The University of Iowa wants to build on its existing reputation for excellence in three key areas where there is significant opportunity for growth across multiple academic disciplines and areas of patient care. Called Distinctive Collaborative Opportunities, these three areas are: 

• Writing and communication
• Brain science and mental health
• Cancer research and patient care

These areas will be the focus for future strategic university investments, cross-campus partnerships, and strategic plan initiatives. 

Identifying these focus areas was a result of months of thorough analysis by the Strategic Plan Action and Resource Committee. A team evaluated Iowa’s signature strengths by considering faculty expertise, national and international awards, research funding, publications, student interest, and impact on society. The areas were selected not only for their excellence but also for their potential to bring together faculty, staff, and students from across disciplines and colleges to further distinguish the university.

While these areas will be a priority for strategic investment, the university will not be taking existing resources away from other academic programs. Instead, this focused approach is about exploring new opportunities to capitalize on existing strengths. By concentrating efforts in these areas, the university aims to increase its impact without diminishing the value or importance of other programs.

Existing strengths and institutional impact

The three focus areas highlight the power of interdisciplinary collaboration that exists on campus.

• The university is already demonstrating the potential impact of this approach in writing and communication. UI’s reputation as the “Writing University” extends beyond the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Our strengths in storytelling and communication are integrated into programs across campus, from the Writing and Academic Success Center in the College of Law, to the Frank Business Communication Center in the Tippie College of Business, and the Hanson Center for Communication in the College of Engineering. This emphasis on communication equips students from all disciplines with the skills needed to succeed in a range of careers, including health care. 

The Writing and Humanities Program in the Carver College of Medicine (CCOM) offers elective courses and arts activities that highlight the unique roles that writing, humanities, and the arts play in medical education, patient care, and professional development. In addition, the CCOM Scientific Editing and Research Communication Core provides support for faculty and researchers to help them craft clear, concise, and compelling messaging for grant proposals, publication submissions, and scientific writing.

• Brain science and mental health are areas where the university is uniquely positioned to lead. Increasing interdisciplinary collaboration will not only advance our understanding of the human mind, but also prepare students to enter fields that are in high demand and can have a meaningful impact on society.

Iowa’s strength in these areas is bolstered by one of the nation’s oldest psychology departments, highly productive research hubs such as the Iowa Neuroscience Institute, and ambitious initiatives such as the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health. Iowa’s excellence is also supported by faculty from disciplines as varied as biomedical engineering, community and behavioral health, computer science, gerontology, management, marketing, and pharmaceutical sciences, to name a few.

Kim “Avrama” Blackwell, professor and departmental executive officer of the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, illustrates the broad reach of this area. Earlier this year, Blackwell was awarded a $2.35 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance her research on the correlation between substance abuse and female sex hormones. Blackwell, who is an expert in using computational modeling to understand the connections between nerve cells in the brain, aims to uncover gender-based behavioral differences that may lead to better substance abuse interventions for women. 

• Iowa has long been recognized for its world-class medical center that is nationally ranked for cancer care. However, the university’s commitment to cancer research and patient care extends beyond UI Health Care and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Faculty from CCOM, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Dentistry, the College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Public Health, and the College of Engineering are working together to develop new treatments, improve patient outcomes, and extend care to rural communities. 

Even faculty in the Tippie College of Business are contributing to cancer research and patient care. Tom Gruca, George Daly Professor in Marketing, uses data gathered over decades by the Carver College of Medicine to research how specialist physicians can more effectively use outreach clinics to deliver health care services to patients in rural areas. Nick Street, Tippie Children Professor in Business Analytics and associate dean for research and PhD programs, has used his expertise in data science and analytics to develop predictive models that may help anticipate symptoms that develop for patients during cancer treatment.

Moving forward together

The next step will involve forming work groups for each of the three areas of focus that will collaborate with all colleges and central units to develop tactics that align with the strategic plan and engaging faculty, staff, and students to identify goals and the resources needed for success.