Over 130 doctoral students and alumni from the School of Physical Therapy at Belmont recently helped coordinate logistics for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Nashville. The Belmont contingent helped with course set-up and take-down and served as course marshals managing a crowd of over 20,000 participants and spectators.
Dr. Michael Voight, professor of physical therapy, was co-chair for this year’s race along with Dr. Ashley Campbell who is an adjunct professor in the School and an alumnus of the doctoral program. Dr. Voight serves on the local Komen organization’s Board of Directors and has facilitated the participation of Belmont students as volunteers for many years. “Komen Greater Nashville has provided more than $4 million in screening, treatment and educational services to women in middle Tennessee,” said Voight, “and much of that is raised each year with the Race for the Cure in which our students contribute greatly.” Additional faculty support comes from Dr. Pat Sells who leads the race volunteer program.
Third-year students Jade Manning and Brittany Ryan served as class leaders to train and coordinate their classmates in preparing for the race weeks in advance. Many worked until dark during the day before the race with course set-up and 120 volunteers began race day at 6:00 a.m. to coordinate last-minute logistics. “Each year when we volunteer at these charitable events I’m reminded why I wanted to be a physical therapist in the first place,” shared Ryan, “to help promote a healthier and more positive world.” Added second-year student Sarah Hogan, “I love volunteering for Komen each year because it provides great class bonding while raising money for an important cause. I have multiple breast cancer survivors in my family and seeing all these people in pink reminds me of the struggle that so many families endure.”
Patty Harman, executive director of the Nashville Komen affiliate, expressed gratitude to the Belmont students for their contributions to the race. “The race would not have been as successful without our friends from Belmont University School of Physical Therapy,” remarked Harman, adding, “we cancer survivors and co-survivors understand and appreciate the gift they provide each year in this unique way.”
“We had another successful event with more people participating this year than ever before,” said Haden McWhorter, Komen board member and chairman of the event. “Belmont jumped in to do whatever was needed to make it a wonderful experience for each person. We can’t thank them enough for all they did.”
Belmont University College of Pharmacy Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy recently conducted its annual ASHP Clinical Skills Competition. In this competition, participants utilize their knowledge and clinical abilities to create and present a detailed, patient-centered care plan. Six teams competed this year, with participants coming from the P1, P3, and P4 classes.
