NEWSLETTER
Welcome!
FALL 23 | SPRING 24
by Nora Strasser, Ed. D. Chair of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
EALTH CIENCES
As the Division Chair of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about the exciting things happening in our division. We are increasingly involving students in research projects and shadowing experiences. We are providing students with opportunities to travel internationally and experience service learning. Our Health Science Club is active and sponsors a variety of activities ranging from Homecoming floats to Chili Cook-off entries to bringing in medical professionals as speakers. Our division provides you with the tools to grow both intellectually and spiritually. Helping you travel the path to your profession is our ultimate goal. Our faculty are always available to help you decide on a career and guide you through your undergraduate experience. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
In This Issue
• Speaker Series Highlights
• Student Spotlights
• Highlights from the Clinic
• Faculty Spotlight
• Shadowing Reflections from Various Professions
• 2023-24 Club Officers
For more information about Friends University’s Health Sciences degree: friends.edu/health-sciences admissions@friends.edu 316-295-5100
Highlight from the Health Science Speaker Series by Zachary Hamm
The Health Science Club had the privilege of welcoming some speakers who shared their experiences working in health science related fields. Annalee Hamm, a registered nurse from Wesley Medical Center’s high-risk labor and delivery unit, shared her experiences as a nurse in obstetrics, and labor and delivery where she takes care of some of the most complicated, high-risk pregnant patients. She highlighted the importance of the nurse-doctor relationship as well as ensuring the impact of the patient experience and the importance of safety. Annalee also shared hands-on lessons with our group by bringing gloves and demonstrating how to put them on properly. In addition, students saw a delivery table set-up full of birthing supplies including a dilatation board where she illustrated how a woman’s cervix dilates in labor and what 10 centimeters looks like. Annalee Hamm
Highlight from the Clinic by Ava Staver
So far in my career working in the medical field, currently as an ER scribe, I have seen many faces I will never forget, and they have forever changed me not only as a person, but as a future physician assistant. From patients experiencing mental health crisis, to families saying goodbye to their loved ones, the traumas and miracles I have witnessed in the ER have definitely shaped my future. The big question people always ask is why medicine and of course it’s because I love helping people, but there is deeper reasoning behind it, and each day I’m in the ER doing what I love, I’m reminded a little bit more why exactly I want to be a PA. I want to empathize with my patients and let them know that if they feel like no one else cares, I will be the one to care for them; I want to be a PA who celebrates, grieves, and supports my patients no matter the situation and be right there by their side for it all. I have so many more stories and faces that I will never forget that I could go on and on forever, but I look forward to the years to come, each one giving me more and more reasons to add to my list of why I chose medicine, and why I will continue to choose medicine. Ava Staver
Shadowing Reflection by Charleigh Haskins
I had the opportunity to observe the Radiology Department at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and shadow several different healthcare professionals. This experience taught me numerous things about the profession, myself and made me more certain of my choice to study radiologic technology. First, I learned the difference between the types of scans like X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and nuclear medicine. While many of these were the same type of scan, I further understood that one scan can be used to help Charleigh Haskins diagnose many different conditions. The observation time gave me both the emergency room and outpatient care perspective for radiology. I gained an understanding of reconning which is taking an image so it can be cropped and edited to make it easier for the radiologist to read the scan. The X-ray techs took me along with them to the ER where we took X-rays of fascinating cases and allowed me to make connections with patients. Many times the patients were admitted so I was able to see them day after day for routine scans and follow their overall health improvements. Taking part in the shadowing program by observing all the modalities, I discovered nuclear medicine was my favorite place to observe and an area I want to specialize in. I was paired with a wonderful mentor who explained the processes, looked at scans with me, did exams and procedures, and answered all my questions. Some of the scans we looked at were of patients being checked for pulmonary embolisms and stress tests. Ironically, my physiology class was going over the cardiovascular system and I enjoyed being able to apply these two pieces of my semester together in a real-life situation with a real patient scan along with the academic knowledge.
Greetings from PA School Angel Tran
“It’s been amazing so far. Great staff and faculty, but most importantly, great classmates. I feel like we are a big family that wants everyone to succeed. I continue to get a little glimpse of what my future will be, and it only motivates me more to be the best PA out there.”
