Wednesday, June 29, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 'U' to offer master's in Health Informatics Schools of Information and Public Health launch new degree By GIACOMO BOLOGNA Daily StaffReporter Amid rising healthcare costs and an industry constantly afflicted by turmoil, the Univer- sity is maintaining its position as a frontrunner in the health field with the official creation of a new master's program in Health Infor- matics, following over three years of planning. Meghan Genovese, Health Informatics program manager, said the University will join a small group of schools around the nation that offer this type of degree program, which will be run by both the School of Infor- mation and the School of Public Health. Additionally a graduate cer- tificate program will be available for the Winter 2012 term and the 52-credit Master's Program for the Winter 2013 term, she said. Charles Friedman is stepping down from his position as chief scientific officer of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to head the new program. Friedman first came to the University four years ago to speak about the benefits of developing a Health Informatics program, and has worked throughout most of his professional career to promote health IT nationally, according to the ONC website. In the academic world, Friedman has taught and held numerous titles at both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina In the health informatics field, Friedman said "the breadth of potential careers is really quite impressive" and that the Health Information Technologies Indus- try is "rapidly expanding." Jeffrey MacKie-Mason, dean of the School of Information, said in addition to being one of the few in the country, the new program is "really quite novel." "Most (Health Informatics programs) are focused on clinical health records," MacKie-Mason said."We're focusing first and foremost on consumer health, on individuals taking care of them- selves and dealing with their health conditions outside of the hospital ... and public health." Martin Philbert, dean of the School of Public Health, called the program "a fabulous, exciting, and unique partnership between the School of Information and the School of Public Health." "I am delighted that Chuck Friedman will be joining our health management college facul- ty," Philbert said. "He's extraordi- narily well thought of ... he brings us immediate national and inter- national credibility and visibility." Philbert said that upon com- pleting the program - which also includes an internship fea- ture - graduates will likely find success in attaining jobs, citing a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study that predicted an 18-per- cent growth for employment in the field of Health Informatics. Specifically, Friedman listed public health agencies in local, state and national government and consulting firms within the expanding health informatics field as potential job sites for grad- uates of the program. In addition to the program, graduates will also be the bene- factors of the reputations of the School of Information and the School of Public Health according to MacKie-Mason, who identified both schools as falling within the top three of their respective fields nationally. Genovese said that with the degree, students could potentially become involved with projects like personal health management, where they would develop pro- grams that track the progress of a patient's diet and exercise online. Friedman echoed Genovese's sentiments, saying that students will be able to embark on projects that will help them develop skills and "build technological tools" that will help them become prac- titioners or assist at agencies in the health care field. As of yet, there are no spe- cific numbers in regards to the expected number of students in the program, though Friedman said he does not expect the grow- ing industry to disappear anytime soon. c'fhe Aidpigan Dailg 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com BETHANYBIRON ZACHARYYANCER Editoinief n ess Maager CONTACT INFORMATION Newsroom oficehours: Sun.-Thurs. 11a m. -2am News Tips news@michigandailycom Corrections correctons@mchigana,.com LetterstotheEditor tothedaiy@michigandaily.com or visitmichoradaily.,ur./letters Photo Department esr@m csganday.co ArtsSection arts@michigandaiycom EditorialPage opinion@michigandaily.com SportsSection sprts@michigandiy com Magazine klurckiymichiganailcom,, Advertsing Ph o s3-764055 Department disray@michigandaay.com Classifieds Phone:734-764-ss57 Department cassifiemichigandaily.com EDITORIAL STAFF Mark urns burnmark@michigadily.,,,. ManagingEditor Brie Prusak Managing.NewsEditor bpruusamhianaily.,,,. 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Julia Alix Smith-Eppsteiner Msr..ginAtsoaditr julialix@michigandaily.com SENIOR ARTS EDITOR: Proma Khosla AngelaChih ManagingDesignEditor design@michigandaily.com Complex to be built on East Washington Street Approved plan dormitories have not kept up with ident of The Dinerstein Companies about business for Tower Plaza the increasing demands of the which owns Sterling 411 Lofts, Condominium, listing proximity will offer students growing student population and wrote in an e-mail interview the to campus, soundproof rooms an that even with renovations and he thinks The Varsity will filla dif- high security as amenities stu alternative housing additional dormitories, a majority ferent niche than his complex that dents will continue to find attrac forfall 2013 of the school's dorms are outdated. offers various apartment styles. tive in the housing search, adding or a "We thought that the student He also wrote that although that they generally rent out all the :a :y d z- tg ke Haley Goldberg copydesk@michigandaily.com Copy chief Sarah Squire sbDevelopment Manager squire@michigandaily.com By YOUNJOO SANG Daily StaffReporter Ann Arbor City Council recently approved the proposal for construction of a new 13-story, 173-unit high-rise apartment on East Washington Street called The Varsity - a project expected to compete with local apartments like Sterling 411 Lofts and Tower Plaza Condominium. Donnie Gross, president of Potomac Holdings - the company in charge of buildingthe new com- plex - said their goal is to break ground in early 2012 and have the apartmentsavailable to studentsby fall 2013 in an effort to help house a growing demographic of students. Gross said he feels University housing market in Ann Arbor was underserved," Gross said. "But the maintwo reasons for bringing (The Varsity) to Ann Arbor is the loca- tion and the socioeconomic make- up of students." The Varsity will include fea- tures like amenity spaces, fitness centers and business offices, and each apartment will also have its own washer and dryer, Gross said. He added that housing options will include one-bedroom, two- bedroom and four-bedroom spaces with a corresponding number of bathrooms to ensure that each stu- dent will have a private bathroom of their own. "Our plan is to bring (a type of apartment) that is not currently in Ann Arbor," he said. Mark Foraker, senior vice pres- leasing for this year was slower than the last, he still anticipates filling all his rooms for the upcom- ing semester. "The Varsity's additional apartments will likely put further downward pressure on rents in the market as a whole and particularly those now targeted at the highest rents," Foraker wrote. "The well run, professionally managed proj- ects will probably be fine, but it will be very competitive in the next few years." Brian Tomsic, associate broker for University Realty Associates in Tower Plaza Condominium, said he had not heard of the recentplans for The Varsity but is concerned about how the Ann Arbor housing market will be impacted. He said he feels confident rooms Tower Plaza offers. He added that while the new development may pose as a threat to him and the other real estate companies on campus, it may hurt the smaller landlords in town at an even greater degree. Joon-Young Chung, a Ross School of Business graduate, said hechosetoliveinhiscurrentapart- ment because of its location, cost and space, adding that he tried to avoid high-rise apartments around campus because of the price. Chungsaid he thinks thereason high-rise apartments like The Var- sity do well in Ann Arbor is because students value high quality living, though this isn't a priority for him. "Being in college, luxury (in housing) is not something I need more than necessity," he said. BUSINESS STAFF Ashley Karadsheh Alexis Newton MeghanRooney Connor Byrd Quy Vo SlesaManager Proction Managr Layut Manager Spectsial rojcss The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the Universityof Michigan. One copy is available fre of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily's office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via US. mail are $119. 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