Category Archives: School of Occupational Therapy

Mission to Guatemala – Day 2

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Mission to Guatemala 2012
by Constance Taras

Today was both exhausting and exhilarating. We started off the day at the government hospital in the heart of Guatemala City.   The OT and PT students split into our respective gyms to work with a few of the children scheduled for the day. I broke off with a few other PT students to work with 3 babies in the stimulation room where we observed the mothers learning at home stretches for their children as well as visual stimulation activities. We then were able to take the children into a dark room and work with lights to work on visual tracking and postural control. The child I worked with, Cido, started off with a lag as he was following the blinking glow stick and by the end of the 5 minute exercise was successful able to track with his eyes and head in all directions. The progress, even if just small, was extremely rewarding.

We then moved into the main gym and worked with some of the inpatient clients. These children presented with an array of problems from CP to malnutrition. We worked with the Guatemalan PTs to learn what was already being used to help the children as well as suggesting other activities. I loved the hands on opportunities to work directly with the children implementing techniques learned in school as well as learning new ones along the way. After breaking for lunch, a group of us traveled to the local Physical Therapy school to have a collaborative lab with their students. It was extremely challenging to engage with Spanish speaking students and to collectively come up with activities that could benefit both PTs and OTs. We emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration between the disciplines. It was amazing to see that although communication was difficult we were able to complete the task as a bi-cultural group. The visit to the school ended our work day but left me with an amazing feeling of accomplishment and excitement for the days to come.

More pictures – click here.

 

Mission to Guatemala – Day 1

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Mission to Guatemala 2012
by Jennifer Tong and Morgan King

Jennifer:  It was an early start to the morning as we gathered as a team to travel to Guatemala! This has a been a trip that I have been anticipating even before I started PT school at Belmont. The morning was filled with a combination of excitement and exhaustion. We arrived in Guatemala with all of our team members and all of our luggage! We all hopped on a bus and arrived at the pediatrics surgery center to have lunch and tour the facility. Before I talk about the surgery center, I need to mention the streets and the people that I saw. There were people walking everywhere and random booths set up by the locals. The toughest thing to see was the poverty in this country. There were these two children sitting on the sidewalk, holding a cup in their hand, and begging for money. This was just another reminder of how I take everything for granted, especially the things I don’t even think about that like a roof over my head, a bed, food, and water. Now, about the surgery center! This surgery center was built for children who are less fortunate and can’t afford to pay for the necessary surgeries. It was so inspiring to hear about the difference these surgeons were making in lives of so many children in Guatemala. I’m excited to see the difference our team is going to make in the lives of the people in Guatemala this week!

Morgan:  Arrived in Guatemala City around noon to a crowd of individuals waiting behind barriers at the airport (now I know what celebrities feel like). We loaded a school bus and headed to the Surgery Center for lunch and to take a tour of the facility. I was sort of in culture shock at the surgery center because I realized how fortunate we are in the United States to have so many necessities. The surgery center was perfect though for the families in Guatemala. Children’s paintings with bible verses were all over the facility. It was amazing to see the hard work and volunteers that have helped put the center together and make it possible to help families out in Guatemala with surgeries that would never be possible without the help of Shalom. After we left the surgery center, we took a “crazy” bus ride through the city to the Nazarene center. People are walking all over the streets (men, women, children). Let’s just saw I saw my life and other peoples life flash before my eyes with the traffic in Guatemala. Once we arrived at the center we checked in our rooms and all hung out with our team. We got the chance to learn about a lot of our members and talk about the culture shock of the things we saw in Guatemala. Now it’s bed time. Big day tomorrow! Full of exciting events at the Orphanage and local hospital.

Mission to Guatemala – Arrival

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Mission to Guatemala 2012
by Tiffany Campbell

Today was our arrival into Guatemala City. After arriving into the airport our whole team was transported by a yellow school  bus to the pediatric Moore Surgery center for lunch and a tour. Driving to the surgery center was nerve wrecking. Traffic rules are more like suggestions here, which is something I personally have never experienced. We received our itinerary for the week, watched a video about the surgery center, and Claudia gave us some words of encouragement for the week. She made it known to us even though we may not be able to speak Spanish, we can smile and give a hug because love is a universal language. After that we were very worn out from getting up so early and flights so we checked in at the Nazarene Seminary where we are staying for the week.

