In an effort to better align programs within the appropriate discipline, and to further opportunities for collaboration and research, three academic programs will be moving from the Graduate School to the School of Medicine beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
The degree programs are the Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Bioethics, and Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness.
Starting Jan. 1, 2022, these programs will be located in the following departments within the School of Medicine.
- Master of Public Health – Department of Clinical Research, chaired by Maureen Tierney, MD, MSc, assistant dean for clinical research and public health, associate professor of medicine and medical director of clinical research at CHI Health.
- Master of Science in Bioethics – Department of Medical Humanities, chaired by the Rev. Kevin FitzGerald, SJ, PhD, PhD, the John A. Creighton University Professor and associate professor of medicine.
- Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness – Department of Family Medicine, chaired by Amy McGaha, MD, the Dr. Roland L. Kleeberger Endowed Chair, professor of medicine and director of the Interprofessional Clinical Learning Environment in the Center for Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research (CIPER).
“Creighton is the largest Catholic health professions educator in the country,” said Mardell Wilson, EdD, Creighton’s provost. “Moving these programs into the health professions will create disciplinary synergies and interprofessional opportunities that will only enhance these already outstanding programs.”
“The faculty and staff are excited,” said Fr. FitzGerald, who also serves as interim dean of the Graduate School. “There is great interest in connecting and collaborating with other experts within the health professions.”
The change will be seamless for current students, and the new structure will provide them greater access to collaborate with other students and faculty within the School of Medicine and other health sciences programs. Degrees will be granted by the School of Medicine.
In addition, faculty in the programs will have opportunities to serve on committees in both the Graduate School and School of Medicine.
“The Graduate School will continue to provide oversight, quality assurance and quality improvements for all the graduate programs, so that remains the same,” Fr. FitzGerald said. “The change is really that these programs will have a much more fertile environment for them to thrive.”
