DAHS 2019 Annual Report

Serving our State

E X E M P L A R Y T E A C H I N G , I N N O VAT I V E RESEARCH, PERSON-CENTERED CLINICAL CARE

Spring 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 LETTER FROM THE

ASSOCIATE DEAN AND CHAIR 9 METRICS THAT MATTER 10 AROUND THE DEPARTMENT 11 COMMUNITY SERVICE,

ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPACT 16 PERSON-CE NTERED CLINICAL CARE 20 TEACHING 22 RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY 26 UNC HEALTH FOUNDATION

DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

cerebral pal sy

deafnes s

tra um atic brain injury

r ural he alth

CENTER FOR LITERACY AND DISABILITY STUDIES

GLOBAL INITIATIVES

dementia

DIVISION OF RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE

m e nta l health

ap ha sia

falling

NEUROD IAGNOS TICS AN D SLEEP SCIENCE

viro l ogy

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES

multiple sclerosis

p o s t- trau matic stre ss disorder m u s cu la r d ys tro phy

aging in pl a ce

als

a r thr itis

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

DIVISION OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE parkinson’s

autism spectrum disorder

s t roke

schizophrenia substance use

imaging hemato l ogy down syndrom e

m u l tipl e sc l e ros is

DIVISION OF CLINICAL REHABILITATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

muscular dystrophy traumatic brain inju r y

HUMAN M OVEM ENT SC IENC E CU R R ICU LU M

dementia

falling

O FFI C E OF R ESEA RCH A ND SC HO LAR SHIP

par kinson’s

s u bs ta nce use

autism spectrum disorde r

r u ra l he a l th

i maging

aging in place

aphasia

virol ogy

arthr itis

deafness

post-traumatic stress disorde r

INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

mental health he m ato lo gy

DIVISION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

dow n sy nd rom e

schizophrenia

stroke

cereb ral pal sy

DIVISION OF SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCES als

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LETTER FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN AND CHAIR

The Department of Allied Health Sciences in the School of Medicine is a beacon of excellence among many superb schools and programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Our programs provide high-quality education, are engaged in state-of-the art clinical services, and conduct innovative research in the broad areas of rehabilitation and intervention science.

As you will see in the following stories, we have created culturally sensitive and practice-ready professionals by expanding our interprofessional education and practice opportunities, and we are expanding into global educational initiatives for both faculty and students. We also are proud to be a diverse and inclusive academic and workplace environment, with more than 20 percent of our students identifying as underrepresented minorities. We are equally proud to have approximately 75 percent of our students remain in North Carolina as employed professionals in various communities across the state. We are a true example of excellence at UNC-CH. The department is poised to expand upon these past successes as we continue to serve our state constituents, the southeast region, and the country. This expansion is illustrated in our recently completed five-year strategic plan (2019-2024). With the input of our various programs, we are proud to highlight the following five pillars:

• Wellness • Research and Discovery • Community Engagement, Service, and Impact • Workforce Development and Student Success • Departmental Supports

These pillars encompass ambitious goals and objectives. As such, they will allow for continued success in exemplary teaching, innovative research, and person-centered care. They also embrace wellness initiatives throughout the department for faculty, staff, and students; aggressively address interprofessional education and practice needs; advance the importance of increased diversity and inclusion across all of our departmental efforts; and provide for a growing global footprint.

As we look toward our department’s 50th anniversary in 2022, we embrace the future of the departmental objectives set forth by these pillars. Alumni of our outstanding programs are part of the DAHS family, and we look forward to sharing our continued success with you.

We are sincerely appreciative of your ongoing and active involvement with our department as we move forward together.

