Happy New Year!

We welcome 2022 with updates from the Fall 2021 semester, and a new format for the newsletter. Our newsletter is focused on the college’s strategic priorities. If you are not familiar with them, they are listed below. The dedication of our students, faculty and staff to the application of these priorities, both in and outside, the curriculum is impressive– not unlike our commitment to keeping our students at the forefront. For the second year in a row, the CHS led all other colleges in annual faculty and staff giving!

Fall 2021, was historical for the College of Health Sciences (CHS), as our academic programs have expanded to include locations across our campus. To learn more about this, and other moments, please visit our Mission Moments. 

I hope you will find an update here that connects with you, and that you'll reach out to learn more about the CHS! 

Onward–
College of Health Sciences Strategic Priorities
  • Develop and deliver exceptional learning opportunities in health science education to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students.

  • Contribute cutting edge research, scholarship and thought leadership in health science that improves public health and well-being.

  • Improve health equity, outcomes, and healthcare services for people in our local community, while maintaining a global perspective.
  • Foster supportive learning environments, collaborative workspace, and a culture of innovation, across disciplines within the college and university.

  • Recruit, retain and create a welcoming and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students who reflect the diversity of our world today.

  • Engage alumni, as well as nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and business leaders, as champions and supporters.
Develop and Deliver Exceptional Learning Opportunities in Health Science
Dr. Patricia Swasey Washington, (CSD), created a virtual study abroad program in 2021, in collaboration with faculty from Universidad Santa Paula (USP) in Costa Rica. She adapted the program to distance education format following the cancellation of study abroad programs, due to COVID-19. The virtual program allowed students and faculty from WCU and USP to engage in didactic and clinical sessions, language immersion (Spanish and English), and cultural activities.
Dr. Stacie Metz (Health) Dr. Erin Knight (Health), and Dr. Angela Lavery (Social Work) joined the PA Dept of Aging's Intergenerational University Connections Program. This service learning experience provided the platform for interprofessional graduate students to be trained in ageism first aid and to learn about the Department's structure and services via a virtual training with Secretary Torres and other state aging leaders, and to facilitate discussion or activities over the phone with older adults at risk for social isolation.

Nutrition students who act as coaches to the Ram Chef Program gained valuable gardening and culinary experience with the Ram Chef Garden which was established in March 2021. The Ram Chefs hosted the members of Les Dames d'Escoffier, a professional organization of women in culinary art, for a reception and meet and greet at the garden in June 2021. The event was featured in the Les Dames d'Escoffier International Quarterly Newsletter!
Dr. Michelle Kensey was part of a volunteer team at Main Line Health to provide personal connections between family members during COVID 19 visitation restrictions in which we went into COVID positive patient rooms and facilitated zoom calls and FaceTime calls with family and friends. As a result, the team was nominated for patient safety award through Main Line Health.

Contribute Cutting Edge Research, Scholarship and
Thought Leadership in Health Science
Drs. Patricia Davidson and Amir Golmohamadi, were awarded a grant from the cystic fibrosis foundation in the amount of $104,308.00 to investigate food pathways of individuals with cystic fibrosis. The project lays the foundation for future research to objectively assess characteristics influencing food choices with the anticipated outcomes including characterizing nutritional concerns, food patterns, factors influencing dietary choices and barriers to achieving the desired health outcomes of individuals with this illness.
Dr. Liz Grillo (CSD) was awarded her 2nd National of Institutes of Health (NIH) grant in the amount of $378,148.00 for her research investigating: Improving Efficacy of Voice Therapy Concepts via Telepractice and Mobile App Technology.

Dr. Chiwo Tinago, Associate Professor in Public Health was awarded the 2021 Young Professional Award by the International Health Section of the American Public Health Association.

Dr. Gopal Sankaran, faculty member in the department of health was appointed vice-chair of the publications board for the American Public Health Association for a one year term beginning November 1, 2021.
Improve Health Equity, Outcomes, and Healthcare Services,
for People in our Local Community
Dr. Lindsey Keenan (Sports Medicine), Dr. Rachel Daltry (WCU Counseling Center, and Kellianne Milliner (WCU Athletics), collaborated on the development of a mental health screening app used clinically by athletic training students with student-athletes. The app was selected as a finalist for a 2022 Philadelphia Social Innovations Award.
Eight blind/visually impaired athletes came to campus for the annual Fall Wellness Day event for Camp Abilities. We had 15 current students or alumni, who provided sport instruction in blind soccer, blind tennis, adventure base (in collaboration with student recreation center), and a mental health lesson as part of the Adapted Physical Activity Minor/Club.
The international evidence-based training, Mental Health First Aid, began on campus in 2016 with all students, staff and faculty invited to take the course. In 2020, the university partnered with the Chester County Office of Mental Health to administer both the Youth and Adult versions across Chester County.

