Director: Carolyn Jones

Producer: Lisa C. Frank

Description:

The film explores the human realities of immigration through the intertwined journeys of three women–nurses who leave their home countries, the Philippines, Ghana and India to join the healthcare workforce in the US. Their stories illuminate the emotional, economic and cultural complexities of migration, revealing what it means to live between worlds while sustaining deep ties to families and communities across continents. As these women navigate unfamiliar systems and shifting identities, the film situates their experiences within the broader dynamics of a global healthcare system shaped by imbalance and interdependence. In some countries, more healthcare workers are trained than local systems can absorb, while others–like the US–rely heavily on internationally educated professionals to address critical shortages. 

Biography:

Carolyn Jones has spent the last ten years interviewing, photographing and filming nurses across America, traveling to places dealing with some of the nation’s biggest public health issues. Her feature documentaries include The American Nurse, which was included in the US State Department’s American Film Showcase; Defining Hope, broadcast over 1,000 times on PBS stations nationwide; and most recently, In Case of Emergency, a documentary that paints a startling picture of our ERs stretched to the breaking point, winner of the “Audience Award for Best Film” at the Boston Globe’s GlobeDocs Film Festival.

Lisa Frank is a documentary producer and as director of programs and production for the 100 People Foundation, Lisa oversees the planning, execution and delivery of groundbreaking creative projects, from award-winning documentary films to corporate video content to short documentaries on global issues for students worldwide. She has spent the last ten years in collaboration with Carolyn Jones to produce the book, film and Web site that comprise The American Nurse Project, and most recently, the feature documentary Defining Hope, which is currently being broadcast on PBS stations nationwide. 

Contact Information:

e: carolyn@carolynjones.com 
w: www.alongwaytogo.film