Physical Therapy Students Send Letters of Love

student holding card

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond, many have felt the effects of self-isolation, as they stayed home to protect others. With the hope of spreading joy and a sense of togetherness, Belmont School of Physical Therapy Class of 2024 students teamed up with Lauren Scanlon, a geriatric certified specialist at Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute at Vanderbilt, to provide letters to senior adults as part of APTA’s 100 Days of Service.

Together, letters and artwork were crafted and sent to Letters Against Isolation, an organization that provides handwritten letters to residents of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

student writing card

Associate Professor Christi Williams said, “This project served as a great way to get connected with the community and put a smile on someone’s face. Thank you to Pi Beta Phi for collaborating with our physical therapy students on such a thoughtful project. Spread joy and togetherness today and every day!”

For more information about the Letters Against Isolation organization, visit: https://www.lettersagainstisolation.com/

Dr. Bynum Published in Two Public Health Publications

Leigh Ann Bynum

Dr. Leigh Ann Bynum, associate professor in Pharmaceutical, Social & Administrative Sciences in the College of Pharmacy, recently had her manuscript “Preparing Student Pharmacists to Care for Patients Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence accepted for publication in Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning journal. Her case “When Love Hurts: Caring for Patients Experiencing Interpersonal Violence” was also recently published in the 2nd edition of the Public Health in Pharmacy Practice: a casebook.

Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning is devoted to dissemination of high quality, peer-reviewed scholarship relevant to all areas of pharmacy education—promoting educational research excellence.

Public Health in Pharmacy Practice: a casebook, is a collaboration of more than 90 individuals with expertise and training in public health pharmacy. A total of 54 chapters are presented, covering a broad array of topics relevant to pharmacy applications of public health. This work is the result of a successful collaboration with The University of Mississippi Pharmacy Administration Program.

Intimate partner violence–IPV–is a serious public health problem. Little is known about pharmacists’ IPV knowledge and awareness. This study assessed student pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes and awareness of IPV and examined the impact of a brief curricular unit on these factors. Moreover, the published case defined IPV, examined its impact and identified methods to appropriately respond to IPV.