The Nutrition Department hosted an event in October, "Eat A Plant; Save the Plant," with Becky Ramsing, senior program officer and registered dietitian at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Becky described the health and environmental sustainability benefits of a plant-based diet, all supported by scientific evidence. The program provided 1 CPE for nutrition professionals.
Dr. Erin Knight was appointed to a national Health Equity Advisory Council for AstraZeneca US operations. Dr. Knight will be working with 12 other community leaders, academics, healthcare professionals and nonprofit executives from around the country to advise the company as they develop a roadmap for advancing health equity and eliminating disparities in care across their organization (within its business practices and related to its external investments). Her appointment is for one year.

CHS Yoga Instructor Keri Palasz won First Place in women 50+ as part of Team USA Yoga in the World Yoga Sport Championships, hosted by the International Yoga Sports Federation(IYSF). The event involved 168 athletes representing 26 nations and was judged virtually by a team of dedicated IYSF judges.

Dr. Cheryl Gunter participated in the ASMBS "Walk from Obesity," an annual event sponsored by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and was honored as the national 1st place fundraiser for this event
 

Foster supportive learning environments, collaborative workspace,
and a culture of innovation across disciplines
Duey Immersive Learning Center
The Fall semester included the opening of the Sciences and Engineering Center, an unprecedented facility for the next generation of healthcare students. Its Duey Immersive Learning Center creates realistic patient response environments — including hospital and home care settings — enhancing an already robust academic curriculum. With VALT simulation software for capturing, streaming, and searching video content, students and faculty can collaborate beyond the classroom. The chart on the right is a snapshot of the interdisciplinary use of the space in its first full semester with Simulation (Sims), Skills training and Research use.

Left; WCU Students shown in Faces of the Main Line magazine, Right; Academic use chart for Fall 2021.
Recruit, Retain and Create a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment for Faculty, Staff, and Students who Reflect the Diversity of our World Today
Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Learning Community
The CHS welcomed its second cohort of faculty to the Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Learning Community (DIFLC) in September. The goal of the community is to increase faculty capacity to create more inclusive learning environments. Supported by the CHS Dean's Office, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a total of 23 faculty dedicated to diversity and inclusion, from all academic departments in CHS, have participated. The community discusses topics such as implicit bias, how to promote dialogue, and how facilitate difficult discussions in the classroom.

This year the faculty learning community also joins guest speaker Dr. Josepha Campinha-Bacote to speak about cultural competence and humility on April 19, 2022, from 5:30-7pm via Zoom. The event is open to the public and we hope you will save the date. For more information on the DIFLC, contact Dr. Kimberly E. Johnson or Dr. Zee Baba.

Engage alumni, as well as nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and business leaders, as champions and supporters
At the start of the 2021–'22 academic year, CHS had welcomed 57 new Community Partners to our growing list of affiliates. Through these collaborative partnerships, CHS students complete clinical/internship experiences in a vast array of settings that contribute to achieving academic and professional success.  
 
A few examples of student success include the Exercise Science program with Chester County Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation. This program provides a high-level learning experience and a lasting impression on the students. In fact, one EXS alum now serves as President and CEO of the YMCA of Bucks County. He credits his internship experience as significant to his professional growth. In Public Health, students are provided real world experience focused on enhancing patient care and supporting financial stewardship with Nemours Dept of Surgery at Nemours Children’s Health. Similarly, Thomas Jefferson Gastroenterology and Hepatology has hosted several public health student interns that have resulted in job opportunities.
 
We are extremely grateful for the support our community partners provide to our students. If you have an interest in working with students in any of our programs, please contact Stephanie Kienle to learn more.
STUDENT SUCCESSES
• Graduate students Erin Gilligan and Abigail Verbeke were selected as $2,000 scholarship recipients from the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association. The students were 2 of 6 students selected from all athletic training education programs from Pennsylvania to Maine.

• Brynn Myers, a student in the undergraduate public health program, applied for and was accepted to be a Collegiate Champion for the Society for Public Health Education. Dr. Rebecca Rich served as her sponsor. As a Collegiate Champion Brynn serves as a liaison between the national organization for the Society of Public Health to her undergraduate peers in an effort education about health education and promotion.
Cameron Corbett,who earned his master’s degree in athletic training from WCU in 2021, built a connection with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last summer when he interned as an athletic trainer during training camp. That connection has earned him a job opportunity with Tom Brady's TB12 brand!
Two first year students; Claire Reynolds, a Communication Sciences & Disorders major, and Kylie Trankle, a Nursing major, participated in the Social Innovation Competition and won second place! Their idea, called “Roasting Composting” is a solar powered compost bin that combines the efficiency of large scale, with the accessibility of small scale composting. They hope to bring Roasting Composting to parks, street corners, and municipalities to encourage everyone to participate
FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP