UIC Applied Health Sciences Magazine - Winter 2022

UIC Applied Health Sciences MAGAZINE

Inside AHS

WINTER

2022

AHS faculty and staff lead by example

A look at our researchers, projects, laboratories and centers

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN “Yet it is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness.” — W. L. Watkinson Well, here we are again, carefully navigating our lives amid escalated threats of Covid. It's a time of frustration and anxiety, but it can also be an opportunity to reflect together on our accomplishments and challenges, to create plans and set priorities—to look inside.

For me, this means I will be stepping down as dean, after a successor is hired, to focus on teaching and research as a professor of kinesiology and nutrition. When I joined AHS in 2011, I promised to serve as dean for 10 years. It's been a privilege to lead AHS and I'm excited about my new role.

Our work is strengthened by those who “talk the talk and walk the walk.” In this issue, you'll meet faculty and staff who support AHS through gifts of money or service, as well as alumni who are leaders and innovators. Read about our wide range of research to transform health care practice and join us in welcoming internationally known researchers Kalyan Pasupathy (BHIS), and Robert Motl (KN).

Our commitment to the community remains strong. We embarked on a partnership to train Malcolm X College students as community health workers who will help families impacted by opioid abuse. We joined UI Health in establishing a comprehensive clinic for Chicago's underserved Southwest Side.

To better serve current and future students, we developed a doctoral program in occupational therapy, an additional master's concentration in kinesiology, and a certificate program in disability legal studies.

As we continue to live in uncertain times, we remain certain of these things: the exceptional talents of our students, staff, faculty and alumni; the value of our work to improve health care; and the truth of our vision for a world in which every person can live a healthy and self-determined life.

Bo Fernhall Dean and Professor College of Applied Health Sciences

UIC Applied Health Sciences Magazine Winter 2022 EDITOR

Erika Chavez Director of Marketing and Communications

DESIGN

Heidi Schlehlein Webmaster and Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sonya Booth, Lori Botterman

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS UIC Creative and Digital Services, UIC Office of Marketing and Brand Management

©2022 University of Illinois at Chicago.

All rights reserved. Published by the Office of the Dean, UIC College of Applied Health Sciences, 808 S. Wood St., 169 CMET, Chicago, IL 60612-7305.

Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor, the college or university.

Telephone

(312) 996-6695

Fax

(312) 413-0086

E-mail

advanceahs@uic.edu

Website

ahs.uic.edu

You might notice abbreviations throughout this issue. They correlate to academic units and programs in the College of Applied Health Sciences.

AT

Athletic Training

BHI

Biomedical and Health Informatics

BHIS

Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences

BVIS

Biomedical Visualization

DHD

Department of Disability and Human Development

DIS

Disability Studies

HI

Health Informatics

HIM

Health Information Management

KINES

Kinesiology

KN

Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition

MLS

Medical Laboratory Sciences

NUT

Nutrition

OT

Department of Occupational Therapy

PT

Department of Physical Therapy

RS

Rehabilitation Sciences

UIC Applied Health Sciences MAGAZINE

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Features

AHS faculty and staff

A record year for research

lead by example

A look at our researchers,

AHS Gives

projects, laboratories and

12

16

centers

2021 AHS Alumni Award winners Meet four alumni who are forging award-worthy

18

Notebook 3

People 23

contributions

Partnering against the opioid crisis

Highlights from alumni at the helm

On the cover: A composite image comprised of photos of AHS faculty and staff.

@UICAHS

6

Debunking intermittent fasting myths

10

Vaccine hesitancy among health care workers

NOTEBOOK AHS News and Notes Dean Bo Fernhall to return to the faculty national reputation of the college’s programs and departments while expanding clinical care delivery among the health enterprise,” said Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs.

Since 2012, AHS has seen a 50% increase in student enrollment. For the last three years, AHS has had the highest sixyear graduation rate for undergrads among all UIC colleges.

The college added two new bachelor’s programs—disability studies and human development, the first in the nation, and rehabilitation sciences. There are two new PhD programs, in rehabilitation sciences and biomedical and health informatics.

Faculty practice clinics include physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation; occupational therapy; and the Developmental Disabilities Family Clinic.

The college established the Office of Research, which supports faculty projects all the way from proposal development to grant application.

Bo Fernhall

Bo Fernhall, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences since 2011, will step down in 2022 to resume full-time teaching and research as professor of kinesiology and nutrition.

He will continue as dean until a successor is named; a national search will launch soon.

“I have no doubt that our college is poised to continue its upward trajectory to reach an even higher level of excellence under new leadership. Thank you for making my time as dean one that I’ll always treasure,” Fernhall said in an Oct. 19 message to the college.

Under Fernhall’s leadership, the college moved forward in student success, research, national rankings, community partnerships and advancement. It celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019.

“During his tenure as dean, he has worked closely with college leadership, faculty, staff and students to elevate the 2

Alumni and advancement outreach continue to grow, including the annual “AHS Celebrates” event to recognize the accomplishments of faculty and alumni. Gifts by alumni such as Margret Amatayakul �70 HIM, whose donation is the largest to date, support scholarship and research.

Fernhall is well known as a researcher in exercise physiology, cardiovascular function and lifetime health, with a focus on people with disabilities and ethnic and racial disparities.

Before coming to UIC, he was professor of kinesiology and community health and associate dean at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was professor and chair of exercise science at Syracuse University.

He is a faculty member of the Integrative Physiology Laboratory and president-elect of the National Academy of Kinesiology.

“When I began my deanship, I made it clear that I intended to serve no more than 10 years,” Fernhall said. “I look forward to working with you in my new role as a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition.”

Partnering against the opioid crisis The Department of Disability and Human Development is part of a unique program to train community health workers to help fight the opioid crisis.

In a partnership with City Colleges of Chicago’s Malcolm X College, Gateway Foundation Inc. and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, DHD will assist in implementing the Malcolm X College Community Health Worker Program. The program trains workers to provide care and services to children and families impacted by opioid and substance use disorders.

Using a $2.1M grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Malcolm X College launched the Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program. The program will bring care and relief to neighborhoods most affected by opioid use disorder in Chicago.

The grant will pay for students’ tuition, fees and book costs, and will provide a stipend up to $7,500 for the twophase training course. Phase one is a one-semester certif-

icate program to become a community health worker. It includes five foundational courses with an emphasis on an opioid crisis support curriculum inclusive of an 80-hour field experience and a stipend. This phase can be taken in the fall or spring semester. Phase two is a yearlong paid apprenticeship and mentorship program with a part-time or full-time commitment.

“We are excited and eager to help make this program viable in Chicago, particularly in communities that need support and resources and have critical workforce shortage challenges,” said Tamar Heller, director of the Institute on Disability and Human Development and DHD professor and head.

“IDHD is leading the evaluation component of this work, which will be critical to its future sustainability.”

One key program goal is to identify students with a strong desire to pursue a career in public health and/or related health care fields who want to see Chicago communities thrive. With a focus on Chicago’s West Side, students will work with mentors and clinicians to connect people who are suffering from opioid use disorder and their families with essential resources and support to fight the opioid crisis in Chicago.

For more information about the program, visit ccc.edu/opioid.

A researcher’s researcher The UIC Office of Research Data Initiatives and Information has been established in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research to ensure that campus researchers have access to the tools, insights, regulatory systems and data they need to conduct secure world-class research.

The new office is led by Andrew Boyd, associate vice chancellor for research, chief research information officer and associate professor of biomedical and health information sciences.

The office maintains close collaborations with UI Health to provide access to health data as well as with UIC Technology Solutions to provide researchers with high-end computing resources. One recent collaborative initiative includes an international travel laptop loaner program with specific security guidance for sharing research data.

For more information, visit go.uic.edu/ORDI2.

Andrew Boyd Winter 2022

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

3

NOTEBOOK

New entry-level occupational therapy doctorate

Three occupational therapy students participate in a toy analysis.

The Department of Occupational Therapy will transition to an entry-level doctorate program from its current master’s degree program, beginning with its fall 2022 class.

The new program has been granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. UIC will learn the decision regarding accreditation in December 2024, in advance of the graduation of the first cohort in May 2025.

The change from entry-level master’s degree to doctorate is a growing trend among universities, said Elizabeth Peterson, OT clinical professor and director of professional education.

The full-time program, which takes two years and nine months to complete, emphasizes embedded, real-life learning with case-based courses that cover theory and evidence-based clinical practice skills, leadership and management, as well as fieldwork and a capstone project.

The OT department plans to use innovative teaching methods that include team-based learning, simulation with standardized patients, and social learning models.

“Students will gain advanced knowledge and skills and thus be very well prepared for the steadily increasing challenges of health care and educational settings,” Peterson said.

The change also reflects UIC’s role as a Research 1 university, she said.

“The curricular requirements associated with an entry-level OTD program are well-aligned with the occupational therapy faculty members’ strong scholarship portfolios.”

4

For more information about the program, visit go.uic.edu/EntryLevelOTD.

A targeted health care collaborative Photo: S.K.Vemmer

previous services and add additional ones, including specialty care, advanced diagnostics, behavioral health and women’s wellness services.

AHS faculty and students will provide physical therapy, occupational therapy and nutrition services. The Department of Disability and Human Development may offer clinical and assistive technology services, Keehn said.

A UI Health patient gets their blood pressure checked.

The College of Applied Health Sciences is a partner in a new health care collaborative that will operate a comprehensive clinic for residents of Chicago’s underserved Southwest Side.

The T.A.R.G.E.T. Health Collaborative (Transforming the Gage Park/West Elsdon Community Through Partnership), led by UI Health, includes AHS, the College of Medicine, Mile Square clinic, Alivio Medical Center and Family Friend Health Center.

The clinic, at 5525 S. Pulaski Road in the Gage Park-West Elsdon neighborhood, will be located in a facility closed earlier this year by the former Mercy Medical Center.

“This was a very important health care facility in that neighborhood,” said Mary Keehn, associate dean for clinical affairs. “When Mercy Hospital closed the clinic, the neighborhood was left with a big hole in their access to health care services.”

The community has disproportionately high rates of diabetes, heart disease, adult and childhood obesity, cancer, and pregnancy risk factors, said Heather Prendergast, College of Medicine associate dean and UI Health emergency room physician. She said the new clinic will restore Winter 2022

In fact, “this could potentially involve all of the college departments,” Keehn added, with opportunities for research, clinical practice and community education.

In her other campus role, as assistant vice chancellor for interprofessional practice and education in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Keehn is excited about the chance to develop and evaluate new training and practice models.

She will work with Michele Mariscalco, her counterpart in the College of Medicine and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, “to create bridges between the colleges in terms of health care, service delivery and health and interprofessional education,” she said.

The building’s purchase and remodeling are funded by a $15 million Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives award from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which presented eight grants totaling $94.3 million to health care partnerships through the state.

Clinic services will be phased in over the next year as remodeling is completed and staff is hired. AHS services will probably begin in late spring, Keehn said.

“It is really exciting—and like all exciting things, a little challenging,” she said.

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

5

NOTEBOOK

Debunking intermittent fasting myths Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin

results peaking at 12 weeks.

Individuals on alternate day fasting typically do not overeat or binge on feast days, which results in mild to moderate weight loss, according to the review.

Studies for the 5:2 diet showed similar results to alternate day fasting, which surprised the study’s reviewers. The subjects who participate in the 5:2 diet fast much less frequently than alternate-day fasting participants do, but the weight loss results are similar.

Krista Varady

Intermittent fasting can produce clinically significant weight loss and improve metabolic health in individuals with obesity, according to a study review led by Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition researchers.

“We noted that intermittent fasting is not better than regular dieting; both produce the same amount of weight loss and similar changes in blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation,” said KN professor Krista Varady, the review’s lead author.

The review looked at over 25 research studies involving three types of intermittent fasting: alternate day fasting, 5:2 diet, and time-restricted eating.

Various studies of time-restricted eating show participants with obesity losing an average of 3% of their body weight, regardless of the time of the eating window.

Studies showed alternate day fasting resulted in weight loss of 3%-8% of body weight over three to eight weeks, with 6

Weight loss with alternate day and 5:2 fasting are comparable to more traditional daily calorie-restrictive diets. Both fasting diets showed individuals were able to maintain an average of 7% weight loss for a year.

“You’re fooling your body into eating a little bit less and that’s why people are losing weight,” Varady said.

Varady added the review set out to debunk several myths regarding intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting does not negatively affect metabolism, nor does it cause disordered eating, according to the studies reviewed.

The study review includes a summary of practical considerations for those who may want to try intermittent fasting and outlines several groups who should not intermittent fast.

The paper’s additional authors were Sofia Cienfuegos, Mark Ezpeleta and Kelsey Gabel.

Read the full study review at go.uic.edu/IFStudyReview.

Photo: Tom Olin

New certificate in disability legal studies

The Wheels of Justice demonstrators in Washington, D.C., March 1990.

A new certificate in disability legal studies—the first in the Midwest and one of only two in the nation—will be offered beginning fall 2022.

The program offers a choice of concentrations in either human rights law, employment law or health law. Courses include a range of topics in disability studies and law.

The certificate program, developed by the Department of Disability and Human Development and the UIC School of Law, will provide critical analysis of laws involving people with disabilities, with a focus on study, research and legal practice.

The certificate requires a minimum of 12 credit hours, including required and elective courses. The hybrid curriculum includes online and in-person classes.

“Over the years we have seen advancements in disability rights law and policy, in large part due to the strong advocacy of the disability community,” said Kate Caldwell, director of the new certificate program and DHD clinical assistant professor. “As we, as a society, move forward, there will be an increasing need for professionals trained in disability legal studies. This is especially true as we respond to the ongoing pandemic and the effect it has had on our society and economy.”

Winter 2022

The department, one of the nation’s first disability studies programs, is a national leader in teaching, research, training and community partnerships It also offers certificate programs in assistive technology and disability ethics.

“UIC has been and continues to be a leader when it comes to disability,” Caldwell said.

For more information, contact DLStudies@uic.edu.

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

7

NOTEBOOK

MS researcher Robert Motl joins AHS

Robert Motl

Robert Motl, an internationally known researcher on the effects of exercise and physical activity for people with multiple sclerosis, has joined AHS as a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition.

received funding for more than 75 studies throughout his career.

“His research success, his enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration and his love for teaching make Dr. Motl a perfect fit for our college,” said dean Bo Fernhall.

He holds a B.S. in psychology from San Diego State University, a master’s in exercise science from University of Wyoming and a Ph.D. in exercise science from University of Georgia.

Motl’s work focuses on the physiological, psychosocial and behavioral factors of the health and well-being of people living with MS. A top scholar in the field of physical activity and exercise, he is the author of over 650 peer-reviewed articles and has

He joins AHS from the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he was professor and director of research in physical therapy. Before that, he was professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a faculty member for 13 years.

“His expertise will bring innovative approaches to health care, using an integrated health approach that combines traditional medical therapy with lifestyle and psychosocial interventions,” Fernhall said.

Motl’s appointment was made possible by the University of Illinois System Distinguished Faculty Recruitment Program. He is the first faculty member to join AHS through the program.

New master’s in kinesiology concentration tors, consultants in ergonomics and sports marketing, as well as several educational settings,” said Giamila Fantuzzi, KN professor and director of graduate studies.

The new concentration, Performance, Sports and Exercise Psychology, will begin in fall 2022. Graduates can qualify for certification by the Association of Applied Sports Psychology to become certified mental performance coaches, working in settings that could include social work, educational psychology and sports psychology.

An AHS student uses exercise equipment in one of the college’s research labs.

The Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition has added a fourth concentration in its kinesiology master’s degree program, which prepares students for a wide range of opportunities in research, education or practice. ”Graduates from the UIC Kinesiology MS are qualified for a variety of careers, including work as research coordina8

The program’s three existing concentrations, in Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, and Psychology of Exercise, are research focused, giving students a solid foundation for doctoral studies.

Another concentration, in Clinical Exercise Physiology, is also being developed.

For more information, visit go.uic.edu/MSinKINES.

Mapping the disability experience Some maps tell us where we are in the outside world. Other kinds of maps, like those created for the project Mapping Disability Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic, can also help us find ourselves in our interior world.

“As the Covid-19 pandemic social and physical distancing were put in place, we asked ourselves how it would impact people living with disabilities, especially their interaction with their environment,” said project developers Alyson Patsavas, Delphine Labbé and Yochai Eisenberg, all faculty members in the Department of Disability and Human Development.

“We were interested in knowing if people were feeling more restricted or not, and how their relationships with others in their neighborhood and beyond may have changed.”

Map 18 by Cozell Gibson.

They asked for contributions from the professional and community organizations they work with. Most of the 57 people who responded live in the Chicago area, but some are as far away as the United Kingdom and Nepal.

The concept of “map” was defined loosely: think about your space, and define it in a visual format. Some maps show the interior of the artist’s home, highlighting what is most important to them; one entry shows the location of different sounds in the house.

Others show the city or neighborhood and illustrate how the artists navigate the environment. Some entries are not traditional maps at all, but poems or word maps. Some are hand-drawn or painted, others created on a computer.

Many of the maps show frustration with the isolation and lack of mobility the pandemic lockdown caused for people with disability.

The project website includes classroom and community tools to help others try this type of map-making.

Winter 2022

“Map-making provides a way to reflect on our environments, how we use space, and how space impacts both our movements and our relationships with the world. Maps can capture significant changes in our lives and reveal everyday patterns of how we live and move,” instructions on the website explain.

The project was supported by DHD graduate students through their service-learning activities, with funding from Eisenberg and Labbé.

“Art-making is a crucial component of community building, and we hope that the process of making maps and seeing the maps on digital display helps to facilitate precisely this type of community building,” the three researchers said.

“Building community across time and space is both representative of disability culture more broadly and illustrative of the pandemic experience for many people.”

Visit the virtual gallery at mappingdisability.digital.uic.edu.

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

9

NOTEBOOK

Vaccine hesitancy among health care workers They were asked to provide sociodemographic information, including political affiliations and occupation. Other questions concerned their perceived susceptibility to COVID, barriers to getting vaccinated, and the benefits of vaccination. They were asked about internal and external factors that would affect their decision to get vaccinated.

