Welcome to the 2nd annual TarHEAL (Healthcare Empowerment, Advocacy, and Leadership) Nursing Conference! Our non-credit, two-week program is designed to provide an immersive cultural and international global experience for undergraduate nursing students by unifying campuses through workshops and cultural activities. Students will focus on the four following pillars:
healthcare, empowerment, advocacy, and leadership
Covered Topics
Presentations: All content will be centered around the four pillars of the conference:
Healthcare-Empowerment-Advocacy-Leadership
Site Visits:Tours of tertiary care and regional hospitals, an inpatient hospice facility, and participation in community healthcare settings.
Final Project: A final project will be required, with details forthcoming. This will be a compilation of each participant’s time in the program, encompassing cultural and educational components
Cultural Activities:North Carolina is home to diverse communities and natural beauty including mountains to the west and beaches to the east. Participants will have time to explore locations of interest during their free time. Local immersive cultural activities are offered as part of the conference.
Daily Program Schedule
| Pre-Arrival: June 27 – 28, 2026 |
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| Week 1: June 29 – July 5, 2026 |
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| Week 2: July 6 – July 10, 2026 |
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Cost per participant: $2,750
Program fee includes the following:
- All program/administrative fees
- Breakfast and Lunch Meals (Monday-Friday for two weeks)
- Cultural activities such as historic landmarks, museums, and festivals
- Dinner with The Office of Strategy and Global Affairs (change to Dinner with UNC School of Nursing Global Leaders
- Ground transportation for program activities
- International health insurance (GeoBlue)
- Laundry services
- Materials for final program presentation
- Networking with other nursing students, nurses, and health professionals
- On-campus housing at UNC for duration of TarHEAL Conference (July 29-July 10, 2026)
- Tours of tertiary care and regional hospitals, an inpatient hospice facility, and participation in community healthcare settings
*Flights and visa fees are not included
Program payment deadline: April 30, 2026
Discounts
Special group rates are available for organizations registering 4 or more participants. To secure the discounted group rate, please review the following commitment terms below:
Minimum Commitment Deadlines
Initial Deposit Due (50% of total balance): April 15, 2026
Final Payment & Attendee List Due: April 30, 2026
Group Rate Eligibility
Groups must consist of at least 4 registered participants.
A non-refundable deposit of at least 50% of the total balance is due by April 15, 2026, to lock in the group rate.
Final payment and a confirmed list of participants must be submitted by April 30, 2026.
Group rates cannot be guaranteed after these dates and are subject to availability.
On-Campus Housing
On-campus housing is available in the UNC dorms for all students. If faculty choose to attend, they will be accommodated in a separate area or are welcome to find their own accommodation.
1. What does “TarHEAL” in TarHEAL Nursing Conference stand for?
The name Tar Heel carries deep North Carolina pride. Once tied to the state’s naval industry and later to the Civil War, it came to symbolize grit, tenacity, and never giving up. These qualities still define UNC’s Tar Heels today. These same traits define great nurses. Our TarHEAL Conference builds on that proud tradition, with a play on words to reflect our mission Advance Health For All through these 4 core principles:
Healthcare – Empowerment – Advocacy – Leadership
2. What is the focus of the two-week conference?
The TarHeal Conference provides an immersive cultural and international learning experience that connects nursing students and faculty across the world through education and community engagement.
Participants will:
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- Broaden their worldview of healthcare practices by comparing health systems and nursing roles across countries
- Strengthen global nursing competencies by learning how culture, communication, and context shape care across healthcare settings.
- Improve English communication skills and intercultural collaboration
- Enhance advocacy and leadership abilities to promote equity and patient-centered care
- Develop an awareness of social drivers of health and health disparities that transcend borders.
- Build professional networks and share best practices with peers worldwide
- Bring global insights back to local practice to improve patient care at home.
3. Who should apply to this conference?
Our two-week nursing conference is open to students looking to seek, refresh, or enhance their nursing knowledge and skills. Practicing international nurses are also welcome to apply—their experience and perspectives greatly enrich the learning environment.
4. What is included in the cost of the conference?
Our pricing reflects current market trends of multi-week programs, as our cost includes the following:
- All program/administrative fees
- Breakfast and Lunch Meals (Monday-Friday for two weeks)
- Cultural activities such as historic landmarks, museums, and festivals
- Dinner with The Office of Strategy and Global Affairs (change to Dinner with UNC School of Nursing Global Leaders
- Ground transportation for program activities
- International health insurance (GeoBlue)
- Laundry services
- Materials for final program presentation
- Networking with other nursing students, nurses, and health professionals
- On-campus housing at UNC for duration of TarHEAL Conference (July 29-July 10, 2026)
- Tours of tertiary care and regional hospitals, an inpatient hospice facility, and participation in community healthcare settings
**Flights and visa fees are not included
5. What is the process for applying?
Please visit this website to complete the application form.
6. Is proficiency in English required to attend?
Applicants will be asked to indicate their level of English proficiency on the application form. While we do not require a test score or any formal documentation, we do recommend that participants have at least a basic proficiency in English to fully engage with the program’s activities and discussions.
7. Will there be opportunities to interact with UNC students and faculty?
Of course! Our cultural and clinical experiences will be led by UNC School of Nursing faculty, with many opportunities to meet with students, staff, and other community professionals. The UNC School of Nursing is in proximity to the Schools of Dentistry, Global Public Health, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Social Work. We will engage in an interprofessional activity with some of our health affairs schools.
Informational Session
Join us for an informational session to learn more about the TarHEAL program and connect with the program faculty and coordinators. March 2026 dates will be forthcoming.
Contact Us
For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Ashley Leak Bryant, Senior Associate Dean of Strategy and Global Affairs at: ashley_bryant@unc.edu.