UPMC Whitfield and Waterford Institute of Technology partner to enhance healthcare innovation, education and research in the South East
UPMC Whitfield and WIT staff will partner on research activities across healthcare, ICT and the life sciences, with students to benefit from work placement opportunities at the hospital.
UPMC Whitfield, the largest private hospital in the South East, has signed a partnership agreement with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) to collaborate on research, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, student job opportunities and other areas, all focused on enhancing innovation and economic growth in the region.
The UPMC Whitfield campus is operated by UPMC, an international not-for-profit healthcare provider and insurer that is transforming the way healthcare is delivered.
Leading consultants and specialists from UPMC Whitfield, a recognised centre for medical excellence and innovation, will deliver guest lectures as part of a number of WIT courses, ranging from applied computing to health sciences and business.
Students will have the opportunity to visit UPMC Whitfield, where they will learn more about the application of cutting-edge medical and patient engagement technologies, as well as the wide range of careers available in healthcare in the South East. WIT students from the BSc. (Hons) in Applied Computing and BSc. (Hons) in Health Sciences and nursing programmes will also have the chance to obtain work experience either at UPMC Whitfield or another of UPMC’s international facilities—including its transplant and advanced radiotherapy centres in Italy.
UPMC Whitfield and WIT staff will partner on research activities across healthcare, information and communication technologies, and the life sciences, and will explore the possibility of a dedicated scientific officer to coordinate this activity.
David Beirne, CEO at UPMC Whitfield, said: “We’re delighted to announce this exciting new partnership between two of the South East’s most respected institutions, which will be of great benefit to students, staff and patients alike.
“We’re looking forward to working with WIT to bring our real-world medical knowledge to the classroom – and welcoming students to our facilities to demonstrate this expertise in action, while giving them insight into potential future careers. This partnership will enhance the reputation of Waterford and the wider South East region.”
Welcoming the signing of the MOU, Waterford Institute of Technology President Prof. Willie Donnelly said: “I am delighted to welcome UPMC, a world-class health organisation, as a strategic partner. The MOU with UPMC, closely affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of the Health Sciences, is an important step in positioning Waterford Institute of Technology and the South East as Ireland’s centre of excellence in connected health across teaching, research, innovation and commercialisation through the connection of our activities in UPMC Whitfield and WIT campuses.”
Last year UPMC Whitfield announced its sponsorship of the WIT Vikings GAA club until August 2021. WIT GAA club in conjunction with UPMC Whitfield has also hosted a number of sports forums at the WIT Arena.
WIT is the major provider of higher education in the South East of Ireland, with more than 8,000 students on academic programmes from Higher Certificate to post-doctoral research.
The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 saw WIT become Ireland’s top-ranked institute of technology; overall WIT was ranked 7th out of 21 higher education institutes.
Industry collaboration is a key part of the remit of WIT, which partners with organisations locally, regionally and globally. The 2018-2021 strategic plan puts WIT at the centre of regional social, cultural and economic development. The underlining goal outlined in the strategic plan is for WIT to become a “Top 100 young university” by 2030, and its ongoing Technological University designation process is an important step toward achieving this ambition.
Already trusted by millions of patients across the world, Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania)-based UPMC operates more than 40 hospitals, as well as 700 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites, and is now delivering this global expertise to those living in the South East of Ireland. UPMC’s academic partner, the University of Pittsburgh, is a medical research powerhouse, ranking fifth in research funding from the National Institutes of Health,
Visit UPMC Whitfield at:
@UPMCWhitfield
For further information, contact
Breda Brown / David Clancy
Unique Media
01 522 5200 / 087 248 7120 (BB)