The results showed that vaccine decisions were more likely to be influenced by colleagues than by mass media marketing campaigns.

Photo: Joshua Clark/ University of Illinois Chicago

A survey of health care workers at UI Health, Rush University Medical Center and Advocate Aurora Health found that, a year into the pandemic, 15% remained hesitant about getting their COVID-19 vaccinations.

The remaining 85% of those who completed the survey, which was emailed between March and May, reported they had either received the vaccine or anticipated getting vaccinated.

The study, co-authored by Eric Swirsky, BHIS clinical associate professor, found that health care workers who said they were vaccine-hesitant tended to be younger, non-physicians, Black, Republican, or had concerns about the vaccine’s effect on their bodies. Some cited insufficient evidence for the vaccine’s effectiveness.

“There’s more than politics at play in vaccine hesitancy,” Swirsky said.

“We need to gain a better understanding of why health care workers are hesitant. How can we expect other populations to get vaccinated when health care workers aren’t?”

Researchers analyzed the results from 1,974 respondents, who included physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative and clerical staff, and technicians.

10

“Respondents said they were more likely to be influenced by people they know—friends, colleagues, supervisors—who were vaccinated, and who thought it was important that they get vaccinated, too,” Swirsky said.

Although vaccine mandates are important for public health, the mandates can create further mistrust among people who are hesitant, he added.

“It’s important to listen to the reasons why people are hesitant, so we can tailor messaging for better communication.

Moreover, we need to be more inclusive and deliberate in outreach; local political and community leaders need to be the champions for vaccination, not only politicians and scientists at national levels.”

The study concluded that “Rather than focusing on generalized, impersonal outreach advertisements from hospital administration or the mainstream media, hospitals should work internally to foster relationships and trust-building among employees across departments and job roles.”

Stephanie Toth-Manikowski, assistant professor of medicine in the College of Medicine, was the author. Other co-authors were Rupali Gandhi, Advocate Children’s Hospital Oak Lawn, and Gina Piscitello, Rush University.

Read the full study at go.uic.edu/VaxHesitancyStudy.

Kalyan “Kal” Pasupathy, a pioneer in information and decision sciences who focuses on advancing science and translating knowledge to improve health and care delivery, was named professor and head of the Department of Biomedical and Health information Sciences.

Photo: Mayo Clinic

Kalyan Pasupathy named BHIS professor and head

Pasupathy, whose appointment was effective Aug. 16, succeeds former department head Anthony Faiola.

“Dr. Pasupathy brings over 20 years of experience in health informatics and data science research and scholarship across multiple disciplines, including systems engineering, data science, mathematical modeling, health care management and translational practices for improving patient care,” said AHS dean Bo Fernhall. “In addition to being a productive and impactful researcher, he has held administrative positions of high importance.”

Pasupathy was founding scientific director of Information and Decision Engineering at the Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, where he led a research team focused on care delivery and outcomes.

He was founding scientific director of the Mayo Clinic Clinical Engineering Learning Laboratories, a partnership with the departments of emergency medicine, radiology, audiology and diagnostic safety to translate research into practice redesign, funded through research, practice, federal and benefactor sources.

Pasupathy’s research and translational focus advances the science and technology at the intersection of people, processes and information. It has led to improvements in informatics, population health and digital health sciences.

He is principal investigator on a $2.5 million grant from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to improve diagnosis safety in emergency and acute care.

Honors he has received include the INFORMS Innovative Analytics Award from the INFORMS Society,

Kalyan “Kal” Pasupathy

the Wagner prize, the New Faces of Engineering Award from the Engineers Week Foundation, and the Goodeve Medal, awarded by the Operational Research Society and presented at the Royal Society in London.

He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a bachelor’s in production engineering from Bharathiar University in Coimbatore, India.

To read additional news and notes about AHS research, community engagement, scholarship and more, visit ahs.uic.edu/news/archive.

11

AHS Gives AHS faculty and staff lead by example Many AHS faculty and staff go above and beyond the call of duty in supporting the college as volunteers and donors. We’d like you to meet several of them.

Gary Albrecht and Lawrence Pawola, emeritus faculty members, established funds that continue their support for the college’s mission. Vered Arbel and Eileen Doran offer their time and service as student mentors. Mary Keehn and Faith Thurmond have a long history of giving to AHS, and newcomer Abby Nobili has already made several donations since she joined AHS in 2020.

As Vered Arbel says, “Doing something is doing a lot.” We encourage you to join them in supporting AHS!

Gary Albrecht Professor emeritus, Department of Disability and Human Development

What motivates you to support AHS? For two years, I studied young males who experienced traumatic spinal cord injury, observing their behaviors, interviewing them and spending time with their family and friends. One of the insights was the importance of having an opportunity. I also discovered that a person’s social network hugely influences their outlook and behavior.

from others, and exploring the disability world to better understand how to appreciate and help others. The sum of these experiences helped me to be comfortable and find a home at AHS.

This study led me to the emerging area of disability studies. I decided to try to provide opportunities for people with disabilities and those in their social networks to achieve the highest quality of life possible. This developed into a desire to bring top researchers in the international field to UIC to give a lecture and spend time with faculty and staff, so people at AHS could have an international and multidisciplinary view of the world they study.

What would you tell others as they consider making a first-time gift?

Target the gift to have the greatest impact.

How do your personal interests align with the college’s values?

Early in my career, I worked with the World Health Organization. Two principles quickly developed: “Break Down Barriers” and “Nothing About Us Without Us.” This heightened my passion for seeing disability and rehabilitation as global issues, learning

12

How does being a donor contribute to your identity?

If we can help one person flourish, learn and grow, we have made a mark.

What makes your department unique?

I found great satisfaction in being part of a multidisciplinary team that helped develop the Department of Disability and Human Development, the first PhD program in disability studies, the Handbook of Disability Studies and the Encyclopedia of Disability. These efforts helped grow a field that is important, vibrant and changing.

What do you hope will be the impact of your philanthropy?

To be but one example of how we can give back, work as a team, and make people’s world a better place to live.