With Gratitude,

Stephen Hooper, PhD

ASSOCIATE DEAN AND CHAIR

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8

METRICS THAT MATTER

80

I N 2 0 2 2 , DA H S W I L L C E L E B R AT E I T S

50

TH

ANNIVERSARY

FACULTY

471

6

DEGREE PROGRAMS

3 BACHELOR 8 MASTER 5 DOCTORAL 1 PROFESSIONAL

STUDENTS

CLINICAL PRACTICE LOCATIONS

234

76%

STAFF

of Alumni report working in North C a ro l i n a

CERTIFICATE

25%

21% OF STUDENTS

OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FIRST- GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

identify as a racial or ethnic minority

RANKED BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

4

9

#

9

#

Doctor of Audiology

#

Occupational Therapy

12

#

OF STUDENTS ARE NORTH CAROLINIANS

15

#

Speech-Language Pathology

82%

Rehabilitation Counseling

Doctor of Physical Therapy

$5.6 MILLION

in supervised clinical services p ro v i d e d b y o u r s t u d e n t s a n n u a l l y

Our faculty researchers average

$5 MILLION

i n g r a n t s a n d c o n t r a c t s e a c h y e a r.

16%

OF STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES

EACH YEAR, DAHS AVERAGES 100 PUBLICATIONS 9

AROUND THE DEPARTMENT

NEW FACULTY MEMBERS Jessica Cassidy, PT, DPT PhD Physical Therapy

Louise Thoma, PT, DPT, PhD Physical Therapy

Jeff O’Laughlin, PT, DPT

Mariel Marshall ’19 has received a Diversity Award from the University Office for Diversity and Inclusion at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The award recognizes people who have furthered diversity, equity, and inclusion at Carolina and in the community. During her time at Carolina, Marshall served as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at UNC-CH and served on the DAHS Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Team. Marshall is an alumna of the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling.

Physical Therapy

Terra Rose, PsyD, LP, LPC-QS Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

Shawn Luby ’06, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM Clinical Laboratory Science

Martha McGee ’93 has assumed leadership as director of McLendon Clinical Laboratories, the in-house laboratories for the UNC Medical Center and UNC Health Care. During her more than 25-year career with UNC Health Care, McGee has garnered a breadth of experience working in the fields of special microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics, among others.

Katie Hanlon, MMS, PA-C Physician Assistant Studies

Jason Hrdina, MPAS, MPH, EM PA-C Physician Assistant Studies

Khalilah Johnson ’16, PhD, MS, OTR/L

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Susan Gibson-MacNeela, MEd,

Dana McCarty, PT, DPT, has received a career development award from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), in order to research parentadministered physical therapy and massage techniques among extremely preterm infants, or babies born at fewer than 28 weeks old. This grant will be an administrative supplement to UNC-Chapel Hill’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)-funded KL2 program. McCarty is among one of the first physical therapists in the country to receive this award.

RT(R)

Radiologic Science

Clare Harrop, PhD

Office of Research and Scholarship

The Division of Clinical Laboratory Science has launched a new online master’s degree program for working professionals, which will prepare its graduates for service through education, research, and clinical laboratory administration.

The Division of Physical Therapy opened University Physical Therapy Durham (Mayfair Street) in fall 2019.

The department hosted its largest-ever Clinical Preceptor Appreciation Event at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center on May 22, 2019, featuring keynote and breakout sessions addressed to health care professionals who facilitate student education. Eric Zwemer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at UNC Children’s Hospital, addressed attendees with a presentation titled “Practice what you teach: Key techniques of effective educators.”

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SERVICE AND IMPACT

During an alternative spring break, Doctor of Audiology and Doctor of Physical Therapy students participated in a service-learning experience in Tyrrell County, North Carolina

Community Engagement, Service, and Impact S T UDENT Department of Allied Health Sciences’ Students and Faculty Participate in Interdisciplinary Spring Break Trip to Tyrrell County, North Carolina Students and faculty members from the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Division of Physical Therapy traveled to Tyrrell County, North Carolina, for an interdisciplinary service-learning trip over spring break. Tyrrell County is in the Northeast corner of the state, and it is a relatively under-resourced area when it comes to dedicated health care resources needed for a healthy population.

