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Greetings,
In this, our fourth issue of the newsletter, I wish to revisit the SHP RISES Strategic Initiatives with a focus on the first "S" component – Student Success and Preparedness. With this initiative, SHP seeks to ensure that every student who enrolls in one of our programs will be given the tools and resources to succeed. In each of our five departments, we have superb educational programs that represent a broad spectrum of learners and trainees. For example, we have upper class undergraduate students in our CLS training program, masters students in our respiratory care program and our Dietetics Internship program, entry-level doctoral students in our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy programs, and advanced learners in our PhD in Rehabilitation Science and DCLS programs. For our entry-level professional students, success is around graduating on time and successfully passing their respective license exams.
Our commitment to the first "S" initiative is illustrated by the development of our new Center for Student Success, which is an equal partnership with the School of Nursing, and led by Dr. Shayne Washington. Under Dr. Washington's innovative leadership, and working with innovative team members from the School of Nursing, we are building resources and infrastructure to assure that our students can get personalized, specifically tailored assistance, in a timely manner, to help them overcome a variety of barriers to success such as financial problems, study skills, mental health, and career search strategies. Ultimately, our goal is to reduce attrition among students due to common barriers of student success in health professions programs.
Within this newsletter, you will see a progress report from Dr. Washington. If you would like to contribute to student success in any way, whether through your expertise or through one of our various scholarship programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you!
Dean Dave
David A. Brown, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Senior Vice President and Dean
George T. Bryan Distinguished Professor
School of Health Professions
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Episode 1
This is the first in a series of five podcasts to explore the RISES Strategic Plan initiatives at UTMB School of Health Professions (SHP). With this Podcast, Dean David Brown and Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Carole Tucker, engage in a discussion about the research enterprise at the UTMB School of Health professions. They discuss future directions for faculty engaged in research endeavors and how they will generate discoveries and advancements in health care.
LISTEN HERE
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J. Shayne Washington, EdD
Director, Student Success Center
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Student Success Center
Support for our students is a critical component of their success in school and as they transition into the workforce. We are proud to share a new endeavor designed to empower our students and set them up to thrive.
The Student Success Center (SSC) is a collaborative effort between the UTMB School of Health Professions and the UTMB School of Nursing.
Our goal is to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for students to find academic and non-academic support. The SSC will be a unique, centralized, shared center that will provide SHP, SON, and GSBS students with the following services:
- Specialized advising/counseling
- Individual and group academic support services
- Scientific writing assistance
- Supplemental instruction as a tutoring resource
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As the Director of The Student Success Center (SSC), I will work with faculty, staff, and administrators to help improve student success. I will help to develop programs that will support efforts to increase student retention and develop ways that allow students to learn beyond the classroom.
The SSC is a unique, centralized shared center that will provide services for students enrolled in the School of Health Professions (SHP), School of Nursing (SON), Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), and the School of Public and Population Health (SPPH).
The SSC’s Mission is to provide direction and support to assist students in reaching their goals and to endure the quality of student life and learning.
Fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment that will empower students to transition to UTMB successfully and as healthcare professionals is the vision that the SSC wants to create.
Construction for the physical space for the SSC is set to launch this fall (2022) semester on the first floor of the SHP/SON Building. The SSC staff will invite everyone to celebrate with when the big opening day arrives. In the meantime, students can request/schedule an advising session (in person or virtually) or visit the website for more information.
t's my pleasure to welcome Ms. Shaniqua Johnson, our new Sr. Specialist for Learning and Counseling. Shaniqua will provide students with hands-on learning skills such as: test-taking, studying, critical thinking/reading and other skills as identified. Shaniqua has years of experience working with students from diverse backgrounds that have led multi-scale student success initiatives to cultivate student success. She has previously worked at the University of Texas at Dallas where she coordinated retention initiatives and provided support for students encountering obstacles on their path to graduation. Shaniqua has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Houston. Shaniqua is a proud Houston native and enjoys music, concerts, and traveling.
