DFW News App

The University of North Texas Health Science Center, founded in 1970, is located at 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth. (Courtesy photo | Health Science Center)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HSC.jpeg?fit=300%2C199&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HSC.jpeg?fit=780%2C516&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>Students and faculty at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth will soon see new names on several campus buildings. UNT Health Science Center announced plans to rename three of its schools in an effort to better distinguish the focus of and differences between its various programs, effective Sept. 1. Founded in 1970, UNT Health Science Center is an academic medical university that specializes in education, research, patient care and service. The health science center has over 2,300 students and 1,440 faculty members. The following schools will be renamed: School of Health Professions will become College of Health Professions. 

School of Public Health will become College of Public Health. 

School of Biomedical Sciences will become College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences. The addition of “Translational Sciences” underscores the college’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, according to a press release from UNT Health Science Center. UNT Health Science Center’s three other colleges — the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Pharmacy and College of Nursing — will retain their names. “These strategic changes position HSC as a leading institution dedicated to advancing health care through innovative research and education,” a UNT Health Science Center spokesperson said in a statement. The health science center will also launch a new graduate school under the leadership of Tom Cunningham, interim vice provost, effective Sept. 1. Cunningham has been with UNT Health Science Center in various roles since 2009. The graduate school will serve as a central hub to support research-intensive master’s, doctoral and dual degree programs. The school will focus on aligning graduate education with HSC’s research enterprise to coordinate administrative services across programs. Coordination of HSC’s professional degrees will continue within their respective colleges, according to the press release. “Our continued growth is creating opportunities for new degree programs and interdisciplinary training,” Cunningham said in a statement. “The Graduate School will help us make the most of these opportunities by facilitating collaboration among existing programs and standardizing certain aspects of research-heavy degree programs so we can serve our students better.” Earlier this month, UNT Health Science Center’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine scored Tier 1 status for best medical schools for primary care in the 2024 rankings of the U.S. News & World Report. While the nation faces a shortage of primary care doctors, school officials have said they are focused on training the next generation of doctors who can help improve health care access.David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.