Dominican University of California
01/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/20/2026 17:53
Nursing Professor Selected to Represent Transcultural Nursing NGO at UN Headquarters
Dr. Olivia Catolico, a professor of nursing at Dominican University of California, has been selected as delegate at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York this spring.
CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, promoting women's and girl's rights, and empowerment of women. It was established by the Economic and Social Council in 1956.
Dr. Catolico will attend the March 9-19 session as a representative of the Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS), a non-governmental organization focused on promoting culturally relevant and equitable care.
Dr. Catolico's primary research interests are in the areas of refugee and migrant health, and healthcare issues of persons in resettlement. Within TCNS, she addresses health disparities and human rights for vulnerable migrant populations and advocates for resources for nurses dealing with anti-immigrant policies that affect health access.
"Being a voice for those who have no voice" is a maxim foundational to Dr. Catolico's approach to teaching and learning with students.
In her coursework with undergraduate nursing students, Dr. Catolico intentionally fosters awareness and inquiry. She engages students to think about how they advocate for diverse and at-risk populations. With sophomores this includes thoughtful integration of case studies. Seniors in their clinical preceptorship are engaged in reflective inquiry about their caregiving and leadership experiences with underserved or marginalized groups.
Senior capstone projects developed under Dr. Catolico's guidance are intentionally linked to either Healthy People 2030, data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being, or the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all of which are closely linked to strategies that aim to improve health and reduce inequality and deprivations.
The CSW session's priority theme will be ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.
Dr. Catolico holds two national certifications through the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Nurse Certification. A veteran of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. Dr. Catolico served as the Associate Chief for Nursing Service Education and Research at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Loma Linda. She held staff and supervisory registered nurse positions across the continuum of adult care in ambulatory, acute, intensive care, and long-term care settings.
Dr. Catolico is the author of the recently published book "Gerontological Care and Reflective Practice: Person-Centered and Caring Dimensions." The book focuses on the significance of caring and humanistic approaches towards the health and wellbeing of older adults, guided by the World Health Organization's broad definition of health.
At Dominican, Dr. Catolico is a recipient of both the Melba Beals Faculty Award for Excellence in Diversity and the Joseph R. Fink Faculty Achievement Award.
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