In today’s world, where healthcare grows more advanced yet more demanding, the real challenge is not only producing professionals but shaping the right kind of professionals. Communities, especially in rural and underserved regions, need caregivers who bring both knowledge and empathy to their work. At St. Bonaventure University, that understanding became the foundation for something lasting and meaningful.
The Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions opened in 2016 with a clear purpose: to prepare students who see healthcare as both a science and a calling. In 2022, the school was renamed in honor of the late President Dennis DePerro, a leader who believed deeply in education’s power to transform lives. His name now stands as a reflection of the school’s commitment to blend skill with compassion, creating professionals who serve with both competence and conscience.
Guided by St. Bonaventure’s Franciscan values, the school upholds dignity, service, and respect for every person. It also embraces innovation with equal passion. In every classroom and lab, students learn to connect purpose with practice, combining hands-on experience with a spirit of care that keeps humanity at the heart of healthcare.
Programs that Blend Practice, Purpose, and People
The Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions offers a mix of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare students for the realities of modern healthcare. At the undergraduate level, students can choose from degrees in Health Science and Public Health, or pursue nursing through the RN-to-B.S. program. The school also partners with Jamestown Community College in a Dual Degree Nursing program, where students earn an associate degree before completing their bachelor’s at St. Bonaventure.
Graduate students have an equally dynamic range of options. The school offers a Master’s Entry to Practice in Nursing, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. It also provides an entirely online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, expanding access to those already working or studying remotely.
What makes these programs stand out is the way they connect learning across disciplines. Students train alongside peers from other health professions, gaining a deeper understanding of teamwork in patient care. The focus on practice-based, technology-supported education ensures graduates are ready for the field. Grounded in a Franciscan ethic, each program reinforces one central idea: that compassion and competence belong together.
A Campus Where Innovation Lives Inside Tradition
The home of the DePerro School of Health Professions, Francis Hall, tells a story of transformation. Once a quiet seminary, it has been reborn as a vibrant hub for healthcare education through an $18 million renovation completed in 2021. The building still carries the peaceful spirit of its Franciscan roots, yet every hallway and classroom now reflects the energy of modern learning.
Inside, students find a mix of high-tech resources and thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage collaboration and reflection. A 3,000-square-foot clinical skills and physical diagnosis center provides the setting for real-world practice. Dedicated pediatric and adult occupational therapy labs allow students to refine their techniques in settings that mirror the patients they will serve. The school also features state-of-the-art simulation and assessment areas that replicate today’s clinical environments.
Among its most remarkable features is the Anatomage Virtual Dissection Lab, a digital anatomy platform used in leading medical and health training programs around the world. The layout of Francis Hall encourages teamwork and creativity, with lounges, study nooks, and an inviting on-site café that gives students space to pause, connect, and learn together in the rhythm of both science and community.
Leadership Rooted in Scholarship and Service
At the heart of the DePerro School of Health Professions stands Dr. Swagata Banik, who joined St. Bonaventure University as dean in early 2025. A respected public health scholar and collaborative leader, Dr. Banik brings years of experience working to close the gaps that limit access to quality care. His work has always focused on building partnerships, expanding community-based scholarship, and shaping an educational environment where people come first.
Dr. Banik’s vision for the school is deeply aligned with St. Bonaventure’s Franciscan values. He believes that true healthcare education must balance skill with spirit, and that professionals should be trained not only to treat illness but to uplift lives. Under his leadership, the school continues to grow as a place where knowledge and compassion coexist, preparing students to make a lasting impact in their communities.
Reflecting on his message to students and families, Dr. Banik shares, “At St. Bonaventure, we believe healthcare is both a science and a calling. We will help you build the knowledge, skill, and confidence needed to excel in your profession while nurturing your growth as a compassionate caregiver. Here, you will be guided, challenged, and inspired to find your purpose.”
Real-World Learning Through Meaningful Partnerships
For the DePerro School of Health Professions, education does not stop at the classroom door. From the start, students are immersed in real-world settings where theory meets practice. The school maintains close partnerships with regional hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health agencies, county health departments, and school systems, giving students the chance to experience the full range of healthcare environments.
These collaborations are more than clinical placements; they are opportunities to understand the human side of healthcare. Students rotate through primary care clinics, specialty units, and community-based organizations, learning to adapt their knowledge to meet the diverse needs of patients and families. Every experience helps them build the confidence and competence that define a well-rounded professional.
One of the school’s most inspiring examples of community engagement is its participation in Remote Area Medical Clinics. In these large-scale outreach events, students, faculty, and alumni come together to provide free medical, dental, and vision services to hundreds of individuals who might otherwise go without care. Experiences like these remind students that healthcare is not only about expertise but also about service, compassion, and a shared commitment to improving lives.
A Growing Community of Future Healthcare Leaders
The DePerro School of Health Professions has quickly become one of St. Bonaventure University’s strongest drivers of growth. What began less than a decade ago as an initiative to strengthen healthcare education has evolved into a thriving academic community. Today, the school educates more than 425 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs, attracting individuals who share a commitment to service, skill, and compassion.
This steady rise in enrollment reflects both the quality of the school’s programs and the growing demand for healthcare professionals who can meet the needs of diverse communities. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and life experiences that enrich the classroom and the clinic alike. Together, they form a learning environment rooted in collaboration and mutual respect.