Vered Arbel Instructor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition

How do your personal interests align with the college’s mission?

I always had a strong desire to expand my horizons. I had a long career as a professional dancer, traveling the world and exploring new cultures.

I returned to school later in life to pursue my degree (I’m currently a PhD candidate in kinesiology). I’ve been involved in the health and fitness community in many ways: I owned a business, I educated professionals, created specialty workshops for continuing education, and certified future health and fitness professionals.

How does being a volunteer, educator and mentor contribute to your identity?

Through exploration, giving, educating and creativity, the journey of life is much more meaningful. Embracing others on your journey helps you embrace yourself and shapes who you are. I never feel that I have a job; what I do every day is who I am.

What motivates you to support AHS? I have the opportunity to work with students throughout their time in AHS. With our new incoming students, I hear firsthand the challenges many of them have overcome to attend college. I want to help them achieve their goals and experience the pride our graduates feel as they walk across the stage at commencement.

Eileen Doran Associate dean, Office of Student Affairs

How does your work contribute to your identity?

I am really proud to be a part of AHS. We have an outstanding community of brilliant and caring faculty, dedicated and hardworking staff, generous and engaged alumni, and truly inspiring and talented students. I want to make AHS a place where we can all continue to grow and learn from each other to build a supportive community.

What motivates you to support AHS? I stayed at UIC to start my career and became involved in the education program as a lab assistant, then guest lecturer, and eventually faculty and interim department head. I got to know the work of all of the departments and the important contributions AHS makes to educating the workforce, advancing science and contributing to healthy communities. We have so many faculty who are doing amazingly important work.

Mary Keehn Associate dean for clinical affairs, Office of the Dean

How do your personal interests align with the college?

I am personally committed to decisions based on facts, and the scientific orientation of the college appeals to that part of me. There is also a huge commitment to justice and giving people opportunity. I love the idea of helping people live their best self-determined life.

Winter 2022

What would you tell others about giving back through service?

Nothing is minimal. Doing something is doing a lot. Sharing our own experiences and inspiring our students is giving.

What makes AHS unqiue?

The personal experiences of each member make the college unique. We bring many personal stories, which weave together to create a powerful and continuous storytelling.

What do you hope will be your impact?

I hope my service will impact students to dare, try, explore and make their own stamp on the world, and do it with kindness, compassion and care. I would like to continue developing opportunities for students in science, research, community service and unique learning experiences overseas.

What would you tell others about giving back through service?

Sharing your talents, your experiences, your time, and really just yourself with the college can impact the community we create together.

What have been some pleasant surprises?

Sometimes you have a more lasting impact than you realize. When you receive an unexpected thankyou note or email acknowledging the difference you made in someone’s experience, you realize that sometimes just listening or sharing your time is more meaningful than you might ever know.

What do you hope is the impact of your service?

Each day I hope that I can positively impact the students we serve and faculty and staff we support and provide a space where they all feel comfortable coming back if they need assistance.

What would you tell others as they consider making a first-time gift to the college?

Make it a part of your normal behavior—it’s a healthy habit!

What makes the college unique?

The urban, public character of the university. The diversity of the students. Being part of a comprehensive academic health enterprise.

What do you hope will be the impact of your philanthropy?

Improving population health, and providing opportunity for students to understand the impact they can have on individual lives. I would like to see more emphasis on interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

13

Abby Nobili Academic advisor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition

How do your personal interests align with the college’s mission?

I am passionate about, and committed to, supporting students as they navigate their college experience. I want to be a positive resource they can rely on to help answer their questions and guide them through the ups and downs. I sought out a diverse environment to work in, and was very happy to land at UIC. I love and value the unique and wonderful makeup of our student body.

What would you tell others considering a firsttime gift?

It may sound cliché, but every little bit counts.

What motivates you to support AHS? I believe in the AHS programs to elevate health care to the next level of awareness, fitness and opportunity for all of our society. The college has always been an inclusive place for all students to discover themselves.

Lawrence Pawola Clinical professor emeritus, Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences

Faith Thurmond Business administrative associate, Office of Research 14

How do your personal interests align with the college’s mission?

I was an early advocate for utilizing technology to advance the delivery of patient care. Each department has contributed to these efforts and become a leader in their disciplines. I am proud to have contributed to these efforts and am encouraged in the college’s continued efforts.

How does being a donor contribute to your identity?

UIC and the College of Applied Health Sciences was a great place for me to express my ideas and share my experiences with others interested in making health care better. Donating to AHS, and specifically BHIS, permits me to continue my lifetime work to effect changes that advance the delivery of efficient and high-quality health care.

What makes the college unique?

I truly love our students—how resilient they are, dedicated, hard-working and passionate about making a difference in the lives of others.

We have amazing faculty who care about our students’ success both inside and outside the classroom, and we provide unique opportunities for engagement and gaining valuable experience.

Our administrative team is one of the best I have ever worked alongside; I am grateful for their constant support and guidance. I am thankful to be part of this college and our KN programs.

What would you tell others as they consider making a first-time gift?

As retired educators, it is our responsibility to encourage and support those who follow. This encouragement can come in many forms. Since I can no longer educate in the classroom, I felt a gift to the college is my contribution.

What makes your department unique?

The department’s programs were among the leaders in their industries and innovative in educating future professionals. As head, I searched for opportunities to collaborate with other departments. We were among the first universities to offer online graduate degree education to working health care professionals.

What do you hope will be the impact of your philanthropy?

I often saw students having difficulty finding the funds to cover the cost of their education, much less having money available to travel to conferences. I am hopeful my philanthropy will help future students take advantage of networking and other collaborative opportunities to advance the great work UIC, the college and BHIS are doing.

What motivates you to support AHS? I’m motivated by the life-changing education and services that AHS provides to students, the research community and staff. I’m honored to help fund these initiatives.

as you earn. Both UIC and the University of Illinois Foundation provide us with annual records of our tax-deductible donations; this is extremely helpful. I can’t express the satisfaction that I feel as a sponsor of our AHS programs.

How do your personal interests align with the college’s mission?

I consider my regular donations as one of many opportunities to actively address health disparities in my immediate environment and the wider UIC community.

