Strategic Plan 2017-2021
Better health through education and research
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
As the academic health center in the State, the mission of the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences is to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals in a collaborative inter-professional learning environment, provide accessible, innovative health and wellness care services and explore ways to improve health outcomes through science, technology and advanced research.
Vision
To be known as an inclusive and engaging community that cultivates learning, creates trans formative knowledge and promotes the health status and quality of life for all people.
Our research programs are comprised of multidisciplinary teams of scientists who address health and human illnesses using basic science, clinical, behavioral and community-based research approaches. Our research programs focus on diseases associated with neurological disorders, orthopedics, cardiovascular, cancer and women & children’s health.
These programs are supported by core facilities that promote access to patient populations and provide technological support and technical expertise.
Our goal is to perform cutting edge research that helps patient populations attain and maintain a reasonable standard of health. In short, we want to engage in the type of research that can help patient populations stay out of the hospital and maintain their health and independence.
Welcome to the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences!
We are educating and preparing the workforce of the future through interdisciplinary course offerings, diverse clinical placements, and cutting-edge research opportunities. Our programs are among the best in the nation, attracting expert faculty members, talented, driven students, and ongoing partnerships and funding opportunities that further enhance the learning experience and clinical care we offer to the local community.
Through the College of Health Sciences, you can explore your passions and develop a strong foundation on which to build a successful career – whatever path you choose. Whether it’s within the healthcare spectrum – discovering new ways to prevent or treat illnesses, delivering clinical care, supporting conditioning and rehabilitation needs, or developing wellness and nutritional programs; or you uncover a new passion to pursue, our experiential, hands-on learning and innovative classroom opportunities will prepare you to be a leader in your field of focus.
Whether you’re a Delawarean, born and raised, or come to the First State to start the next chapter in your story, each individual who graduates from the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences continues on as an exceptionally skilled, confident, and compassionate Blue Hen. We are so glad you’re here and we look forward to supporting you on your journey!
All the best,
William B. Farquhar
The College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware will be nationally and internationally known as a hub of interdisciplinary research, education, and public outreach dedicated to advancing human health. Partnering in significant initiatives with other educational and medical institutions, government agencies, and private foundations, our researchers will further understanding of chronic diseases and pioneer the development of advanced treatments and rehabilitation protocols. We will be leaders in advocating interdisciplinary, team-based learning for students in experiential and discovery learning settings.
EDUCATION
We enhance the success of our students by supporting educators and students through a culture of experiential learning and exploration, and encouraging individuals to continue to stretch the boundaries of health sciences education into real-world settings. We invest in our intellectual and physical capital as well as "big data" and digital technologies to prepare future health leaders in evidence-based care, translational research and population health management. And we strengthen our interdisciplinary and global programs to meet the opportunities of an inter-connected world.
Educating undergraduates, graduates, post-doctoral students and working professionals requires immersive, innovative teaching that is delivered when and how individuals can best receive it. Our education platform includes the community classroom and the digital classroom, and embodies a culturally-competent curriculum and groundbreaking inter-professional training for students of all ages.
RESEARCH
Changes in the way healthcare is and will be delivered in the future will continue to evolve. We remain cognizant of the triple aim goals for healthcare improvement: improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare.
We continue to stay on the forefront of person-centered care process improvement, including quality, efficiency and patient and family satisfaction by investing in our intellectual and physical capital. It is equally important to remain vigilant in exploring and taking advantage of new technologies and innovations while continuing our concentration on high touch, personalized and compassionate care. With a focus on enhancing an efficient, team-based model of care that involves providers, patients and their caregivers, we exemplify a continuum of value-based services that shapes a sustainable model for comprehensive care in academic health centers.
PATIENT-CARE
Changes in the way healthcare is and will be delivered in the future will continue to evolve. We remain cognizant of the triple aim goals for healthcare improvement: improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare.
We continue to stay on the forefront of person-centered care process improvement, including quality, efficiency and patient and family satisfaction by investing in our intellectual and physical capital. It is equally important to remain vigilant in exploring and taking advantage of new technologies and innovations while continuing our concentration on high touch, personalized and compassionate care. With a focus on enhancing an efficient, team-based model of care that involves providers, patients and their caregivers, we exemplify a continuum of value-based services that shapes a sustainable model for comprehensive care in academic health centers.
COMMUNITY
The overall health of a community is determined by behavioral, cultural, environmental and societal factors - in addition to genetics and accessibility of quality health and medical services. We engage our local community to join our population health improvement efforts. We build on the many positive health-based relationships we enjoy on and off campus and establish new alliances throughout Delaware. As an Academic Health Center for the state of Delaware, we seek sustainable development and inclusive, collaborative approaches to achieving health care services capacity and accessibility across the entire state, address the aging population as well as urgent and chronic health issues, and educate the next generation of health leaders. We support programs, services, policies, and projects with the highest potential to reduce health disparities, decrease costs, prevent disease and improve the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve.
PEOPLE
Our most important asset is our people. Their talent, experience, intellect, passion and commitment are the heart that will enable us to achieve our vision. We harness the creativity, passion, ambition and discipline of our workforce by providing a supportive learning environment of inclusive excellence that inspires individual and team success.
We continue to explore and provide new ways to help our faculty, staff and students grow and collaborate. From on-boarding and training/recognition programs to personal health and well-being efforts, we strengthen our commitment to diversity in every aspect, and celebrate the achievements of people in every role within the College. We extend these efforts to include our growing number of alumni in order to set a new direction in healthcare through education, research, care, service and innovation.