Published on November 7, 2025 by Megan Winkler  
Acropolis

As part of Samford University’s ongoing commitment to global missions, 15 students from Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing traveled to Athens, Greece, during the summer term for a week of service and learning. Led by faculty members Megan Mileski and Jill Pence the Missions Nursing Abroad elective course provided students an opportunity to integrate nursing education with faith-driven care through hands-on experience in global health missions. 

Samford regularly organizes mission trips for its health sciences and nursing students, offering opportunities to provide health care and support to underserved populations worldwide through Samford Global. The Greece program continued that tradition, combining compassionate care with academic and spiritual growth. 

Partnering with e3 Partners and a local host church in Athens, Samford nursing students served alongside peers from the University of South Alabama and The University of Alabama. Over seven days, the group led medical clinics serving the refugee population alongside translators in Athens and surrounding areas, supported a homeless ministry and participated in prayer walks through refugee neighborhoods. With the help of a variety of translators, students also shared the gospel and prayed with individuals from various faith backgrounds, promoting access to health care and community support.  Corinth.webp

“This course allows students to live out their calling as nurses and servants,” Mileski said. “They learn to meet physical needs while offering compassion and hope to people from all walks of life.” 

Throughout the week, students witnessed firsthand the global impact of nursing and the importance of faith in practice. They also had the opportunity to experience Greece’s rich history and culture through visits to Ancient Corinth, Mars Hill, the Acropolis, and the island of Hydra. 

The course includes an online component focused on the biblical basis of missions and the role of nurses on the mission field. The in-country experience builds on that foundation through direct patient care, community engagement and collaboration with international partners. 

Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing has partnered with e3 Partners for 15 years, offering students meaningful opportunities to serve others through global missions.  

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.