THE BULLETIN

February 2018 | Vol. 2, No. 1

Click on the image to view an animated version of an overview of the College of Health.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Lyndsay Young poses in front of a video display at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's Center for Excellence in Park City. The video depicts Mikaela Shiffin just after she crossed the finish line to win an Olympic gold medal in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. (Photo: Bill Keshlear / College of Health)

Life on the road to Olympic gold

with the world's best slalom racer

Lyndsay Young , DPT, ATC, class of 2014, resident of Park City, is physical therapist/athletic trainer for the U.S. Ski Team's top gold medal hopeful, Mikaela Shiffrin. Lyndsay, Mikaela, and the rest of the U.S. team have been focused on World Cup races since the end of October. Now, their attention has shifted to the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Read a profile of Lyndsay

Track Mikaela's race results on this year's FIS circuit

Galli's blog: a mental performance coach's perspective from the Olympics

Nick Galli , PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, is in South Korea working with U.S. speed skaters during the Olympics. His academic niche includes the psychosocial aspects of sport from the University of Utah. As a mental performance coach, he has worked with individual athletes, coaches, and teams across a spectrum of sports and ages. Over the course of the Games, he'll share his experience in a blog .

Got a question for coach as he helps Team USA athletes bring home gold? Email [email protected], and we'll pass it along.

Read the blog.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Watkins named 16th president of U of U

The Utah State Board of Regents has selected Ruth V. Watkins as the 16th president of the University of Utah. Watkins is the first woman to lead the University of Utah — the state’s oldest, largest and only Research 1 higher education institution — in its 168-year history (Jerilyn S. McIntyre served as interim president of the U twice, for two months in 1991 and all of 1997). Watkins will begin the job in the spring.

Perrin wins prestigious kinesiology award

David H. Perrin , PhD, dean of the College of Health, received the 2017 American Kinesiology Association’s Distinguished Leadership Award for doctoral-level institutions. The award winners were recognized at the AKA Workshop in Denver last month.

Dr. Perrin is pictured being interviewed following a panel discussion on concussion last year.

(Photo: Fred Hayes for the College of Health)

SNAPSHOTS OF STUDENT LIFE

(Photography: Ashley Williams / College of Health)

College of Health students are back to the books. Here's a peek. Classes photographed include Exercise Physl Lab, PA Epidemiology, Special Physical Education, Culinary Medicine, American Professoriate, and Graduate Seminar.

PHYSICAL THERAPY / ATHLETIC TRAINING WORKSHOP

Joshua Johnson, PhD candidate, photo above, and Heather Hayes, PT, DPT, NCS, PhD, discuss their research during poster presentations at the workshop.

(Photography: Bill Keshlear / College of Health)

Measurement as value added

“Getting the Most Out of Functional Measurement Workshop,” Feb. 8-9, organized by the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, provided resources and support to advance the use of functional measurement in clinical settings. The workshop featured presentations by AM-PAC and Intermountain Healthcare’s Rehab Outcomes Management System (ROMS) developers, as well as early adopters who have successfully integrated standardized functional measurement as an integral component of quality improvement efforts.

The event began with an evening reception, keynote address, and poster session followed by a daylong workshop. The workshop agenda included morning plenary presentations to provide an overview of functional measurement, examples used to impact clinical practice. Afternoon small group workshops focused on implementation issues with numerous opportunities to consult with speakers on your specific work.

Participants included Julie Fritz , PT, PhD, FAPTA, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Health at the University of Utah; Alan M. Jette , PT, PhD, MPH, FAPTA; Director, Health & Disabilities Research Institute Boston University, School of Public Health; Mary Stilphen , PT, DPT Senior Director Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy; Robin L. Marcus , PT, PhD, OCS, Professor and Chief Wellness Officer, University of Utah Health Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs for the College of Health; Christopher Noren , OT, Director, Inpatient Therapy Services, University of Utah Health; Stephen Hunter , DPT, OCS, Intermountain Health Care; Mary Slavin , PT, PhD, Co-Director, Evaluation and Dissemination Core, CoHSTAR; Kelly Daly , PT, MBA, Director Rehabilitation Informatics and Analytics, and Clinical Informatics Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins Hospital Dept. PM&R, Lecturer at Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs, including George Washington University, University of Delaware & University of Montana. Lecturer at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School executive MBA program; Sandi Passek , DPT, Rehabilitation Manager of Clinical Informatics Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH RESEARCH

Photo: Bill Keshlear / College of Health

The second annual College of Health Research Symposium, which highlighted work of College of Health researchers, was held Jan. 31 in the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics Auditorium.

