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NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Spring 2022
Letter from the Dean Health professions educators are part of the bridge that ensures quality health care. I am thrilled to join SVSU as the new dean. As I embark on this new journey, I am eager to engage with all of you in meaningful ways. The shift to more patient-centered care requires more multidisciplinary training. Health care’s response to the pandemic has made it abundantly clear that employers need health care workers who are independent learners, have good problem-solving and decision-making skills, embrace collaboration, and are in tune with their own emotions and those around them. Furthermore, emerging technologies such as virtual reality learning, electroceutical therapies and precision medicine, and big data are reshaping health care provision and outcome in multiple ways. Advancements in digital technologies have accelerated health care innovation, making the environment increasingly difficult to keep pace with, but also opening the door to opportunities. The next five to seven years are likely to require a sustained upshift in SVSU’s investment to unlock the potential of these technological assets. What differentiates SVSU health professions education from other schools is the extensive clinical and practical opportunities available for our students, and the belief that you learn best by doing. These hands-on skills building opportunities that allow for more authentic learning, as well as the potential of emerging healthcare technologies, will meet the needs of modern health care. We believe that together we can be better! Regards,
Marcia Mastracci Ditmyer, PhD, MBA, MS Marcia Mastracci Ditmyer comes to SVSU after serving as the associate dean for education and professor in residence with emeritus at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Dental Medicine. In her 19 years at UNLV, she facilitated the establishment of an interprofessional academic health center including medicine, dental, mental health, nursing, public health, occupational therapy, physical therapy and nutrition sciences. A Michigan native, Ditmyer received an MBA from Central Michigan University, an MS from California College for Health Sciences, and a PhD from the University of Toledo. She also holds the Master Certified Health Education Specialist credential. Her formal training has allowed Ditmyer to work as an epidemiologist, researcher, and community health specialist.
Departments
Health Science o Kinesiology o Nursing o Occupational Therapy o Social Work