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New Team Member
Shaniqua Johnson, Senior Learning Specialist for the new Student Success Center.
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The Office of the Dean publishes a quarterly e-newsletter that provides valuable information educational activities, research, and creative activities. The e-newsletter is geared towards alumni and supporters and features stories on alumni, faculty, and students. | | | |
Dear School of SHP and UTMB Communities, the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Health Professions (SHP) has a long-standing history of excellence and innovation in educating health care professionals for leadership roles in the state, nation, and international arenas. We also are famous for our strong research enterprise success. | |
Research and Publications | |
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Researchers in the School of Health Professions at UTMB
Descriptions of research areas and links to additional information are provided about faculty researchers in the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.
Learn more by visiting the SHP Office of Research and SHP Researchers
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Respiratory Care
Brian K. Walsh, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC
Associate Professor and MSRC Bridge Program Director
"Effect of Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Aerosol Technology on the In Vitro Activity of Ribavirin Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus"
Brian K Walsh and Yingguang Liu
| "Ribavirin is an antiviral drug that for many years has been administered to the lungs by aerosolization. Despite advancements in oral delivery routes, there has been a renewed interested in delivering ribavirin via the pulmonary system in select patients and the severely ill. The vibrating mesh nebulizer was previously demonstrated to be an effective alternative to the small-particle aerosol generator in particle size, chemical makeup, and concentrations of the ribavirin before and after nebulization. However, the antiviral activity of ribavirin has never been examined. We sought to study ribavirin’s activity before and after nebulization via vibrating mesh nebulizer." | |
Nutrition, Metabolism, and Rehabilitation Sciences
Brian Downer, PhD
Associate Professor
"Feasibility and thematic analysis of narrative visualization materials with physical activity monitoring among breast cancer survivors"
Jason R Bentley 1 2, Xiaoying Yu 3, Amol M Karmarkar 4, Brian Downer 3, John Prochaska 3, Elizabeth J Lyons 3
| " Breast cancer survivors have a unique risk for negative health outcomes. Engaging in routine physical activity (PA) can reduce these risks. However, PA levels are low among this population. Narrative visualization (NV) is a technique that uses drawings, photographs, and text to contextualize data, which may increase integrated regulation, or motivation related to personal values and identity. A PA intervention targeting breast cancer survivors using an NV strategy may improve PA behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine whether scrapbooking activities could successfully be used as an NV strategy for older (55+) breast cancer survivors." | |
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Nutrition, Metabolism & Rehabilitation Sciences
Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPH
Grace Bucksch Gnitzinger Distinguished Professor in Aging, Interim Chair and Associate Professor
"Feasibility and thematic analysis of narrative visualization materials with physical activity monitoring among breast cancer survivors"
Jason R Bentley, Xiaoying Yu, Amol M Karmarkar, Brian Downer, John Prochaska, Elizabeth J Lyons
"Breast cancer survivors have a unique risk for negative health outcomes. Engaging in routine physical activity (PA) can reduce these risks. However, PA levels are low among this population. Narrative visualization (NV) is a technique that uses drawings, photographs, and text to contextualize data, which may increase integrated regulation, or motivation related to personal values and identity. A PA intervention targeting breast cancer survivors using an NV strategy may improve PA behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine whether scrapbooking activities could successfully be used as an NV strategy for older (55+) breast cancer survivors."
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Physical Therapy
Carole Tucker, PT, PhD
Interim Chair, Physical Therapy
"Measuring PROMIS® Physical Activity and Sleep Problems in Early Childhood"
Jin-Shei Lai, Courtney K Blackwell, Carole A Tucker, Sally E Jensen, David Cella
"Physical activity (PA) and sleep are leading health indicators for individuals of all ages. Monitoring young children's PA and sleep using psychometrically sound instruments could help facilitate timely interventions to promote healthy development. This article describes the development of the PROMIS® Early Childhood (EC) Parent Report Physical Activity (PA) and Sleep Problems (SP) measures for children aged 1-5 years.
