McWhorter Giving Society Established to Support Health Sciences
Clayton McWhorter (left) and Dr. Richard Treadway (right) presented the first McWhorter Society Distinguished Service Award to Barbara Massey Rogers (center).
Belmont University’s Office of Advancement recently established the Clayton McWhorter Society, a giving society intended to further the work of Belmont’s health science programs. The new group, which held its inaugural membership lunch on May 2, is named in honor of long-time Belmont supporter Clayton McWhorter and will directly benefit the College of Health Sciences & Nursing, the College of Pharmacy and the new MBA for Healthcare Professionals.
Clayton McWhorter’s leadership and role in the development of healthcare industry giants HealthTrust, Inc. and HCA have made a strong impression in the field of healthcare. In 1996, Clayton, his son Stuart, and a close business friend created the venture capital firm Clayton Associates, which quickly evolved into a hub of strategic business development activities related to new firms in healthcare, technology and diversified services.
Nashville Health Care Council’s Leadership Health Care visits Belmont
The College of Health Sciences recently hosted Leadership Health Care (LHC) members of the Nashville Health Care Council for a luncheon. Dr. Cathy Taylor, Dean of the College, and Provost Thomas Burns welcomed the group to campus.
“The future of health care is about collaboration and cooperation,” said Burns. “We are proud to have members of Leadership Health Care here today, and we welcome opportunities to work together as we develop the next generation of health care talent here at Belmont.”
After remarks and lunch, Belmont students led the group on a tour of the college. LHC members were given an overview of simulation training labs in nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
Leadership Health Care was formed in 2002 as an initiative of the Nashville Health Care Council to foster the next generation of health care leaders. Industry tours are part of the group's regular programming for members.
Memorial Foundation Awards Belmont $300,000 for Simulation Fellowship, Upgrades
The Memorial Foundation has awarded Belmont University $300,000 to upgrade high-fidelity simulation equipment, support interprofessional training in the College of Health Sciences & Nursing and fund a post-graduate Healthcare Simulation Fellowship. Belmont has appointed Dr. Gwenn Randall as the college’s first fellow.
“We are grateful to the Memorial Foundation for this generous gift that will enable us to markedly increase the impact of our clinical simulation program. In addition to creating exciting new clinical experiences for both students and community providers, with this funding we will create new ways of educating future leaders in this emerging field,” said College of Health Sciences & Nursing Dean Cathy R. Taylor.
Social Work students recognized for policy analysis
Social Work students from Belmont University were recently honored for the best policy analysis and presentation at Social Work Day on the Hill, an annual legislative event at the Tennessee State Legislature sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Their winning poster presentation, selected by a panel of social work policy experts, provided analysis of Senate Bill 0804 and House Bill 0937 which would amend Tennessee Code to prohibit the state from participating in any Medicaid expansion authorized under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Social Work Day on the Hill attracts over 400 practitioners, educators and students from across the state of Tennessee to discuss policy response to the issues that impact the social work profession and clients served by social workers. The event serves as a call to action and is a unifying experience that links the practice community to social welfare policy.
Three faculty members from the health sciences nominated for University faculty awards
Three health science faculty members, two from the College of Health Sciences and another from the College of Pharmacy, have been nominated as finalists for two Belmont University faculty awards.
Dr. Renee Brown, Professor of Physical Therapy, and Julie Hunt, Assistant Professor of Social Work, are two of four finalists for the 2012-13 Chaney Distinguished Professor Award. This is the highest honor presented annually to a Belmont faculty member. The award will be presented during graduation festivities in May.
In addition, Dr. Kelley Kiningham, Assistant Dean in the College of Pharmacy, is a finalist for the second consecutive year for the Presidential Faculty Achievement Award for 2012-13. The award will be presented at Scholarships and Awards Day in April. The Presidential Faculty Achievement Award recognizes excellence in helping to make Belmont University a student-centered community through their support of our students outside of the classroom.
Belmont Social Work alumn is contestant on American Idol
It's not unusual to find a contestant on Fox's American Idol with ties to Belmont University. What is a bit unique is when that contestant is a graduate of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing.
