In late May, nine students and two nursing faculty traveled to Kenya to participate in an International Academic Service Learning course for two weeks. They provided nursing care and teaching to a variety of people through St. Mary's Mission hospital. They also left behind something special for the children.

The University of Michigan-Flint will receive a federal grant of $354,050 to encourage more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and complete health professions training programs. The announcement of the grant was made by Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI).

The University of Michigan-Flint has been awarded a Venture Grant for the International Service-Learning for Nursing Students in Kenya program.

In partnership with St. Mary’s Mission Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, UM-Flint nursing students will provide nursing care, health promotion and health education activities in hospital and orphanages in both urban and rural settings.

A professor at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida has been recommended by an 11 member search committee as the new dean of the University of Michigan-Flint School of Health Professions and Studies.  Provost Jack Kay announced the selection of  Barbara L. Kornblau, a  professor of occupational therapy and public health in the College of Allied Health and Nursing, and College of Osteopathic Medicine. The U-M Board of Regents will be asked to approve Dr. Kornblau at the June meeting.

Estimates of shortages for both nurses (RNs) and primary care doctors are painting bleak pictures for future U.S. health care. Recent government reports indicate a shortage of 500,000 RNs* and 46,000 primary care physicians by 2025*. Some estimates are even higher.

The University of Michigan-Flint is offering a new program in fall of 2009, online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Offered through the School of Health Professions and Studies the DNP, provides the skills necessary for advanced nursing practice in primary health care.

Cameron Waites will have an opportunity to advance his education at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country. He has been named one of about 15 recipients selected from hundreds of applications for the highly competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (USP). During the 10- week summer laboratory experience, he will be assigned to an NIH researcher and a postdoctoral fellow, who will serve as mentors.

The University of Michigan-Flint will substantially increase enrollment in its Physical Therapy Program (DPT).  This move comes at a time when the nation is seeing a shortage of physical therapists. The expansion of the DPT Program will allow enrollment to increase by 50%. In the past, only 40 students per year could be accepted.  The program is now planning to increase admittance to 60 students annually beginning in fall 2010.