In the fall of 2019, Carlow University students who major in behavioral neuroscience can select one of the fastest growing careers, Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring, where they will monitor patients’ functions during brain and central nervous system surgery.
| Marketing and Communications | For Immediate Release |
| Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations | March 12, 2019 |
| 412.578.2095 (phone) | |
| 412.260.6807 (cell) | |
| 412.578.2080 (fax) | |
| agwilson@carlow.edu |
Bachelor’s Degree Provides Specialized Training that Reduces Neurological Damage During Surgery on the Brain or Nervous System
Pittsburgh, Pa. –Beginning in the fall of 2019, Carlow University students who choose to major in behavioral neuroscience will be able to obtain a concentration in intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), a medical procedure that monitors the functioning of the nervous system during high risk surgeries.
“Carlow University’s program in cooperation with UPMC’s Procirca Center for Clinical Neurophysiology. It is special in that there are only three other programs listed by ASET, the Neurodiagnostic Society that offer a bachelor of science degree leading to a career in neuromonitoring,” said Janine Bartholomew, PhD, associate professor, biology, at Carlow.
“IONM has been shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of neurological damage during high-risk surgeries in adult and pediatric populations,” said Josh Sunderlin, MS, CNIM, course coordinator for the Procirca Center for Clinical Neurophysiology. “Use of neuromonitoring can prevent injuries – such as paralysis, muscle weakness, or loss of sensations like hearing, vision, and touch – that would severely affect the lives of patients.”
In addition to the Carlow coursework in behavioral neuroscience, students interested in this program will:
• receive hands-on training in the operating room,
• have the opportunity to observe and assist in up to 150 surgical cases, and
• be able to accumulate the clinical hours necessary to take ABRET’s (the Neurodiagnostic Credentialing and Accreditation organization) certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM).
“Coursework at Carlow in neuroscience disciplines provides the necessary foundation for students to have an in-depth understanding of the functioning and anatomical structures of the nervous system,” said Bartholomew.
Students who are accepted into this program must satisfy all of the requirements for the bachelor of science degree in behavioral neuroscience. Carlow’s senior capstone is fulfilled by the clinical coursework and operating room experience at UPMC.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports a career in neuromonitoring to have a “bright outlook” with above average growth of 22 percent, and positions available in hospitals, health care companies, specialized sleep and epilepsy labs, as well as education and research in academic and industry settings. Graduates from a program that leads to a career in neuromonitoring report starting salary ranges from $75,000 to $90,000 annually.
For more information about Carlow’s bachelor of science in behavioral neuroscience with a certification in IONM, please contact admissions at (412) 578-6059.
###
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduates, curricula, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in four colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, Learning and Innovation, and Professional Studies. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset; and their ability to manage change. Carlow’s 13 athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.