The School of Occupational Therapy and the School of Physical Therapy will jointly be hosting a workshop in early October focusing on the benefits of the Amtryke Therapeutic Tricycle Program—a unique mobility service that uses custom-built tricycles to assist people with disabilities.
The event, scheduled for the 6th, will be held in the McWhorter Building room 205 from 5-6 pm, as an encouragement for local therapists to bring the benefits of Amtryke to children with disabilities. Sue Haywood, a physical therapist from National AMBUCS—the non-profit service that owns and operates Amtryke—will be present to conduct in-service training sessions for therapists.
Over 15,300 AmTryke vehicles have been distributed around the world to date. The majority of these “trykes” are purchased by volunteers and donated free of charge to financially-needy children. The trykes themselves can be operated using hands and/or feet, and are designed to accommodate riders of all ages, sizes, and varying degrees of physical limitations. Both physical and occupational therapists acknowledge the many therapeutic benefits of the AmTryke program, mentioning improved motor skills, strength, and self-esteem as just a few.
Students are invited to attend this event. Click here for more information.
Author Archives: Graduate Health Sciences
PT Health Fair: A Great Opportunity for Students amd Community
Many opportunities exist at Belmont for physical therapy students to get involved on the health front, both on and off campus. One of these opportunities—arguably among the most exciting according to past participants—is a series of annual health fairs held for fourth grade students each year. The event has become an annual occurrence in Dr. Pat Sells’ Health and Wellness course for second-year physical therapy students.
The most recent fair benefited over 200 local fourth grade students from both Carter Lawrence Elementary in the Edgehill community and East Cheatham Elementary. Participating students got the opportunity to teach a series of health and wellness topics, and to conduct fun activities with the children. Topics included safety, heart health, physical activity, dental health, nutrition, healthy bones, and smoking.
College of Health Sciences to host Mobile Healthcare Technology Summit
A panel of healthcare experts is poised to come together on Belmont’s campus on September 30 for the Mobile Healthcare Technology Summit. Industry leaders in attendance plan to explore how mobile healthcare technology impacts healthcare design, clinical practice and the overall future of healthcare.
“Hosting this panel at Belmont is an honor,” says Dr. Beth Hallmark, Director of Simulation for the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Science & Nursing. “We want to be seen as leaders in healthcare education; this simply reinforces our already prominent place in the community.”
Members of the panel include Joyce Sensmeier, vice president of healthcare information and management systems society at HIMSS—the largest U.S. not-for-profit healthcare association focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology—and Scott Cebula, former CIO for Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., president of Cebula IT Consulting, among many others. Panelists plan to examine the issues and opportunities that exist in establishing best practices, addressing legal implications and maximizing impact on patient safety and staff efficiencies.
Physical Therapy Students Present at Annual RESNA Conference
Four Belmont physical therapy students recently got the chance to present at the annual Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their research project entitled, “Functional Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction of Client in the Seating and Mobility Clinic,” examined the overall satisfaction of wheelchair users with their product, as well as the patients’ care while in the Vanderbilt Seating and Mobility Clinic.
Betsy Codington, one of the students involved in the project, hopes that the their research would be used by Vanderbilt to “better inform and equip the clinic in serving their clients.” Other students involved included Sarah Jo Lyons, Larry Pemberton and Daniel Rogers. All studies were conducted under the students’ research mentor, Dr. Renee Brown from the Belmont School of Physical Therapy, who also accompanied the students on their trip to the RESNA conference.
RESNA exists as an effort to improve the lives of people with disabilities through the use of different technologies. The foundation’s yearly conference brings together a diverse group of therapists, seating specialists, engineers and end users for this central cause.
Belmont Increases Pharmacy Faculty with 8 New Appointments
Belmont University’s School of Pharmacy welcomed eight new faculty members this fall as the school continues its growth toward the goal of enrolling 300 students by 2011. Seventy-four new students enrolled in the PharmD program last week, bringing total enrollment to about 225.
The School of Pharmacy moved into McWhorter Hall, a new state-of-the-art facility several weeks ago, expanding classroom and lab space for the entry level doctoral program. The School remains on track in its effort to gain full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) once it has graduated its first class in 2012 and met all accreditation standards.
