UAlbany Announces the new College of Integrated Health Sciences

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 4, 2024) – The University at Albany has taken a significant step towards addressing the interconnected issues that impact health and wellness with the formation of a new College of Integrated Health Sciences, which aligns its exemplary programs in Public Health, Social Welfare and Nursing.

Developing solutions to improve health and well-being for individuals and communities requires a close, connected understanding of the wide range of support that exists within the field. UAlbany’s new college elevates the growing need for collaboration among health professionals through innovative and complementary academic opportunities for students and future health practitioners.

The disciplines offered by the college include the School of Social Welfare, alongside Public Health and Nursing programs, such as:

Biomedical Sciences
Health Policy, Management and Behavior
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Environmental Health Sciences
Population Health Nursing

“Health is multi-faceted and efforts to improve the health of individuals and communities must be holistic to be effective, that’s why the University at Albany is so proud to form the new College of Integrated Health Sciences,” said Havidán Rodríguez, president of the University at Albany.

“By combining and building on our existing expertise in public health and social welfare and our growing nursing program, we are setting our students, faculty, and researchers up for interdisciplinary studies that truly benefit the public good. As one of the most diverse public research universities in the nation and as a Health Promoting University, UAlbany is committed to research and academic programs that benefit the public good and promote a holistic approach to health and well-being. The new College of Integrated Health Sciences is a major step toward living out those ideals,” Rodríguez said.

Research collaborations between UAlbany’s schools of Public Health and Social Welfare have been growing for many years, including initiatives that enhance alliances throughout the University and within the broader community, particularly in the area of health equity. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted what UAlbany faculty have long known and studied: that deep divides in health and wellbeing exist and bridging these divides requires a close understanding of interacting factors that span disciplines.

The College of Integrated Health Sciences aims to deepen existing collaborations and create new pathways for faculty and students to explore and address complicated societal challenges that shape longevity and quality of life, further supporting significant initiatives, such as:

Another example of these valued partnerships is the University’s 40-year collaboration with the New York State Department of Health and the former school of Public Health in a unique effort to build healthier communities by engaging in hands-on courses, cutting-edge research, and practice-based experience.

Partnership with St. Peters

To help fill the gap created by the closure of The College of Saint Rose, UAlbany also stood up a "1-2-1" Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in partnership with St. Peters Health Partners. Through this program, students undertake a combination of coursework and clinical training that will allow them to begin working as a registered nurse after the third year, earning their degree by completing the fourth year through remote coursework while working as a nurse. This program, and others in development at UAlbany, recognize both the critical need for these positions in the workforce and the growing importance of clinical training and experience across integrated health science disciplines.

The 1-2-1 nursing program also joins two degree options in Nursing, which UAlbany launched in Spring 2023 – a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion program and a Master of Science in Population Health Nursing (MSN) – with the inaugural student cohort starting in Fall 2023. Embedded within the newly integrated college, these programs will offer opportunities for future and current nurses to explore clinical and applied health, advancing their careers with hands-on research and experiential learning options.

“With so many natural synergies between faculty and staff in the various disciplines inside the College, there will be some very exciting academic collaborations,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol Kim. “These connections will lead to new academic pathways for students and faculty, pedagogical innovations, and a very engaging learning environment for everyone.”

Professor Erin Bell, who is jointly affiliated with the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Environmental Health Sciences, has been named dean of the new College. Prior to this appointment, Bell served as interim dean of the School of Public Health, where she played a pivotal role in shaping plans for the new college and supporting faculty and staff.

Bell’s research has enhanced an understanding of how environmental exposures, especially exposure to PFAS, impact health outcomes in adults and children. Previous leadership positions at UAlbany include serving as interim assistant vice president for research compliance, faculty director for the Undergraduate Public Health program, associate dean for research at SPH, and a member of the executive committee of UAlbany’s Center for Social and Demographic Analysis.

"Our strong foundation in community engaged work and cutting-edge research enables us to come together under the new College to deepen our impact on the communities we serve. Through rigorous academic programming, innovative research, and timely workforce development, the new College of Integrated Health Sciences is uniquely positioned to enhance the health and wellbeing of populations across New York State and beyond,” Bell said.

Victoria Rizzo, interim dean of the School of Social Welfare, is now serving as senior vice dean of the College of Integrated Health Sciences and director of the School of Social Welfare. Rizzo has dedicated her career to demonstrating the value of social work in health care settings and community-based organizations through her research, teaching and workforce development activities. She is nationally known for aging research that examines the impact of social work and interprofessional interventions that include social workers, and on health care utilization, health and behavioral health outcomes for older adults coping with chronic illnesses, elder abuse and care giving.

Together, Bell and Rizzo bring complementary skills to foster collaboration, ensuring a successful and visible College that will advance teaching, research and workforce development.

"Interdisciplinary collaborations allow us to look at complex issues from different perspectives to identify solutions that would not otherwise be possible if the approach remained siloed. The new College, by structure, focuses on interdisciplinarity – allowing us to address complex social issues and disparities more effectively and better meet both individual and community needs," Rizzo said.

The college is expected to move to UAlbany’s Uptown Campus in 2025 to enhance cooperation between other University programs in health, science, the humanities and more.

Visit the College of Integrated Health Sciences for more information and upcoming initiatives.