Over the next five years, the College of Health will continue to lead in health education and innovation. Thanks to the generosity of Vincent A. Forlenza, Jr. ’75, chair of the Lehigh University board of trustees, and his wife Ellen, we are proud to offer new scholarships for COH students in 2027. The Forlenzas have created the lead scholarships and an experiential learning fund for the Health Scholars program. This cohort-based scholarship program will support students who are passionate about improving the health of individuals and communities.
In response to the ever-changing needs of the market and community, we will continue to grow our academic programs. We will launch a certificate, MS and Ph.D. in the timely field of health data science, and are planning an integrated undergraduate program in health and engineering in partnership with the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. The College of Health will continue to recruit faculty who are exceptional scholars and dedicated educators and built on core strengths in environmental health, Latin American health and the health of underserved populations and communities.
Partnerships Remain Central to Our Work
We will grow and deepen our valuable partnerships in the Lehigh Valley that provide students with a comprehensive view of health and that enable impactful research collaboration. Opportunities such as the co-op with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Physician Assistant Observer program at St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Research Scholars program at Lehigh Valley Health Network/Jefferson Health are transformative for our students. Through our partnerships, we will develop additional real-world learning experiences through internships and co-ops. Importantly, we will continue to work with partners, such as BAYADA Home Health, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Community Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem, Geisinger Health Network, Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living and many more to solve some of the region’s most pressing health problems together.
