Nursing Professor Expands Global Health Care Partnerships in Indonesia

Dr. Steven Busby transforms sabbatical into teaching mission at three Baptist hospitals

What began as a study abroad trip has transformed into a multi-week teaching mission for Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Steven Busby, who is currently spending his sabbatical strengthening health care partnerships between Belmont and health care institutions across Indonesia. 

Busby is building on connections established during a May 2024 study abroad trip to Jakarta and Kediri, Indonesia, where he co-led students alongside colleague Taryn McCoy. 

"While there, I connected with Dr. Lucky, the director of international affairs for Stikes R.S. Baptis Kediri," Busby said, referring to a Baptist nursing college in Kediri. "They wanted more teaching from Belmont nursing faculty and also hoped to expand our existing partnership, established by Dr. Shelby Garner, to include three additional Baptist hospitals in Indonesia, creating opportunities for cross-cultural clinical teaching, practice and research." 

After connecting with Dr. Lucky, Busby's sabbatical plans began to shift. 

"Originally, I planned to rest and do some research," Busby said. "But as we continued to talk, I approached Dean Dr. Julie Honey with a new idea: What if I used a portion of my sabbatical to teach in Indonesia and help establish extended partnerships?" 

With enthusiastic support from leadership in the College of Nursing, Busby embarked on a five-week teaching mission across three Indonesian hospitals: Batu Baptist, Imanuel Baptist Hospital Lampung and Kediri Baptist. 

His work goes beyond traditional classroom instruction. Busby regularly visits patients' bedsides to interact directly with doctors, nurses and patients, providing critical care education and answering specific clinical questions. 

"Recently, I had the opportunity to answer some questions about hemodynamic monitoring from an Indonesian anesthesiologist," Busby said of his time at Imanuel Baptist Hospital Lampung. 

These hands-on educational exchanges represent the practical implementation of the partnership agreements Busby is helping to establish. 

The impact of Belmont's global health care initiatives extends beyond individual training sessions. By fostering these international partnerships, the University is positioning itself as a leader in global health care education, creating pathways for knowledge exchange that benefit both institutions. 

For Belmont students, these partnerships mean expanded opportunities for international clinical experiences and cross-cultural competency development — skills that are becoming increasingly for health care providers today. 

As Belmont continues to strengthen its global presence through faculty ambassadors like Dr. Busby, these international collaborations exemplify the university's commitment to preparing health care professionals who can serve effectively in diverse settings worldwide.