COLLEGE OF HEALTH FUNDING PRIORITIES
U N I V E R S I T Y O F U TA H H E A LT H
WHO WE ARE
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HEALTH CARE TRANSFORMED
The University of Utah College of Health is keeping people healthy, fit, and resilient. For more than a century, the college has developed and disseminated new knowledge that has resulted in clinical best practices and evidence-based approaches to injury and illness prevention and rehabilitation. Proactively working with individuals across their lifespans to prevent chronic illness improves health and extends lives. The College of Health aims to promote a climate of respect and equity that cultivates and sustains transformative practices by forging spaces where people feel safe, valued, welcomed, and respected. These ideals are intrinsic to our commitment to diversify the health professions and promote health equity for all. Through innovative research and by preparing the next generation of practitioners, the College of Health is on a mission to create a world of “More Health, Less Medicine.”
OUR MISSION The University of Utah College of Health’s mission “More Health, Less Medicine” leads the complex shift in health care from primarily caring for the sick to keeping people healthy, fit, and resilient through proactive, preventative care.
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600 GRADUATE STUDENTS
18
BA/BS DEGREES
16
MASTER’S DEGREES
5 U N I V E R S I T Y O F U TA H H E A LT H
PHD PROGRAMS
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CLINICAL DOCTORATES
INVESTING IN STUDENTS GRADUATES OF THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH WILL SHAPE AND LEAD THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE. Our students gain technical expertise and cultural competency by learning both in classrooms and through high-impact education practices and community engaged learning initiatives. Graduates of the college will have the ability to improve education, research, and clinical care. Ph.D. students can graduate with as much debt as medical school students, but with less earning power. Scholarships make it possible for students to pursue high skill, patient-forward with clinical degrees. Your support eases the financial strain that can prevent students from completing, or even beginning, their education. → T he College of Health Hardship Scholarship provides a critical lifeline to students during times of personal hardship to defray the cost of tuition, rent, food, medical expenses, or childcare. → D epartment Scholarships open the doors of an exceptional education to gifted students and reduce the burden of student debt. → F ellowship Support offers financial support to students who have demonstrated high academic aptitude and a commitment to enhancing the lives of the people they serve.
2,500 UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Megan Longtain is one of the College of Health students who is benefiting from scholarship support. To learn more about the impact of scholarship gifts, please visit give-to-uofuhealth.org/megan.
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INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY THE COLLEGE IS FOSTERING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. The College of Health impacts more than 100,000 community members annually. Every student in the college dedicates hundreds of hours to community-engaged learning, which emphasizes clinical competency based on service and compassion. With the recent appointment of our first Associate Dean of Community Engagement, we are strengthening our commitment to a high impact education and culturally competent care. The University of Utah received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2020, this continued recognition of our extraordinary work in addressing our societal responsibilities through community engagement and service.
U N I V E R S I T Y O F U TA H H E A LT H
Your contribution helps to alleviate health disparities in our community.
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→ C ommunity and student run pro-bono clinics provide care to Utahns in audiology, nutrition, occupational therapy, athletic training, physical therapy, and speech-language therapy. → T he Center for Community Nutrition engages individuals, families, and communities in adopting healthy eating habits to enhance their health and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. → C onnect2Health mobilizes student volunteers to link underserved patients with social services and prepares students to understand the importance of social determinants of health.
INVESTING IN INNOVATION THE COLLEGE’S RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON TACKLING COSTLY AND PREVENTATIVE CHRONIC DISEASES. Our research spans diabetes, metabolism, obesity, cancer, physical activity, cardiovascular health, and reducing health disparities through diversity and inclusion initiatives. The college supports 30 laboratories and clinics that perform research, and our faculty researchers have collaborations that span University of Utah Health and the nation. The competition for top faculty and researchers has never been more intense. Investing in retaining and attracting preeminent faculty and researchers is essential to furthering research in evidence-based practices and therapeutic treatments. Exemplars in our research program include: Julie Fritz, whose research comparing physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness meditation to treat people with lower back pain is a multi-year collaboration between the U of U, Johns Hopkins University, and Intermountain Healthcare. Fritz’s research has garnered state and national attention and earned more than $17.4 million in funding. Scott Summers, whose research found that blocking ceramide accumulation in rodents improves insulin sensitivity and prevents the onset of diabetes and fatty liver disease. He now seeks to understand the regulatory mechanisms governing ceramide synthesis and to identify new therapeutic strategies for reducing ceramides to treat these pathologies. Summers has earned nearly $10 million in funding over the last few years. Your generosity advances significant scholarly breakthroughs. → S cholarly awards, including the New Investigator Award, Senior Researcher Award, and undergraduate and graduate student research awards provide opportunities to further the work of cutting-edge researchers. → E ndowed positions make it possible to recruit and retain highly sought-after faculty members—at all levels of their careers—who are at the forefront of their profession. → C apital equipment and technology allow researchers to accelerate the pace of their achievements.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF HEALTH
is changing the focus of health care to preventative treatments and rehabilitative interventions. Through a combination of graduate degrees, professional programs, and undergraduate majors, the College of Health is uniquely positioned to contribute to the clinical and research missions of University of Utah Health and high-impact educational practices on the main campus. The college is dedicated to providing a respectful, welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to diversifying the health professions and reducing health disparities in our country. Your commitment to the College of Health fosters excellence in teaching, research, and community outreach to transform the future of health care. To learn more about the College of Health and how you can play a role in its future, please visit health.utah.edu or contact U of U Health Advancement by calling 801.585.7410 or by email at advancement@hsc.utah.edu.