Team Members include: Tamara Garvey, Kelly Brown, Jennifer Tong, Andrea Wheman, Carly Walls, Allison Toole, Lindley Holder, Rachel Haddock, Darcy King, Alison Martin, Amanda Sisco, Morgan King, Aimee Costa, Mary Beth Long, Jami Graham, Constance Taras, Tessa Irwin, Britt Colston, Ashley Ganus, Sheila Robb, Jenna Briggs, Tyler Servedio, Casea Calvert, Tiffany Campbell, Leslie Simmons, Cassandra Goble, Jamie Adam, Natham Adam and Joe Doughty.

Students hear from healthcare professionals from Community Health Systems

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Earlier this week, more than 200  Belmont University health science students and faculty attended a lunchtime panel discussion on “Emerging Issues and Hot Topics in Acute Care”  presented by health professionals from Community Health Systems and sponsored by the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing.  The discussion provided students with information about practice changes and new career paths that are developing because of the changes occurring nationally in acute care.

Community Health Systems is a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in the United States. The organization’s affiliates own, operate or lease 134 hospitals in 29 states, with approximately 19,800 beds. Community Health Systems-affiliated hospitals are the sole provider of healthcare services in more than 60 percent of the markets they serve.

Panelists included Barbara Paul, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Community Health Systems, a board certified internist who spent 12 years in fulltime practice before entering administration; Keri McKamey, RN, BSN, Emergency Room Director at Heritage Medical Center in Shelbyville, TN, who has 16 years experience in surgery and emergency nursing; Nina Jackson, RN, MSN, CCRN, Director of Critical Care, Step-Down and Cardiovascular Nursing at Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, TN, who has over 23 years of critical care/ICU nursing experience;  Vickie Vaughn, RN, CNOR, Director of Surgical Services at Heritage Medical Center, who has over 30 years experience in the healthcare industry; and Jennifer Brandon, MS-CCP/SLP, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Gateway Medical Center, a practicing speech-language pathologist with over 12 years of experience.

“This was an exceptional opportunity for our students to ask questions and interact with practicing healthcare professionals to learn about the workplace they will soon enter,” said Dr. Cathy Taylor, Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Ashley Pratt, a senior nursing student from Brentwood, said she learned “that nursing is not how it used to be and being able to adapt to changes locally and nationally is an essential part of nursing care today.”   Leslie Vecchio, a second degree nursing student from Nashville, said of the presenters, “it was inspiring to hear them tell their unique stories about how they got to where they are now and it was interesting to hear how the atmosphere on the clinical floor is changing to include more interdisciplinary interaction between practices, and also with patients and families.”  She added, “This really emphasized what we are learning here, the importance of teamwork. “

The Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing is preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals with clinical doctorates in nursing practice, occupational therapy and physical therapy, master’s level programs in occupational therapy and nursing for family nurse practitioners, and undergraduate programs in nursing and social work.  The College of Health Sciences along with the College of Pharmacy is housed at Belmont University in a state-of-the-art complex featuring advanced laboratories, a health services clinic with a teaching pharmacy, and cutting edge patient simulation technology which has earned the College national recognition as a Laerdal Center of Educational Excellence.

Ford Meets with Congressmen on Aging

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Dr. Ruth Ford recently attended the Aging in America Conference 2012 sponsored by ASA and NCOA in Washington, D.C. The political arena in Washington, D.C. was most vibrant with Supreme Court Hearings that week for the Affordable Health Care Act debate and the appropriation budget hearings for the Older American Act.

Ford met with Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Bob Corker as well as Keith Studdard, legislative director from Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s office, to discuss aging issues. She also attended a Capital Hill Advocacy Day to hear from several senators presenting on aging issues. The conference addressed many key issues with the Baby Boomer generation turning 65 and impacting wellness and healthcare in our society. Ford received a Belmont travel grant to help with funding her trip.

Ford has brought learning materials and class lecture content back for the doctoral of occupational therapy students. She is exploring a Maymester class for 2013 where students, faculty, and staff can learn about successful aging and ways to overcome barriers to aging.

