School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Introduction
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences:
Vision Statement:
Evolve the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences into a globally recognized school for health professions education and research, celebrated for its innovation, inclusivity, and impact.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is to foster excellence in education, research, and practice. Through innovative, interprofessional education, evidence-based practice, and research, we cultivate compassionate and competent healthcare professionals who lead transformation in health and wellness globally. We are dedicated to advancing clinical outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for those we serve. We empower future health professions leaders to impact health and well-being while upholding the highest standards of integrity, justice, and equity.
Our faculty are dedicated, expert clinicians and researchers who employ innovative technology and active learning strategies to provide an outstanding educational experience. Our clinical networks, within Mass General Brigham (MGB) and beyond, afford our students challenging and robust learning environments that help us prepare competent, compassionate, collaborative practitioners committed to professional growth and life-long learning.
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is composed of programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Genetic Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Rehabilitation Sciences. Together, these programs offer degrees that address the full scope of rehabilitation and health. Each program prepares students to be strong critical thinkers and compassionate and competent practitioners. We are committed to interprofessional collaboration that emphasizes the important role of each discipline in team-based care, and we are committed to ensure the quality of our educational programs guided by principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers an entry-level three-year accelerated Doctor of Audiology program to prepare graduates for audiologist practice in a variety of settings. Our program offers a distinctive, rich environment for clinical training through our partnership with Massachusetts Eye and Ear (part of MGB) and other leading medical centers in Boston. The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology prepares graduates with critical thinking and clinical excellence skills to work in a variety of settings in medical and school systems. The department also offers a Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology, a post-professional program preparing certified speech-language pathologists for advanced clinical practice and leadership. Students can focus on specific clinical concentrations to gain a broader perspective in one area of practice. A Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy and Language is available for educators and clinicians who wish to expand their knowledge and expertise to improve reading and writing practices in educational and clinical settings.
The Department of Genetic Counseling offers a Master of Science and prepares genetic counselors to be leaders in the field of genetics and genomics. Outstanding clinical and non-clinical fieldwork experiences, expansive research opportunities, dedicated faculty, and an active-learning curriculum create an engaging learning environment that equips genetic counseling students to provide exemplary compassionate care, recognize and attend to the needs of their clients, effectively communicate complex genetic information, and advance genomics research.
The Department of Occupational Therapy offers the Doctor of Occupational Therapy, the first entry-level OTD in New England, for those with a bachelors degree in another field who want to become occupational therapists. This program prepares occupational therapy leaders to contribute to the profession in research, education, advocacy, and clinical practice, providing the skills needed to excel in today’s dynamic health care and education systems. The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program (PP-OTD) is an advanced degree for practicing occupational therapists seeking to gain knowledge and skills to inform their careers as practice scholars, leaders, health care administrators, and educators.
The Department of Physical Therapy offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs for those who want to become physical therapists. and. The program offers an innovative modular curriculum using case based, self directed and collaborative learning that culminates in a year-long internship. Practicing physical therapists who want to advance their knowledge and skill in orthopaedic practice can apply to the Orthopaedic Clinical Residency prepare for the orthopaedic specialty examination.
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies offers the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), preparing physician assistants (PAs) to work in a variety of healthcare settings, providing medical care in partnership with physicians. This program offers comprehensive clinical education using team based approach to learning, along with hands-on experiences in primary care settings and elective specialties. Through coursework and interaction with students in the rehabilitation sciences, our PA graduates will develop the skills needed to function as highly effective members of the healthcare team and maximize their patients’ health and well-being.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences program prepares graduates to conduct high-quality rehabilitation research in academic, research, and/or healthcare settings. The program offers students mentored research experiences and a tailored program of study to achieve career goals. Our networks with MGB and beyond afford our students the opportunity to work with interdisciplinary, internationally- renowned experts.
From active learning classrooms to international and service-learning opportunities, to research and evidence-based practice, to advocating for our clients and professions, your experience at the Institute will allow you to develop your own professional goals in an atmosphere of intellectual discovery and collaboration. We look forward to working with you in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, shrsdean@mghihp.edu
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student Appeals Policy:
It is the policy of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) that all students be treated fairly and that evaluations of their academic performance, standing, and progress are conducted objectively. The faculty in the SHRS are committed to grading and student evaluation practices that are fair, objective, and consistent with the standards required for successful health professions education and practice.
The SHRS believes that its students should have access to an appeal process if they believe they were unfairly, unjustly, or erroneously treated in the determination of their academic performance, standing, or progress, including a final course grade or dismissal from a program of study.
In all circumstances, students are first strongly encouraged to discuss concerns informally with the relevant faculty member(s), advisor, or program chair to seek satisfactory resolution of the concern.
The Institute also provides students, who voluntarily seek it, access to an Ombudsperson who seeks to help students informally resolve conflicts.
If these informal attempts to resolve the concern are unsuccessful, then students may follow formal appeals procedures that are outlined below.
Appeal Procedure for Dismissal:
After program-level appeal processes have been exhausted, students have the right to appeal dismissal from a program of study, consistent with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Appeals Policy.
Appeal Procedures for Cases of Alleged Improper Academic Evaluation:
Students have a right to appeal a grade or evaluation if they believe it is unjust or inaccurate, consistent with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Appeal policy after attempts at resolution following the Grade Appeal Policy have been exhausted in the program. The request for appeal must be made to the SHRS Dean (or delegate) in writing and include the Final Course Grade Appeal form.
- Criteria must include if the disputed grade was:
- not based on the standards offered in the course syllabus and/or course rubric, or
- determined by standards different than what was applied to other students, or,
- miscalculated.
Initiating an Appeal:
To initiate an appeal, the student must submit a written request to the SHRS Dean (or delegate). A request for appeal must be submitted in writing within 3 business days of notification of the program dismissal or grade/evaluation decision. The written request details the circumstances for the appeal, specifically the published standards that were, from the student’s perspective, not upheld, and the desired outcome.
An appeal request is reviewed by the Dean (or delegate), consulting with the student and the respective faculty member(s) involved with the dismissal, grade, or evaluation under review, to determine whether the dismissal, grading or evaluation procedures were fair, equitable, and consistent. Both the student and the program will be given the opportunity to submit additional documentation to support their position.
The Dean (or delegate) may also appoint an Appeals Panel to provide guidance and recommendations. An Appeals Panel is comprised of 3 faculty from the SHRS with the expertise and experience to gather additional information, review the appeal request, and provide recommendations to the Dean. Members of an Appeals Panel must acknowledge they have no conflict of interest to serve, such as participation in the grading or evaluation of the student relevant to the appeal request. If an Appeals Panel is appointed, the panel must convene the hearing within 10 business days of the receipt of the appeals request. The student may bring one support person to the hearing, and the department chair/program director/faculty/staff involved may also bring a support person. The person cannot be a legal representative or lawyer and may not speak prior to or during the hearing. The names and contact information of any support person who will attend the hearing must be provided three business days before the hearing. The details and agenda of the hearing will be communicated to the student at least 5 business days before the hearing convenes.
The Dean of SHRS will communicate their decision in writing to the student within 5 business days after the Appeal Panel. If the Dean determines that an Appeal Panel is not warranted, the Dean will communicate a decision in writing to the student within 5 business days of the student’s written appeal. The decision of the Dean is final.