By Alora Peters, Editor-in-Chief
While it may be small now, the new College of Health Professions is an important addition to Saint Leo University’s academics.
“The College of Health Professions was established to address the strong demand for health care professionals,” said Dr. Kathleen Van Eerden, who is the dean of the new college. “Even though the College and its programs are new, we are seeing strong interest.”
The College of Health Professions currently has only three programs — students attending university campus can pursue a Bachelor of Science either in nursing or health education. The third program, a Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy, is available to Saint Leo students online. Van Eerden says that Saint Leo is currently looking into additional programs and anticipates offering other new programs in the future.
Building a new college is a process that involves many steps and much deliberation.
“The University made the decision to pursue a College of Health Professions more than two years ago,” said Van Eerden. “We had the support of many people at Saint Leo — Dr. Senese envisioned the formation of the college, and it was supported by the University Board of Trustees.”
Van Eerden herself initiated development of the college and was accompanied by a host of workers from a wide variety of fields and positions, including academics, admissions, student support, the library, professional development, learning design, finance, human resources, facilities, technology, and assessment.
“Establishing of the new college was done following careful investigation and analysis,” said Van Eerden. This investigation included confirming that the College of Health Professions was aligned with the university’s mission and goals, and that there were projected employment opportunities for graduates from the program.
“Health professions rock!” said Van Eerden. “They provide so many opportunities to practice and offer a range of career paths. The programs are perfect for students with a heart for health!”
Classes in the Health Professions programs will include themes such as nutrition, wellness, and building a healthy culture, and will seek to train students to perform in a clinical or professional setting through hands-on experience. For students who are not currently enrolled in the College of Health Professions, Van Eerden says that University hopes to offer select health professions courses to students in other majors in the fall of 2023.
Students who would like to learn more about the new college and the programs being offered should contact admissions or check out Saint Leo’s website for more information.