Belmont Celebrates Opening of New Health Sciences Building – McWhorter Hall
Belmont University celebrated the grand opening of the new 90,000 square foot McWhorter Hall at a ribbon cutting event held on campus Saturday. The state-of-the-art academic building houses the Schools of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy, as well as the Department of Psychological Science. McWhorter Hall is being named in honor of Belmont Trustee Emeritus and Chairman of Clayton Associates, Clayton McWhorter, and his brother, the late pharmacist Fred McWhorter. Both men dedicated their careers to the healthcare field, making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and championing healthcare reform. In addition to his longtime relationship with the University and his work on the School of Pharmacy’s initial Study Team and External Advisory Committee, Clayton is also providing a major leadership gift in support of Belmont’s new academic building.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “This building is a model, 21st century academic facility that will provide the perfect space and environment where our students and faculty can intersect in service to help meet the medical needs of our community and our world. We are honored to have the McWhorter name on the building, knowing that it will endow this space with a legacy of compassionate, professional care for others that our students will be equipped to emulate.”
‘New Careers in Nursing’ Scholarship Program Continues
The School of Nursing has announced that for the second year in a row, it has received funding to award scholarships from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) through the RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program (NCIN). Grants provided through this competitive program will be given to students traditionally underrepresented in the field of nursing and strives to prepare culturally competent leaders in Belmont’s accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program.
NCIN was launched in 2008 to address the national nursing shortage and fuel the pipeline of diverse nurse faculty. “Through the NCIN program, we are challenging the nation’s nursing schools to be innovative and resourceful in how they grow their nursing programs, diversify student populations and contribute to the nursing leadership of tomorrow, said Denise A. Davis, Dr. P.H, RWJF program officer for NCIN. “We are very pleased to support this unique approach, particularly at a time when growing numbers of Americans are gaining insurance and entering our health care system.”
Dr. Chris Algren, Belmont’s associate dean of nursing, said, “We are so pleased that we have once again received funding for the New Career in Nursing scholarships. This program has increased enrollment in the accelerated program for second degree students who are underrepresented in nursing. Since little funding is usually available for second degree students, we are very appreciative to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for assisting us to meet the needs of these highly motivated students.”
Belmont Races Into Top 5 in U.S. News Rankings of America’s Best Colleges
University hits highest ranking ever; honored for teaching, innovation
At the release of last year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings of America’s Best Colleges, Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Seven is the perfect number—until we reach six!” Today Belmont leapt right over position No. 6 to land at No. 5 in the Best Regional Universities—South category, the University’s highest placement in its history. Since 2003, Belmont has risen 16 spots on the nation’s prestigious rankings chart, from 21st to 5th.
Fisher said, “There are times when even I am speechless. Rising to the Top 5 in U.S. News represents a key element of Belmont’s Vision 2015 plan. To reach this level of prominence already demonstrates the immense dedication and talents of Belmont’s faculty, staff and students in accomplishing what has clearly been an ambitious University goal. One thing’s certain: complacency is not an option. We will continue our efforts to seek positive change and growth at every opportunity.”
Belmont was also honored for the third year in a row by fellow college administrators as a top “Up-and-Comer” for making “the most promising and innovating changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” Recognizing Belmont’s vision to be a “leader among teaching universities,” Belmont was ranked second in the South category for strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and for learning communities.
‘Green Roof’ Completed on New Health Sciences Building
With the official opening of the new health science building next week, the installation of a green roof on 90,000-square-foot facility has recently been completed. The only large extensive green roof on an educational facility in Nashville, the green roof serves several purposes including a reduction in the “heat island effect,” which refers to the trend of generally higher temperatures in urban areas as opposed to more suburban areas. The green roof lowers air temperatures which helps reduce that effect. Green roofs also provide natural habitats for wildlife (birds, insects, etc.) and reduce pollution by holding pollutants rather than washing into groundwater, sewer or drainage systems. In addition, the green roof can retain some rainwater for irrigation and can reduce the heating/cooling costs by providing lower temperatures around air intake systems.
Pharmacy Care Center and Health Services Open Today in New Facility
Starting today, the new Belmont University Health Services and Pharmacy Care Center open their doors in the nearly-completed health sciences building, adjacent to the Inman Center. The collaborative initiative between Belmont’s expanded Health Services Center and the new Pharmacy Care Center will create a unique interdisciplinary approach to servicing the needs of Belmont University while also providing a working classroom for Belmont’s student pharmacists.