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Nutrition, Metabolism, and Rehabilitation Sciences |
"A Photography-based, Social Media Walking Intervention Targeting Autonomous Motivations for Physical Activity: Semistructured Interviews With Older Women"
Michael C Robertson; Maria Chang Swartz, Ursela Christopherson; Jason R Bentley; Karen M Basen-Engquist; Debbe Thompson; Elena Volpi; Elizabeth J Lyons
"Older adult women are at risk for negative health outcomes that engaging in sustained physical activity can help prevent. However, promoting long-term maintenance of physical activity in this population has proven to be a challenge. Increasing autonomous motivations (ie, intrinsic, integrated, and identified regulations) for physical activity may facilitate enduring behavior change. Digitally delivered games for health that take a celebratory technology approach, that is, using technology to create new ways to experience valued behaviors and express valued beliefs, may be a useful way to target autonomous motivations for physical activity. Formative research with the target population is needed to design compelling intervention content."
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Occupational Therapy
Chih-Ying "Cynthia" Li, PhD, OTR
Associate Professor
Gong-Hong Lin PhD Chih-Ying Li PhD Ching-Fan Sheu PhD Chien-Yu Huang PhD Shih-Chieh Lee PhD Yu-Hui Huang PhD Ching-Lin Hsieh PhD
"This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based short measure to assess 5 functions (the ML-5F) (activities of daily living [ADL], balance, upper extremity [UE] and lower extremity [LE] motor function, and mobility) in patients with stroke."
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Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at UTMB presented at the 2022 World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress in Paris.
Dr. Riqiea Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at UTMB recently presented at the 2022 World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress in Paris, France. The title of her presentation was, “The National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus Evolution: Impact on Social Justice in Occupational Therapy”. The focus of this presentation was to highlight the historical and current professional contributions of The National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus (NBOTC) which exists to advocate for Black occupational therapy practitioners, students, and consumers across the diaspora to promote social justice and decrease health disparities. In addition to her role at UTMB, Dr. Kitchens currently serves as the secretary for the NBOTC.
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How to make your workout as fun as a video game, according to behavioral scientists
Elizabeth Lyons of the University of Texas Medical Branch said some people love video games because there's a lot of unpredictability and surprise. Lyons tries to mimic these characteristics in her own fitness game designs. As part of her research, she created a Facebook page to help motivate older women in Galveston, Texas, to go for daily walks. To keep the participants on their toes, she posts fun challenges on the page. “A lot of the things we've been trying to do with challenges is bringing back a sense of childlike wonder," she said – kind of like what you get when you're exploring a video game world for the first time.
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Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPH
Grace Bucksch Gnitzinger Distinguished Professor in Aging, Interim Chair and Associate Professor
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Student and Faculty Spotlights | | |
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Congratulations to the 2022 ASAHP Recipient Leslie Duran of
Respiratory Care.
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Columbus Physical Therapy turns the big 4-0 | Columbus Physical Therapy is celebrating its 40th year in business! CPT began providing physical therapy services to the Columbus community in October 1980. Since then, they have grown to serve a four-county area. Founding partner, Terry Sablatura, PT, graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and returned to his hometown of Columbus to establish Columbus Physical Therapy. | | |
PT professor Martha Acosta retires | By Kate Hunger At age 10, Associate Professor Martha M. Acosta, PhD, PT, GCS, was sure she would one day be a neurosurgeon. "I was always interested in health care and helping people get well," she said. "I was fascinated with the human body - how it works and how it repairs itself." | | | |
Faculty & Student Accolades | | | |
Congratulations to Dr. Vickie Freeman on a well-deserved retirement after 26 years at UTMB. | |  |
Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Fingerhut on a well-deserved retirement after 18 years at UTMB. | | |
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Academy of Master Teachers
The AMT Lifetime Achievement Award in Education recognizes UTMB faculty who have made long-standing, important, and high-quality contributions to the educational missions of their respective UTMB schools. This year, the award recognized faculty from the School of Health Professions.
