Title: Georgetown Launches Two New Schools: The School of Nursing and the School of Health

Roberta Waite, who brings decades of experience working to advance health equity, was named dean of the reconceptualized School of Nursing in December 2021. Christopher J. King, associate professor and former chair of the department of health systems administration in NHS, was named the inaugural dean of the School of Health in May. 

“The launch of the School of Nursing fully restores our focus on one of the most trusted professions in the world. With our School of Health, we have committed to training professionals whose work will deeply impact health and health care delivery in a myriad of ways,” said Dr. Edward B. Healton, executive vice president for health sciences, in a message to the Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) community. “In both schools, our learners will be educated and guided by our Jesuit values of social justice and health equity at the forefront, and in the spirit of cura personalis.”

School of Health

Read the Full Story: Launch of New School of Health Offers Pivotal Moment To Reimagine Health Sciences at Georgetown

Three departments that were previously a part of NHS — health management and policy (formerly health systems administration), global health (formerly international health) and human science — will now comprise the new School of Health. The departments will continue to function in the same way, and students will carry on with their programs of study without disruption.

Behind the scenes, however, an ambitious effort is underway to establish the new school’s distinct footprint. Over the next nine months, a newly convened design task force, comprising 20 members from the School of Nursing, School of Health and all corners of the university, will work to shape options for the school’s identity and mission.

Now, with King at the helm of the new school and the design task force hard at work to fulfill its ambitious mandate, the School of Health stands at the precipice of a new era. 

“The factors that shape the health of individuals and populations are both complex and intersectional,” King said. “It will take unconventional practices and policies to undo a history of harms and truly foster a society where all people can achieve their full health potential. This commitment is especially critical in this moment of intense social change. I am excited about unifying our collective strengths under this new umbrella and getting mobilized for meaningful and sustainable impact.”

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School of Nursing

Read the Full Story: New School of Nursing Guided by Dean’s Strong Vision for Equity, Social Justice

The new School of Nursing will be built from the foundation of the existing NHS and the establishment of Georgetown’s original School of Nursing in 1903.

Previously housed in the NHS, the new school’s on-campus and online/distance learning nursing programs emphasize education, research, scholarship and community service. Offering degree-granting programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels grounded in a social justice framework, the school is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Advancing the practice of nursing science is also a key goal, and Georgetown’s new Ph.D. in Nursing program with a concentration on health equity and ethics will continue the university’s mission to enhance its research endeavors.

Infusing values and a deep appreciation for the wholeness of patients’ lives — in acute care, at home and within the community — is Waite’s focus. Ensuring that students understand social and structural mechanisms that inform health is also paramount, she says. 

“Knowing must go hand in hand with doing,” Waite explains. “Identifying health problems will not by itself promote health equity. We must build students’ advocacy skills and shift from merely problem identification to solution-creation. Educating students to lead in whatever they decide to do regarding health-related concerns is important to catalyze tangible change.”

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