In addition to traditional prescription filling and or compounding services, the pharmacy will offer many healthcare items found in retail pharmacies (over-the-counter products, vitamins, first-aid items, etc.). The Pharmacy Care Center will also provide various pharmacist consultation, education and wellness programs such as smoking cessation, diabetic counseling and Medication Therapy Management (MTM).
Healthcare Job Opportunities Continue to Grow
A story in today’s Tennessean about future job prospects included several paragraphs about the growth of jobs in the healthcare industry.
From the article. . . .
“Health care also continues to add jobs as the first wave of baby boomers, born from 1946 to 1964, hits the official retirement age at the end of this year.
Health-care employment, much like IT jobs, requires a degree of specialization. There were 13,760,000 health-care jobs in June, up from 13,134,000 in December 2007.
Employment in medical and diagnostic labs held steady throughout the recession, growing to more than 217,000 jobs through May 2010 from about 213,000 in December 2007.
Employment in hospitals rose in the same period to 4,705,000 jobs from 4,564,000. It’s grown every month but one since the recession began. Hiring in home health-care services grew to 1,066,000 positions in June from 934,000 in December 2007.”
The full article is linked here.
Robinson featured in News Channel 5 story
Dr. Kevin Robinson, Professor of Physical Therapy at Belmont, was recently featured in a News Channel 5 story about his research study with Baptist Sports Medicine, identifying risk of injury to student athletes.
The story can be found on the News Channel 5 website and the video can be seen below.
“. . . . Kevin Robinson, a Belmont Professor and physical therapist with Baptist Sports Medicine, believes those injuries are far too common.
“We’ve been rehabbing kids for 20 years. We’d like to be on the prevention side now,” said Robinson.
Robinson said new studies show that improved hip and core muscle strength can drastically reduce knee injuries.
Logan Plummer wasn’t sure what to make of the study until the benefits showed up on the soccer pitch.
“I’m able to keep my balance more, and not get knocked off the ball as much,” said Logan.
At the beginning of the study, Logan could barely keep her balance while jumping on one leg. After the training, the improvement is obvious.
“It’s about an eight degree change, which might not sound like much but when you’re talking about forces on the knee that’s significant,” said Robinson.
Robinson said the athletes also showed improved athletic performance in addition to having better stability.
Study organizers got what they hoped for– improved performance and a decreased risk of injury as well as keeping student athletes on the field and playing better in the process.
Baptist Sports Medicine officials hope to expand the study to two local high schools. They eventually hope to create a low cost, effective exercise program that can be used by schools across the mid-state to help prevent major injuries.”
Dr. Martha Buckner selected for leadership fellowship
Dr. Martha Buckner, associate professor and chair of the undergraduate nursing department at Belmont University, has been accepted as a fellow in the Leadership for Academic Nursing program with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. About 50 leadership fellows are selected each year through a competitive application process from nurse educators in over 640 member schools nationwide.
The fellowship was designed to prepare a more diverse and younger pool of leaders for nursing programs in the United States. The year long program provides participants with a focused assessment experience, a range of content and case studies related to successful leadership, and the opportunity to establish networks with mentors and peers. It focuses on key leadership competencies needed in complex nursing education and healthcare environments.
Buckner practiced as a staff nurse after receiving her BSN from Western Kentucky University. She earned her MSN from Vanderbilt University in adult health and practiced as a clinical nurse specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on a nutrition support team before becoming a nurse educator. Buckner began teaching at Belmont in 1992 as a part-time clinical instructor. In 2006, she completed a Ph.D. in educational leadership with a focus on higher education. Dr. Buckner was selected to chair the undergraduate nursing department at Belmont in 2009.
Dr. Marilyn Odom published in European Biochemical Journal
Dr. Marilyn Thompson Odom, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Belmont University’s School of Pharmacy, has recently published a mini-review series on the breast cancer susceptibility gene 1, BRCA1. The series, entitled “BRCA1: 16 years later” was published in the August, 2010 issue of FEBS Journal, which is published monthly on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Dr. Odom was invited to co-ordinate and submit the series by the journal editor. As co-ordinator, she invited Dr. Fen Xia, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Patricia Kruk, Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and Oncologic Science at the University of South Florida to submit articles to be included in the series. Dr. Odom wrote the overview and one additional article for the mini-review series. The Journal’s articles, including Dr. Odom’s review, can be accessed by clicking the icon above.