What makes the college unique?

I am most impressed by the application of the health sciences in our departments to community participants, patients and subjects.

What would you tell others as they consider making a first-time gift?

UIC payroll deductions make it easy to contribute

What do you hope will be the impact of your philanthropy?

My most heartfelt hope is that my philanthropy will assure and escalate the continued success of all AHS programs!

THE AHS ANNUAL F UND Donating to the AHS Annual Fund means you’re giving with full confidence—allowing the college to use the funds when and where they are most needed.

Unrestricted gifts provide the college’s leadership with the ability to address urgent financial concerns in a timely matter.

Donations to the annual fund support student scholarships and awards, as well as student-, faculty- and staff-led efforts.

Donations also help improve facilities, fund groundbreaking research and support operating budgets. When you donate to the AHS Annual Fund, you are demonstrating your belief in the college’s mission and its people.

Donate online at ahs.uic.edu/support or contact Kristen Kepnick at kkepnick@uic.edu or at (312) 996-8219.

Winter 2022

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

15

A record year for research UIC set a record for research awards in fiscal year 2021, with $446 million in sponsored funding. AHS was awarded new external grants for a wide range of research projects in the laboratory, the clinic, the community and the humanities. Here are some examples. applications awarded to Fiscal year 2021 117 grant AHS faculty as principal investigators by the numbers 355 peer-reviewed articles published in sponsored program expenditures $13.3 million

Research snapshot Examine mechanisms and neural correlates of reactive balance and propose a cost-effective intervention integrating sensory, motor, cognitive and psychological factors for improving balance recovery in older adults. $2.95 million, National institute of Aging Principal investigator: Tanvi Bhatt, PT and RS professor Culturally adapt, personalize and evaluate an electronic tool that engages early intervention families in assessing and planning interventions that improve young children’s participation in valued activities. $1.7 million, National Science Foundation Co-principal investigator: Mary Khetani, OT associate professor Create a peer navigator program to support people with newly acquired disabilities who are transitioning to independent living. $1.04 million, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Principal investigator: Susan Magasi, DHD and OT associate professor

Assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel non-invasive brain stimulation paradigm to slow progression of disease and preserve motor function in individuals with ALS. $250,000, National Institutes of Health Principal investigator: Sangeetha Madhavan, PT and RS professor Develop a human-centered information toolkit to increase trastuzumab biosimilar uptake in breast cancer patients. $250,000, National Comprehensive Cancer Network and Pfizer Global Medical Principal investigator: Elizabeth Lerner Papautsky, BHIS assistant professor Investigate the effects of time-restricted eating versus daily continuous calorie restriction on body weight and colorectal cancer risk markers among adults with obesity. $3 million, National Cancer Institute Multiple principal investigators: Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, KN associate professor; Krista Varady, KN professor

Empowering individuals to live the lives they choose for themselves in a society without barriers 16

Helping teens with disabilities prevent and treat depression

Many teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive care coordination services from a Maternal and Child Health Bureau-funded state agency. However, current care coordination programs usually do not provide mental health treatment or offer preventive mental health interventions.

Researchers at UIC have been awarded $7 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to assess whether integrated behavioral health care coordination, which includes a tailored mental health treatment component, achieves better outcomes than a standard state agency care coordination program.

Photo: John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

Teens with disabilities are up to five times more likely to suffer from mental, emotional and behavioral health disorders than adolescents without disabilities.

Kristin Berg oversees her Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities Program fellowship class from her home office.

“Early identification and treatment through a common point of service entry for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities and families would be an ideal public health opportunity to prevent the onset of mental health disorders and improve health and vocational trajectories across the lifespan for this historically underserved population.”

— Kristin Berg, co-principal investigator, DHD associate professor

Learn more at go.uic.edu/TreatingTeens.

Pursuing new knowledge that transforms health care practice and social systemS Our research labs and centers Children’s Participation in Environment Research Laboratory D i r e c to r : M a r y K h e t a n i, OT a s s o c i a te p r ofe s s o r

Institute on Disability and Human Development D i r e c to r : Ta m a r H e l l e r, D H D d i s t i n g u i s h e d p r ofe s s o r a n d d e p a r t m e n t h e a d

Using technology to build innovative tools for client-centered care and outcomes in pediatric rehabilitation. cperl.ahs.uic.edu

Illinois’ only University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service, promoting the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. idhd.ahs.uic.edu

Cognitive Motor Balance Rehabilitation Laboratory D i r e c to r : Ta nv i B h a t t , P T a n d R S p r ofe s s o r Cognitive and motor therapies for improving impairment, function and participation in older and neurologically impaired populations. cmbrl.ahs.uic.edu Exercise Psychology Laboratory Director: David Marquez, KN associate professor

Systems-based Approach For Enhancing Teamwork Laboratory Director: Ashley Hughes, BHIS assistant professor Improving patient care quality and safety in outpatient, surgical and related health care settings. safe-t.ahs.uic.edu

Reducing health disparities for racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. epl.ahs.uic.edu

For a complete list of AHS research labs and centers, visit go.uic.edu/AHSLabsAndCenters.

Winter 2022

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

17

Award-winning researchers

Turning discoveries into real and lasting solutions that benefit the world Our areas of expertise CULTURAL COMPETENCY AGING

DISABILITY

EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES HEALTH PROMOTION

HEALTH DISPARITIES

COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH BIOMEDICAL VISUALIZATION AND DESIGN NUTRITION

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

OBESITY AND DIABETES BIOMECHANICS

REHABILITATION

BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS

COMMUNICATION AND CARE COORDINATION More notable areas of research and scholarship at ahs.uic.edu/research.

