ROCK REPORT
Old Bones Bring New Life to Anatomy Classroom
F
or T.J. Meehan, Ph.D., the path to understanding how the human body works is sometimes about more than knowledge of the muscle and bone groups.
Meehan, an assistant professor of exercise and sport science, earned degrees in geology and biology and a doctorate in biology and has spent years researching the gradual process of evolution and large-scale climactic cycles, primarily by studying the fossil record. “I try to figure out what they did for a living,” he said of the prehistoric mammals he studies. Recently, Meehan delivered a talk at the annual Tate Conference based on fossil evidence of an ancient mammal that fell to a predator, using body position, damage to the bones, and other evidence to come to conclusions about its behaviors and its environment. In addition to biology and geology, Meehan said his research utilizes concepts from paleontology and paleoceanography as well as some botany, to name a few. He said having grounding in multiple disciplines is important when studying the behavior of animals that lived millions of years ago. Similarly, he said that research helps him in the classroom as he explains the various muscle and bone groups of the human
Faculty Kudos
LaKresha Graham, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, returned to the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication after being a fellow in 2014. She became a certified facilitator for Cultural Detective, a cross-cultural communication program, and participated in a weeklong workshop titled LaKresha Graham, Ph.D. “Turning Intercultural Theory Into Practice.” Mylene Schriner, Ph.D, interim chair and assistant professor of occupational
T.J. Meehan, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise and sport science
body for students who are primarily a part of the physical and occupational therapy programs. “I have to think in terms of form and function and a lot of these students are looking at the human body in similar terms of functional morphology,” he said.
therapy, was interviewed for a video about one of her former patients who received the KU Rehab Hall of Fame Award. The patient had a long and challenging recovery from bacterial meningitis and credits Schriner for helping him focus on rehabilitation efforts. Michael Stellern, Ph.D., professor of economics, is the 2015-16 recipient of the Rues Teacher/Scholar Fellowship. He will facilitate a spring seminar on the case study method of teaching.
Tobey Stosberg, MSN, MAE, RN, assistant professor and director of the Seelos Center and Learning Resource Center at Research College of Nursing, gave a presentation titled “Interprofessional Simulation and Education: Physical Therapy, Nursing, and Theatre Faculty Working Together in the Development of a Standardized Patient Program” at Widener University in Philadelphia.
For more faculty news, visit rockhurst.edu/facultykudos. ROCKHURST.EDU
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