The new Dean of Health Sciences, María Carrasco, takes office

The University of Deusto will be holding the taking of office of the new Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, María Carrasco, on Friday, 1 October. The ceremony, which will start at 11:00 a.m. in the Auditorium, will be attended, along with academic authorities, by the Basque Government’s Deputy Health Minister, José Luis Quintas, and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Girona, Joan San.

The creation of the Faculty of Health Sciences comes in response to Deusto’s strong commitment to the health field and currently offers degrees in Psychology -a field in which Deusto has a long-standing experience-, Medicine and Physiotherapy.

María Carrasco holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Deusto. She is a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Psychology and Education in the Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment. Accredited by UNIBASQ in 2019 as a private university professor (PhD) and associate lecturer in the field of Social Sciences. She currently teaches subjects related to Behavioural Sciences Methodology II and Personality Psychology on the Psychology degree. She also teaches the modules on New Challenges in Ageing Research, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Self-management of Health on the Master’s Degree in Gerontology. She has also taught the module related to Assessment in Dementia on the Master’s degree in General Health Psychology. She is an internship tutor and supervises Master’s Final Projects in both postgraduate courses.

Her research activity focuses on the health field and the benefits of adherence to physical activity in the elderly, the overload and health of family caregivers of dependent elderly, the engagement of older workers and its impact on health, the social participation of the elderly and active ageing. She is a member of the Assessment, Clinical and Health Care research team. She has published papers in JCR journals and contributed to conferences. Six-year research period (2009; 2010-2015).

Her experience in the management field has focused on the coordination of Internships in the Psychology degree and various official Master’s programmes in the field of Psychology. She has also been Director of the Master’s degree in Gerontology and, before joining the Faculty as Vice-Dean of Student Affairs and Internships, she was Head of the DeustoPsych R+D+i Unit in Psychology and Health. As a professional activity outside the University of Deusto, she has collaborated with the Neurology Service at the Galdakao Hospital, supporting research and neuropsychological assessment work and has worked as a psychologist at the Txurdinagabarri Home (Aita Menni Social Services).