Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices Holds Launch Event at National Constitution Center

Philadelphia, PA, March 19, 2015

Contact: mbakhshi@cgfnsalliance.org, 215-243-5825

CGFNS International, Inc., formally launched the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices as an independent division at an event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA on March 9. The event attracted a diverse audience including policy representatives, nurses, staffing firms, academics, and concerned members of the public interested in the Alliance.

Dr. Franklin Shaffer, the Chief Executive Officer of CGFNS International, Inc., Mukul Bakhshi, the Director of the Alliance, and Dr. Patricia Pittman, the former Director of the Alliance and Associate Professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, made introductory remarks about the history and impact of the Alliance, the importance of the code to ensure the fair and ethical recruitment of foreign-educated health care professionals, and how the Alliance fits into global efforts.

The panel, which shared their diverse perspectives on recruitment and human resources for health issues, included:

  • Dr. David Benton, the Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses
  • Dr. Jim Campbell, the Executive Director of the Global Health Workforce Alliance and Director of the Health Workforce Department at the World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Lila Matthew, a foreign-educated nurse representing the National Association of Indian Nurses of America
  • Dr. Mitchell Wolfe, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Shaffer commented, “It was exciting to have such a compelling group of panelists and guests discussing international recruitment and the Alliance’s place to address it. Being at the National Constitution Center served as the perfect backdrop to discuss the importance of bringing stakeholders together to find common ground and develop a framework to move forward in a way that respects everyone’s rights.”

The launch event, which was sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, also marked the beginning of efforts to increase the number of recruiters certified by the Alliance. For instance, a concierge-style service is being rolled out to help recruiters quickly resolve issues in the credential evaluation of foreign-educated health professionals by CGFNS International, Inc. In addition, the Alliance will update the Code to reflect current market conditions. Later this spring, the Alliance will launch a companion code aimed at ensuring ethical treatment of recruited teachers.

Established in 1977, CGFNS International, Inc., based in Philadelphia, PA, is an immigration-neutral, non-profit organization. It has served the global community of health professionals through its programs and services that verify and promote knowledge-based practice competencies. It is the largest credentialing evaluation organization for nursing and the only organization named in the federal statute to administer visa screening of foreign-educated nurses and other professionals in seven health care fields.

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