The school’s success also supports the wider progress of St. Bonaventure University. In Fall 2025, the university’s total enrollment exceeded 3,000 students for the first time in its 167-year history. This milestone highlights the university’s momentum and underscores the DePerro School’s vital role in shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders through education that unites excellence with empathy.
Campus Life that Builds Character and Connection
Life at the DePerro School of Health Professions reaches well beyond the classroom. Students become part of a lively campus culture that blends learning with service and community. Many join school-based groups that turn their studies into meaningful action. Students Without Borders organizes medical missions to the Dominican Republic. The Student Occupational Therapy Association leads service projects, and nursing students volunteer at community outreach events such as Remote Area Medical clinics. Each opportunity helps them grow as professionals who understand the power of empathy and care.
Online students are equally connected through virtual organizations, peer mentorship programs, and online clinics. These experiences create a strong sense of belonging for those studying from different parts of the country.
The larger university community offers even more ways to get involved. Students can participate in clubs, service organizations, and athletic programs that include intramural, club, and Division I sports. Whether they are volunteering in the community or competing on the field, students at St. Bonaventure learn teamwork, leadership, and balance that will serve them for life.
Departments that Shape the Future of Healthcare
The DePerro School of Health Professions brings together five core academic areas that form the foundation of its mission: Physician Assistant Studies, Nursing, Public Health and Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology. Each department contributes its own strengths, yet all share a unified goal of preparing students to become practice-ready and community-responsive professionals.
What binds these programs together is a shared philosophy rooted in evidence-based learning, interprofessional collaboration, and the use of advanced technology. Students learn to see healthcare as a connected system, gaining a full understanding of how different disciplines work together to support patient well-being. From their first year, they step into hands-on experiences that bring theory to life. Physician assistant students complete a 14-month clinical immersion sequence. Nursing students rotate through varied care environments. Occupational therapy students refine their skills through labs and fieldwork. Public health majors engage in community projects, and speech-language pathology students take part in supervised clinical practice and telepractice training.
Looking ahead, the school continues to expand its academic offerings to match emerging trends in healthcare, digital innovation, and rural health access. Across every program, the focus remains constant: to educate professionals who are skilled, compassionate, and ready for the future.
A Community Built on Inclusion and Respect
At the DePerro School of Health Professions, inclusion is not an initiative; it is part of the university’s identity. Guided by St. Bonaventure’s Franciscan values of compassion, wisdom, and integrity, the school strives to create an environment where every student feels seen, supported, and valued. Diversity is embraced as a source of strength, shaping a community that learns from different perspectives and experiences.
The university’s commitment to human dignity extends through every aspect of campus life. Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to bring their whole selves to their studies, knowing that belonging is essential to learning. The Office of Accessibility Services plays a key role in this mission by ensuring that students with different abilities have access to the tools and accommodations they need to succeed. Whether through tailored academic support, accessible technology, or individual guidance, the university works to remove barriers to achievement.
This focus on inclusion reflects the Franciscan belief that education is most powerful when it honors the worth of every individual. In this setting, students learn not only how to care for others but also how to value and uplift the diverse communities they will one day serve.
Supporting Students Every Step of the Way
Student success at the DePerro School of Health Professions is built on a strong foundation of guidance, mentorship, and care. Beyond program advising and clinical coaching, students have access to St. Bonaventure University’s Career and Professional Readiness Center, which helps them prepare for internships, interviews, and career placement. The centralized Student Success Center provides additional academic and personal support, ensuring that every student has the resources needed to thrive.
Mental health and well-being are also top priorities. The university offers both on-campus and virtual counseling services to help students maintain balance as they navigate rigorous academic and clinical demands. Opportunities to connect with alumni and professional networks are woven throughout the experience. Through conferences, symposiums, and partnerships with regional and national organizations, students gain valuable exposure to the professional world while building connections that will guide them long after graduation.
Celebrating Achievement and Community Impact
The DePerro School of Health Professions continues to build a record of excellence through the accomplishments of its students, faculty, and alumni. In 2025, the Physician Assistant Studies program earned “Accreditation-Continued” status from the ARC-PA, affirming the program’s strength and quality. That same year, the Dual Degree Nursing program celebrated a 100 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate for its second graduating cohort, a milestone that reflects both rigorous preparation and dedicated mentorship.
Faculty have gained recognition through presentations at national and state conferences and through ongoing scholarship and advocacy in healthcare education. Students, faculty, and alumni also contribute directly to community health by volunteering at Remote Area Medical clinics that provide free care to underserved populations.
The school has secured more than $3 million in external funding, including a $2.3 million HRSA grant to strengthen rural health workforces and $750,000 to launch a mobile primary care clinic serving rural communities.
Looking Ahead with Purpose and Progress
The Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions is entering a new phase of purposeful growth. Plans are underway to expand community-based clinical training through mobile health initiatives and to strengthen rural health outreach. The school is developing new academic pathways that align with workforce needs, including potential programs in hospital administration, nutrition, and physical therapy.
Additional online and hybrid offerings, short-form certificates, and enhanced interprofessional simulation training are also being explored. Through deepening collaborations with hospitals, community organizations, and national partners, the school continues to shape a future rooted in innovation and service.
Quotes
“At St. Bonaventure, we believe healthcare is both a science and a calling. We will help you build the knowledge, skill and confidence needed to excel in your profession.”
“If you feel called to make a real difference in the lives of others, this is a place where you will be guided, challenged and inspired.”
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