Here’s a common assumption: All Health Sciences students will end up working in medicine, on the frontlines, administering health care. But this isn’t always the case, and it’s important to show students different doors their education opens, says one professor at Western University.
Deborah Fitzsimmons, a Faculty of Health Sciences professor, is teaching an innovative course called Emerging Trends in Health Care, one that aims to introduce and showcase new technologies available to health-care organizations.
“We always think students will be working in health care, we don’t think of the other (possibilities),” Fitzsimmons said. “This course provides a new structure for student engagement.”
Fitzsimmons has arranged a series of speakers – most of them senior executives – from companies to come and showcase their work and technological developments emerging from their fields.
“Some of these (technologies) may sound completely outlandish to students, like robotic arms controlled by the mind. Bringing these tech providers into the classroom makes it real for the students, makes it fresh, and makes (students) aware of other opportunities out there,” Fitzsimmons said.
“These providers talk to them about the industry and different access routes to (health care). It’s opening their eyes.”
Not only are Fitzsimmons’ students gaining awareness of different opportunities, the speaker series has also opened up doors for research partnerships, she said.
“This doesn’t just work for the companies who want to come in and engage (students). It’s a real synergy. We’ve already started to develop ideas for some research projects and there are some grant initiatives we’re looking at,” she explained.
“We want to expand this further, to create an opportunity for student work experience, practicums and partnerships. At the end of the day, our students may be the ones to help them with continued success in the future and this course is one opportunity to do that.”
Fitzsimmons added she has received positive feedback from the speakers and students alike, and that other faculties – particularly the Faculty of Engineering – have expressed an interest in the series as well.
The class has already welcomed Philip Blanshard, president and CEO, Sensory Technologies; Dr. Souhile Assaf, president and CEO, Medtrode Inc., and Enzo Barberi, chief technology officer, XLR Imaging.
This term’s remaining speakers include: Dr Philip Toleikis, President and CEO, Sernova Corp., on Feb. 10 and Chandra Panchal, President and CEO, Axcelon Biopolymers Corporation, on Feb. 17.