OT students take class to community

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Occupational therapy students enrolled in the course,  Human Development for an Aging Population, recently  attended two community aquatic programs with aging adults to learn about health promotion and wellness. The class along with Associate Professor Dr. Ruth Ford engaged in aquatic exercises at Baptist Hospital Fitness Center and an arthritis aquatic program at the Dayani Center at Vanderbilt Medical center. Students identified water exercises as being a meaningful occupation for seniors and were able to distinguish the variance in demands on body structure and function while in the water while experimenting with the adaptive aquatic equipment.

The older adult swimmers shared their rationales for participating regularly in aquatic exercises to maintain strength, range of motion, control pain, and to stimulate overall well being and emotional health. The oldest male swimmer was 96 years old, another 86. Several of the women stated they had been attending regularly 3-5 times a year for up to 10 years. The class experience helped students identify community resources; provide inter-generational activity; and develop awareness of value of aquatic therapy.

OT students attend Legislative Day at State House

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Students from Belmont University School of Occupational Therapy recently attended OT Legislative Day at the state capital sponsored by the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association (TNOTA).  The students joined with peers from University of Tennessee at Memphis and Tennessee State University to meet with House and Senate members to educate them about the importance of OT services in the state of Tennessee. TNOTA President and Belmont Associate Professor, Dr. Jeanne Sowers has organized this learning and political advocacy initiative for the past several years. Lunch was provided by the association and enabled the different student groups to share their OT experiences.  Following Legislative Day, students and faculty from the universities toured Governor Haslam’s executive residence and the adjourning Celebration Hall.

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Graduate programs in the College of Health Sciences move up in US News rankings

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The three graduate schools in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing were recognized this week when U.S. News & World Report released its 2013 rankings of Best Graduate Schools, a tool to help prospective graduate students better understand the graduate school landscape and to identify programs that would be good fits. The rankings highlight the top programs in health, business, law, medicine, engineering and education, among other specialties.

In the 2013 rankings, Belmont’s Occupational Therapy program jumped from No. 90 last year to No. 58 out of more than 150 universities. Meanwhile, the School of Physical Therapy came in 51st out of nearly 200 other programs, and Belmont’s graduate nursing program was ranked at 234 out of 464 schools.

All the health rankings are based solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline who were asked to rate the academic quality of programs. Those schools with the highest average scores appear in the rankings.

Dr. Hachtel elected to national position in AOTA

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UPDATED 3/14/12

Dr. Yvette Hachtel, professor of occupational therapy at Belmont University, has been elected to chair the Ethics Commission of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) following a national vote by the organization’s membership.   The Ethics Commission is one of the bodies of the representative assembly of the AOTA and is responsible for developing the ethics standards for the profession which apply to occupational therapy (OT) personnel at all levels and in all professional and societal roles.

Dr. Hachtel is a registered and licensed occupational therapist and earned a law degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1993.  A member of AOTA for more than 30 years, Dr. Hachtel most recently served two terms as a member of the Ethics Commission’s Disciplinary Council Board.   Throughout her career, she has been involved with professional activities at the state and national level that serve to ensure the competency and ethical practice of practitioners at all levels.  Dr. Hachtel has taught ethics at the graduate level and served as a consultant to the Tennessee OT Licensure Board for nearly 15 years.  She is a General Civil Mediator for the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission.   From 1994 to 1997, she served as secretary of the Maine OT Practice Board.  Her legal background has provided extensive training and experience as a mediator.

“This is a significant professional accomplishment for Dr. Hachtel,” said Dr. Scott McPhee, associate dean in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing and chair of the School of Occupational Therapy, in extending congratulations.   “We’re extremely happy that she has been recognized for this important role and are confident she will excel in this new responsibility and represent Belmont in exemplary fashion.”

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OT students reach out to the community

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First year student in the doctoral program for occupational therapy recently demonstrated their abilities to develop and lead groups in the community at two community sites, Park Center and Campus for Human Development’s Odyssey Program.  Both sites provide intervention for individuals with mental illness. The Odyssey program serves men who are unemployed, homeless and have challenges with substance abuse. Park Center serves adolescents and young adults with mental illness.

