Health Sciences Council

Academic Plan (May 2006)

The Health Sciences Council (HSC) has a 15 year history of promoting interdisciplinary (IntD) collaboration among the health disciplines at the University of Alberta. This successful environment provides a firm foundation upon which to further advance the IntD health scholarship required to better the health of Albertans, Canadians and international communities.

The Health Academy

The health sciences deans and other members of HSC recently (May 12, 2006) agreed to form The University of Alberta Health Academy (UAHA). This entity provides a catalyst/brand/rallying point around which interdisciplinary health sciences scholarship (learning, discovery and citizenship) can continue to grow and develop at the University of Alberta. UAHA will build upon the disciplinary strengths encompassed in the seven health science faculties and Augustana Faculty. It is expected to contribute to the transformation of the programs within the health sciences faculties. It will also support collaborations with other non-health science disciplines as they relate to IntD health scholarship activities. HSC is the administrative unit of the UAHA.

Vision: The University of Alberta Health Academy will connect the health disciplines with the communities of health service providers and will lead health sciences IntD learning, discovery, practice and citizenship.

Mission: Within a vibrant and supportive community of health educators, researchers and students, the UAHA enables interdisciplinary health learning, discovery, and citizenship. This is accomplished by using partnerships within and external to the University of Alberta to discover, disseminate and apply new knowledge in interdisciplinary health. The UAHA acts as an amplifier, giving an international voice to health science scholarship in Alberta and takes a leading role nationally and internationally in advancing our understanding of interdisciplinary health research and education.

The mission is accomplished through student-centred and patient-focused approaches that contribute to interdisciplinary health scholarship by:

  1. Transforming how students learn in the classroom, the community, and the health care setting through offering high quality IntD health sciences educational opportunities for undergraduates, pre-licensure learners, graduate, and post-doctoral students;
  2. Developing health science IntD research in the areas of learning, discovery and citizenship that, promotes, maintains, sustains and regains the health of Albertans, Canadians and international communities;
  3. Catalyzing connections to health education, research and service communities (within the Edmonton region and across the province) that will build a national and international profile in the area of health scholarship.

Academic Planning: The above vision and mission are reflected in this academic plan. A number of documents were developed in consultation with the health sciences deans and HSC centre directors. They include: a background document, a SWOT analysis and four working papers each related to one of the initiatives. These documents are appended and provide detail on the initiatives and their relationship to the Dare to Discover cornerstones, aspirations and themes.

Cornerstones, Aspirations and Themes

Talented People –When strong health disciplines work together, in a student-centred and patient-focused ways, the resultant IntD scholarship leads to improved health promotion, illness prevention and health service delivery.

Learning, Discovery and Citizenship – IntD scholarship is required to address many of the intransigent health care challenges because it is a powerful driver of innovation in learning, discovery, practice and citizenship.

Connecting Communities – Likewise, only through collaboration between the University of Alberta IntD health scholar communities, the health service provider communities and the communities served (including aboriginal, franco-Alberta, multicultural, rural and northern communities) will effective answers to intransigent health care challenges emerge.

Transformative Organization and Support – IntD scholarship that is built upon a thoughtful and systematic approach based on strong disciplines and understanding of interdisciplinary challenges, opportunities and required support. Transformative and supportive interdisciplinary activities are built upon strong disciplines, are complex and require a network of organization and support resources that are both general and specialized. While it does take more time to realize interdisciplinary activities than in a single discipline and greater financial support for development, the approach can lead to efficiencies and greater effectiveness related to administration, learning, discovery, practice, and citizenship.

Initiatives: The four major initiativess of the UAHA/HSC are described below along with an indication of the University of Alberta’s cornerstones, aspirations and themes to which they contribute.

  1. The InterProfessional Initiative (IPI) – the mandate of IPI is to champion and develop innovative IntD health learning and team practice. IPI also leads the discovery of knowledge in these areas and feeds the research findings back to continually renew and inspire health learning and practice at the University of Alberta. IPI is committed to: strengthening and developing partnerships and networks both internal and external to the University; and promoting and fostering expertise, enthusiasm and collaboration around IntD learning and practice. IPI offers IntD learning experiences such as undergraduate courses, and clinical team placements to health sciences students. The goal is for graduates of the University of Alberta to acquire health team competence, in the provision of health promotion, disease prevention and health care service.

Cornerstones and Aspirations: [1]TP: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7; L,D&C: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; CC: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; TO&S: 2, 5, 6, 7; Academic Themes: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX

  1. Catalyze and foster the formation of new IntD research teams - While IntD health research is not new at the University of Alberta, we are seeking to be more nimble in development of teams of researchers to capitalize on avenues of funding that are available to investigate health challenges in more creative and comprehensive ways. Because of its history and network of partners, the UAHA/HSC is well positioned to be a very flexible and inspired IntD research catalyst. UAHA/HSC will establish up to four new research teams and will assist in building the reputation and expertise of these teams to improve the teams’ ability to compete for research funding.

Cornerstones and Aspirations: TP: 1, 3, 5, 7; L,D&C: 3, 4, 5; CC: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; TO&S: 1, 2, 7; Academic Themes: II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX

  1. Support existing UAHA/HSC IntD research centres - IntD centres under the UAHA/HSC exist in the areas of aging; ethics; children, youth and families; and human nutrition. The UAHA/HSC will continue to support the work of these centres and will facilitate transformation in these targeted areas.

