Interprofessional education makes Nazareth a finalist for Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Innovation Award
The national Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi announced that Nazareth College is among three finalists for the honor society's 2020 Excellence in Innovation Award. The $100,000 award, given once every two years, recognizes one institution of higher learning for achievement in finding powerful answers to important local, regional, national, or global challenges. The 2020 recipient will be announced Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
Nazareth and the other two finalists, Texas State University and Widener University, were selected by a jury of emeritus presidents and provosts from six semifinalists representing multifaceted projects at institutions across the nation. Each institution was assessed on the project's ability to achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes to create systemic large-scale change.
Nazareth College's application for the Excellence in Innovation award focused on interprofessional education on campus and in the community — which includes pro bono services to area adults and children and strong, diverse preparation and experiences for Nazareth students who are future professionals. The College's unique constellation of health and human services professional programs provide comprehensive education for more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students at a time. Nazareth is a leader in interprofessional education, where students from two or more professions learn with, from, and about each other to gain leading-edge skills that improve outcomes for clients and patients. In addition to outstanding preparation in the classroom, students gain hands-on experience in Nazareth's on-campus clinics and in the community, and students and faculty collaborate across professions to work with children and adults with a wide range of needs.
The award application highlighted Nazareth's programs and services for individuals with neurological disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease; individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and poverty and homelessness in the Rochester area.
"Nazareth College has such a long and rich history of professional education and community engagement," said Cathy Rasmussen, associate dean in the School of Health & Human Services and director of Nazareth's York Wellness and Rehabilitation Center — which enables more than 15,000 clinic visits per academic year. "This recognition highlights the wonderful opportunities our students have to learn true teamwork and to collaborate and innovate across professions. Their work in our community and around the world is transformative for them and has a real impact everywhere they go."
Among the examples of interprofessional work that benefits both students and the community are collaborations among music therapy students and speech-language pathology students working together to restore communication for individuals who've had strokes, wellness programs for Special Olympics athletes, GROW-Rochester developmental screenings to identify children who can benefit from early intervention services as part of a community-wide anti-poverty initiative, and Project Homeless Connect.
Phi Kappa Phi also named three semifinalists receiving honorable mention: Moravian College, the University of Houston-Downtown, and the University of Memphis.
The Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Innovation award is part of the Society's robust awards program, which gives nearly $1 million each year to outstanding members and students on chapter campuses through study abroad grants, dissertation fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. The Excellence in Innovation Award, first awarded in 2016 to Tulane University, is the Society's only award for institutions.
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Julie Long | Chief PR Officer, | (585) 781-8186 | jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
