Partnership enhances health care education
ON THE GREEN | A new Partnership in Health Education has been established between UD and Thomas Jefferson University, designed to build on a long, successful history of collaboration in health care education. It marks the first of what may be several partnerships between the two institutions.
The expanded institutional collaboration was signed in September by UD President Patrick T. Harker and Dr. Robert L. Barchi, president of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
“We are pleased to further solidify our partnership with Thomas Jefferson University in an agreement that will bridge and supplement academic and research strengths of both organizations,” Harker said at the signing ceremony. “We share many common goals, and by combining our efforts, both institutions will be in much stronger positions to meet needs in health care education and to initiate research to address critical needs affecting our world. Such collaborative programs are a key part of the University’s Path to Prominence.”
Barchi said the agreement is a formal recognition of the two universities’ commitment to health care education. “This joint effort enables both of our institutions to effectively compete in the tri-state area and gives students another choice in advancing their knowledge,” he said. “With this collaboration, our scholars will receive a more comprehensive education, which will provide them with ample opportunities for success in patient care, education
and research.”
In academics, the partnership will support successful implementation of existing collaborations in the Medical Scholars Program (which leads to a bachelor’s degree from UD and a medical degree from Jefferson), occupational therapy and pharmacy, as well as the possible development of expanded collaboration in such areas as nursing, health policy, population health, rehabilitation sciences, physical therapy and biomedical engineering. In addition, policies and procedures will be developed to allow students to enroll in courses and gain academic credit at either institution.
The partnership also will facilitate the development of joint proposals for externally funded research in areas of shared priority, and procedures will be developed to facilitate such collaboration. Task forces will evaluate areas for research collaboration—such as cancer biology, cardiovascular research resources, neuroscience, nursing, aging and rehabilitation sciences—that may include other partners.
The new partnership follows an agreement earlier this year, creating a degree program that offers a bachelor of science degree and a doctor of pharmacy degree.
