Ecumen, University of Minnesota Establish Nursing Collaboratory
By Lisa Hawks | October 20, 2026
SHOREVIEW, MN (October 20, 2026) — Ecumen, a leading nonprofit provider of senior housing and care for older adults, and the University of Minnesota School of Nursing announced the creation of a formal academic-practice partnership, or collaboratory, to generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge for the improvement of nursing practice, education, and patient outcomes.
Nursing collaboratories serve as incubators for creativity and innovation. They aim to develop new strategies to enhance nursing education and professional development, research, practice, diversity, inclusion and equity, and recruit top talent into nursing.
“This brings together the University of Minnesota School of Nursing’s research and educational expertise with the knowledge and experience of Ecumen’s nurses, team members, residents, and clients,” said Ecumen President and CEO Cyrus Batheja, EdD, MBA, RN, FAAN. “Together, we can translate knowledge into everyday improvements in care and quality of life, support our team members, and help prepare the next generation of nurses. We also see opportunities for older adults and students to share experiences, learn from one another, and enjoy meaningful connections.”
“This collaboratory with Ecumen reflects a shared commitment to whole-person care across every stage of life. It’s a powerful opportunity for us to learn alongside their residents and staff, truly understanding how housing, community, and health intertwine,” says Dean Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP. “By bringing these insights directly into our curriculum and our research, we will be able to better prepare the compassionate, skilled nursing workforce Minnesota urgently needs.”
According to an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and American Organization for Nursing Leadership task force, academic-practice partnerships are “an important mechanism to strengthen nursing practice and help nurses become well positioned to lead change and advance health.”
Ecumen becomes the School of Nursing’s 12th collaboratory, joining Allina Health, Children’s Minnesota, Essentia Health, Faith Community Nurse Network, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Fairview Health Services, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Hospital Association, PrairieCare, and HealthPartners. In 2024, AACN awarded the school an Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award for its “collaboratory of collaboratories,” which gathers leaders quarterly to discuss best practices, coordinate goals, share education and research initiatives, and strengthen lines of communication.
About Ecumen
Ecumen is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing innovative housing, health care and community-based services that support older adults and strengthen communities. Mission-driven since its founding in 1862, Ecumen’s legacy of service reflects a commitment to honoring those it serves. Ecumen is based in Shoreview, Minn., and provides housing options such as independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Its diverse in-home and community-based services include home care, hospice, physical and occupational therapy, and adult day services. For more information, visit www.ecumen.org.