AHS Office of Research

Philip Clifford, KN professor, AHS associate dean for research The AHS Office of Research is dedicated to supporting AHS researchers by managing the review and submission of research applications. The office awards pilot grants of up to $30,000 through the AHS Interdisciplinary Pilot Grant Program. To be eligible for the pilot grant award, AHS faculty must identify a new collaborator outside their department who brings a different discipline, expertise or methodology to the project.

go.uic.edu/AHSResearchOffice 18

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2020 Michael L. Pollock Established Investigator Award Ross Arena PT professor and head Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2021 Jerome H. Ely Human Factors Article Award Andrew Boyd BHIS, PT and RS associate professor 2021 American College of Sports Medicine Citation Award Bo Fernhall KN professor and AHS dean

Orthopaedic Research Society 2021 ORS Adele L. Boskey, PhD Award Kharma Foucher KN associate professor Joy Hammel OT Wade Meyer Endowed Chair, DHD and RS professor Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2020 Most Cited Original Research (or Review Article) Award Susan Magasi DHD and OT associate professor

University of Kansas Department of Applied Behavioral Science 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, DHD and OT professor, OT head

Collaborating at the cellular level As the incidence of diabetes continues to increase worldwide, researchers like Timothy Koh are seeking answers to the serious complications associated with the disease.

One of the biggest problems: wounds or sores on the foot for people with diabetes, instead of healing normally, can become dangerously infected and lead to limb amputation. The fiveyear mortality rate after amputation for people with diabetes is higher than for many cancers.

Tim Koh Over the last 15 years, Koh’s research has focused on the role that macrophages, a type of white blood cell in the immune system, play in tissue damage, repair and regeneration. Some types of macrophages promote healing; others destroy tissue. Little is known about how this process works in wounds.

Koh is using single-cell analysis to dive deeper into their functions in wounds. He joined forces with associate professor Yang Dai in biomedical engineering to develop a computational model that will analyze the results. The project is funded by a pilot grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

“One of the characteristics of these wounds is a chronic inflammatory response. We want to find ways to target this inflammatory response to improve healing and prevent this bad sequence of events.”

— Timothy Koh, co-principal investigator, KN professor

Learn more at go.uic.edu/CellularCollab.

creating a world in which every person can live a healthy and self-determined life

Director: Kelly Tappenden, KN professor and head

Model of Human Occupation Clearinghouse

Housed in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, the Metabolic Kitchen is an on-campus resource for UIC faculty and staff whose research requires study participants to follow a tightly controlled diet. The Metabolic Kitchen is an industrial-sized, professional-quality facility staffed by professional chefs and registered dietitians who design, prepare and package meals according to the researcher’s protocols.

AHS is home to the Model of Human Occupation Clearinghouse, described as the most widely-cited and utilized occupation-focused practice model in the world. It provides resources to practitioners, educators and researchers on how occupations are motivated, patterned and performed within everyday environments.

Metabolic Kitchen

go.uic.edu/MetabolicKitchen

Winter 2022

Director: Renee Taylor, OT professor, AHS associate dean for academic affairs

moho.uic.edu

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

19

2021 AHS Alumni Award winners The UIC College of Applied Health Sciences is proud to honor four alumni who are forging award-worthy contributions as educators, discoverers, collaborators and advocates.

Edward Mirzabegian ’79 BS MLS, a health care and hospital operations expert, receives the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Alison Liddle ’98 BS PT, an entrepreneur who brings access to health care to underserved populations, receives the Loyalty Award.

Robert Gould ’11 MS DHD, ’16 PhD DIS, a disability studies scholar and researcher, receives the New Alum Award. Marie Jarrell ’87 BS PT, who motivates individuals to make a big impact through many smaller efforts, receives the Service Award.

20

AHS Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award Edward Mirzabegian ’79 BS MLS

Chief executive officer, Antelope Valley Hospital

Over his 25-year career as a health care executive, Edward Mirzabegian has helped improve the operations and finances of many under-performing hospitals and health care systems.

When he became CEO of Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, California, he helped turn an accumulated $18 million loss into a $24.6 million profit over three years.

As regional CEO for Prime Healthcare Services, he oversaw operations and finances for 15 hospitals throughout California. At the same time, he was chairman of the board for West Anaheim Medical Center and La Palma Intercommunity Hospital.

Mirzabegian was corporate CEO of Avanti Hospitals Healthcare System, a 470-bed system of hospitals in southeastern Los Angeles.

He was chief operating officer for HealthCare Partners IPA, one of the largest pro-

vider/IPA companies in New York, where he managed 2,200 primary care physicians and 8,500 specialists.

At Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, where he was executive vice president and chief operating officer, he participated in planning and process for a $140 million replacement facility.

His early career included several positions in Illinois, including vice president of clinical services at Bromenn Healthcare in Bloomington, vice president of operations at Centegra Health System in McHenry and vice president of patient care services at Memorial Medical Center in Northern Illinois and Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

Mirzabegian returned to his current position as CEO at Antelope Valley Hospital in 2019, after leaving in 2013. Antelope Valley is the only acute-care, full-service hospital in the area.

“

My father has always been a role model for me, as well as to my brother and countless others. I have always been drawn to his work ethic, ability to remain focused to achieve his goals, recognition of what is reality versus perception, and his ethical mentality.

”

Sean Mirzabegian Partner, Investment Banking, Morgan Kingston Advisors

AHS Service Award

Marie Jarrell ’87 BS PT

Founder and president, Sunbow Foundation Program manager, Briotix Health Volunteer service is an essential aspect of life to Marie Jarrell.

“

For 11 years, as the executive director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I was able to witness Marie’s tireless efforts to benefit those living with cancer. She dedicated untold hours to our organization and raised significant dollars to help find the cure. She was someone who could always be counted on when needs arose—she was first in line to make a difference.

”

Pam Swenk Chief of staff, Cure SMA

In memory of her parents, she founded the Sunbow Foundation in 2016 to spread random acts of kindness in the community. Since then, Sunbow’s acts of kindness have included providing supplies for neighbors to build a ramp for a youngster with spinal bifida, paying for a flight to reunite a cancer patient and his brother, donating and setting up furnishings in an apartment for a formerly homeless woman and her children, and providing a dress and accessories so a teen could attend her prom.

A cancer survivor and triathlete, Jarrell has raised more than $100,000 over nearly 20 years to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is head marathon coach in Illinois for its Team in Training program, which organizes endurance sports events to raise funds for cancer research.

Winter 2022

As a physical therapist, she has worked in almost every clinical setting: outpatient, acute care, home care, skilled nursing and acute inpatient rehabilitation.

