Informatics, Engineering to Benefit from SUNY Grants

The college will work toward a new master’s program in biomedical and health informatics in computer science and continue to advance its engineering programs with the help of two SUNY High Needs Grants.

A chart showing how informatics can enhance the flow of vital information in health care frames a discussion between human-computer interaction graduate student Chris Green ’09 M’14 (left) and computer science faculty member Isabelle Bichindaritz, who recently learned that a SUNY High Needs Grant will help her continue to develop a proposed master’s degree program in biomedical and health informatics.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced awards for SUNY’s workforce development programs at 37 colleges and universities, including $85,800 toward Oswego’s planned interdisciplinary graduate degree in informatics and a $62,600 continuation award for engineering.

Isabelle Bichindaritz of the computer science faculty, in her third year developing the new master’s degree program, said Central New York hospitals and economic development organizations have supported Oswego’s effort, certifying there is need for a recruitment pipeline for workers skilled in health information technology and integration of health systems.

Integral to the grant application and program development is an option for the degree program’s all-online course delivery—including virtual labs and software accessibility—as well as a more traditional in-person program at the SUNY Oswego Metro Center in Syracuse and on the main campus. Busy health care professionals also could fashion a hybrid online/in-person program.

The grant will help hire faculty and staff and purchase hardware, software and equipment to provide intelligent solutions for such tasks as testing potential health care treatment paths suggested by analysis of patient data or integrating portable devices data in clinical workflows.

—Public Affairs

Post Views: 4,177