Jimmy Smith received his Bachelor's of Social Work from Belmont University in 2010 with honors. As a student, he was inducted into the national social work honors society, Phi Alpha, received the Social Work Department's Rising Star Award, and provided leadership and support for his peers while serving two terms as President of the Social Work Club. With his BSW from Belmont's accredited social work program, he gained advanced standing in the University of Tennessee's Master of Science program in Social Work, completing his degree in just one year. From there, he took a position with Dialysis Clinic in Lebanon, Tennessee where he works with dialysis patients coordinating care and advocating for policy that impacts patient access to service and overall quality of life.
Jimmy is also a very talented singer, songwriter, and musician. You can see him compete in this season's American Idol. He recently was selected from auditions in Charlotte to move on to the show's next round in Hollywood.
President of Tennessee Hospital Association Discusses Future of Healthcare
Craig Becker, president of the Tennessee Hospital Association, spoke recently to Belmont faculty and students about the future of the healthcare industry, focusing his remarks on the new changes that will be brought about by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
While he realizes that the healthcare industry is about to undergo radical change, he does not fear those changes. “I really am an optimist,” he stated. “And I’m invigorated by chaos. Chaos brings change.”
In the past, he argued that the existing system was not perfect, that there were quality of care issues. The new legislation will force the industry to address these issues sooner rather than later. “Hospitals will be forced to look outside of their four walls.”
Students hear from healthcare professionals from Community Health Systems
Earlier this week, more than 200 Belmont University health science students and faculty attended a lunchtime panel discussion on “Emerging Issues and Hot Topics in Acute Care” presented by health professionals from Community Health Systems and sponsored by the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing. The discussion provided students with information about practice changes and new career paths that are developing because of the changes occurring nationally in acute care.
Community Health Systems is a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in the United States. The organization's affiliates own, operate or lease 134 hospitals in 29 states, with approximately 19,800 beds. Community Health Systems-affiliated hospitals are the sole provider of healthcare services in more than 60 percent of the markets they serve.
Panelists included Barbara Paul, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Community Health Systems, a board certified internist who spent 12 years in fulltime practice before entering administration; Keri McKamey, RN, BSN, Emergency Room Director at Heritage Medical Center in Shelbyville, TN, who has 16 years experience in surgery and emergency nursing; Nina Jackson, RN, MSN, CCRN, Director of Critical Care, Step-Down and Cardiovascular Nursing at Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, TN, who has over 23 years of critical care/ICU nursing experience; Vickie Vaughn, RN, CNOR, Director of Surgical Services at Heritage Medical Center, who has over 30 years experience in the healthcare industry; and Jennifer Brandon, MS-CCP/SLP, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Gateway Medical Center, a practicing speech-language pathologist with over 12 years of experience.
“This was an exceptional opportunity for our students to ask questions and interact with practicing healthcare professionals to learn about the workplace they will soon enter,” said Dr. Cathy Taylor, Dean of the College of Health Sciences.
Ashley Pratt, a senior nursing student from Brentwood, said she learned “that nursing is not how it used to be and being able to adapt to changes locally and nationally is an essential part of nursing care today.” Leslie Vecchio, a second degree nursing student from Nashville, said of the presenters, “it was inspiring to hear them tell their unique stories about how they got to where they are now and it was interesting to hear how the atmosphere on the clinical floor is changing to include more interdisciplinary interaction between practices, and also with patients and families.” She added, “This really emphasized what we are learning here, the importance of teamwork. “
The Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing is preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals with clinical doctorates in nursing practice, occupational therapy and physical therapy, master’s level programs in occupational therapy and nursing for family nurse practitioners, and undergraduate programs in nursing and social work. The College of Health Sciences along with the College of Pharmacy is housed at Belmont University in a state-of-the-art complex featuring advanced laboratories, a health services clinic with a teaching pharmacy, and cutting edge patient simulation technology which has earned the College national recognition as a Laerdal Center of Educational Excellence.