community
strategic goals
Students Become Health Coaches An increasing number of Gannon University students are gaining real world, hands-on experience as health coaches for the patients of Erie hospitals. A class of six students is taking a seminar course taught by various Saint Vincent Hospital professionals, including a physician, health psychologist, dietitian, nurses and others who come as needed. The undergraduate pre-medical and physician assistant students gain exposure to patient contact and care through this initiative, which provides a well-rounded learning experience composed of both foundational knowledge and hands-on learning. “Through programs such as these, our students have the opportunity to learn vital skills, interact with patients and their
families, and communicate with members of the health care team– things they will not get from their textbooks or science labs,” said Provost and Vice President Carolynn Masters, Ph.D. Upon completion, students can apply for internships as active health coaches in homes of post-release patients to continue educating about healthy lifestyle choices and ensure they maintain their treatment regime. This initiative is similar to a GannonUPMC Hamot Medical Center program, in which they can serve as patient care technicians at Hamot after completing the program training. Students work about 12 hours a week and complete about 2,000
hours of work by graduation. “From the standpoint of training future health professionals, we have a big contingency of students who come here for that reason and we have a good reputation,” said Steven A. Mauro, Ph.D., dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences.
Helping the Community, One Course at a Time The Peace Corps once used the advertising slogan, “The toughest job you’ll ever love.” Change “job” to “course” and you’ll have a good summary of Bruce Kibler, Ph.D.’s Business Policy class. Kibler coordinates projects with businesses, non-profit organizations or initiatives that, Assistant Professor of management, Bruce Kibler said, “can control where I Kibler, Ph.D., believes it is can see the demands, see the important for students to be learning, and where students involved in the community and learn through real-world are graded by the entity on how they perform.” experiences. Students encounter real-world issues, including managing the expectations of stakeholders, which can be the most important aspect of projects. Just ask Kibler’s students who researched Low-Profit Limited Liability Company legislation for State Senator Sean Wiley’s office.
Kibler explained that the students believed Senator Wiley would benefit from their research and analysis of the legislation before pursuing any action of implementation. “On the day they were to present, they were going to skirt the issue, but I urged them to present their findings. They did, and he lauded them for making a truthful presentation, but they were nervous about standing up to a senator,” Kibler remembered. “It was a huge, huge moment when he complimented them for providing good information.” The project is an example of the kind of academic servicelearning that Kibler advocates, an approach he identifies as three distinct components: 1. An external entity 2. Community involvement 3. Benefit for both the entity and the students The toughest course they’ll ever love.
#
Possibilities 3