In order to position ourselves to further the goal of national distinction in Health Professions’ education, research and service, the College of Health Professions (CHP) announces an organizational restructuring initiative effective July 1, 2008.  The restructuring represents the result of months of external and internal review, and incorporates the recommendations of an external review team comprised of organizational experts and deans of prominent schools of health professions, as well as recommendations from an internal Futures Team comprised of representative faculty and staff.  Consensus was reached among the reviewers that organizational change was necessary to position the College for the future in advancing its mission of national distinction while adjusting to a rapidly changing and challenging fiscal climate.

The changes recommended and now being implemented involve the College collapsing three existing departments into two new departments:  The Department of Health Professions and The Department of Health Sciences and Research.  The new structure will allow the College to remain at the forefront of health professions education and clinical service advances while growing a much larger research portfolio.  Although the changes are transformative in nature, and will challenge us to adapt our organizational culture, they are vital to where we need to and seek to go as an institution.  Once implemented, the changes will allow the College to more efficiently manage costs, maintain strong fiscal reserves, promote core programs consistent with our mission, and transition to a more research-intensive institution capable of competing on a national stage for research funding leading to the discovery of new knowledge in the health sciences. This research initiative will in turn strengthen our core health professions educational programs.

In making this transition the College has taken deliberate steps to ensure the progress of our existing students to degree completion. This restructuring has also been communicated to all of our alumni and other constituent groups. Within the next weeks, CHP will be making changes to the College’s web-site reflecting the organizational change. If you have any questions please contact Catherine McCullough at (843) 792-8547 or mccullc@musc.edu.