Redefining Health Sciences Education

North Central’s advanced clinical practice programs are designed to be different

On a Friday evening last December, the first cohort of students in North Central’s master of science in physician assistant studies (MSPAS) program walked across the stage at Wentz Concert Hall in a ceremony that marked completion of two years of continuous coursework and clinical training.

It was a milestone for the 31 soon-tobe healthcare practitioners — and for North Central, as well. With the College emerging as a leader in building distinctive graduate-level health sciences programs, the MSPAS program is the latest to graduate an inaugural class. In the next two years, first cohorts of North Centraleducated nurses and doctorate-level physical and occupational therapists will also enter the healthcare workforce.

The portfolio of programs includes numerous points of entry toward completion. Students are from across the country and even the world, and they are often balancing full-time jobs and families. Some enroll as a result of being on a direct-entry pathway — an option for first- and second-year North Central undergraduates who know they will want to continue at the College for graduate school. Others are building on pre-professional undergraduate degrees in the health or life sciences from other institutions, while some are looking to make a mid-career change.

No matter their journey to North Central, students can expect to be in high demand once they earn an advanced clinical practice degree from the College.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated healthcare practitioner attrition due to burnout and retirement, and the nation’s changing age demographics will further transform the healthcare landscape as the largest generation in U.S. history the “Baby Boomers” — continues to age, creating greater demand for care and practitioners.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment across the allied health professions will grow from 2022 to 2032: physician assistants by 27 percent, physical therapists by 15 percent, and occupational therapists by 12 percent. Projected labor shortages in nursing are especially dire. In Illinois, more than half of current registered nurses are over the age of 55, and the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center reports the state will experience an estimated shortfall of nearly 15,000 nurses by 2025.

At North Central, expanding into the health sciences was a natural outgrowth given the College’s long and distinguished legacy of undergraduate science education. “Our students would major in a science discipline and then go on to a professional program at another institution,” said Abiódún Gòkè-Pariolá, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We began looking at what it would take to keep them here.”

The College’s successful undergraduate program in athletic training, which launched in the mid-1980s, provided a roadmap. Rooted in the liberal arts tradition, it adheres strongly to evidence-based medical practice while emphasizing a humanistic, relationship-centered approach. Today, all of North Central’s health sciences programs share a focus on developing excellent clinicians, educators, scholars and leaders who are driven not just by optimistic career outcomes, but also by a desire to serve. (continued after break)

A Growing Suite

Since 2018, North Central’s School of Education and Health Sciences has launched new graduate programs to prepare the next generation of healthcare practitioners.

2018 Master of Occupational Therapy

2019 Master of Athletic Training

2021 Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

2022 Doctor of Physical Therapy

2022 Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

2023 Master of Arts in TraumaInformed Practices

2023 Occupational Therapy Doctorate

2023 Master of Science in Nursing:

• Family Nurse Practitioner track

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track

• Nurse Executive Leader track

• Nurse Educator track

(continued) “These programs build on the College’s strong undergraduate foundation and are designed to be consistent with our core values — to connect with one’s humanity and behave ethically, with a focus on social responsibility,” said Gòkè-Pariolá. “Valuing our fellow human beings is the core of the liberal arts — changing outcomes in the world by walking in other people’s shoes and knowing we are all connected.”

Dr. Mary Groll, MD, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences and chair of the department of medical sciences, sees that ethos in action each day within the Dr. Myron Wentz Center for Health Sciences and Engineering, which opened in 2021. Designed in collaboration with faculty, the classrooms and labs are both state-of-the-art and inviting. The building bustles with faculty and students from early morning through the evening.

“The liberal arts foundation informs who we are as people and professionals, providing us insight into self-reflection, critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and appreciation of the lived experiences of others,” Groll said.

Diversity is also central to the College’s approach to health sciences education, both among students and faculty. Care disparities and other societal problems often result from a lack of diversity in the professional workforce, including among educators.

“You need people who understand health inequities,” Gòkè-Pariolá said. “By creating opportunities to attract more people into the healthcare profession, we can cultivate a high-quality, more diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce.”

Many healthcare associations and accrediting bodies set standards for diversity, and so far, North Central’s programs exceed national averages. For example, the first two cohorts of students in the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program enrolled a combined 96 students, and 43 percent identify as racially and/or ethnically diverse. The national average for DPT programs is 31 percent.