Mission to Guatemala 2012: Day 1

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From Julie and Cassie, OTD Class 2013

Today was our first full day in Guatemala! This morning we woke up excited to see what this day had in store for us. We woke up and had breakfast around 7:00 then left the Nazarene Center at 8:00 to start our day.  First, we went to Los Conchas to visit the Shalom School. There, we visited with all of the classrooms and meet the children, teachers, and principal. After our school visit, we went out into the community and visited with each family in the community. We split up into three different groups to cover each of the sectors that comprises the neighborhood to invite them to the medical clinic that is occurring later this week. Later, we traveled to a feeding program in Guatemala City, called Under the Bridge and it was literally under a bridge. This program focused on children and integrating Bible study and Christianity into the meal and activity. The program currently serves about 40 children and their goal is to reach up to 50 children in the community. This was a great experience and we all enjoyed observing the children interact with one another and participate in the Bible study activity. The children were very appreciative and respectful to one another and the workers who were assisting with the meal. This gave also gave us an opportunity to use our Spanish skills to interact with the children. After the feeding program, we went to the orphanage to visit the twelve children who live there. There, we gave some occupational therapy and physical therapy assessments to the kids and after analyzing the results, offered treatment and intervention activities to the caregivers to best benefit the children. We also played and sang songs with the kids. At the end of the day, we went back to the Nazarene Center, ate dinner, had a worship service, and reflected on our day.

Overall, it was a WONDERFUL day!

Mission to Guatemala Spring Break 2012: We’ve Arrived

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from Lacy Little

After a couple of bumpy plane rides, we finally made it! We all piled into a school bus and were treated to sandwiches and yummy banana bread. After much debugging, lysol-ing, and even some lice preventative (eh hem, PTA’s) we rested our tired traveled eyes. Waking up early this morning was worth it because of the BEAUTIFUL sunrise over the Guatemalan hills. Cannot wait to see what today has in store!

 

College of Health Sciences & College of Pharmacy part of community health fair at Belmont basketball game

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As a show of gratitude to the University’s friends, Belmont opened its arms Jan. 28 with a Community Health Fair in the Maddox Grand Atrium of the Curb Event Center in conjunction with the men’s and women’s basketball games against Jacksonville. The free fair, co-sponsored by University Health Services, the College of Health Sciences, the College of Pharmacy and Belmont Athletics,  featured 30 booths with blood pressure, body composition and bone density screenings; CPR demonstrations; and information on tobacco cessation, breast cancer awareness, diabetes, healthy eating, self defense and recreation. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Renfrew Center, Edgehill Community Garden, Edgehill Family Resource Center, YMCA and Real Food Farms had booths.

“Belmont has always been supportive of the community and has done a lot of partnering and programming in the area surrounding campus. This (was) a continuation of those services to share information,” said Director of Health Services Katy Wilson. “Students from all of the health sciences programs, athletics department and fitness and recreation center (were) heavily involved in the fair.” Click here to view photos from the Community Health Fair.

The fair was intended to put wellness and preventive health resources within reach of Belmont’s neighbors and fans with screenings, pamphlets and prizes. Although the event marked the first Community Health Fair at Belmont, it was an extension of the annual Pink Zone through an initiative with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Susan G. Komen for the Cure to promote breast cancer awareness. The women’s basketball team wore pink uniforms. Fans received free pink T-shirts and pom poms.

“We have been fortunate to have a long-standing relationship with Susan G. Komen’s Nashville office. They set up a table in the hope of interacting with fans on game day,” Director of Athletics Marketing Jimmy Frush said. “We chose this doubleheader to reach a wide variety of people, ages and genders and to feature the many different programs and departments with Belmont’s Health Sciences. Hopefully, it (delivered) a valuable service to the fans coming to the game.”

Hachtel a candidate for national leadership role with AOTA

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Dr. Yvette Hachtel, professor of occupational therapy at Belmont University, is a 2012 candidate to chair the Ethics Committee of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).   AOTA elections for 2012 will be held between January 17 and February 28 with a national vote of the organization’s membership.   Dr. Hachtel is seeking support from AOTA members.

