Under a new program offered by IU South Bend’s Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences, students with interests in fitness or rehabilitative science will be able to gain practical, on-the-job experience through a collaboration with Memorial Hospital of South Bend’s Department of Rehabilitation.

A part of Beacon Health System, Memorial’s rehab department consists of more than 120 employees with multiple locations throughout the Michiana region. Through the internship program, IUSB students will gain exposure to cutting-edge and evidence-based education that may to future employment opportunities with the Beacon system.

By providing students more opportunities and enhanced job skills and experiences while still in college, it is hoped that future graduates will enter Indiana’s workforce more smoothly. In turn, this would help reduce the growing “gap” between higher demand for technically skilled workers and the number of graduates who have such skills — a key challenge within the state’s economy.

“I am thrilled to bring the sport and exercise program to IU South Bend and to our community,” said Dawn Hopkin, assistant professor of health sciences, sport and exercise at IUSB. “I want to prepare students who can prescribe exercise effectively and safely implement a program to improve patient health outcomes. Exercise can be a powerful medicine.”

“As we introduce a health care model that focuses on wellness and a fitness model that focuses on medical integration, we’re fortunate to have such strong leadership from IU South Bend in our community to prepare individuals for careers in healthcare,” Beacon Health & Fitness Director Alan Loyd said.

To learn more about the program, read here.