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Fellow of Schools Advancing Health Professions
The ASAHP Fellows Program Award was designed to provide meaningful recognition to those members who have contributed significantly to allied health as administrators, educators, clinicians, or researchers. This program seeks to stimulate the striving for excellence within allied health.
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Global Outreach and Community Engagement | | |
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Assistant Dean for Global Outreach & Community Engagement in the School of Health Professions
Part of UTMB’s Community Engagement initiative is to support healthcare needs in the Galveston Community. Galveston Central Church is also home to Grace Clinic, and interprofessional partnership addressing health inequities of the unhoused and housing insecure of Galveston Island. Each Thursday morning CLS, PT, OT, Medical, and Nursing students work with faculty and community members to meet the health and wellness priorities of this population.
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In the Community
On September 1, Grace Clinic led a community shoe drive and shoe fitting. Students fitted over 90 community members with shoes, provided foot baths and screened for mobility needs. Special shout out to SPTs Kelcee Heflin and Caroline Welch for designing the well run event!
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | |
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Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the School of Health Professions
| The SHP DEI Taskforce hosted a focus group to discuss the results of a recent survey of faculty and students to assess cultural humility and plan for the next steps. We planned our focus group to coincide with the celebration of September 16th | Dr. José D. Rojas, speaking to the group. | Photo of Student Attendees and Investigators: Dr. Ellis, PT, DPT, Dr. Li OTR Ph.D., and Dr. Pappadis, Ph.D. | |
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SHP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force
Since returning to UTMB in 2011 have been involved in multiple DEI initiatives across the University, from serving on the Institutional Diversity Council, the Provosts Taskforce on Diversity, and now as the SHP Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The US is extremely diverse, and we have long been a beacon for people seeking to flee oppression and poverty. Inscribed on a bronze plaque in the Statue of Liberty are the words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”, which offer hope of a better life in a land where all people are created equal.
We are not a perfect place, but we have so much potential to be. Witnessing the struggles that are occurring all over the world should encourage us all to make our society better. We should allow for civil discourse, acceptance of our differences, and strive for just and equitable treatment of all humans. That can only occur when we are willing to engage with and listen to one another.
Earlier this year we started a monthly DEI Corner as part of a weekly SHP new announcement. The objective is to provide an avenue for sharing messages related to diversity and inclusion initiatives and activities in our community. We are partnering with other champions of DEI across our University.
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FY 2023 DEI Goals
1. Evaluate diversity of student population and faculty by school and departments and identify opportunities to mirror the state demographics.
2. Promote diversity and inclusion initiatives in the university community that focus on an interprofessional efforts to address healthcare disparities in the UTMB Health network.
3. Support mentorship initiatives for students and faculty from underserved or disadvantaged backgrounds.
4. Support quarterly celebrations of our diversities to foster a sense of community (holidays, etc)
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David A. Brown, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Senior Vice President and Dean, School of Health Professions
READ FULL BIO
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Dean Brown's Gift 2022 Class.
Dean of SHP Gifts the class of 2022 their first year in the Alumni Association.
Dr. David A. Brown, and his wife, Yuelin, purchased a 1-year membership to the SHP Alumni Association for all Class of 2020, 2021, and 2022 graduates.
Their challenge was to stay in touch with one another and to encourage year-by-year involvement in the Alumni Association.
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Support the Alumni Association
Be a part of UTMB's Be One,
Bring One Alumni Challenge!
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100% of your gift goes to support the School of Health Professions and its current students | | | |
Alumni Association Helpful Web Links | |
Working Together To Work Wonders
by Educating the Future of Health Care
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