Dr. Hachtel has been a member of AOTA for more than 30 years.  Throughout her career, she has been involved with professional activities at the state and national level that serve to ensure the competency and ethical practice of practitioners at all levels.  She has taught ethics at the graduate level and served as a consultant to the Tennessee OT Licensure Board for nearly 15 years.  Her legal background has provided extensive training and experience as a mediator.

AOTA members can read more about Dr. Hachtel’s candidacy at the OT Connections blog and through the member portal at aota.org.

Healthcare among professions with the lowest unemployment

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The Education, Healthcare, Business and Professional Services industries have been the most stable employers for recent college graduates.  That is according to a new report by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University.

Unemployment rates are relatively low (5.4 percent) for recent college students who majored in Healthcare and Education because these majors are attached to stable or growing industry sectors. Recent graduates in Psychology and Social Work have relatively low unemployment rates (7.3 percent) nearly half work in Healthcare and Education. More than 60 percent of these recent college graduates who are working have landed in the Healthcare, Professional Contracting Businesses or Education sectors.  Students with advanced healthcare degrees fared even better.   Check out the full report for more information.

Dr. Cathy Taylor appointed Dean of College of Health Sciences & Nursing

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Dr. Cathy Taylor, DrPH, MSN, RN, has been named as the new dean of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing at Belmont University. Taylor currently serves as the assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health’s Bureau of Health Services Administration where she oversees delivery of traditional public health and primary care services in 89 rural counties and contracted services with Tennessee’s six metropolitan health departments. Dr. Taylor will begin her new position at Belmont on Feb. 1, 2012.

“Belmont’s outstanding reputation for excellence and commitment to teaching and service makes this the perfect fit for me and the logical choice for students, faculty and partners dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our beautiful city and beyond,” said Taylor. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served Tennesseans and the Department of Health, and I am honored to join the Belmont team at this time of extraordinary growth and potential to produce the next generation of exceptionally talented health care professionals.”

“Dr. Taylor has done excellent work for the Tennessee Department of Health and for the health of the citizens of Tennessee,” said Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “We will miss her leadership, but we are excited for Dr. Taylor in her new role at Belmont University where she will stay nearby, grooming students for careers in population health in Tennessee and around the nation.”

As the chief academic and executive officer of Belmont’s College of Health Sciences & Nursing, Taylor will be responsible for the programmatic leadership, financial management, personnel administration and planning and development for the College.

Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said, “Dr. Taylor brings to this position a perfect combination of high-level healthcare experience, proven leadership ability and eager enthusiasm for educating tomorrow’s healthcare leaders. I am confident that her expertise and commitment will build on the College of Health Sciences and Nursing’s already exceptional quality and reputation.”

In her current position, Taylor has directed development and implementation of successful statewide tobacco cessation and diabetes prevention programs and increased public, private and academic partnerships aimed at improving the health of Tennesseans. As a consultant to China’s Ministry of Health, she contributed to the re-design of China’s rural health care delivery system. Prior to joining the Department of Health, Taylor chaired the board for the Tennessee Center for Diabetes Prevention and Health Improvement and served as an assistant professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and as director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance Disease Management Program. She has held administrative and clinical positions at Alvin C. York VAMC, served in nursing director and supervisor positions at Fentress County Hospital, Middle Tennessee Medical Center and Hendersonville Community Hospital, and as a public health nurse in Fentress and Rutherford Counties. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is the recipient of a number of grants and awards.

Taylor earned a Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Tennessee-Memphis, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama-Huntsville and a Bachelor of Science degree from Middle Tennessee State University. In addition, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University in 2005.

Plummer is plenary speaker for European Seating Symposium

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Dr Teresa Plummer, faculty member in the School of Occupational Therapy, was one of the invited plenary speakers for the European Seating Symposium held in Dublin Ireland earlier this month. Along with Mary Shea, MSOT from Kessler Rehabilitation in New Jersey, Dr Plummer presented the RESNA Practice Guide for the Wheelchair Assessment and Procurement Practice.  This document was the outcome of a two year ad hoc committee group of 13 stakeholders from the US. The Practice Guide is and effort to provide structure for the provision of wheeled mobility. Dr Plummer attended several meeting discussing the education of occupational therapy students in the practice of wheelchair assessments.

