Maintaining excellence requires intellectual curiosity, a commitment to continuous learning, and a focus on transferring knowledge to the next generation of health care providers.
Teaching
Departmental staff teach a 15-session Basic Skills Training Seminar to the approximately 13 graduate and undergraduate social work students placed at UI Hospitals and Clinics each year. Through an American Cancer Society grant awarded for the past six consecutive years, graduate level training is provided in social work practice and research in oncology.
The Department also provides a number of staff development sessions. Monthly departmental in-service sessions and "Spotlight on Practice" meetings are held.
In addition, social work staff provide shadowing experiences for first-year medical students in "Foundations of Clinical Practice," and facilitate groups for medical students taking the "Dimensions of Human Medicine" course. Five staff members serve as adjunct faculty at the School of Social Work.
Monthly educational sessions for the general public are provided through UI Hospitals and Clinics monthly "Coffee Break" series for senior citizens. An "Information Series" of brochures and handouts provides resource, access and counseling information.
Research
Practice research is conducted to enhance the knowledge base and technology of social work practice in health care. Research activities include surveys, studies on the effects of particular programs, studies on practice activities and varying interventions, plus qualitative and quantitative research. Social workers collaborate with other health care professionals in interdisciplinary research studies, or serve as principal investigators in research focused on psychosocial or cultural issues related to health care.
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