During this year’s trip, a record 25 students kept a rigorous schedule, and juggled logistics as interprofessional teams offered health promotion and physical fitness activities at the schools, risk screening for falls, blood pressure and polypharmacy at the local senior center, home visits for people with complex health challenges, audiology screening and more.

FEAT URE DAHS faculty on the trip included Vicki Mercer, an associate professor in the Division of Physical Therapy and Hannah Siburt, an assistant professor in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences.

Meredith Braza, a Doctor of Audiology student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, said the experience taught her about social determinants of health in the classroom.

“This trip inspired me not only to foster interpersonal relationships with my patients but also influence policy surrounding equitable health care access,” Braza said.

“I will undoubtedly carry the kindness and communion of Tyrrell County into my career and beyond.”

Vicki Mercer, PT, PhD, is also the director of the Human Movement Science curriculum and Hannah Siburt, AuD, PhD, is a clinical audiologist at the UNC Hearing and Communication Center.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SERVICE AND IMPACT

Deborah Radisch ’76, ’97, received an award from the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science to mark her service to the state as a distinguished alumna of the program.

Career Path in Forensic Pathology A LUMNI North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner Deborah Radisch Speaks about Medical Technology; Career Path in Forensic Pathology Deborah Radisch, a 1976 alumna of the then medical technology program, spoke to a crowd of donors to the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science about her education and career path, most recently serving as North Carolina’s chief medical examiner.

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FEAT URE Her role as chief medical examiner has led to her involvement in several high-profile cases, including the trial of Michael Peterson, a Durham novelist and former mayoral candidate who faced murder charges following the death of his wife, Kathleen, in 2001.

Radisch said her family moved to North Carolina in 1969, and she chose to attend UNC-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate student because of the reputation of its medical technology program.

“I don’t think I could be where I am today without my training. I’m very lucky that my training set me up for what I think was my very lucky niche in life.”

- DEBORAH RADISCH ’76 ’97

“I was lucky, and I got in,” Radisch said. “I decided that was what I wanted to do.”

Radisch said her background in medical technology positioned her well to pursue medicine. She also credits William McLendon ’52, ’56, for whom UNC Health Care and UNC Hospitals’ McLendon Laboratories are named, with encouraging her to apply to medical school.

“He would make time to meet with us,” Radisch said. “He’s the one who said to me: ‘We have no time to waste. Let’s go for medical school.’”

Radisch said her training in medical technology taught her tangible skills, such as coordination and dexterity.

“That came from plating specimens and learning how to unscrew a vial cap,” she said.

“I still remember the moment I thought ‘This is great; I can do this.’”

During her time in the program, she also learned confidence and professionalism.

“We were treated so well and with a lot of respect from our faculty,” Radisch said.

“I don’t think I could be where I am today without my training. I’m very lucky that my training set me up for what I think was my very lucky niche in life.”

As chief medical examiner, Radisch and her colleagues’ work involves conducting autopsies, a task she compared to facilitating a laboratory test. In her role, she also works with medical students, law enforcement, and defense attorneys to educate and to train.

“As the labs become more specialized, the training becomes more specialized,” Radisch said. “The dedication of the people in this program preparing their graduates for these challenges is admirable.”

Susan Beck ’92, the division’s director, said one of the best parts of her job is seeing graduates like Radisch succeed.

Radisch has served as chair of the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team and received her Master of Public Health from the Gillings School of Global Public Health in 1997. She also served in the United States Army Reserve for nearly ten years.

Colleague and friend Margaret Johnson ’76 said that Radisch has dedicated her life to her career.

“The people of North Carolina are indebted to her service,” Johnson said. Following her talk, Radisch received an award from the division to mark her service to the state as a distinguished alumna of the program.

“I am always amazed and impressed with what our graduates do with their talent and their degrees. I am also amazed and humbled by the support we get from our graduates. They care deeply about the education of current students.” Beck said.

