Reports from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) highlight the challenges facing modern healthcare. In response to the ever-changing demands, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, (JCHS) a part of Carilion Clinic, announced the addition of two new doctorate-level programs to the institution’s 25 existing healthcare-focused degree and certificate programs.
College president Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop made the announcement Monday, Nov. 2 during a press conference held on campus in downtown Roanoke.
The new programs, the Doctorate of Nursing Practice and the Doctorate of Health Sciences, will welcome their first students in fall 2016.
JCHS is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the valley.
“From the 1980s when we were educating approximately 200 students in a handful of associate and certificate programs to today, when almost 1,100 students are enrolled in 25 degree and certificate programs on our campus, Jefferson College of Health Sciences has grown to become a leader in healthcare education in the Roanoke Valley and beyond,” said Dr. Bishop. “Today, we announce the next important step in our development.”
In addition to the announcement of the programs, Dr. Bishop introduced the new “Jefferson College of Health Sciences School of Graduate & Professional Studies,” which will be home to the college’s graduate-level programs and the more than 250 students currently enrolled in those programs. “The addition provides an administrative framework to best meet students’ needs, said Bishop.
“At our last College Board of Directors retreat,” said Jefferson College Board of Directors member Maryellen Goodlatte, “we received and in-depth report about the need to offer upper level degrees in response to the rapidly changing healthcare environment of the Roanoke region, a segment of the local economy that continues to be strong and growing. On behalf of the Board of Directors, college leadership and our colleagues at Carilion Clinic, I would like to say how pleased we are to offer these opportunities as a way of continuing that growth.”
The implementation of the doctorate-level programs marks a significant milestone in the history of Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Beginning in fall 2016, over 1,000 Jefferson students will have the opportunity to earn doctorate, masters, bachelors and associate degrees, as well as participate in a variety of graduate and undergraduate certificate and recertification programs.
Over the past decade, the higher education community has witnessed the emergence of new professional doctorates in a number of fields. In the area of health professions education, this trend has been driven by factors such as changes in healthcare delivery, provider shortages, national requirements for program accreditation, professional licensure standards and mandates from professional organizations.
“Rising to the needs we made the decision to develop programs so students don’t have to travel outside of the region to obtain these degrees,” said Dr. Bishop. who also pointed out that the new doctoral initiative had been through 2 years of development before launch.
The college is evaluating opportunities to add additional doctoral degrees in the future.