Cornerstones and Aspirations: TP: 1, 3, 5, 7; L,D&C: 3, 4, 5; CC: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; TO&S: 1, 2, 7; Academic Themes: II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX

4.  Health Sciences Education and Research Commons (HSERC) - will focus on developing and evaluating teaching environments (traditional, complementary and supplementary) and new technologies on the IntD education of health science students and existing health professionals. The HSERC is a collaborative initiative involving the UAHA/HSC (including seven health science faculties, Augustana Faculty, and Capital Health) and the Faculties of Education and Science (Computing Science). The stimulus for this Commons is the continuous advances in e-learning technologies, the use of low and high fidelity instructional simulations in the health sciences, and the rapid growth in health informatics. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop research and leadership capacity in the study of technology integration as it relates to teaching and learning in the health sciences. To facilitate establishment of the HSERC, the UAHA/HSC will foster a Health Science Education and Research Team as outlined above.

Cornerstones and Aspirations: TP: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; L,D&C: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; CC: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7; TO&S: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7; Academic Themes: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX

  1. Use the opportunity provided by the vision of The Edmonton Clinic (TEC) and the formation of the University of Alberta Health Academy (UAHA) - to connect to the health education, research and service communities, locally, provincially and nationally and transform the programs of the health sciences faculties at the University of Alberta. The Vice Provost (Health Sciences Council) is the academic lead and champion for the University of Alberta on development of TEC. As such, she will oversee the IT innovations, communications plan, change management, development plan, governance development and IntD space design that will assist in actualizing TEC and UAHA as leading, state-of-the-art enablers of integrated, patient-centered care, and of health interdisciplinary education and research. This opportunity will inspire innovation, re-engineer and transform the education of health science students, health research, and health service delivery to Albertans, Canadians, and international communities.

Cornerstones and Aspirations: TP: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; L,D&C: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; CC: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7; TO&S: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7; Academic Themes: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX

Resources

Existing Resources / New Resources Required /
Staffing: HSC office currently includes:
·  Vice-Provost (1 FTE)
·  2 APO’s (2 FTE)
·  Development Officer (0.5 FTE)
·  Executive Secretary (1.0 FTE)
·  Administrative Assistant (0.5 FTE)
The HSC office will provide strategic advice, direction, fundraising support and broad-based administrative support to the identified initiatives. / ·  The HSC is the administrative unit of the UAHA. The current HSC staff is fully occupied with the current business plan. As we move toward achieving the vision of TEC and UAHA, the workload will both increase and change. Staffing complement and structure may require realignment and additional resources will be required.
·  Establish base budget for the Standardized Patient Program
Staffing: IPI currently includes:
·  Director (1 FTE)
·  3 APO’s (2 FTE)
·  Administrative Assistant (1.0 FTE)
Top-up funding from Central Admin for the Director, 0.5 APO and 0.5 Admin Assistant will run out around October 2007. / ·  Beyond October 2007, additional resources of approx. $165,000/year will be sought to maintain the current FTE and operating budget for IPI.
·  There will be a need for faculty from all health faculties to be involved in teaching and facilitating and additional resources will be required to second their time and involvement.
Staffing: Research Teams
Currently, HSC (including the 7 health science faculties, Augustana, and Capital Health) have committed to $100,000 per year for 3 years for the Primary Health Care Research Team. The majority of this funding will be used to hire a Research Manager for the project. There is strong support for the HSERC Research Team, however, to date, no funding has been confirmed. / ·  Funding of at least $100,000 per year for 3 years for the HSERC research team will be sought immediately (for Project Director)
·  The goal of fostering an additional 2 research teams will require at least $100,000/year for 3 years, commencing in 2007.
Staffing: Support to HSC Centres
HSC provides leadership, advice and financial support to its centres and will continue to do so. / ·  Funding for new strategic initiatives developed by the centres.
·  A system of dispersement for indirect funding that includes research centres outside of faculties will be worked out
Staffing: HSERC
There is currently no additional staffing support dedicated to the establishment of HSERC, however, the project advisory body has recommended that, as a first step, funding for a Project Director be sought. / ·  Faculty commitments from the Health Sciences, Education, and Science will be sought for establishment of a research team.
·  Funding for the following to develop the HSERC is required:
o  2 – 2 Leads - at an estimated cost of $100,000 each/year.
o  Administrative support – $42,000/year
o  Capital support - $5,000,000
Staffing: The Edmonton Clinic
Jane Drummond is the Academic Lead and champion for The Edmonton Clinic. Outside of support from the HSC office, temporary support has been committed for a Project Liaison Officer, administrative support, and a Change Management Leader. / Achieving the vision of TEC and UAHA, will both increase and change the workload. Staffing complement and structure may require realignment and additional resources will be required

Balance of Students:

The IPI will primarily involve undergraduate and graduate students from professional and health programs (Medicine, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology & Audiology, Physical Education, Kinesiology, Recreational Therapy, Nutrition, Human Ecology, Paramedics, Public Health) in the eight Health Sciences Faculties (Medicine & Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical Education & Recreation, Agriculture, Forestry & Home Economics, Augustana, and the School of Public Health.

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[1] TP: Talented People; L,D,&C: Learning, Discovery and Citizenship; CC: Connecting Communities; TO&S: Transformative Organization and Support