Deborah Radisch, MD, MPH, is a clinical professor in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. William McLendon, MD, is a graduate of the UNC School of Medicine. Susan Beck, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, is the division director.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SERVICE AND IMPACT

Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Team Hosts Week-Long Program for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Young adults from the Triangle with intellectual disabilities experienced an inaugural week-long skills camp in July tailored to support them as they transition to adulthood thanks to an interdisciplinary University collaboration called the Higher Education, Employment, Living Success (HEELS UP) Summer Intensive.

graduate students from the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.

Participants practiced skills involved in cooking and kitchen safety, laundry, using a planner, job searching, and effectively responding to emergencies.

The program is part of the recently established HEELS 2 Transition organization, an interdisciplinary collaboration among the UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Allied Health Sciences, the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, UNC TEACCH Autism Program, and the School of Education.

Stephen R. Hooper, associate dean and chair of the DAHS, said these types of learning intensives are important for young adults as they move into young adulthood.

The intensive program focused on five important skill areas: career exploration, self-management, goal setting, independent living skills, and community safety.

Participants learned practical strategies in each area through interactive roleplay activities and discussions to help them successfully navigate the rights, responsibilities, and benefits of adult life.

Over the course of the week, 10 participants engaged in learning activities with 14 - U N C S C H OOL O F M E D IC IN E

“All adolescents need to learn these skills,” Hooper said. “Some need additional supports to move their development forward. […]

HEELS UP provides one mechanism for making this happen, and I am excited to see how his program will mature and become even more impactful in the coming years.”

The Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, led by Eileen Burker, PhD, CRC, is ranked #9 in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is led by Nancy Bagatell, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; its program in occupational therapy is ranked ninth according to U.S. News.

“It took months of planning, but it was well worth it. I think everyone involved gained from the program week.”

- DARA CHAN

About the Week The week culminated in final presentations from students about their strengths, interests, and goals in front of an audience of their families, University faculty and staff, and other supporters. Participants exhibited confidence and excitement about taking the next steps toward their adult life aspirations, empowered with the skills and strategies they learned during the week.

Participant Lucia Romano, who has worked at Weaver Street Market and Harris Teeter, said she learned how to look professional and how to practice interviewing. Lucia hopes to become a professional dancer. “Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in performing in front of a crowd,” Lucia said. “I hope to continue applying what I learned here.”

“I think one of the living skills that Lucia learned is that being an adult is hard and requires help,” Maria said. “This was great.”

Dara Chan, program director and assistant professor in the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, said the interdisciplinary nature of the program allowed for integration expertise from departments and units across the University, along with a community partner, “Faculty and graduate students from each area were involved in developing curriculum, materials, and program implementation,” Chan said. “It took months of planning, but it was well worth it. I think everyone involved gained from the program week.”

Need Content or images

Lucia’s mother, Maria Romano, said the week challenged her to think about ways their family can help Lucia become more independent.

One parent noted their child had gained confidence to take more responsibility in his life, such as setting reminders on his phone without an adult prompt. Parents also reported gains, such as increased confidence, independence, and enhanced social interactions.

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PERSON-CENTERED CLINICAL CARE

Physician Assistant Studies Students Return to Wise, Virginia, to Serve Through Remote Area Medical Program Seven students and two faculty with the Physician Assistant Studies program returned to Wise, Virginia, in an effort to provide health care through Remote Area Medical(RAM), a nonprofit mobile medical clinic. RAM delivers dental, vision, and medical care to underserved and uninsured populations at no cost. This year, RAM provided care to more than 1,100 patients, including nearly $650,000 worth of services over the course of three days.

The PA program joined other health care practitioners and community partners to get hands-on experience across the health care spectrum. Meg Beal, an assistant professor in the PA program, said RAM provided an opportunity for PA students to implement what they’ve learned in the classroom.

Because of a philanthropic collaboration with the Department of Ophthalmology, the DAHS is working to bring the first-ever RAM clinic to Wilkes County, North Carolina.

