What is the EY Health Career Journeys series?

EY's Health Career Journeys is a content series that profiles healthcare professionals and explores the diverse, often non-traditional paths they have taken in their careers. It aims to inspire current and future healthcare workers by showcasing real-world experiences and lessons learned.

How did working in multiple countries shape Olivia Li's approach to nursing education?

Having worked across four countries, Olivia Li developed a cross-cultural understanding of healthcare systems, patient needs, and professional expectations. This breadth of experience informed a more adaptive and inclusive mentoring style when guiding nursing students and early-career professionals.

Why is international experience valuable for nurse educators?

International experience exposes nurse educators to different healthcare models, cultural approaches to care, and varied clinical challenges. This exposure builds versatility and empathy, qualities that are highly effective when mentoring diverse cohorts of healthcare students.

Health Career Journeys: Olivia Li

Nurse educator Olivia Li reflects on a career spanning four countries and how those cross-cultural experiences informed her approach to mentoring emerging healthcare professionals. The piece is part of EY's Health Career Journeys series, which highlights diverse paths within the healthcare sector. Li's story underscores the value of international exposure in building adaptable, empathetic clinical educators.

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By Lea Sims · December 18, 2024, 4:07 AM UTCCareerChallengesCredentialsEducation

Key takeaways

Working across four countries gave Olivia Li a broad, cross-cultural perspective on healthcare education and patient care.

Her international experiences directly shaped her mentoring philosophy and how she guides the next generation of nurses.

The article is part of EY's Health Career Journeys series, spotlighting varied and non-linear careers in healthcare.

On this special bonus episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing Officer & Host at CGFNS International, Inc., sits down with Dr. Olivia Wei Li, RN, MSN, EdD, an International Nursing Educator and Consultant whose remarkable career spans continents and decades. With over 27 years of experience, Dr. Li shares her inspiring journey from China to the United Kingdom, Canada, and finally the United States, where she now thrives as a nurse educator and mentor to aspiring health professionals.

This bonus episode, titled Health Career Journeys, shines a spotlight on the personal and professional pathways of health workers worldwide, offering an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs they face along the way. As part of an ongoing series, future bonus episodes will feature similarly inspiring profiles, showcasing stories of resilience, ambition, and global impact from health professionals who are shaping the future of healthcare.

Olivia's story begins in her kindergarten classroom, where a childhood dream of being a "guardian angel" planted the seeds of her career in healthcare. Encouraged by her parents, she pursued nursing at China Medical University, building a strong foundation in knowledge and skills. However, witnessing human suffering as an ICU nurse inspired her to further her education, leading her to the University of Wales in the UK for a master's degree in nursing.

The transition to a new culture and language was challenging. Olivia recalls learning English one sentence at a time, a process that demanded vulnerability and perseverance. Her time in the UK not only enhanced her critical thinking and research skills but also broadened her perspective on global nursing.

Her time in the UK not only enhanced her critical thinking and research skills but also broadened her perspective on global nursing.

After completing her master's, Olivia faced a 12-year wait to immigrate to the U.S. due to hiring freezes and visa limitations. Despite the delay, her determination never faltered. When the opportunity arose, she moved to California and began her career as a nursing educator.

Now based in Hawaii, Dr. Li empowers the next generation of nurses through teaching, mentorship, and entrepreneurial initiatives supporting internationally educated nurses. Her dedication to helping others achieve their goals reflects her lifelong commitment to making a difference locally and globally.

Dr. Li's advice to aspiring nurses and health workers is profound: dream big, stay determined, and take actionable steps toward your goals. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience, education, and the boundless opportunities available to those willing to embrace career mobility.