 

College of Health Sciences hosts health fair

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Fourth-year pharmacy student Elizabeth Cain spent Wednesday morning using free hand sanitizer to lure passers-by to visit her peers at Belmont’s first Health Fair. The fair offered an unprecedented opportunity for Cain’s classmates to gain hands-on experience while on campus, she said.

“This is a great opportunity for students to test their skills, give flu shots and glucose tests. It is a great way for us to share our knowledge,” said Cain while volunteering at the fair. “It is a free service with informative information, and it showcases the graduate schools that are taking part.”

Students and faculty from the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing joined with University Health Services to host the five-hour Health Fair which put wellness and preventive health resources within reach of employees and students with free health screenings, pamphlets and prizes. The event in the McWhorter Hall and the Inman Center lobbies marked the launch of a year of monthly seminars on health and wellness as well as current events in health care. It also showed people the unique resources we have right here on our campus, said Director of Health Services Katy Wilson.

“We wanted to make people aware of programs we have and wellness opportunities in the Belmont community,” said Christin Murphy, a graduate assistant in the Department of Fitness and Recreation. She took the body mass index of people who stopped at her booth and encouraged them to lower their numbers by signing up for personal training sessions and fitness classes in Beaman.

“It is important to get out to students that health care is important at any age. This fair could persuade undergrads to consider careers in the health sciences field,” said fourth-year pharmacy student Amanda Harris.

“We are developing a drug education program and need to conduct surveys on drug abuse on college campuses,” said third-year pharmacy student Jaime Tausend, also head of Generation Rx, a patient care project through the American Pharmacy Association that educates people about prescription drug abuse prevention. “The fair lets me reach out to college kids I would not see in the community and get the word out to faculty and staff to help us jump start our program”

The Health Fair coincided with lectures on bath salt abuse, building relationships with healthcare providers and total-body wellness for colleges students. During “10 Things Every College Student Needs to Know About Their Health,” physical therapy students discussed healthy eating, gym etiquette and sleep deprivation as well as shared free smart phone applications to help students tract their calorie intake and jogging routes.

Opportunities throughout the day included: blood pressure, glucose, lipids and bone density screenings; backpack awareness and CPR demonstrations; and information on tobacco cessation, breast cancer awareness, counseling, healthy eating, self defense and recreation.

Wilson said Health Services plans to host a similar health fair during a spring basketball game to reach Belmont’s neighbors and sports fans.

OT students assist older drivers

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Students and faculty from the School of Occupational Therapy recently participated in a CarFit Technician Training and CarFit Event at the Fifty Forward Center in Nashville.  CarFit is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them. This national program is coordinated between the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

This CarFit Event was done locally in conjunction with Ollie Jackson from TDOT, Jim Paris from AARP, and Rose Boyd from the Commission Council for Strategic Initiatives.   Participating students were required to become CarFit Technicians through a training conducted by Dr. Ruth Ford, Associate Professor at Belmont and CarFit Event Coordinator.

The CarFit program provides information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance their safety as drivers, and/or increase their mobility in the community. Older drivers are often the safest drivers in that they are more likely to wear their seatbelts, and less likely to speed or drink and drive. However, older drivers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash does occur due to the greater fragility of their aging bodies.

Driver safety programs improve adult driver safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills, however, older drivers can also improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them. A proper fit in one’s car can greatly increase not only the driver’s safety but also the safety of others. Graduates of Belmont’s OT Programs are learning first hand how to assure driving safety for older drivers through driver assessment and intervention.

Family Celebrates Two Generations of OT Graduates

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Kayla Prince graduated from the School of Occupational Therapy’s Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy program in August, joining her mother, Renee Sims, as a Belmont alumna. Sims, a 2003 graduate of Belmont’s School of Occupational Therapy program, said she has a son and daughter-in-law that also are Occupational Therapy Assistants and considering Belmont’s weekend graduate program in Occupational Therapy as an academic option.

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Receives $10,000 Scholarship

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Amber Alverson, an occupational therapy doctoral student (class of 2012), was chosen as a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities 2011 Long Term Trainee recipient and will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship. Each Long Term Trainee must serve a minimum of 300 hours in activities to promote advocacy, leadership, and development of culturally competent care.