“Watching students develop greater confidence and learning new skills, while in the throes of caring for patients, is such a joy to be a part of,” Beal said. “Service-learning is invaluable in medical education, and the patients we served were so grateful.”

Kristen Brooks, a first-year PA student, and native North Carolinian said she chose to attend the RAM trip out of a desire to help others. “I love getting to know the patient, their background, all about their families, and building rapport with

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them. I want them to appreciate they are just as significant as any other patient,” Brooks said.

The RAM experience provides an opportunity for PA students to provide care for patients in a resource-limited setting, in which they must take medical histories, conduct medical exams, and work with faculty to determine appropriate treatment plans, among other tasks.

Paul Chelminski ’95, ’03, professor of medicine and the PA program’s director, said students learn more than they initially perceive thanks to service-learning experiences like RAM. “They, of course, learn about medicine by providing care to individuals,” Chelminski said.

“They also learn about the remarkable resilience, resourcefulness, and solidarity of poor and underserved communities that rally to meet the needs of their citizens.”

Beal said the RAM experience allows for teaching opportunities for students that cannot be replicated in the classroom or in a wellresourced medical environment.

“It truly feels like an experience where the heart of medicine is at the forefront,” Beal said. “Sharing that with our students is so meaningful.”

Paul Chelminski, MD, MPH, FACP, has served as PA program director since the program’s inception in fall 2015.

Meg Beal, PA-C, serves as the PA program’s associate director of clinical education and spearheads rural and interprofessional initiatives.

Uzma Khan and Interprofessional Education Team Receive Second Place Honors at Annual CLARION Competition Uzma Khan, a second-year graduate student in the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, received second place recognition alongside her team at the annual CLARION National Case Competition, a student-run program at the University of Minnesota dedicated to improving health care through interprofessional collaboration and leadership.

Khan, an international student from New Delhi, India, said she was the only student representing the field of clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling across 17 interdisciplinary teams. Through the challenge, Khan said she learned insight into patient care.

“As a future health provider, it helped me practice health care based on an integrative biopsychosocial model, rather than only a social or medical model,” Khan said. “I learned about collaboration and approaching a problem from so many perspectives.”

Since 2005, students from across the nation have participated in an annual case competition that aims to achieve a holistic perspective on patient safety and health care improvements. Each year, students are presented with a case consisting of a complex problem that requires teams to perform a root cause analysis and develop an intervention that specifically addresses the presented problem.

This year, teams were tasked to address the rise of individuals experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and their resulting poor health outcomes.

The UNC-Chapel Hill team assessed county-level data along with case studies of individuals experiencing homelessness, and they identified that chronic, unmet health issues, met with a bottlenecked system for accessing resources, exacerbated many preventable and treatable conditions.

“I learned about collaboration and approaching a problem from so many perspectives.”

- UZMA KHAN

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PERSON-CENTERED CLINICAL CARE

Angela and Marty Rosenberg ‘Step Up’ for Multiple Sclerosis Research at UNC-Chapel Hill In fall 2005, Angela McCaffrey Rosenberg ’88, and her husband, Marty, answered two lifechanging telephone calls within the span of three hours. The first phone call announced the birth of their granddaughter, Parker; the second officially diagnosed Angela with multiple sclerosis, a debilitating, and difficultto-treat neurological disease.

“Everyone’s heard the phrase ‘I’ve got good news, and I’ve got bad news,’” Angela said.

“That summed up that day pretty well.”

Since Angela’s diagnosis, the Rosenbergs have solidified their legacy as champions of research and patient care for multiple sclerosis. Together, they launched the MS STEP UP program more than ten years ago, with the first cohort of MS-trained students graduating in 2010. Recently, they have both

endowed the Angela and Marty Rosenberg MS STEP UP Endowment for Multiple Sclerosis and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Physical Therapy, a long-lasting step toward improving health care and patient outcomes for people living with MS. The program and fund grew out of a need to fill a void in health care and in education, one which Angela saw firsthand during her time as both a student of physical therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University and as an associate professor in the UNC School of Medicine Division of Physical Therapy.