Shadowing Reflection by Mahayla Harris
Being a part of the Caring Hearts Vet Clinic gave me a better understanding of working in a veterinary clinic as a veterinarian or a veterinary technician and further solidified my desire to go into veterinary medicine to work with animals. My shadowing experience allowed me to be a part of everyday procedures for dogs and cats such as spays and neuters, teeth cleanings and teeth pulling, routine nail trimming, vaccinations, microchipping, building relationships with animals and humans along with learning the ins and outs of other specialized procedures. This shadow experience allowed me to network and build great relationships as well as giving me an inside look at the operations and fast-paced world of a small animal veterinary clinic. I can see myself working with small dogs and cats, but I would also like to explore exotic animal veterinary care at a zoo to see how it compares. I recommend to students interested in Mahayla Harris veterinary medicine have a shadowing experience.
Greetings from PT School Grace Rowland
It has been a busy and fun first semester in Physical Therapy (PT) school at Wichita State University. From Pharmacology for PT class to clinical skills such as taking vitals, using a Hoyer lift bed, sheet transfers and transferring patients with gait belts; I have learned so much and there is lots more to come.
Shadowing Reflection by Madison Moses
From a young age, I have had a keen interest in orthopedic surgery and had an opportunity to shadow Dr. Tarun Bhargava, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hips and knees at Mid-America Orthopedics along with his PA and nurse practitioner. This experience exposed me to a wide variety of patient cases which gave me a better understanding of what is involved in orthopedics like learning how to identify four common signs of osteoarthritis on an X-ray, techniques used when giving injections and the science behind hip and knee replacements among other useful tips of information that will help me in the future. Observing in the operating room (OR) was my “happy place” and I was able to observe knee replacements, hip replacements, knee revisions, hardware removal, complex patellar tendon rupture repair, in addition to several other types of procedures. Dr. Bhargava was an extraordinary mentor and shared things with me beyond clinical diagnoses in medicine. He taught me life lessons that I can take with me wherever I go in life as a surgeon, mentor and person as well as educating me on insurance, tips for applying to medical schools, expectations in an OR, the business role for a doctor and much more. I can say this shadowing placement has been one of the most Madison Moses influential experiences I have had regarding my future career. I am grateful for the chance to work with one of the leading hip and knee replacement surgeons and grow in my knowledge in the world of orthopedics.
Shadowing Reflection Kennedy Birk
One of the most influential and educational courses I have taken in my educational journey at Friends University has been the pre-health shadowing course. This experience allowed me to be a part of F.O.R.M. Joint and Muscle Specialists in Chiropractics, which showed me an inside peak of the day-today life and hands-on experience of being a chiropractor and a massage therapist. I learned how a chiropractor can specialize in joint and muscle manipulation to relieve tension and pain a patient may have. By shadowing a chiropractor, I was more interested and excited to move forward in becoming a chiropractor. I was able to find different ways of practicing and looking at medicine. One of the key factors to overcome any situation is to find the cause first, analyze the different methods available and then find an appropriate resolution that works for the patient. I think this course is beneficial to students and allows students to watch professionals work with patients in a clinic setting, ask questions, and observe the challenges and accomplishments Kennedy Birk involved in the world of medicine.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Ashlynn Fairall Tell us about your journey through school and how you ended up at Friends University. I grew up in a small town and knew I wanted to go to a school where I felt a community, had small classroom settings, one-on-one relationships with teachers while having a great college experience and the ability to participate in a sport I love while getting a great quality education.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen students? Take advantage of all of the resources that are available to you! Talk to your professors, come into office hours, talk with classmates, use online resources, book a session with the ARC, etc. While you continue your education and study hard, do not forget to have fun and enjoy your time in college!
What drew you to a health science major? The shadowing course drew me to be a health science major as it allowed me to reflect on a possible career in medicine.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I enjoy sketching, cheering, reading, hanging out with friends, enjoying nature and taking my puppy on walks.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Ava Staver Tell us about your journey through school and how you ended up at Friends University. I am from Highlands Ranch, Colo. and became interested in the health field after taking science classes in high school. Friends University interested me because it had a small student body, offered a health science degree program and allowed me to continue my love of the game of golf at the collegiate level.
