As one of the oldest undergraduate health departments in Canada, Brock’s Department of Health Sciences will now have a new name.
The Department of Health Sciences (formerly the Department of Community Health Sciences) has changed its name to better represent its identity as a leader in health education.
“We felt the name change was important in reflecting how the Department continues to evolve since its inception,” says Dr. Brent E. Faught, Department Chair and Professor of Epidemiology.
“Our commitment to teaching and research excellence represents multiple areas of health, this name change allows us to emphasize how our department is moving forward in these areas.”
As part of the process to change the department name, both faculty and students voted for their preference of maintaining the current name versus adopting the new name – Department of Health Sciences.
Of the 370 students voting from all five programs within the department, 81% voted in favor of the new name. In addition to the student vote, 82% of faculty members voted in favor of the name change.
The positive response for the departmental name change is just one of the many updates that continue to define the Department of Health Sciences as a leader in health education.
Last year the BSc in Health Sciences was repositioned as a BSc in Medical Sciences degree. When given the choice, the overwhelming majority of existing Health Sciences students elected to confer their degree in Medical Sciences.
“As a student that just entered the program, I feel that the changes made by the department helps to highlight unique aspects for prospective students considering any of the programs in Health Sciences.” Says Laura Wiens, who is a current Medical Sciences student in the Class of 2017.
With an overall high school average of 93%, Wiens came to Brock to prepare for a career as a physician.
“I feel as though a BSc in Medical Sciences degree will look more impressive and help me when the time comes to prepare my application for medical school” Says Wiens.
This year, the Department has continued to respond to student and environmental demands through the development of a co-op option in their Bachelor of Public Health degree.
“We want to provide students with opportunities to gain hands on experience that will develop a unique set of employable skills to start a career in health”, says Faught.
On top of all these changes, the Department is also expanding its faculty expertise.
The Department of Health Sciences is currently seeking an outstanding researcher who will build and maintain an internationally recognized, externally funded research program in the field of human immunology.
“We are looking to expand the expertise that our faculty offers in terms of research and teaching opportunities that will help us to make the world a healthier place to live.” Says James Mandigo, Interim Dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.
The ideal candidate will possess research expertise in infection control and immunity with the ability to expand undergraduate and graduate teaching and research opportunities in the Department.