Dr. Sara Scholtes, professor and chair of the department of physical therapy, said: “We have been intentional in creating recruitment and admissions practices that are more inviting and holistic for all applicants, in hopes of increasing the diversity of practitioners in the healthcare environment, including physical therapy.”

Likewise, Dr. Tiffany Delane, MSPAS program director, said: “North Central is one of the only physician assistant programs with goals to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and train our students in lifestyle medicine.”

Practitioner burnout is another factor affecting labor shortages. It can stem from systemic and organizational factors and begin when students are learning to be clinicians in highly competitive settings. At North Central, faculty are key to helping students thrive in a positive, supportive environment. Each student is assigned a professional mentor, communication is frequent, and a close-knit sense of community is cultivated.

“I’ve never met more dedicated faculty,” said Groll. “Our programs are relationship-based. That’s the ethos of North Central. We’re intentional about our methods, which are based on the National Academy of Medicine’s research on provider burnout. We didn’t want to replicate what’s done elsewhere. We’re going to walk with you and stick with you. That commitment is a big part of the draw. If students feel psychologically safe, then the learning happens.”

While designing some of its most recent programs, the College has partnered with Endeavor Health, which includes Edward Hospital and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville. Students get matched with clinical training opportunities, and Endeavor professionals share their expertise.

“Our Endeavor partners have been the most impactful mentors,” said Groll. “They have helped guide us into what the future of health sciences looks like at North Central. There’s such a demand for compassionate and competent providers in our community. It is a privilege to collaborate with Endeavor Health to educate future professionals who will provide safe and equitable care in the community where they are trained.”

Yvette Saba is president of Edward Hospital and system executive for the Cardiovascular Institute. Saba has been an instrumental advocate for health sciences programming at North Central.

“It is an honor for Edward Hospital to partner with North Central College, a prestigious, nationally ranked liberal arts college,” she said. “We believe that we have an obligation to develop our future leaders and clinicians in healthcare. Our expert clinicians provide mentorship and clinical training with the hope of helping these young professionals become passionate and competent healthcare providers.”

The inaugural class in North Central’s master of science in nursing (MSN) program began in fall 2023. Lawrence Hudson ’25 enrolled after working in quality assurance/control and food science for many years, then returning to school to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. As an MSN Family Nurse Practitioner student, he hopes to further his nursing career and one day open a clinic in an underserved community.

“The students that are on this journey with me have been amazing,” he said. “We are there to uplift each other on a daily basis and to keep each other encouraged and motivated.”

North Central faculty were not only experts in their specialty; they were dedicated mentors who provided personalized guidance.

-Angelina Jones M '22

Angelina Jones earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy from North Central in 2022. She works with Northwestern Medicine in the musculoskeletal unit at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Ill., helping patients recover from surgery and traumatic accidents.

While she was a student, Jones gained fieldwork experience in a variety of settings, including a therapeutic day school, homeless shelter, and inpatient rehabilitation. “These experiences help you develop clinical skills, build professional relationships, and gain confidence,” she said.

She added, “North Central faculty were not only experts in their specialty; they were dedicated mentors who provided personalized guidance ... and the amazing facility and equipment that students have access to simulates real-life scenarios, which truly helps learning.”

As graduates from all of the programs go on to work in the community and beyond, they take with them a way of caring that echoes what has always been important at North Central: an emphasis on humanity and lifelong learning.

Groll said, “We want them to come to North Central because they are going to have a different experience here. We’re creating a better healthcare professional.”

BUILDING A PROGRAM: STEPS TO SUCCESS

Long before faculty are hired and students enroll, careful planning and strategy went into the launch of each new advanced health sciences program at the College.

STEP 1

MISSION ALIGNMENT

Does the program fit with the College’s history and values?

STEP 2

MARKET ANALYSIS

Is there a need in the community?

STEP 3

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Would the program be financially viable and sustainable?

STEP 4

ACCREDITATION REVIEW

When is there an opportunity to apply to start a program?

STEP 5

BUILD THE ROADMAP

When would faculty need to be hired and a first cohort begin?

Will existing facilities serve the program? If not, can space be renovated or is a new facility needed?

STEP 6

FACILITIES ASSESSMENT

Will existing facilities serve the program? If not, can space be renovated or is a new facility needed?