College partners with Massey Graduate School of Business and others to offer Lean Healthcare Certificate
Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business has presented the Lean Healthcare Certificate program for several years now in collaboration with the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing. Sponsored in conjunction with Healthcare Performance Partners and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, the certificate is designed for leaders who desire to understand the tools and knowledge necessary to drive Lean Healthcare throughout their entire organization.
Physical Therapy students receive grant for research related to carpal tunnel.
Earlier this year four physical therapy students at Belmont wrote a proposal to the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association asking for $990 to fund their research. Lauren Clark, Laura Green, Carrie Rorick and Ashley Vidrine requested this money for their research on the comparative advantages of the Manu Brace versus “a standard wrist split in the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, they explain in their proposal, is “a compression of the median nerve at the wrist, which leads to hand pain and weakness, with a loss of functional activity for many of those afflicted with this pathology”. They note that “conservative measure employed to treat the symptoms of CTS commonly and historically have included the standard or neutral wrist split designed to limit wrist flexion”.
Nurse practitioners do jobs of doctors, with less training
By Christina E. Sanchez
THE TENNESSEAN
Jim Cheeks wears a white lab coat, carries a stethoscope to listen to your heart and writes prescriptions for what ails you.
But Cheeks isn’t a doctor. He is a family nurse practitioner who co-owns a primary care practice, Mount Juliet Family Care, without an onsite doctor.
Cheeks and co-owner Bruce McLaughlin are part of a growing movement of nurse practitioners breaking out to start independent primary care practices. With fewer years of schooling and less debt, they enter the work force at five times the rate of primary care medical residents.
Nurse practitioners believe they could be part of the solution to the growing shortage of primary care doctors and ever-expanding health-care costs. But some question whether they have sufficient training to ensure that patients are safe.
“Physicians train for as long as they do for a reason. It’s to look for underlying issues and provide comprehensive medical care,” said Kasey Dread, executive director of the Nashville Academy of Medicine, a chapter group of the Tennessee Medical Association. “It’s about patient safety, from the physician’s perspective.”
Cheeks disagrees.
“In a family practice I do most things a general practice physician does, and there is not a lot I wouldn’t feel comfortable treating,” said Cheeks, who opened his practice six years ago.
“More and more, we will become the primary care provider for more patients. Nurse practitioners are very competent and capable to manage routine health issues.”
See the full article at Tennessean.com
Kiningham to Study Current Issues in Substance Abuse Education
School of Pharmacy Associate Professor Kelley Kiningham will be attending the University of Utah School of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies this summer. The School, which is recognized internationally, provides specialized information and techniques for working effectively with substance abuse problems in various disciplines. Kelley’s plan is to focus on current issues and trends in the field of substance abuse education, prevention and treatment.
Done but not over
Dr. Ruby Dunlap’s Uganda Fulbright Blog
I expected to feel relieved, elated even, to be leaving Uganda. The work had been hard, the frustrations many, and all of us, Dad, Bob, and I, missed family and friends back in the U.S. It had been nearly ten months and we were ready to go home. So why were my eyes so wet as the plane lifted off into the night and the lights of Entebbe faded behind us? Uganda and her people have a piece of my heart and it told.
The last paper was graded, the grades averaged, and the final report made. Goodbyes were said, hugs exchanged, promises of emailing regularly made. The most immediate and obvious reflection came easily. All nations have some glory and some shame; I had learned better to embrace both the glory and shame of being a U.S. citizen. I had learned better to put the U.S.’s glory to work and to seek to remedy or mitigate some of her shame. I learned that being a child in Africa and being an adult with much responsibility are very different things. In communication with Joseph, Florence, and Jannat from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in western Uganda, I consented to take on some advising of master’s in nursing theses. My stay in Uganda was done, my Fulbright assignment completed, but my work for Uganda is not over.
