As we begin another academic year I am reminded of the quote, “The future is always beginning now." This Fall, the university enrolled the largest class of first year students, to begin their future at WCU. The College of Health Sciences continues to evolve. New curricula will be implemented in our Exercise Science and Nutrition Departments and our Health, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, and Sports Medicine programs continue to experience growth. This newsletter highlights our students engaged in work outside of the classroom, and celebrates the accomplishments of our renowned faculty.
Regards-
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Scott Heinerichs, Dean (interim), College of Health Sciences
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CHS Health Career Academy
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Thirty-five underserved youth from Coatesville and Chester received hands-on access last summer, to what it might be like to be an actual athletic trainer, a nurse, a respiratory therapist, a speech-language pathologist, and others during the Health Career Summer Academy hosted by the CHS. In partnership with Main Line Health, the five-day community outreach effort is introducing dynamic health care careers to youth who might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore such viable professions.
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CHS Invests in Interprofessional Education
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Faculty from the College of Health Sciences and the Social Work Departments attended a 3 day workshop on building Interprofessional Education (IPE) into curriculum. As part of Dr Nadine Bean's HRSA grant, Drs. Sankaran (Public Health), Harrison (Nursing), Bean (Social Work), Tennille (Social Work), and Davidson (Nutrition), attended the workshop in Washington DC and as pictured, developed plans for growing IPE at WCU.
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Center for Contemplative Studies
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The Center for Contemplative Studies has a lot to be excited about this fall. The launch of the
new 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Applied Mindfulness is off to a great start with its first cohort of 19 students. The course prepares professionals in clinical and educational disciplines to apply mindfulness pedagogy in their work, with both groups and individuals. The certificate's four courses provide students the background and skills to develop and deliver mindfulness-based programs in health care, mental healthcare, education, and other professional settings
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Distinguished Speaker Series | November 1
Spirituality and Mental Health:
Just How Crazy is "Crazy"?
Andrew B. Newberg, M.D.
Is God a delusion? Is a mystical experience just the brain having a seizure? Is a near death experience just the brain dying? Over the past 20 years, a great deal of research has explored the relationship between spirituality, mental health, and the brain. This data provides new insights into what religious and spiritual experiences mean, how they may or may not be related to brain pathology, and how they may contribute or diminish mental health.
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Communication Sciences & Disorders (
CSD)
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CONGRATULATIONS
to Elizabeth "Liz" Grillo for
being selected by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for a
Certificate of Recognition for Special Contributions in Higher Education
. The award will be presented in November at the 2018 ASHA convention in Boston.
Dr. Grillo also continues her work on the NIH R15 grant she received in 2016. See the update on her progress here:
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Professors Patricia Swasey Washington and Cheryl Gunter led a group of students on a study abroad trip to Costa Rica. In partnership with Universidad Santa Paula in San Jose, the students visited a number of clinical, educational, and cultural sites. They met with local Speech-Language Pathologists and observed clinical service delivery at such facilities as Asociacion Labio Paladar Hendido (for services for Cleft Lip and Palate), Asociacion Costarricense de Padres y Amogis de Personas con Autismo (for services for Autism), and Centro de Servicio de Terapia del Lenguaje y Deglucio (for services for Language and Swallowing). The students also participated in classes at the university and observed clinical service delivery in the on-campus Speech-Language Clinic.
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Professor Gopal Sankaran for being selected by the Awards Committee of the International Health Section of the American Public Health Association as the recipient of this year’s
Distinguished Section Service Award Award
!
Dr. Sankaran was also a
ppointed by the Executive Board of American Public Health Association to serve as Vice Chair on the Editorial Board of the
American Journal of Public Health
(AJPH)
, for one-year term.
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Assistant Professor Chiwoneso Tinago, and her research colleagues were recently awarded a $100,000 Round 20 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award will be used to develop and test a community-based peer-support intervention for adolescent mothers in Harare, Zimbabwe. The intervention will work in partnership with adolescent mothers to develop the peer support group structure and preferred topics, and will leverage peer support, technology, community health workers, and involvement of key community stakeholders to develop coping, parenting, and communication skills to mitigate potential stressors and stigma of adolescent motherhood.
