From the Dean
A monthly message from the Dean of the College of Health, featured in each issue of Health Horizons.
“Health is never just clinical; it is personal, relational, and deeply human.”
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
February invites us to reflect on what lies at the heart of our work. As we observe American Heart Month and recognize Go Red for Women, we are reminded that health is never just clinical, it is personal, relational, and deeply human.
At the College of Health, care and compassion guide how we educate students. We prepare them to be clinically competent and professionally ready while leading with empathy, ethics, and integrity.
Across nursing, counseling, exercise science, public health, and pre-health pathways, our students learn to see the person behind the diagnosis, the community behind the data, and the responsibility of caring for others.
Compassion is central to care and often the catalyst for healing. How a provider listens, acknowledges fear, or offers reassurance can shape experiences, build trust, restore dignity, and remind patients they are seen and valued.
This philosophy reflects JCU’s Jesuit mission to educate the whole person through rigorous academics, experiential learning, reflection, service, and mentorship.
This month’s focus on women’s heart health highlights why this formation matters. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women, and addressing it requires education, advocacy, prevention, and care responsive to lived experience.
As you read the stories in this issue, I hope you see the heart of the College of Health in action. You will find students who are stepping into their calling, faculty who are deeply invested in their growth, and learning that translates into impact. This is how we prepare healthcare leaders who care for the whole person and serve with compassion.
Thank you for being part of this community and for sharing in the mission that unites us.
With gratitude and optimism,
Melissa Cole, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC
Dean, College of Health