There is still much to puzzle over in the analysis of my experiences in Uganda. I expect it will take a long time to reflect on and I will likely not ever come to the end of it. But let us take another look at one critical issue. The blog entry, “If you put it that way,” reflected on the different ways one could think of resource-rich and resource-poor healthcare environments. It is difficult to think about the topic of this entry in more than one way; the temptation is to think that more money will solve all the problems of the resource-poor. But it is not so simple; there is perplexity in the problems and the solutions in both rich and challenged environments. One only has to consider the recent healthcare reform efforts in the U.S. to appreciate the complexity in what is possibly the richest healthcare environment on the planet.
$5000 Donated for PT Clinical Scholarship
Recognizing the need for student financial assistance, an anonymous donor recently gave $5000 to Belmont University for a Physical Therapy Clinical Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to assist third year physical therapy students in defraying the costs related to the clinical experiences. Students typically travel to other cities to participate in 8-week long full-time clinical experiences in multiple areas of physical therapy, including outpatient, rehabilitation, acute care and experiences tailored to their goals. These opportunities are available nationwide and internationally. This needed requirement can be costly. Seeing the need to encourage and assist students in their clinical endeavors, this scholarship has assisted students allowing them to focus on their experiences and not on the finances involved since 2000.
A three-person committee, comprised of physical therapists, who were themselves recipients of the clinical scholarship award during their physical therapy education at Belmont University, chose students based on their campus and community involvement, high academic achievements and need. The 2010 recipients are: Emily Burn, Matt Cabbage, Nikki Crosser, Kelly Ehlert, Susan Foster, Holly Gentry, Joy Moulton, Cara Nash, Sylvia Poor and Jenna Reid.
Bacon Presents Poster at Sports Medicine Meeting
Nick Bacon and Patrick Schneider of the Sport Science Department attended the annual American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Baltimore. Bacon presented a poster titled, “A cross-sectional survey of why shod runners do not run barefoot.” Dr. Bacon will begin his first semester in the Sport Science Department in August teaching in the Exercise Science discipline with Dr. Schneider.
Marvanova selected for national Parkinson’s disease training
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Marketa Marvanova was recently selected for a Parkinson’s Disease Pharmacotherapy Traineeship through the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation. Marketa was chosen in this very competitive program as one of only 10 pharmacists selected nationally. The traineeship will be conducted at the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Notes on Cambodia
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Susan Taplin
WE ARE BACK!!!! And jet-lagged. I write this entry as a BRIEF reflection over the past few weeks comparing it to my experience over the past 6 (somewhat) years. WoW is the biggest thing that comes to mind. WOW!! Every year I am amazed at the experience I am so very blessed to receive. I watch the hearts of people (in both countries) and my own, change. How can I say? How can I do…
So here are some of my notes on Cambodia:
One of the biggest impacts in my own heart is the impact my husband has had in Cambodia. I am always amazed at what people say when I arrive… things like, Oh Suzan…Chas’ wife or You remember Chas’ wife? For those who don’t know, we were both there with our boys for 2 years and I have been back for 4 times with Chas and the boys only once….I am still known by many as Chas’ wife. I love that. It makes me think deeply of my real role in life and my purpose.
Giorgianni Elected Vice-Chair, Chair Elect of APHA Caucus
Dr. Sal Giorgianni, director of Experiential Education & Development for the School of Pharmacy, was recently elected Vice-Chair and Chair elect of the American Public Health Association’s newly formed Caucus On Men’s Health. In addition, Giorgianni will be teaching an elective on men’s health for the Fall 2010 semester, one of only a few such classes currently offered in the U.S.
Cambodia Forever In Our Hearts
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Sharon Dowdy
In the mode of preparing to leave and saying our good-byes, we wake up to take a morning walk only to realize that we are too late to see the city wake up. It is already bustling with traffic and people; exercisers have gone to work; the sun is already high and hot in the sky. We see a couple of people still sleeping in hammocks or and one mother sending her children out to ask for food.
Last night as another farewell, we went to dinner with some of the friends in the church–the pastor, Sovann, and his wife, Sopheap, and their two young children; one of the nurse educators, Phalla, and her husband, Kenda, and their two beautiful daughters; Sotia and wife, Paesset, and 7 year old son who was only one year old when I first met them. It was one of my favorite times on the trip; a relaxed and comfortable time with children laughing, entertaining us with their singing, and playing silly games as children everywhere do. It is so amazing to be able to share in this way with people all the way around the world! We discussed raising children, stories of engagement and marriage, illness, faith, victories.
