Interdisciplinary as a mission

Daniel P. Smith

Given its complexities and nuance, the modern health care environment demands interdisciplinarity.

When members of different health care and health sciences disciplines work collaboratively toward a common purpose, it drives improved coordination of care, strengthens the systems approach, bolsters the effectiveness of interventions, and helps address health disparities.

It’s a reality the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health recognizes and, even more, champions with an earnest focus on the student experience both in and out of the classroom.

“At Parkinson, we’re developing health care planners, epidemiologists, administrators, medical lab and exercise science experts, practitioners, and data scientists. We focus on competency in their chosen profession while simultaneously supporting their understanding of the interrelationship with other disciplines, as they will not be working in silos when they graduate,” says Jenny O’Rourke, the Parkinson School’s associate dean of academic affairs.

Interdisciplinary in the curriculum

As part of the Parkinson School’s mission, students are immersed in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment committed to social justice in the Jesuit tradition.

For many Parkinson students, exposure to other disciplines first occurs through courses providing a broader understanding of the contemporary health care landscape, including the varied positions and perspectives contributing to individual and population health.

At the undergraduate level, Parkinson offers several introductory courses in areas such as Foundations of Public Health, Health Care in America, and nutrition, which provide Parkinson students an overview of distinct fields. These courses also enroll non-Parkinson degree-seeking students as well, generating connections to students studying pre-med, biology, psychology, and other fields to further enliven Parkinson’s interdisciplinary mission.

“From the get-go, we’re introducing diverse topics and perspectives, so students recognize the importance and value of looking at a problem from many different angles to develop a thoughtful solution,” O’Rourke says.

As Parkinson students progress toward their undergraduate degree, they often take courses in other programs to expand their knowledge base and their outlook. Public health students, for example, take four required courses from the healthcare administration program while a core Parkinson course like Fundamentals of Health Equity brings students from multiple fields together to examine health disparities in the U.S. as well as strategies to advance health equity.

At the graduate level, there is even greater interdisciplinary crossover between programs. In particular, Parkinson encourages students to take electives outside of their specific graduate program to facilitate interaction with other disciplines and to gain understanding of how those in other areas approach their work.

“In health care, you’re not going to work in a bubble and we want to make sure students are exposed to other perspectives and content, so they have the framework and collaborative understanding they need to thrive in their careers,” O’Rourke says.

Beyond the classroom

The Parkinson School’s focus on interdisciplinarity to fuel student growth extends far beyond the classroom doors.

Parkinson is intentional about finding community partners who share the school’s interdisciplinary ethos, especially when it comes to internship sites and practice environments for students. Within capstone experiences, students from healthcare administration, exercise science, and informatics are often placed together at many partner hospital sites while Matter, a Chicago-based health care incubator, also welcomes students from various disciplines into its innovation-focused culture.

At Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, meanwhile, dietetic interns and nutrition students work alongside students from the University’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing to provide health and nutrition services to vulnerable local residents. Specifically, dietetic and nutrition interns create shopping lists and recipes with nutrient-dense, non-perishable food items to combat chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

Parkinson is also pulling students into interdisciplinary research projects as well. Associate dean for research and scholarship Dr. Pamela Xaverius recently spearheaded the launch of a micro-grant program enabling graduate students to partner with Parkinson faculty on research projects independent of their discipline. One dietetic student, for instance, is currently working with school leadership on a data analysis effort regarding student enrollment.

“Through this project, the student is learning the process of data analysis and how to tell a story with data, which are skills she can apply as a nutritionist,” O’Rourke says.

Finally, Parkinson hosts three signature events each year: Health Equity Quest, Salon, and Loyola Stands Against Gun Violence. Each event welcomes students and attendees representing different disciplines, highlights entrenched problems in the health care landscape, and rallies multiple perspectives to unlock potential solutions.

“We live and breathe an interdisciplinary approach at Parkinson because we understand the realities of today’s world,” O’Rourke says. “As our students learn about these related fields and discover diverse perspectives, their minds expand and their ability to problem solve and care for others grows stronger.”