A new graduate degree program, approved recently at Senate, is bringing together students from a variety of professional backgrounds to research quality, risk and safety in health care.

An innovative program with several online components, the Master of Science in Healthcare Quality (MSc(HQ)) is the first of its kind in Canada aiming to evaluate and advance the health-care system, focusing on careful analysis and practical application.

“This is a first in Canada,” says Jennifer Medves. “People don’t have a good idea what quality is and throwing money at it is not the answer. This program will give the students practical skills. We want people from all disciplines involved in this.”

The end goal of the program is to ensure better quality and safe healthcare. The course is scheduled to start in September of this year. Course components include online learning and onsite components and an elective one-week course at Herstmonceux Castle in the United Kingdom.

“This program will attract students from a variety of backgrounds providing a rich inter-professional, interdisciplinary learning experience,” says Brenda Brouwer, Vice-Provost and Dean, School of Graduate Studies. “The program structure of an initial week long intensive session followed by synchronous and asynchronous learning serves to establish community among the students and affords accessibility.”

MScHQ is the first graduate degree program at Queen’s to go through the Quality Assurance process.

Though the program is housed in the Faculty of Health Science, faculty members from business, law and policy will contribute to its delivery.

For information visit the MScHQ website.