Binghamton University expands nursing school, adopts new name
Binghamton University’s Decker School of Nursing is now one of three schools within the new Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Two additional schools — the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and the School of Applied Health Sciences — have been added to accommodate programs that will be added in the coming years such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and health sciences. Binghamton University officially changed the name of the college in September to better reflect the additional programming.
“By expanding into a college of nursing and health sciences, Decker is laying a foundation for the future,” said Mario R. Ortiz, dean and professor of nursing, Decker College. “Our vision is to position Binghamton University as a national and international leader in health education, research and practice, as well as meet community needs for health professionals, which will only continue to increase as the population ages.”
According to Ortiz, rehabilitation science programs include a new physical therapy program, which is already in development and expected to launch by 2022, as well as programs in occupational therapy and speech-language pathology that will begin in the 2022–23 timeframe. Applied science programs, which will be created in the next couple of years, will be offered in health sciences with concentrations in forensic health, health promotion, health education, nutrition, exercise science and athletic training.
To ensure Decker has adequate space to accommodate expanded programs and increased faculty, staff and students, in 2021 the college expects to move into a 113,000-square-foot building on Binghamton University’s 13-acre Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City, N.Y. The building, a former Endicott Johnson Shoe Corp. shoe and carton factory at the corner of Corliss Avenue and Willow Street, was built in 1916 and was called the Pioneer Annex.
Decker College is also working with Lourdes Hospital to launch the Ford Family Wellness Center for Seniors, an elder care clinic that will also be located on the University’s Health Sciences Campus. This center is expected to open in 2021.