Portland, Ore.— July 17, 2017—American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) graduate students and faculty can now submit research proposals to the college’s newly formed Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval to include human subjects in their research.
The purpose of an IRB is to review proposed research studies that use human subjects or personal information about people to protect their rights and assure studies adhere to federal standards of research ethics and safety. The IRB’s job is to conduct a risk benefit analysis to ensure that any risk to study participants (including potential loss of privacy) is minimized and that study outcomes have potential benefit. The ACHS IRB operates under the guidance of three internationally endorsed ethical principles for using human subjects in research: Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
ACHS IRB review is required for graduate students in their capstone course who would like to conduct research studies using human subjects. ACHS is committed to excellence in scholarly work and in advancing research in holistic health. Faculty and graduate students may also submit study proposals to the IRB.
ACHS has partnered with faculty and community experts to guide the IRB, including public member Barbara Solomon, RN (retired), L.Ac., a former IRB administrator at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (2005-2008) and Professor Santiago Lorenzo, PhD, an American Heart Association-SCA Fall 2010 Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient and University of Oregon alumnus. Other members on the ACHS IRB include: Academic Dean Denise Dallman, ND; Associate Academic Dean Oleg Maksimov, PhD; and Professor Deryl Gulliford, MS.
“ACHS’s accredited integrative health programs were developed with an emphasis on practical application and student inquiry. Our five masters degree programs encourage innovation and critical analysis culminating in a capstone project,” says Dorene Petersen, ACHS founder and president. “I am confident in the experience and integrity of ACHS’s IRB to guide students and faculty in ethical scientific investigation.”
For more information about the ACHS IRB, visit the ACHS Governance page.
About ACHS
Founded in 1978, ACHS.edu is a Portland, Ore. based accredited college offering online, on-campus, and study abroad integrative health and wellness education. With undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and professional CEUs, ACHS makes integrative health education accessible to a diverse community of learners, including healthcare professionals, military students, stay-at-home parents, and lifelong learners. Specializations include aromatherapy, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, and wellness. ACHS is a Certified B Corporation® and ranked the number two of 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon 2017. ACHS is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Visit achs.edu.
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