Dean Allan Cole delivers featured lecture at Georgia School of Medicine on medical humanities and health partnerships

Dean Allan Cole, dean of UT Social Work, delivered a special guest lecture at the University of Georgia School of Medicine on Friday, November 14, highlighting the importance of social work in medicine.

The lecture, which came at the invitation of leaders at the University of Georgia, addressed the critical role of medical humanities and demonstrated models of strategic partnerships for schools of social work.

“Through partnerships here at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work with Dell Medical School and also the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, we are transforming lives by building the workforce and improving health and behavioral health access, delivery, and outcomes across a wide landscape of opportunity,” said Dean Cole. “I am honored to be invited to share our experience with colleagues at University of Georgia School of Social Work and University of Georgia School of Medicine, and also to learn from them.”

Philip Hong, dean of UGA Social Work, welcomed the audience for the lecture. Shelly Nuss, MD, MACP, inaugural dean of the Georgia School of Medicine; and Elizabeth Weeks, J.D., interim vice provost for academic affairs at UGA; delivered opening remarks.

Following his lecture, Dean Cole participated on a panel on medical partnerships with three esteemed professors at the University of Georgia: Sharon Parker, Ph.D.,  associate professor at the UGA School of Social Work; Suzanne Lester, MD, MS associate professor at the UGA School of Medicine and medical director of the Athens Free Clinic and Clarke Middle Health Center; and Zoe Johnson, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Social Work and the BRIDGE-Care/Behavioral Health Clarke Middle Health Center.

During his trip, Dean Cole also met with faculty at the school of social work, as well as doctoral students in the UGA social work doctoral program.

“We hold Dean Cole in very high regard here at the University of Georgia, and it is a pleasure to have him on our campus to share insights on medical humanities and the role of social work in health systems,” said Dr. Philip Hong, dean of Georgia Social Work. “The partnership shared between UT Social Work and Dell Medical School is a model that leads nationally and inspires us as University of Georgia is launching our School of Medicine and School of Nursing. We look forward to future collaborations and projects with UT Social Work as we launch into this kind of partnership as well.”