Visiting International Scholars

We understand that navigating the rules and requirements for studying abroad can be very difficult. Therefore, we strive to make the application process as easy as possible for anyone interested in attending UNC in the Visiting International Scholars (VIS) program.

Below you will find a list of documents needed to apply to our VIS program beginning with our application. Please send all correspondence to songlobalhealth@unc.edu.

• Explore our faculty directory to discover potential mentors who align with your research interests.

Once we have received all your documents and a faculty member has agreed to be your mentor, you will receive the following from us:

• A formal invitation letter to the VIS Program and a request to send back the following included documents:
  • Release of Liability Form
  • Personal Information Form
  • Compliance Information
  • Social Media and Confidentially form

Once we have received these documents, submit a request to ISSS.  Click here for more information about the J-1 requirements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at songlobalhealth@unc.edu.

Every year, the School of Nursing welcomes dozens of visitors from around the globe through our Visiting International Scholars (VIS) program.

Whether a graduate student working toward a degree or an experienced professional looking to enhance a particular skill-set, the VIS program offers nursing professionals a chance to be mentored by one of UNC’s world-renowned faculty. UNC’s faculty will mentor VIS through an individualized research-plan suited to their professional goals. The relationships developed during this experience benefit both the faculty mentor and visiting scholar as they work towards a new understanding of patient care, research, and education.

Every visiting scholar’s experience and time spent at UNC is unique. Visits vary in length from as short as two weeks to over a year. In addition to working closely with their faculty mentor. Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in any relevant seminars and workshops held around campus.

Established in 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), is home to a vibrant international community, and scholars always have the support of on-campus organizations and staff to help them adjust to life away from home.

Chapel Hill is located 272 mi (437 km) from Washington DC, and approximately midway between the Atlantic Ocean (169 mi (272km)) and the Appalachian Mountains (168 miles (270km)), thus opportunities for travel are many. Still, there are lots to do in Chapel Hill and the surrounding area with its festivals and unique culture.

Please read on to find out more about our VIS program and begin by filling out our application. Also, make sure to check out our list of faculty members, searchable by specialty, to help you in your search for a suitable mentor.  If you are a university official interested in setting up a visit for a larger group, please contact us at songlobalhealth@unc.edu.

If you have questions please check out Frequently Asked Questions and contact us if you can’t find your answer there:

Email: songlobalhealth@unc.edu

Phone: (919) 843-8590

The program is $15,000 for a 12-month visit.

Dr. Eun Kyoung Choi, PhD, RN, CPNP, graduated from Yonsei University School of Nursing in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in South Korea. She furthered her education by earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Cincinnati in 2005, specializing in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program. In 2009, Dr. Choi completed her Ph.D. in Nursing from Yonsei University.

With a clinical career spanning over 14 years, she has contributed significantly to the field, serving as a general nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner at Yonsei University Severance Children’s Hospital since 2001. Since 2017, Dr. Choi has held the position of Professor at Yonsei University School of Nursing.

Her expertise extends to working with children facing various chronic diseases and disabilities, with a particular focus on individuals with spina bifida. Dr. Choi stands out as one of Korea’s most prolific researchers in spina bifida, securing funding from the National Research Foundation of Korea for spina bifida-related research projects over an impressive 11-year span.

Dr. Choi’s research initiatives encompass intervention studies on self-management and transition for individuals with spina bifida across different age groups. Currently, she is engaged in research projects aimed at establishing a cohort of children with spina bifida and promoting self-management using metaverses.

In addition to her focus on spina bifida, Dr. Choi is passionate about researching and supporting children and families with Down syndrome. Her ongoing research involves promoting physical activity in children with Down syndrome.

Notably, in January 2024, Dr. Choi published ‘Beautiful Down Syndrome,’ an influential essay sharing her experiences as a mother to a son with Down syndrome. This work has played a significant role in raising awareness of Down syndrome among the Korean public.

Dr. Myoungsuk Kim is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at Kangwon National University. She is a visiting international scholar at the University of North Carolina School of from August 2023 to August 2024. Dr. Kim received her bachelor’s degree of nursing from Seoul National University in 1998, a master’s degree in 2003, and earned her doctoral degree in 2014, all from Seoul National University. Dr. Kim is lead faculty for both graduate and undergraduate courses at Kangwon National University; among others, she teaches ‘Adult Nursing’, ‘Management of Addiction in Patients’, ‘Nursing Theory’ and ‘Communication Skill Enhancement’.

Dr. Kim’s primary mentor is Dr. Lorinda Coombs; they are conducting research on the psychological impact associated with a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Kim had been working to enhance the competency of person-centered care in nurses and nursing students through a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea. She developed an educational program with a focus on person-centered care for nurses and nursing students and evaluated its effectiveness. Additionally, she maintains a continued interest in researching the psychological issues and interventions of patients with cancer, as well as conducting studies on person-centered care for patients with cancer.

Dr. Kyoung Ja Kim, PhD, RN graduated from Yonsei University School of Nursing in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in Seoul, Korea. She furthered her education by earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Adult Nursing and a PhD in Nursing Management. She has extensive experience working at Ajou University Hospital caring for pediatric and adult patients with hematological diseases. She also has experience with the educational program for newly graduated nurses and senior nurses at this hospital. She worked at Hannam University, Department of Nursing as an assistant professor. She taught nursing management, nursing ethics, and physiology courses from 2014-2020. She worked at Inha University Department of Nursing as an associate professor where she taught nursing management, nursing ethics, and patient safety. She taught graduate courses on nursing theory and patient safety.

Dr. Kim’s research area is improving patient safety in clinical settings. She has a research program in patient safety research in hospitals and school educational settings. She has examined factors of safety indicators such as medication errors and handover errors in hospital settings and has recently focused on research factors affecting violence in the workplace. In the educational setting, she has safety education using error-prone situations and simulation education, specifically inattentional blindness, to improve patient safety competency. Her current work is developing an intervention program that applies the concept of positive bystanders to verify its effectiveness on workplace violence among hospital nurses, especially violence between nurses.