Media releases

• Two new master’s programs launched in Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

  Monday, April 25, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00089 – 21 April 2016
   

  A Master of Professional Kinesiology (MPK) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) are being added by Brock University’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

  The two new programs, aimed at meeting the requirements of today’s healthcare professionals, will launch this September.

  The full-time, one-year Master of Professional Kinesiology will train students to have an advanced understanding of the latest research to improve function, health and wellness in diverse populations.

  “Graduates of the MPK program will be prepared for an evidence-based, clinically oriented career in a variety of healthcare organizations, as well as positioned to take on leadership roles in the health sector,” says Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Nota Klentrou.

  The lab-based coursework and professional development courses will provide students with advanced knowledge of human movement and foster professionalism, communication and problem solving skills.

  The unique opportunity for internship placements with diverse populations across the lifespan is another distinguishing factor that will provide Brock MPK students with an understanding of the rehabilitation and management processes involved in working with a wide spectrum of target populations.

  Applications for the MPK program will be accepted until May 15.

  Also scheduled to launch in September is Brock’s first-ever exclusively online master’s program in Public Health.

  The MPH will be delivered to full-time students over 12 months and part time students over a maximum of four years. The program has been tailored to meet the needs of public health professionals, health practitioners and recent postgraduate students through online courses and a practicum.

  “Our goal is to enhance each student’s theoretical and applied knowledge in public health. Graduates of the MPH will be prepared to compete for positions in a variety of public health organizations,” says Klentrou.

  The curriculum has been built on the foundation of identifying the interdisciplinary elements required to design, implement and effectively manage public health systems.

  A unique aspect of the MPH program will be the emphasis on infectious disease and control with courses including Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Infection Control and Epidemiology. A Social Marketing and Health Communication course will facilitate graduates in navigating the complexities of public health administration in today’s technologically driven society. These courses will address the growing need to anticipate, manage and mitigate public health crises.

  Applications for the MPH program closed on April 15.
   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca,
  905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock researchers and long-term care residents collaborate on scientific research

  Monday, April 25, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE – R00090, 22 April 2016
   
  A Brock University research team is partnering with a long-term care facility in Welland to study how residents’ involvement in environmental research affects their quality of life and well-being.

  Residents at The Woodlands of Sunset and Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) are monitoring bird-feeding stations set up at various points around the facility, which is surrounded by wetlands and forests.

  The residents are collecting data about the birds, which will be sent to Cornell University’s eBird database to be included in a section for Niagara.

  Researcher Kerrie Pickering says working with Woodlands residents to collect scientific data is one example of “citizen science,” where experts and non-specialist community members collaborate to produce research.

  “We’re exploring if engagement in citizen science, specifically bird watching, has an impact on the well-being of long-term care residents,” says Pickering, an ESRC affiliate and practising nurse.

  “We’re helping residents understand what citizen science is and hoping to show them that they are a valuable member of society by being citizen scientists.”

  Researcher Marcie Jacklin says there’s a lot of interest in the project.

  “When I walk down the hall at Woodlands and say I’m with the bird project everyone wants to stop and chat about it,” says Jacklin, Brock librarian and bird enthusiast.

  “So far it seems like the benefits of this project are going far beyond what we had initially expected.”

  The researchers will also examine if locating a long-term care facility near nature makes a difference for residents’ well-being.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca,
  905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

  * Daryl Barnhart, Communications Specialist, Niagara Region daryl.barnhart@niagararegion.ca 905-685-4225 ext. 3290.

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  Categories: Media releases