Over her career, Dean Marilyn Harrington, Ph.D., authored, received and implemented more than $23 million in research and training grants, including $16 million she helped bring to the UT Health Science Center San Antonio.
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Marilyn Harrington, Ph.D., who dedicated her 13-year career at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio to improving access to health professional education and health careers in South Texas, will be celebrating her retirement as dean of the School of Health Professions (SHP) with a reception hosted by President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP.

The reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, in the lobby of the Academic & Administration Building.

Increased minority enrollment
During Dean Harrington’s tenure, the school nearly doubled its enrollment, increased minority student enrollment from 42 percent to 56 percent and established six degree programs, including the school’s first doctoral degree.

The total number of degrees and certificates awarded to SHP graduates more than doubled to 4,064, and within the past decade she increased faculty by 35 percent.

“Marilyn has a heart of gold and has been a passionate advocate for the underserved,” President Henrich said. “She has devoted her life to building health care and educational programs. Truly, Dr. Marilyn Harrington has made an indelible mark on the future of South Texas.”

Dental hygienist spent most of career in academia
The dean began her career as a dental hygienist and soon entered academia serving in various teaching and administrative roles at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan., and Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where she was dean of the College of Health Professions before joining the UT Health Science Center as dean of the School of Health Professions in 1997.

With the vision of becoming the “school of choice” for those desiring a degree in the health professions, Dean Harrington developed a Welcome Center, a specialized and expanded preadmission office that provides information and guidance for those considering a career in the health professions. The Welcome Center has contributed to a 60 percent increase in applications to the school. “I want to thank Douglas Murphy, Ph.D., the Welcome Center staff and faculty for making this possible,” Dean Harrington said.

Six new degree programs
Through the years, Dean Harrington led the development of six new degree programs:

• Doctor of Physical Therapy
  
• Master of Occupational Therapy
  
• Master of Physician Assistant Studies
  
• Master of Deaf Education and Hearing Science
  
• Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Master’s in Dietetics Studies
  
• Bachelor of Science in Emergency Health Sciences, one of a very few bachelor’s programs in the United States offered completely online

Educational programs at the Regional Campus in Laredo
She also focused the school’s efforts on bringing health professions education opportunities to the medically underserved counties of South Texas through the Health Science Center’s Regional Campus in Laredo.

“Our South Texas mission brings greater purpose to my life,” Dean Harrington said. “I realized after being in Texas a couple of years that the needs of South Texas are why I came to San Antonio. There are significant health disparities in Laredo, a serious lack of allied health professionals to meet workforce needs, no easy access to educational programs that would lead to baccalaureate or higher degree programs in the health professions, and the incredibly large number of people living in colonias. By working with the Texas A&M Colonias program in Laredo, the Sisters of Mercy Ministries, the Laredo Health Department, Gateway Community Health Center, Doctors Hospital and Laredo Medical Center, I feel we have started meeting those needs head on. The partners and people I have met and worked with in Laredo have a special place in my personal past, present and future.”

In fall 2009, the first cohort of students entered the dietetics and nutrition program at the Regional Campus and in San Antonio. The first class of students who entered the three-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at the Regional Campus will graduate in May 2010.

In San Antonio, Dean Harrington developed the first health professions faculty practice plan and the Lions Low Vision Center, operated jointly with the Department of Ophthalmology, to address the critical need for clinical low-vision services and research and development of rehabilitative methods and technology.

$23 million in research and training grants
Over her career, Dean Harrington authored, received and implemented more than $23 million in research and training grants. At the Health Science Center, she encouraged research in the School of Health Professionals and was responsible in helping to bring more than $16 million in grant funds to the university. She was a member of a team that wrote and received a three-year $14 million Department of Defense research grant to study the outcomes of disease management for congestive heart failure patients. She also received a Bioterrorism Curriculum Development grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant provided $1 million to design content and practical applications of emergency response in communities.

Supporting the health professions
Dean Harrington plans to continue supporting the School of Health Professions and the health care needs of South Texas by writing grants, working in the community and planning and implementing projects. She also plans to lobby for the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions.

“Several of the professions have legislative needs that address access to and quality of health care services for our citizens,” Dean Harrington said. “I believe such legislation needs to happen alongside health care reform efforts in Texas. Physical therapy, clinical laboratory sciences, dental hygiene and respiratory therapy all have legislative interests. The allied health workforce shortages are extreme, with some fields having a 50 percent vacancy rate of unfilled positions. This situation will only become more acute, now that health care reform legislation has passed and 32 million more people will have access to health care. I believe I can be a good advocate for us and the public we serve.”