Daily Archives: December 17, 2019

Belmont Occupational Therapy Students Educate at High School Career Fair

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Students at Career Fair booth

Belmont University Occupational Therapy students, with Professor Dr. Natalie Michaels, educated high school students about physical therapy and occupational therapy at the 2019 Health Sciences Career Fair last month at Hillwood High School.

Many of the high school students were uncertain of the difference between the two therapies, but OTD students Chantè Bowens and Brittany Clark were on hand to help teach students about the benefits of each.

Lara Casey at booth

Lara Casey, undergraduate admissions coordinator for the College of Health Sciences at Belmont, was also present to answer questions and to inform students about the various health care majors available at Belmont.

This Career Fair, organized by Academy Coach for Hillwood High School Mary York, is held annually to inform students about the various career options available in the field of Health Sciences.

Belmont DPT Students Explore Aquatic Exercise Benefits for Down Syndrome Population

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Students at Aquatic Center

Belmont University Doctor of Physical Therapy students performed aquatic exercises to music with children and adolescents diagnosed with Down Syndrome this semester, with Occupational Therapy Professor Dr. Natalie Michaels and Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Nancy Darr. The water exercises were held at the Gordon Jewish Community Center under the direction of Aquatics Director Daniel Christmas.

These exercises were performed as part of a research project to see if aquatic exercises can help improve balance in this population. Balance was measured before and after the 6-week series of exercise sessions using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). The PBS is a 14-item, criterion-referenced measure of balance that was developed by Mary Rose Franjoine and Nancy Darr to screen children for potential balance-related challenges.

Members of the student research team included Madeleine Youngblood, Taylor Jacobs, Anna Rungee, Carly Callahan and Courtney Alama. The research is currently in the data analysis phase. Regardless of the outcome, the participants appeared to greatly enjoy the sessions, and the team felt invigorated and rewarded by the experience.