Daily Archives: September 28, 2020

Dr. Willams, Students Elected to TN Public Health Association Leadership Positions

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Williams and students

Dr. Christian Williams, director of the Public Health Program at Belmont University, has been chosen as president-elect for the Tennessee Public Health Association (TPHA), one of the nation’s largest affiliates of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Dr. Williams will step into the role of president in 2021-2022. She has been an active member of TPHA since 2009 where she has served on various committees and held several leadership positions. Most recently, she was the 2018-2019 co-chair and 2019-2020 chair of the Program Committee.

Two BSPH juniors, Jaylen Palmer and Lillian Adamson, were also appointed to leadership positions by their peers. Palmer will resume her role as chair of the Student Section and Adamson will continue as the Middle Tennessee representative for the Student Section.

TPHA is the state’s official professional organization for those engaged or interested in public health and is endorsed by the administration of the Tennessee Department of Health. Through TPHA, professionals and students who represent diverse service areas have opportunities to meet and share ideas in an effort to maintain high standards of quality in all aspects of public health.

OTD Student Wins Scholarship from the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Foundation

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Rebecca Denton headshotBelmont University School of Occupational Therapy student Rebecca Denton recently won the Scholarship of Distinction Award from The Tennessee Occupational Therapy Foundation.

She earned the award and scholarship by maintaining a GPA of 3.97 in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program while serving in the community with the Leah Rose Residence for Senior Citizens and Dismas House. In addition, she serves on the TNOTA Student Involvement Committee.

Bursch Named Honoree for Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash

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Gail BurschGail Bursch, PT, MSEd, CWS, FACCWS, has been a physical therapist for 42 years and joined Belmont University’s School of Physical Therapy as Director of Clinical Education in 1997. Bursch has served on the TN Board of the Arthritis Foundation since 2003 and was named the adult honoree for this year’s virtual Bone Bash Event on October 29.

Serving as Administrative Director of Rehabilitation Services for Centennial Medical Center in Nashville from 1984 through 1995, Bursch led 90 multidisciplinary employees, developed community rehabilitation programs and established a 20-bed inpatient Rehabilitation Center. Her clinical focus is wound management, attaining national board certification as a Certified Wound Specialist in 2009.

Bursch served as vice president of the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) for six years and as chair of the Nashville District for twelve years. Since 2004, she has been a national Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program Trainer for the American Physical Therapy Association and is currently the chair of the Tennessee Clinical Education Consortium.