Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Anchor>> RIT will soon offer new degrees in Medical Wellness -in partnership with the
Wegmans family foundation. A $6 million dollar donation has kicked off the program - but
an expansion is coming soon - and includes new classrooms and labs on the RIT campus.Speaking
of the campus - that is where we find Jane Flasch to explain more about this.
Reporter>> Don, you may not know it, but 100 students are already involved in medical degree
programs here - next month, there will be a groundbreaking at Slaughter Hall... the
beginning of what RIT's President calls a new partnership with Wegmans.
When he is isn't in class- Chris Demczar - works as a personal trainer. He sees a disconnect-
between medical science that treats problems - and exercise science that could prevent
them in the first place. Chris>> That's really what I'm seeing. I see
a lot of overweight clients. And what I really try to do is just increase their well being.
Reporter>> Unlike nursing and many other medical degrees - RIT's new school of Health and Nutrition
will focus on degrees that emphasize prevention. It is a large and growing science.
Prof>> It's far more cost effective for us to keep people healthy by incentivisng them
to be active than it is to try to regain what has been lost when their health starts to
decline. Reporter>> RIT President Bill Destler saw
a niche. Talks with Wegmans began in September. Bill>> There was a role we could play so this
was a natural step as part of that evolution. It won't be the only step.
Reporter>> Ground breaking to retrofit Slaughter Hall comes in April. In five years the program's
two majors will draw 250 students. Two Masters programs are already in the works. Students-
are excited about the news - too late - for many in this class - to benefit!
Tina>>I wish I was born later and I came in later because that would be what I would have
wanted. Reporter>> As far as those future steps the
President was talking about, we do know this Wegmans foundation gift gets the program up
and running. He also said today that they will tap the Wegman's Foundation for expertise
in determining the curriculum here - and also trying to recruit professionals to move this
along. Reporting live at RIT, Jane Flasch, 13WHAM News.