CHCS Perspectives Winter 2014

PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2014 – Page 5 In 2014, Nova Southeastern University will be commemorating its 50 th anniversary with a diverse array of celebratory activities. As I reflect on this milestone accomplishment, it brings back a flood of memories for a number of reasons. I am currently in my 28 th year as a pioneer administrator from South- eastern University of the Health Sciences, which is the precursor to what is now known as the NSU Health Professions Division. When I look back at what has transpired at NSU over the years, I am filled with a true sense of wonderment in regard to how prominent and vast our educational in- fluence has become in a relatively short 50-year timeframe. Reviewing the numerous educational institutions such as my alma mater Columbia University, which is over 200 years old, you realize that the formal higher education system in this nation stretches back to the 1800s. It also makes you recognize and appreciate how complex and complete NSU has become in such a short period of time. In my opinion, NSU’s far-reaching achievements are a consequence of some amazing individuals who served as the pioneers throughout its evolution. I could list a multitude of names, but some specific examples that immediately spring to mind are Dr. Morton Terry, Dr. Abraham Fischler, Robert Steele, Hamilton C. Forman, and Royal Flagg Jonas. None of these individuals, with the exception of Dr. Fischler, were in the field of formal education, yet they possessed the instinctive humanistic and com- munity-driven values needed to establish and then continually build a uni- fied institution that continues to be enhanced on a daily basis. When you examine the university’s growth and the specific areas of ed- ucational presentation currently being offered, it’s easy to see how NSU has become preeminent in providing innovative ideas to other sectors of the educational world. As an example, NSU was one of the pioneers in re- gard to presenting distance-education opportunities via the Internet. The university was also one of the first educational entities to house multiple and individually accredited health professions programs that are not branch campuses, but are part of the Health Professions Division and located on our Davie campus as well as at what are now called regional campuses. In terms of our curriculum, we have always made sure it remains a fluid and ever-evolving product. In addition, we are consistently and diligently working on the pedagogy changes—the responsibilities we have to not only anticipate and meet the needs of the community both in the world of health care and knowledge, but also in the area of providing the systems methodology to effectively present education. And then there is technology, which has changed the way education is presented whether it’s in our bricks-and-mortar university or externally. We’ve been very proactive when it comes to making changes, not just for the sake of change but for the betterment of the educational experience. It’s really something to marvel about when you reflect on the fact that NSU is only 50 years old yet has been able to make such dramatic modifica- tions in the presentation of some of the most standardized educational units such as law, medicine, pharmacy, etc. As 2014 unfolds, it’s going to provide the university with an excellent opportunity to educate not only the community at large but the vast edu- cation community about how pioneering NSU has been over the past five decades. As we present all the highlights of what has occurred at NSU during the last 50 years, the “wow” factor of our exceptional university will be transmitted to a greater audience. Our forward-thinking president, Dr. George Hanbury, has some signif- icant views concerning the importance of NSU’s 50 th anniversary for the same reasons. I believe there is a general feeling that many people both locally and nationally possess little, if any, knowledge about our university. NSU’s 50 th anniversary commemoration will allow us to showcase just how special Nova Southeastern University really is. As you can tell, I’m extremely proud to be part of this great university. HPD Chancellor’s Message By Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D.