York College of PA, UPMC team up for construction of new Human Performance and Neuromuscular Control Lab

York College of Pennsylvania will construct a Human Performance and Neuromuscular Control Laboratory (HPNC Lab) thanks to generous support from UPMC in Central Pa.

The College has long been known for its many programs in Nursing,” said President Pamela Gunter-Smith. “We are strategically expanding our offerings into other health-related fields to provide opportunities for students and to meet the growing need for health professionals. We are grateful to UPMC for their gift to help launch our programs in the movement sciences.”

The HPNC Lab will be part of the Dr. Donald E. And Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions, led by Dean Emmanuel John. The Myers School is planning to expand its offerings in Health Professions to include academic programs in Rehabilitation Science and other Movement Sciences. Students in these programs, as well as in the current Exercise and Human Performance Science major, would utilize the new HPNC Lab.

“UPMC and York College share a commitment to advancing education,” said Lou Baverso, president, UPMC in Central Pa. “The Human Performance and Neuromuscular Control Laboratory will provide an interactive space for students to learn, collaborate, and conduct research. As UPMC and York College continue to grow our partnership through on-the-job training and career placement, we are also proud to support this new facility for students in health sciences.”

In addition to providing a hands-on learning environment for York College students, the Human Performance and Neuromuscular Control Lab could also be useful to student-athletes, according to John. “The Lab can also be used in collaboration with York College’s athletic teams, for research and training purposes,” he said. “And it can be used for rehabilitation research in patients with musculoskeletal and neuromuscular deficits, such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, and post-surgical conditions such as ACL repairs.”