PEOPLE AHS Alumni Highlights Editor’s note: for this edition of UIC Applied Health Sciences Magazine, we are featuring AHS alumni who are helping to make a difference during this difficult time.
Photo: Mary Stapel, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria
Meditations for Turbulent Times, a free audio series to help people who are experiencing elevated stress levels, racing thoughts, heightened anxiety, fear and distress. To listen to the series, and for helpful tips and practices with Tai Chi, visit chicagotaichi.org/free-meditation-audios.
Left to right: UI-UX designer Jakob Plotts and Scott Barrows with OSF Healthcare Faith Community Nurses Deb Kemp, Angela Wissel and Randall McClallen at a Peoria homeless shelter for mothers and children.
“I was redeployed from Peoria to the South Side of Chicago to work as a pandemic health care worker as part of an effort to bring innovative home monitoring technology to the homes of those being treated for COVID-19 via an iPad-based telemedicine component that includes live chats with nurses and doctors. I’m also involved in a pandemic-related project in Peoria that aims to provide digital access to health care to the homeless by installing iPad kiosks in local shelters for screening and remote monitoring. Many are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, but with the iPad-based technologies we are adding, we can help provide a level of care and disease prevention that they may not otherwise receive. Hopefully our new program will make some difference (I know it will).” - Scott Barrows ’76 BS BVIS
Chris Cinnamon leads a virtual Tai Chi class.
Founded in 2012 by Chris Cinnamon ’17 KN MS, Chicago Tai Chi is one of the leading Tai Chi schools in Chicago. In response to the pandemic, Cinnamon launched 24
“I’ve been working in the Albany, Georgia, area for a local hospital as a home health physical therapist for the last 10 years. When COVID-19 hit our area, it was not only a surprise but a scary time. In home health we were not seeing patients at the severe acute stage like in the hospital, but we were seeing them in a less controlled environment. Many patients were severely deconditioned as they had been intubated and had weeks-long hospital stays. At the time, the virus was too new and not much was known about it. But focusing on basic treatment to rebuild strength and progressing to functional mobility did get patients back to moving in their home again. Fear was a common finding with patients. Patrick Dziedzic I tried to rebuild confidence during treatment, pointing out their progress with each visit. All of the seriously affected patients I treated did improve, though I am not sure if some will have permanent limitations. I hope I helped them regain some feeling of normalcy and independence in their lives after a scary, life-threatening experience.” - Patrick Dziedzic ’97 BS PT
Arin Weidner ’09 BS KINES, ’16 MS KINES volunteered at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing facility in addition to making and distributing face coverings.