Speakers were:

Anne Kirby, PhD, Assistant Professor, Occupational and Recreational Therapies – ongoing research related to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the transition to adulthood and suicide risk.
Kathy Chapman, PhD, Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders – the development of a Cleft Palate Registry and Research Outcomes Network (CORNet) to study treatment outcomes for a diverse group of over 2,000 children with CP+L.
Julie Metos, PhD, Associate Chair, Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology; Director, University of Utah Center for Community Nutrition – the research components of Driving Out Diabetes, especially the Childhood Prevention Programs.
Maria Fernandez, PhD, Professor and Director, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Dissemination and Implementation Research: Challenges and Opportunities for Health Promotion and Prevention
Cynthia Furse, PhD, Associate Vice President for Research, University of Utah – facilitating collaborative research across the university
Michael Beets, PhD, Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Program Director, Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health, University of South Carolina – programs and Policies to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity in School and Community-Based Settings

EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED

Photography: Bill Keshlear / College of Health

Brent Park , director of facility services for the College of Health, was recognized as "Staff of the Game" during halftime of a recent men's basketball game against the University of Washington. Park recorded a video with mascot "Swoop" then watched with Spence Eccles , center, and Athletic Director Chris Hill as it was projected on the electronic scoreboard above center court.

Park was recently honored by President David Pershing at a luncheon for his 25 years of service to the College and the University of Utah. (Photo: University of Utah)

Jim Sibthorp , PhD, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism is the recipient of the Academy of Health Science Educators’ (AHSE) 2018 Outstanding Educator Award of Health Sciences Graduate Students. The AHSE Membership Recognition and Awards Committee was very impressed by Dr. Sibthorp’s numerous accomplishments.

AHSE serves as a community that advances excellence and value in health science education. The specific aims of the academy are to: Enhance and advocate for high value academic programs; advance educational innovations and scholarship; provide superior educational services in faculty development and mentorship; develop and recognize exceptional leaders in education; nurture a community of collaboration .

PHYSICAL THERAPY ALUMNI SOCIAL

If you're planning to attend t he American Physical Therapy Association's Annual Combined Sections Meeting Feb. 23 in New Orleans, re-connect with friends, former students, and colleagues at a social from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Blaine Kern E Room, Marriott New Orleans Downtown Convention Center, 859 Convention Center Blvd.

Read the flier.

DIABETES AND METABOLISM RESEARCH CENTER

Researchers at the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center have had a terrific year. "We are excited to highlight all of the great accomplishments and activity," said Scott Summers , PhD, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology and co-director, DMRC.

The DMRC brings together clinicians, researchers, and educators to broadly support research relating to diabetes, metabolism, and overall metabolic health. Its research scope spans the continuum from basic research studies using model systems to clinical trials. Studies on diabetes include investigations on the pathophysiology of diabetes, control of diabetes complications, and diabetes management strategies .

CONNECT2HEALTH

Click the image to see the entire PDF document .

Connect2Health will formally join the College of Health in July. The organization offers volunteer opportunities for students and provides important services to underserved patient populations in our community.

From Alexis Pearl Lee , Connect2Health, Director:

"Connect2Health was recently the lucky recipient of a generous donation from the Herbert I. & Elsa B. Michael Foundation to support our efforts at the Fourth Street Clinic. As a part of a thank you to the Michael Foundation, I asked Connect2Health volunteers to write about experiences they've had with the program and at 4th Street Clinic. I think it's a great way to help our supporters know how important and meaningful their contributions are to Connect2Health volunteers and the patients they serve. Here's what they had to say."

KINESIOLOGY

In a recent Runner's World article, Les Podlog , PhD, kinesiology, weighs in on how your mental state can play a role in whether you’re at higher risk for chronic injury—and how well you’ll recover. “If you’re stressed, for instance, that’s going to impact bloodflow to the injured limb. And when you’re injured, you need bloodflow to promote recovery.”

PARKS, RECREATION, AND TOURISM

Join the celebration of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism’s 50 years at the University of Utah by sharing your story. Begin by filling out this short survey

RECREATIONAL THERAPY

First undergraduate cohort prepares to graduate

Bergen Russon is one of 18 students who will receive either a BA or BS in Recreational Therapy this spring. They represent the first cohort receiving the degree since RT was designated a program within the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies.

Bergen grew up in the West Jordan and South Jordan areas. She attended Copper Hills High School and graduated in 2012. Bergen attended Salt Lake Community College on a leadership scholarship and served on the Student Executive Council.

Her career goal as a recreational therapist is to work with adolescents having mental health diagnoses, helping them fulfill their treatment and life goals through the use of recreation.

Bergen's perspective as a student completing RT's inaugural program is one in a series that will be shared in coming months.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy has seen vast changes in the last couple decades. One of the most exciting, writes Samia Rafeedie , of the University of Southern California, is the infusion of occupational science. This is "the development of the science that validates what we do as occupational therapists, as it studies how meaningful activities – occupations – impact health, wellness, and well-being." There's also been an increased drive for further research and clinical outcomes, as well as a push for more preventive and proactive paradigms as opposed to just reactionary rehabilitative paradigms.

It's an exciting time to be an occupational therapist, especially because the job market looks promising. The need for occupational therapists is expected to increase as baby boomers age and strive to maintain their independence and physical health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects occupational therapist employment growth of 21 percent between 2016 and 2026, adding 27,700 more jobs in this field.

$81,910

Median salary

0.3 percent

Unemployment rate

21 percent

Projected employment growth between 2016 and 2026 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)