Health Institute

Who we are

The Health Institute at MSU Denver is a one-of-a-kind initiative to re-imagine health education and meet the current demand for highly skilled health professionals. With 17,000+ undergraduates, the university enjoys the most diverse student body in Colorado. And, of the 5,600 students majoring in the 10 academic departments of the Health Institute, almost 50% are students of color.

Combining health related academics with real world, interdisciplinary experience, this collaboration will advance health equity in Colorado by diversifying the workforce and cultivating a whole-person approach to wellness.

Health Institue Accomplishments

Health Professions Certification

100% pass rate for students taking the National Board of Medical Examiners Health and Wellness Coaching Certifying Exam, October 2020

Nursing Program:

• RN Pass Rates 2020 – Accelerated Nursing Option 95 %, Traditional Nursing Option 100%
• RN Job Placement Rates 2019: Accelerated Nursing Option 96%, Traditional Nursing Option, 86%
• Health Navigation Grant with Otero Junior College ($16,000), awarded from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Statewide Health Navigator Workforce Initiative.
• Contact Tracing Training Development with Front Range Community College ($20,000), contract given by the Tri County Health Department and Adams County City Offices.

 

Social Work Program:

• Social Work HEALS (Social Work Healthcare Education and Leadership Scholars) Scholars aims to develop the next generation of health-care social work leaders who will stand ready to lead efforts to address system-level changes, heighten awareness of prevention and wellness, and address the issues of structural racism that are embedded in social institutions.
• MSU Denver SWK HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Enhancement Training scholars have all been employed in integrated and or behavioral health positions with 95% employed 3 months post-graduation. Employment is with underserved populations. 

• MSU Denver Social work graduates go on to fill highly needed workforce positions in Colorado. 

  • • 81% of graduates find a job in the field in 2 months or less of graduation (over 90% after 6 months). 30% are hired by their field placement agency.
    • The top five areas our graduates work in are Mental Health/Community Mental Health, Health/Medical Social Work, Child Welfare, and Alcohol, Drug and Substance Abuse areas- all of which often are in medically underserved communities (which are disproportionally diverse groups and/or low income).
    • Each year the Department of SWK serves approximately 800 undergraduate and graduate students of which 39% are first generation and 30% students of