Durham College (DC) is proud to announce that it will offer its first degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management (HCTM), beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year. The first program of its kind in Canada, the HCTM degree addresses an identified need in the health care sector for professionals with a hybrid skill set consisting of medical technology expertise and business management acumen.

Students in the HCTM program will develop knowledge in the principles of health care management and business practices, the management of biomedical technology, safety, and regulatory and legislative requirements to support industry standards and positive patient outcomes. Learning will occur in the classroom, laboratories and the field, and will prepare graduates to bridge the gap between health care business management, clinical practices and the comprehensive technological requirements related to the planning, procurement and management of biomedical equipment.

“The significance of Durham College announcing its bachelor degree programs in 2017, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, cannot be understated,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “When we imagine our next 50 years, the evolution of what a college education looks like – particularly in the type, complexity and relevance of the programs we offer to students – is exactly what we’re thinking about.”

The HCTM program has been developed by DC in collaboration with members of a Program Advisory Committee that includes subject matter experts and representatives from regional hospitals and health care organizations, advocacy groups, non-profits and major biomedical equipment manufacturers (e.g. GE, Philips, Aramark and Siemens). The core of the program comprises six streams of study including science and technology, biomedical equipment and clinical systems, mathematics and quantitative methods, management, research and design, and the health care industry, professionalism and ethics.

“We know that medical technology is the key to optimizing delivery of health care in Ontario and around the world, but as that technology advances so does the need for professionals who speak the language of both the innovators and the practitioners,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, DC. “Graduates of the HCTM program will be the implementers who can bridge the two sides, providing strategic leadership that encompasses the assessment of current and innovative technologies and matching them to clinical objectives.”

Ontario colleges began offering four-year bachelor degree programs in 2002 to provide a unique option for students looking to integrate theory with intensive applied learning. College degrees offer students career-focused education that combines the best of both the theoretical knowledge and analytical skills traditionally associated with a university education and the applied skills acquired through a college education.  Students graduate with the comprehensive theory and practical experience required by employers in today’s competitive and quickly evolving workforce.