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities focuses on preparing health professionals to assume leadership roles and develop interdisciplinary team skills, advanced clinical skills and research skills, in order to meet the complex needs of children with neuro-developmental related disabilities. The program is federally funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau LEND Grant. It is administered through Vanderbilt University’s Kennedy Center which collaborates with Belmont University (faculty advisor Lorry Liotta-Kleinfeld), Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee Disabilities Coalition and the University of Tennessee, Nashville campus.

Belmont OTD alum aids soldiers with PTSD

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Dr. Jenny Owens, a graduate of Belmont’s occupational therapy doctoral program, and her husband, Evan, were featured this week in a Tennessean newspaper story regarding their work with Reboot Recovery, a Christian ministry to veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Jenny has been involved with treating returning soldiers and veterans in the Clarksville/Fort Campbell area since she graduated from Belmont. Scott McPhee, Associate Dean and faculty member in the School of Occupational Therapy said: “I am not surprised by her outreach to her client population. She is a special person. We are proud of her and happy that she continues her relationship with Belmont as a member of our OT Advisor Board.”
The Tennessean article is linked here.

OT Students present research findings at AOTA Meeting

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StudentResearchPresent.jpgThree graduating students in the doctoral program for Occupational Therapy presented research findings this spring at the annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Jessica Henry, Rebekah Cooper and Cheryl Smith (pictured left to right) joined with faculty members Dr. Yvette Hachtel and Dr. Christine Manville to present their project, entitled “Perceptions of Persons With Acquired Spinal Cord Injuries Regarding Rehabilitation Experiences”.
The study investigated the views of injured persons to determine how well their rehabilitation programs prepared them for discharge. Four themes were identified as being important considerations for rehabilitation practitioners: gaining perspective, community, honoring the individual, and sensitive material.

Faculty to Present Interdisciplinary Research at World Congress on Exercise in Medicine

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Several faculty members in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing recently joined with colleagues in the Department of Sport Science for an interdisciplinary research project that assessed associations of predominantly sedentary behaviors and physical activity status with physical fitness among college students.
Three members of the Health Sciences faculty – Dr. Lynn Shores, professor of nursing; Dr. Jeanne Sowers, associate professor of occupational therapy; and Dr. Christine Manville, assistant professor of occupational therapy – were among six research team members from Belmont and Vanderbilt universities who co-authored the study. Other Belmont team members included Dr. Sarah Adams, associate professor of sport science, and Dr. Patrick Schneider, associate professor of sport science. Dr. Mary Dietrich, research associate professor and statistician at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, was also part of the team.
A number of doctoral students in the School of Occupational Therapy assisted in the study of 122 students in a general education wellness class at Belmont. Participants completed a physical fitness battery consisting of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility measurements. In addition, they completed a survey to assess time spent in predominantly sedentary behaviors including computer and internet use, television watching, texting and playing video games. Self-reported physical activity levels were also assessed to determine if participants were inactive, insufficiently active or active according to the aerobic component of the current physical activity recommendation. Tests of gender differences in each of the study variables were also conducted.
The findings will be presented on June 2 by Dr. Schneider at the American College of Sports Medicine’s World Congress on Exercise in Medicine in Denver, Colorado.

Interdisciplinary Research by Belmont Faculty to be presented at World Congress on Exercise in Medicine

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ShoresResearch.jpgSeveral faculty members in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing recently joined with colleagues in the Department of Sports Science at Belmont University for an interdisciplinary research project that assessed associations of predominantly sedentary behaviors and physical activity status with physical fitness among college students.
Three members of the Health Sciences faculty – Dr. Lynn Shores, Professor of Nursing; Dr. Jeanne Sowers, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy; and Dr. Christine Manville, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy – were among six research team members from Belmont and Vanderbilt universities who coauthored the study. Other Belmont team members included Dr. Sarah Adams, Associate Professor of Sports Science, and Dr. Patrick Schneider, Associate Professor of Sports Science. Dr. Mary Dietrich, Research Associate Professor and Statistician at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, was also part of the team.

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