Academic Year 2019-2020 was a very exciting and challenging year for the College of Health Sciences and Professions. In November 2019 Dr. Carolynn DeSandre was appointed Interim Dean of the College following the departure of the former dean. During 2019-2020 all programs in the College continued to experience exponential growth. Due to COVID 19, in March 2020, UNG moved to online learning in conjunction with recommendations from the University System of Georgia. Faculty, staff and students in the College worked collaboratively to design learning activities and simulated environments that allowed students in health professions to continue their education despite COVID causing them to be removed form clinical education sites in hospitals and clinics. Luckily due to strong collaborations with community partners, opportunities in telehealth, and strong COVID19 emergency operation plans by UNG and the College, students began to re-enter the clinical settings in late summer semester with students across all programs back in clinical education settings in Fall 2020. Our strong collaborations with clinical partners and excellence in emergency planning operations has allowed our students to stay on track with their programs of study and prevent delay of their graduation. It has also allowed our students the unique opportunity to be actively engaged in emergency disaster practice and telehealth.
Despite the impact of COVID19 on our community, CHSP students, faculty and staff continue to excel as practitioners, educators and researchers. Our College celebrated numerous faculty publications and scholarly presentations and student awards. Enhanced technology provide through CARES funding permitted ongoing clinical telehealth and simulation education, and students successfully returned to hands-on learning in the fall with the College’s innovative and effective COVID19 safety planning that included personal protective equipment and social distancing. In addition, CHSP leadership team began work on the 2020-2025 CHSP strategic plan draft in accordance with the UNG 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.