The lack of expertise in treating people with MS perplexed her; there were so few physical therapy specialists who treated movement issues stemming from MS. “I felt a need and a desire to do what I could to improve the

“We are so honored to be in the position to support this program so that others might be able to share our vision to educate physical therapy students so they can treat and educate others.”

- ANGELA MCCAFFREY ROSENBERG ’88

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health care landscape,” Angela said. “MS is a shape shifter, but it impacts movement, which is a physical therapist’s bread and butter.”

Her solution to tackling this issue came in the form of creating the MS Standardized Treatment and Education Program with University Partners (MS STEP UP) program, designed for physical therapy students to learn more about MS and how to diagnose and treat issues in patients that stem from the disease, such as with gait, balance, and other mobility issues. As an educator in physical therapy, Angela identified what academic content MS experts would need in order to succeed. She worked in concert with an interdisciplinary group of professionals and community members with MS to build the MS STEP UP curriculum with support from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In composing the program’s mission and objectives, she valued insight from colleagues and faculty in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, where the physical therapy program is housed.

Recent MS STEP UP graduate Jessica Anderson, DPT, said she hopes to foster increased awareness and knowledge of MS within the Latinx population, to develop educational resources for health care professionals, caregivers, and to ensure optimal care for those living with MS. “This scholarship has allowed me the time to focus on my clinical skills by taking advantage of experience outside the classroom,” Anderson said. “I am extremely grateful for this support.”

Audrey Osinski ’14, adjunct faculty and clinical preceptor, directs the program, which is supported by faculty members and a volunteer leadership team.

Deborah Givens, PT, DPT, PhD, is the division director.

To make a gift to this fund, visit uncmedicine.org/Rosenberg

“This scholarship has allowed me the time to focus on my clinical skills by taking advantage of experience outside the classroom. I am extremely grateful for this support.”

- JESSICA ANDERSON, DPT

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TEACHING

Stephen R. Hooper, Elizabeth Crais, Linda Watson, Melody Harrison Savage

Endowed Scholarship Established to Honor Melody Harrison Savage; Celebrates Legacy of Education in Speech-Language Pathology A newly-established endowed scholarship honors Melody Harrison Savage, a faculty member for nearly 40 years in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, who retired from the UNC School of Medicine in 2018 following a distinguished career. The scholarship has been made possible by the generous support of an anonymous donor to impact the division for years to come.

The Harrison Savage Childhood Hearing Loss in Speech-Language Pathology Endowed Scholarship Fund honors Harrison’s legacy by providing scholarship support for students who have an interest in childhood hearing loss.

Sharon Wallace Williams ’84, and the division’s director said this transformational gift will positively impact students who choose to pursue speech-language pathology with a primary focus on children and hearing loss. “By way of this endowment, current and future students will be able to carry Harrison’s legacy into classroom, clinics, and research institutions across North Carolina and beyond,” she said.

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“This endowed scholarship is a wonderful way to acknowledge Melody’s long-lasting impact in our division,” Williams said. “It will open doors for those who wish to pursue speech-language pathology and transform the lives of children, and their families.”

Harrison arrived at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1980 and within a few years had developed one of the nation’s few training programs where speech-language pathology students could learn to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Her former students now practice throughout North Carolina and the United States.

Harrison Savage, PhD, led with excellence in teaching, research, and service. Harrison’s research ranged from studies addressing the needs of children, parents, and families, to language and communication development. Her publications and presentations enabled her to share her expertise on a national and international stage. Sharon Wallace Williams, PhD, CCC-A, directs the division.

Lee McLean, Vicky LeGrys, and Stephen Hooper celebrating the Dr. Lee McLean Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring celebration.

Vicky LeGrys, Faculty in the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, Receives Second-Ever Dr. Lee McLean Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring The UNC School of Medicine Department of Allied Health Sciences (DAHS) awarded its second-ever Dr. Lee McLean Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring to Vicky LeGrys, a longtime faculty member in the Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, on April 24, 2019.

