offering a unique landscape for visitors to explore.