UQAM Launches Innovative Health Sciences Faculty Focused on Proactive Wellness
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A new faculty at teh university of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) aims too redefine healthcare by prioritizing health maintenance and disease prevention, moving beyond traditional reactive treatment models.
The University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) is poised to launch a groundbreaking health sciences faculty within the next 18 months. This initiative, spearheaded by Associate Vice-Rector for Health Sciences Progress, Fabrice Brunet, represents a fundamental shift in how health is approached – focusing not just on treating illness, but on fostering and maintaining wellness.
A Paradigm Shift in Healthcare
“Since I arrived [in April 2024] we refined our vision a little,” a senior official stated. “We decided to focus first on health and its maintenance.We have already had this expertise within UQAM for years.” This new faculty will build upon existing strengths in preventative care, early disease detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. the core ideology is a proactive one: intervening before illness takes hold.
This approach is exemplified by a shift in mental healthcare. Currently, treatment often begins during a psychotic crisis, followed by efforts to prevent recurrence. The new faculty proposes identifying individuals at risk of psychosis and intervening to prevent the first crisis from occurring. This preventative strategy aligns with the “one health” concept championed by the World Health Organization (WHO).The university recently collaborated with WHO teams in Europe to further develop this holistic approach. “We will also have to develop new skills and new areas of research as it is indeed a different approach,” the official added.
Project Status and Key Focus Areas
The project is currently progressing along two primary tracks. The first involves a extensive assessment of existing expertise within UQAM, cataloging skills applicable to health maintenance and disease prevention. This inventory, encompassing teaching, research, field request, and evaluation capabilities, is already well underway.
These skills will be targeted towards both traditional health professionals and a new category the faculty is calling “health architects.” These architects could include individuals like municipal councilors, empowered to make health-conscious decisions for their cities, or physical education teachers trained to identify early health needs in children.
The second track focuses on curriculum development.The faculty will launch with two foundational programs: nursing, envisioned with a broad, holistic health viewpoint, and population health. “We are in the process of defining the profile of the nursing or public health professional of tommorow,” the official explained. “Then we can finalize the programs.” Student enrollment is anticipated to begin within the next 18 months, though training for existing healthcare professionals – nurses, doctors, and nutritionists – will commence immediately through access to the skills inventory.
Collaboration, Not Competition
UQAM’s new faculty is not intended to compete with established health sciences programs at the University of Montreal and McGill University. “I came here to improve the health of people who live in Quebec,” the official emphasized, referencing a 15-year tenure managing the CHUM and CHU sainte-Justine hospitals. “There, we will provide a broader vision, for the entire population, weather healthy or sick.” The hope is to foster collaboration and complement existing resources. “My dearest wish is that we work collaboratively and complement each other. You know, the world is not doing very well. Crises,whether health,political,economic or social,will manifest themselves more and more frequently. We have to respond.”
A Hybrid Model for Accessibility
The faculty will operate through a hybrid model, utilizing both physical clinics in Montreal’s Latin Quarter and virtual platforms like telemedicine and telehealth. This approach will ensure accessibility and connectivity with experts, educators, and researchers regardless of location.
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