Tara Moon ’94, ’96, an associate professor in the division, said she has benefitted from LeGrys’ mentorship from Moon’s time as an undergraduate student to her joining LeGrys as a colleague. Moon estimated that during LeGrys’ more than 35-year-career she has taught more than 600 students.

The award is named for Lee McLean, chair emeritus of the DAHS, and it recognizes faculty mentors who have supported junior faculty, particularly in the realms of research, teaching, and clinical work. McLean served as DAHS chair from 2000 until 2013.

“She is always striving for excellence, and she’s the perfect role model for our students,” Moon said. “My experiences with Vicky as a colleague have truly helped shape my professional growth.”

Stephen Hooper, DAHS chair and associate dean, said McLean’s generosity in securing the endowed award drives much-needed efforts to produce outstanding faculty.

Vicky LeGrys, DA, MT(ASCP), is a professor in the division. Lee McLean, PhD, is faculty emeritus in the DAHS. Tara Moon, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM has served on the division’s faculty since 2002.

“We need to continue this support going forward,” Hooper said. “We wouldn’t be here without the vision and generosity of Dr. Lee McLean.”

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RESEARCH & DISCOVERY

UNC School of Medicine Departments of Allied Health Sciences and Neurology Announce 2019 Sleep Innovative Research Grant Recipients The Departments of Allied Health Sciences (DAHS) Office of Research and Scholarship and Neurology have announced awardees of the 2019-2020 Sleep Innovative Research Grants (SIRG). The SIRG program launched in 2018 thanks to the generosity of the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation; the program leads an effort to build an internationally recognized program of research in sleep science at UNC-Chapel Hill.

This year’s awardees are:

Continuing through 2021, the competitive award process will offer three grants annually to UNC-CH investigators. For each round of funding, research teams will be funded up to a maximum of $10,000 for their one-year projects.

This is an initiative alongside the Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science (NDSS) program, the Department of Neurology and the University’s Office of Research Development. The NDSS program is a joint initiative between the DAHS and UNCCharlotte, directed by Mary Ellen Wells, PhD.

Paul Geiger, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Women’s Mood Disorders through UNC Department of Psychiatry Research project: “Relationships Among Estradiol Variability, Endocrine Circadian Rhythms, and Sleep Problems in the Menopause Transition”

Michael Sidorov, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology Research project: “Quantifying Sleep Spindles from Overnight EEGs as an Angelman Syndrome Biomarker”

Marcia Van Riper, with the UNC School of Nursing, PhD Research project: “Family Management of Sleep Problems in Children with Down Syndrome”

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Mary Ellen Wells

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funds Michael Lewek’s Research for Gait-Related Trips Post Stroke respond. Although this work is critical for understanding balance recovery, it doesn’t help researchers figure out what causes a self-induced trip. Instead, Lewek’s research aims to predict in real time when a trip is most likely to occur in order to ultimately stop it before it happens.

“Imagine a computer watching you and saying with each step, ‘no trip, no trip, no trip, no trip, trip.’ We want to be able to predict that the trip is about to happen,” Lewek said.

Michael Lewek

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a research grant to the Division of Physical Therapy’s Michael Lewek in order to research the ability to predict someone’s likelihood of tripping while walking after having experienced a stroke. Lewek will conduct research alongside He “Helen” Huang, thanks to a partnership with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint initiative between NC State University and UNCChapel Hill. The two-year research award, an R21, will allow for Lewek and his research team to better understand why people trip after a stroke when they’re walking, and the role clinicians can play in prevention.

According to Lewek, prior research has simulated tripping to determine how people

Lewek, who has also received a faculty leave award from the Department of Allied Health Sciences in order to extend this research, hopes to develop an algorithm that will gauge the likelihood of tripping in real time. The algorithm could be applied in a device, such as an exoskeleton or electrical stimulator, which manipulates the leg to prevent the trip from occurring, such as by lifting your foot higher off the ground.

