Spring 2008 Chair's Update
Ida Critelli Schick
Professor and Chair/Director
The faculty and I had a most enjoyable, as well as busy, time at the American Congress on Healthcare Executives and at the alumni reception and dinner. We were especially delighted with Dan Wolterman and congratulate him on receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
The days fly as we prepare for the 50th anniversary celebrations, writing the history of the department, working on Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education self study for accreditation, recruiting the Class of 2011, and the daily activities of teaching, advising, research and publishing. It is exciting to be a part of this program.
Over the past two years, the faculty has initiated collaborative efforts within Xavier University, with other health programs and with health-related organizations. Some of these relationships are national and some are international. In January, three of us met at Georgetown University for the first conference, "Ethics Conversations among Jesuit HSA Programs." Our collaborative efforts include working with a medical school, two international academic centers, a local retirement community, graduate programs, and health-related organizations in IT and policy. We also have several collaborative efforts within Xavier itself. There will be more information as each progress.
Our new HSA women's resource group is flourishing. Its mission is to strengthen the relationship of the department and its female students and alumnae and help them succeed and excel in all they do. We have had their successful lunch meetings and will continue to invite speakers who respond to this group's needs.
All the departments in our new College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education are pleased to work with our new dean, Mark Meyers. His energy and enthusiasm is contagious. With his encouragement and support, the health-related programs in the college are working together to assist a retirement community in Cincinnati with its strategic initiatives and to develop a gerontological studies program at Xavier.
Finally, as I mentioned earlier, preparations for the 50th anniversary are in full swing. More information about the events are throughout the newsletter. I salute and thank our alumni for mentoring, providing residencies, speaking in our classes-especially our professional development class-and for all their support in a variety of ways.