K-State professor empowers healthcare workers in communication skills in Indonesia
March 9, 2026
Nancy Muturi, professor of advertising and public relations in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication, recently completed a Fulbright Specialist visit to Indonesia, where she focused on training and capacity building in communication skills among healthcare workers. Muturi, a scholar of health communication, was invited by the School of Nursing, Ministry of Health, in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia to share her expertise.
The Fulbright program featured training sessions for nursing and midwifery students as well as the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI). Participants learned about patient-provider communication in hospital and community settings, strategies for communicating with diverse patient populations, and culturally relevant approaches to preventing disease and ensuring medical adherence.
Muturi also gave public lectures at other local and nonprofit institutions, including the University of Papua, and led community-based workshops with local non-profit organizations. Topics included the role of communication in gender and reproductive health rights for women and girls, strengthening maternal and child health, and the importance of understanding health disparities and vulnerabilities of rural and remote populations in the region. She also served as a panelist for a global maternal-child health workshop organized by the Ministry of Health with more than 400 participants, mostly from Asia and the Global South.
As part of long-term collaborations, Muturi held capacity-building workshops for researchers on scientific writing and journal publication, specifically to enhance participants' understanding of the process for publishing in international outlets. The workshops entailed a review of their manuscripts and discussions on potential collaborative projects.
In addition to training, Muturi participated in various community and cultural events and activities.
“Although I went there as a specialist to teach and train, I learned a lot about the Indonesian and specifically West Papuan community, culture and lifestyle,” Muturi said. “I went there with an open mind and not knowing what to expect and gained a lot more than I offered. This opportunity gave me an experience and memories that I will share with my friends, family and students for years to come.”
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright fellows address critical global issues in all disciplines, while building relationships, knowledge and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States.
Although this was her first program, Muturi joined the Fulbright Senior Specialist Roster in 2024 and was waiting for an opportunity that closely aligned with her teaching and research interests. The visit was facilitated by two of her former graduate students and K-State alumni, Noviyanti Noviyanti (Master of Public Health, ‘18) and Mutiara Kusuma (Doctor of Human Nutrition, ‘17), both of whom were Fulbright Fellows and currently teach at Indonesian Universities.