“From an efficiency standpoint, our goal is to swing our foot as close to the ground as possible without touching the ground,” Lewek said.

Lewek said results from this research could have implications for falls prevention and quality of life for individuals following stroke.

“Our goal is to prevent intrinsically driven trip-related falls,” Lewek said. “Falls are a big deal, especially in older adults. We’re trying to eliminate falls from happening.”

Michael Lewek, PT, PhD, is also the associate director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Center and an associate professor of physical therapy.

D EPA RTM EN T O F A LLI ED HEA LTH S C IENCES - 23

RESEARCH & DISCOVERY

Anonymous Donor Establishes Occupational Science Discovery and Expansion of Knowledge Endowed Fund to Support PhD Program and Division Faculty The Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy has received a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor to establish the Occupational Science Discovery and Expansion of Knowledge Endowed Fund.

The transformational gift will provide support for faculty and/or PhD student research and scholarly activity in perpetuity. Funds may be used for visiting scholars, think tanks, and expenses related to conducting and disseminating research, among other activities.

The division’s PhD program, established in 2006, is one of the world’s top contributors to occupational science knowledge through the research of faculty, PhD students, and

alumni. The PhD program creates and nurtures a community of scholars who tackle complex issues at both theoretical and practical levels while educating practitioners with a sophisticated understanding of human occupation. In addition to the PhD program, the division has a master’s program in occupational therapy which is ranked #9 according to U.S. News & World Report.

The future impact and potential opportunity this gift provides will ensure that the division continues to support cutting-edge research and mission-driven results on an institutional and national level. UNC Medicine and the division are grateful for this gift.

“The transformational gift will provide support for faculty and/or PhD student research and scholarly activity in perpetuity.”

- STEPHEN HOOPER, PHD

2 4 - UN C S C H OOL O F M E D IC IN E

Division of Radiologic Science Names Global Student Ambassadors to Switzerland and Malawi The Division of Radiologic Science has named seniors Anni Fiets and Victoria Gates as the division’s 2020 Global Student Ambassadors to Switzerland. They join seniors Bailey Ewing and Amanda Winton as Global Student Ambassadors to Malawi.

During spring break 2020, Fiets and Gates will visit and shadow at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. This bilateral exchange has goals of understanding radiology services in different health systems and of incorporating positive takeaways into future practice. The students will gain experience with radiology in an area with different cultures and languages. Additionally, they will observe use of cutting-edge equipment in a Siemens trial center hospital.

division faculty member, Wendy Ross ‘90. This visit is part of an established partnership that seeks to strengthen existing radiology services via education for clinicians and radiographers.

The division offers these global health opportunities in conjunction with UNC Global Radiology, a chapter of RAD-AID International, which aims to create a global radiology community through education, collaboration, and innovation. The UNCChapel Hill RAD-AID Chapter was founded in 2012 by the division with the UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Radiology.

The division is led by Joy Renner ’80. Wendy Ross, MS, RT(R)(CT), is a clinical coordinator within the division.

In July, Ewing and Winton visited Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, with

D EPA RTM EN T O F A LLI ED HEA LTH S C IENCES - 25

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! ce n e er ff i D Make a The Department of Allied Health Sciences depends on your support and generosity to advance our mission to improve the quality and accessibility of health care for the people of North Carolina and beyond. At the heart of the department’s success in producing the nation’s leading allied health professionals for over 40 years is a set of key program values that guide faculty, students, and alumni: Exemplary Teaching, Research, and Person-Centered Clinical Practice.

The Chair’s Fund for Excellence, funded by the support of our donors, continues to help us meet the increasing needs of our students who are not fully state supported and to address our key program values with vigor, integrity, and an outstanding level of quality on the part of our students, faculty, and staff. We greatly appreciate the ongoing generosity of our donors in advancing the overall mission of our department.

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