What drew you to a health science major? I have always loved helping people even when I was young. Watching my Granny’s health decline made me realize that I want to continue to help people in my future profession and be in medicine.
Which course did you find challenging in college and how did you overcome that? The most challenging class for me was biology. I took advantage of a tutor who helped me learn how to master the material. My advice to incoming freshmen is to not be afraid to ask for help or get a tutor.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I enjoy going out to eat, baking, spending time with friends and my family, especially when we go golfing together.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Grethel De La Torre Which course did you find challenging in college and how did you overcome that? Anatomy and physiology were challenging for me. I studied extra, studied with friends, asked questions and took advantage of office hours with Dr. Simmons who is always willing to help.
What drew you to a health science major? I always knew I wanted to become a physician. I used to spend my time watching medical television shows when I was younger and told my mom I wanted to be a doctor one day.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen students? Time flies and your years in college do too. Have fun, make friends, take tons of pictures, make connections, learn from your mistakes and always give the best of yourself to the world.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I enjoy painting, riding my bike, reading, traveling and spending time with friends.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Dr. Nora Strasser, Ed. D.
Chair of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Tell us about your journey through school and how you ended up at Friends University? I completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of South Dakota and went on to teach college math. I came to Friends in 1987 as an Assistant Professor.
What drew you to math? I always enjoyed math in high school and liked solving problems.
Did you always know you wanted to be a professor? I taught Sunday school throughout high school, tennis and other students in high school. When I applied for different positions, I received an offer to teach at Wichita State University and liked it.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I enjoy making art (painting, drawing, pottery, photography), dancing, hiking and traveling.
We heard you are an avid traveler and photographer. Have you been to all the states? What countries have you been to? Do you have a favorite? I love to travel and still have a few more states on the east coast to see. I have also been able to travel to many beautiful countries as well and can’t choose a favorite. We are considering going to Greece or Ireland next.
What are good study habits for students learning math? Students enrolled in a math class should make sure to study every day by completing their homework assignments. Don’t give up! Learning math requires a lot of effort.
What advice do you have for college students? It is important to set aside time to study and keep up with your classwork. Choose a major that you enjoy!
HEALTH SCIENCE
CLUB OFFICERS Mackenzie Cobb President
My name is Mackenzie Cobb and I am the Friends University Health Science Club President. I was born and raised in Texas and this is my third year at Friends. I currently work as a scribe at a local hospital. I enjoy working within the hospital setting as I find it very interesting. I plan to attend medical school after graduation and aspire to be a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Ava Staver
Social Media Manager My name is Ava Staver. I am excited to be a part of the Health Science Club as the Social Media Manager. I am from Highlands Ranch, Colo. and a sophomore here at Friends University. I plan to pursue a Health Science degree at Friends University and then return to Colorado, where I want to attend Red Rocks Community College to obtain my Physician Assistant degree where I can then become a PA and start helping others!
2023-24 Grethel De La Torre Vice President
I am Grethel De La Torre. I am a senior, Health Science and Spanish major. I have been serving as the Vice President of the Health Science Club for the past 2 years. I’m working hard to achieve my goal of becoming a plastic surgeon one day. I believe it is important to stay positive, safe, and do as much as we can while we are young. I love making new friends, so just come talk to me if you need anything and I will try my best to help you out!
Zach Hamm Treasurer
Hello, I’m Zach Hamm! As the Treasurer, I am glad to be a part of the Health Science Club for another year. I am a senior at Friends University and this fall of 2023 is my third year at Friends University. In my free time, I like to 3D print, play with my dog, Daisy, and spend time with my wife, Annalee. I hope to go into the medical field as a radiologist, following in my dad’s footsteps, who also attended Friends University and is a radiologist.
For more information about Friends University’s Health Sciences degree: friends.edu/health-sciences admissions@friends.edu 316-295-5100 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604; www.ncahlc.org; 1-800-621-7440.
2100 W. University Ave. Wichita, KS 67213