U of L adds new graduate programs in health services management

caroline.zentner — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:34:12 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is adding two new graduate programs for health and business professionals who want to expand their skills in health-care management.

The new programs, which will be offered at the U of L’s Calgary campus, include a graduate certificate and master’s in Health Services Management. Both are designed for health-care practitioners and entry-level managers who want to move to more senior positions.

“We are pleased to offer these new programs in an area of growing demand. Both programs will provide students with the necessary knowledge to become effective managers in the Canadian health-care system,” says Dr. Robert Wood, dean of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. “The programs emphasize the combination of critical thinking, applied research, and managerial decision-making skills.”

The Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management consists of 15 credit hours of coursework. Students can transfer into the master’s program during or following the graduate certificate.

The Master of Health Services Management consists of 36 credit hours: required courses and an integrated project. The knowledge and skills learned in classes, along with experiential opportunities, are applied to a final project.

“The programs have been developed for professionals who work in the health-care sector and have a health-related baccalaureate degree or business management degree,” says Wood. “Students study on a part-time basis with weekend delivery and ongoing support through blended learning.”

Both programs have a June 1 application deadline, with the first intake in the fall of 2019. New students will be accepted every second year, with program completion between 18 and 24 months. The total number of students will be between 16 and 20.

In its development of the program, the U of L conducted a labour market analysis, surveyed potential students and interviewed major health-care providers. All point to continuing growth in jobs in health care.

The programs are jointly delivered by the Dhillon School of Business and the Faculty of Health Sciences. For more information or to apply, visit Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management and Master of Health Services Management.

U of L establishes Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs

caroline.zentner — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 17:58:06 +0000

Post-doctoral fellows at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will soon have a new administrative home with the establishment of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

“We’ve had post-doctoral fellows on this campus for a number of years now,” says Dr. Robert Wood, dean of Graduate Studies and Post-Doctoral Affairs. “In the past, they were considered trainees. That changed recently with the passing of Bill 7 and now they are considered employees, creating some needs institutionally to provide further accommodation.”

Dr. Robert Wood

The U of L typically has between 35 and 50 post-docs (PDFs) on campus at any given time. Most are paid through a faculty member’s research grant but they may also be funded independently. They, along with graduate students, form the backbone of research activity at research-intensive universities like the U of L.

“Post-docs have had some difficulties in the past accessing campus services in an appropriate way and they’re becoming a larger and more important aspect of our community,” says Wood. “This office will help give some foundation to the kind of experience that we need to be able to provide to them. It’s not just about getting them here; it’s also about, once they’re here, making sure they have a stellar experience.”

Dr. Erasmus Okine

“Post-doctoral fellows are the next in line learning the trade to become an academic,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, vice-president (research). “Top-class ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and professors looking for positions tend to look for universities with strong post-doctoral fellows and strong graduate programs because they can recruit them into their research programs and they form the basis of the next wave of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in our universities.”

Woods agrees that many PDFs aspire to academic careers but adds that a growing number pursue careers in industry and non-academic organizations in the public sector. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will help ensure their experience and training sets them up for success in any career trajectory they choose.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a professor of neuroscience and a Tier 1 Board of Governors Research Chair, first came to the U of L as a post-doctoral fellow. She was funded through what was then known as the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (now Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions) as a post-doc and then was a senior scholar from 2003 to 2015.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz

“The opportunities and facilities of the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and the funding provided by AHFMR at that time helped me make the decision to stay at the U of L,” says Metz.

Dr. Michael Kyweriga

“Because there are so many granting agencies and different contracts for post-doctoral fellows, having the Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs will be very useful to improving the life of a post-doc,” says Dr. Michael Kyweriga, president of the U of L Post-Doctoral Association (ULPA). “We really appreciate the proactive approach Dean Robert Wood takes to ensure our post-doctoral fellowships go smoothly.”

The Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs will be housed in Research Services and supervised by Wood.

While most post-docs work in science departments, others from social sciences and humanities disciplines have also completed fellowships at the U of L.

“It’s something that I’d like to see expand across the faculties and disciplines,” says Wood.

UNews - Dr. Robert Wood

U of L adds new graduate programs in health services management

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U of L establishes Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs

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