Leading 'in Purpose for Health'

In 2016, Kevin Ball, Ph.D., joined Oakland University as the dean of the School of Health Sciences. With more than 100 scholarly publications and presentations, Dr. Ball’s early career research focused on human movement science through gait, posture and balance analysis. His later interests turned to interdisciplinary health program development and organization.

During his time at OU, Ball has enjoyed providing team vision, academic leadership, research mentorship and administrative oversight in multiple programs across the School’s five broad academic themes and departments. Now, ten years later, he will retire on August 14, 2026.

Recognizing that all accomplishments are achieved through hard work, dedication and collaboration across the School as well as Oakland University at large, it is intriguing to look over the achievements and accomplishments that have taken place over the past 10 years in the School of Health Sciences.

School of Health Sciences Growth

Since 2016, the School of Health Sciences has seen wonderful growth in the talent of its team, going from only 38 full-time faculty members to now 56 in 2026, with 19 staff members supporting operations of the School and six advisers guiding the students during their undergraduate education. The School has served countless students at the undergraduate and graduate levels and develops lasting relationships with alumni who continue to return to campus to support current students.

Programs and Facilities

In 2017, the School implemented its department model, with four key departments — Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Human Movement Science, and Public and Environmental Wellness — that effectively organize over 50 degrees, specializations and certificates. Operationalizing the departments, the Foundational Model was introduced to make clear both the distinction and interrelationship among disciplines.

The curricular programming has seen tremendous expansion and refinement. Within the past 10 years, the School of Health Sciences has introduced Bachelor’s degrees in Exercise Science, Public Health, Interdisciplinary Healthcare Studies and Nutrition; in addition, the specializations in Medical Laboratory Science, Radiologic Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Dietetics are now full Bachelor’s degrees. At the graduate level, new programs include Master of Science degrees in Interdisciplinary Healthcare Systems and Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, as well as the Master of Physician Assistant Science. The first academic doctorate degree in the School’s history is the Ph.D. in Human Movement Science, and the School has developed numerous graduate certificates across the departments. Furthermore, the School has earned and maintains a total of 10 national accreditations, with two additional pursuits in progress.

As the programs have developed, so have the facilities in the Human Health Building. To support the programming, top-of-the-line laboratories have been developed in exercise science and orthotics/prosthetics, with refinements in laboratory sciences, environmental health and safety and more. From the home of the Human Health Building, the School of Health Science has also expanded into Oakland West Center, a newly-renovated building that supports the development of the Physician Assistant program, as well as other current and future OU programming. 

Research and Administration

The research environment in the School of Health Sciences has seen great enhancements. The Seed and Sprout grant program, providing funding to faculty research projects, has truly blossomed. This allows faculty members to gain opportunities for success, while enabling student researchers to work alongside them and present at conferences. Faculty have excelled in their research, earning significant funding from national and state grants and foundations. Further infusing the research environment, the Ph.D. in Human Movement Science program has, within just its first four years, welcomed six graduates into professional ranks as academic colleagues and alumni; 19 students are enrolled in the program currently.

In service to the School, administrative refinements over the years have included a comprehensive faculty workload model that embraces student research mentorship, a merit document and review statement, and thoughtful innovation for sustainable programming throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Since the difficulties of the pandemic, enrollment has grown nearly 20% across the School’s programming. 

Communications and Marketing

School communications and marketing have seen significant enhancements, with the implementation of the InHealth digital magazine, newsletters sent to broad audiences throughout the year, and the introduction of the Noteworthy website to celebrate the School of Health Sciences’ faculty, staff, students and alumni in the press.

Community and Leadership

The School of Health Sciences has founded four distinct community and leadership focused programs.

First is the creation of ECLIPSE (Explorations in Collaborative Leadership and InterProfessional Education), helping students to grow as leaders through dedication to community service. Recent studies for ECLIPSE show a 20% improvement in student retention and considerably higher GPA, along with attainment of professional and graduate school goals.

Second is the Community Health Engagement and Empowerment Research (CHEER) Lab, providing undergraduate students with exciting opportunities to connect with faculty-led research projects, gaining invaluable research experience, mentorship and networking opportunities.

Third, the School saw the introduction of its first summer camp, Explorations in Health Careers. Having now concluded its third year, the camp provides prospective Oakland University students with hands-on experiences to help them choose a future health career and discover all that OU and the School of Health Sciences has to offer.

Finally, the School's annual hallmark event, the Healthology Symposium, is entering its 10th year in 2027. Healthology has become a well-recognized and eagerly anticipated event on campus, promoting community engagement through a co-chair model that invites interprofessional chairs and speakers from not only the School of Health Sciences, but from across campus at large and the community. 

BOARD and Philanthropy

All of this growth has been shared, celebrated and networked through the creation of the School of Health Sciences Board of Advocacy and Resource Development (BOARD). Today, the BOARD consists of over 20 leaders from across the region, including representatives from every major health care system and across all disciplines encompassed in the School.

With the support of the BOARD, faculty and staff, as well as strengthened connections with the community, students and alumni, philanthropic support has increased five-fold; this year 70 students will be receiving scholarships directly through School of Health Sciences funding. 

With Gratitude

These are just some of the accomplishments, growth and highlights the School of Health Sciences has seen with exceptional collaboration between faculty members and program leaders, under the steady leadership and unwavering support of Dean Ball. He looks forward to remaining active in support of Oakland University and the School of Health Sciences.

The School of Health Sciences wishes Ball the best in this next chapter of his life, and thanks him for his long-standing service and support to the School — in purpose for Health.