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MPH student Evan Stout put his musical background to work for his public health internship in Africa. Evan worked with an organization called
Sole Hope
, based in Uganda, and developed a music video to promote the fight against a parasite commonly known as "jiggers." Click the link below for the whole, incredible story and video!
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Dr. Lorenzo Cena's Toxicology class hosted Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils CEO, Scott O’Neill as a guest lecturer on "Leadership and the Business of Culture." It was a great experience enjoyed by Environmental Health seniors and graduate students.
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Sports Psychology Professor Margaret Ottley, has been granted fellow status by the Fellow Review Committee of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). AASP fellows are members of the organization who have achieved distinction through significant contributions to academic and professional practice knowledge in sport and exercise psychology. Ottley’s appointment will be announced at the 2019 AASP Conference in Canada.
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Associate Professor Rick Howard traveled to Mumbai India to present the first ever three-day exam prep course for the National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam for students at the Exercise Science Academy. The NSCA CSCS is the recognized accredited certification for professionals who apply scientific knowledge to train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance.
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Summer was filled with service learning for over 75 WCU students, alum and faculty in over 6 majors. Kinesiology and Nutrition majors worked at camp abilities Pennsylvania, Delaware and Arizona! The camp is designed to empower children with visual impairment through running, throwing, golfing, soccer, jumping, swimming, biking, doing triathlon, playing goalball and eating healthy!
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WCU faculty and nursing students participated in a Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital mass decontamination exercise in September. Faculty and students were assigned to play victims exposed to a mock intentional release of a chemical agent.
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Nutrition Graduate Assistant Katie Graham and undergraduate students Talia Valentini and Nicole Gonglik are shown with students from the Adapted Physical Education program, as they serve dinner at the United Methodist Church. This weekly event is the result of research by Dr. Jeanie Subach in best practices for instructing adults with developmental disabilities in vocational skills in the food service industry. The students were then exposed to opportunities for work in the community. These young adults were paid for their work; a primary goal of the program.
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The Sports Nutrition Club and the first full-time sports nutrition graduate assistant, under the supervision of Dr. Chris Karpinski, are providing nutrition education and a pre and post-practice fueling station to the WCU women’s volleyball team this fall. Every player received an individualized meal plan and has access to healthy snacks before and after practice. This is the fifth team to receive this program, and men’s basketball will be next. Funding for the fueling station was provided by the WCU Foundation Parent’s Fund.
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Nutrition majors attended the first field trip of their food science course, with Dr. Golmohamadi, in which students visited the Golden Valley Farms (a coffee roasting company) in West Chester, PA.
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See Dr. Karpinski's interview here:
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Beginning this fall, the Bachelor of Science in nutrition will offer two new concentrations in addition to the dietetics track: Lifestyle Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems Management. The Lifestyle Nutrition concentration is tailored towards students who wish to pursue certification as a health coach or personal trainer. The Sustainable Food Systems Management concentration prepares students for careers in food management or careers focused on sustainable food systems including businesses, healthcare, and community organizations.These new concentrations are encouraged for students who wish to obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, but do not wish to pursue a career in Dietetics.
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In addition to alums who are currently working in the NFL as athletic trainers and medical spotters, senior athletic training students Ryan McNamara and Robert Heintz gained valuable experience as summer athletic training interns in the NFL. Ryan worked as an athletic training Intern with the Los Angeles Chargers and Robert was as an athletic training intern with the New Orleans Saints. Both students gained valuable experience through this unique opportunity. When asked about the best advice they have received, Ryan said, “Be a sponge, take it all in, and gain as much experience as possible.”
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The Sports Medicine faculty
had an opportunity to catch up with some great alumni at the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Annual Meeting in New Orleans. There were nearly 100 alums and it was a great time for networking and catching up on all of the amazing things they are doing.
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Professor Sandra Fowkes Godek continued her research with the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the HEAT Institute. Here are senior athletic training student Kevin Deley, and post-professional graduate student Daniel Webb, conducting analyses during pre-season training camp.
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College of Health Sciences | West Chester University | 610-432-2825 | www.wcupa.edu/chs
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