Kasiska Division of Health Sciences
Rex Force, PharmD, Vice President for Health Sciences and Senior Vice Provost
Christopher Owens, PharmD, MPH, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences and Area Health Education Center Director
Rachel Hulse, EdD, MLS(ASCP)cm, Director of Health Sciences Strategic Initiatives
Gabriel Bargen, PhD, CCC-A/SLP, Interim Dean, College of Health and Executive Director, ISU-Meridian
Tom Wadsworth, PharmD, BCPS, Dean, College of Pharmacy
Gina Clarkson, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, Interim Associate Dean, College of Health and Director, School of Nursing
Char Byington, MEd, RDN, Associate Dean of Curriculum and Assessment, College of Health
Chris Sanford, PhD, CCC-A, Associate Dean for Faculty Success, College of Health
Kristina Blaiser, PhD, CCC-SLP, Associate Dean of Engagement and Opportunity, College of Health
Cynthia Tillotson, MPA, DA, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, College of Pharmacy
Jen Adams, PharmD, EdD, FAPhA, FNAP, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Pharmacy
The Kasiska Division of Health Sciences is focused on all aspects of health-related education and practice, including pre-health advising, interprofessional activities and course offerings, and post-graduate residency training. The Division also oversees the University Health Center and ISU Clinics and works with other colleges and departments that offer health-related programs (i.e., the College of Technology and the College of Business). The Division is further organized into two academic colleges:
- College of Health
- College of Pharmacy
Idaho State University’s Kasiska Division of Health Sciences provides continued leadership in the delivery of rural health care by educating caring and competent professionals across all dimensions of health and promoting collaborative research and practice in the health sciences.
Idaho State University is Idaho’s leading healthcare institution, as designated by the Idaho State Board of Education. It offers 75 percent of the state’s health profession degree programs. One-third of Idaho State University’s graduates receive degrees in the health professions.
The Kasiska Division of Health Sciences is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our constituencies by applying the values of excellence in research, partnerships in community service, and professional education into practice.
Combining classroom and clinical experiences ensures that graduates are prepared for licensing exams and positions in a wide range of healthcare fields. Programs partner with hospitals, clinics, and specialized medical facilities throughout the nation to provide state-of-the-art training opportunities for students. On-campus and statewide clinics provide students with hands-on experience. Fifteen in-house clinics include medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene, audiology, speech pathology, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vestibular (balance), and wellness. Beyond the basic skill sets associated with clinical practice, we train our students to become leaders in their professions and communities. Doing this requires hiring and retaining nationally recognized faculty, using the most current teaching technologies, and giving students access to the hands-on learning opportunities they need for success as caring and competent professionals.
The Division also oversees programs and course offerings that are interprofessional in nature and span different colleges and departments. For example, the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences administers the Interprofessional Certificate in Geriatrics, the Interprofessional Certificate in Mindfulness, and the Minor in Healthy Aging.