She is now program manager for continuous quality improvement at Briotix Health, which provides industrial sports medicine to businesses to prevent injury and keep workers healthy.

Jarrell is a certified Road Runners Club of America running coach, USA Triathlon coach and Ironman coach. She has completed many half-marathons, marathons, century rides, triathlons and one Ironman triathlon.

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

21

AHS New Alum Award Robert Gould ’11 MS DHD, ’16 PhD DIS

Assistant clinical professor, UIC Department of Disability and Human Development Research director, Great Lakes ADA Center Robert Gould is a researcher and scholar who works closely with community organizations in Illinois to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce.

He is also involved in projects with AHS alumni and fellows in Uganda, including Patrick Ojok ’15 PhD DIS, to improve the lives of people with disabilities in the East African nation.

Gould is director of research and assistant clinical professor at the Great Lakes ADA Center in the Department of Disability and Human Development.

He serves on the board of Illinois nonprofit organizations promoting the rights and inclusive employment of people with disabilities, including the State Independent Living Council and APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First).

Gould spent a month in Uganda through a 2019 Professional Fellowship Program on Inclusive Disability Employment, awarded by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

He led training and discussions on international human rights and worked with members of the Ugandan government to shape disability policy. He also helped raise money for solar panels to power computers at a rural school.

Gould teaches courses on the ADA, disability and work, law and policy, and world cultures.

Previous honors he has received include the AHS Humanitarian of the Year Award, the UIC Teaching Recognition Program Award and the UIC Award of Merit.

“

Robert has demonstrated a high commitment to community engagement that has resulted in the empowerment of underserved people. His volunteer work extends well beyond his workday as he continuously engages with the groups that he seeks to impact in his teaching and research.

”

Tamar Heller Distinguished professor and head, DHD

AHS Loyalty Award Alison Liddle ’98 BS PT Founder and chief executive officer, M Street Pediatric Therapy Alison Liddle has a mission: to bring access to health care to underserved populations.

Liddle is founder and CEO of M Street Pediatric Therapy, which brings early intervention services to the homes of children with developmental delays and disabilities in the greater Chicago area.

“

Alison Liddle is an excellent role model, not only to health profession students, but she is a stellar example of a UIC graduate who embraces and embodies the mission of the university.

”

Gay Girolami Clinical professor, PT

Her staff includes 34 therapists who provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, feeding and lactation support, nutrition counseling and behavioral support.

Liddle began her career as a physical therapist at Cook County Hospital. While earning a master’s in health policy and administration at University of Chicago, she worked part time providing in-home early invention for high-risk infants on the South and Southwest sides.

Liddle realized that she loved the challenges and opportunities of providing in-home early intervention care to children and their families. She also saw the isolation and lack of support for clinicians who provide in-home care.

So she combined what she learned from her two degrees and her experience to start her own agency.

Liddle remains involved with the Department of Physical Therapy by lecturing and offering clinical experiences for PT students. She frequently hires PT and OT alumni at her M Street practice.

Nominate yourself or a classmate you admire for an AHS Alumni Award at ahs.uic.edu/alumni/ahs-alumni-awards.

22

PEOPLE AHS Alumni Highlights Editor’s note: for this section of UIC Applied Health Sciences Magazine, we are featuring AHS alumni who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and have stepped up to make a difference by taking the helm of organizations, businesses, companies and more.

Alexander Agudelo-Orozco ’15 OTD

President, Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Occupational Therapists “I hope to continue to work collaboratively for national developments of the occupational therapy field and profession centered around the Latin American and Caribbean perspective, which grounds occupational therapy response to local needs and creates a recognizable group identity between the field and this part of the world. Thanks to my education, training, experience and passion for developing the field from this perspective, I understand the important role community outreach and organization play in identity and social impact.”

CLATO is a nonprofit organization made up of 17 countries. It promotes the exchange of opinions, as well as academic, scientific and social actions, to project and achieve a greater development of OT in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Annie Campbell ’10 MS BVIS Co-founder, Now Medical Studios Ltd.

“I’m passionate about the work that I do and feel really lucky to work in a field that I love and want to contribute towards.

Attending the UIC Program in Biomedical Visualization was a pivotal point in my life. It provided me with opportunity and exposure to various tools and skills that are highly sought after in the medical illustration industry. When I graduated from the program, I had specialized skills and a level of confidence that helped me step into the profession and my first job. My advice to students: connect with your professors and classmates. Use the time you have to learn as much as you can from them. They will be your peers in the industry one day.”

Winter 2022

Now Medical Studios is an award-winning multidisciplinary studio with extensive experience in creating visuals and interactive content for educational institutes and global clients in the pharmaceutical and health care industry.

Ngan Kim Dao ’11 BS NUT Owner, Lotus Banh Mi

“I started the restaurant as a chef and evolved into a businesswoman.

It has been an adventurous, stressful and rewarding journey that I would encourage anyone to have. A background in nutrition was a great springboard that helped me excel in my business. My knowledge of nutritional values, dietary guidelines and restrictions shaped the way I created the menu. The program provided me with not only educational information, but taught me how to manage my time and deadlines, which is a crucial skill in any successful business.”

Lotus Banh Mi is a chain of casual dining restaurants in Chicago offering traditional Vietnamese sandwiches, rice bowls and noodle soup.

Stuart Hui ’98 BS KINES

Owner, Paradigm Performance Center “My vision is to create a team to help people develop into the best athletes that they can be, and to develop into adults with integrity, grounded in positive and nurturing influences. I want athletes to be immersed in an encouraging and supportive environment. In the same manner, UIC UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

23

PEOPLE

provided me with an environment that allowed me to learn concepts and immediately apply them in an internship setting.

I was encouraged to think outside the box and challenge the limitations of my environment for the greater good.”

Paradigm Performance Center is a facility designed to provide outstanding care and rehabilitation for athletes to return them to high-performance status and facilitate their training to maximize their athletic potential.

Amie Lulinski ’08 MS DHD, ’14 PhD DIS Executive director, Arc of Illinois

“The education and opportunities I received through AHS enabled me to contribute to the betterment of the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through research, service, and state and federal level advocacy. I am honored and delighted to serve in a leadership position on behalf of and alongside people with IDD and their families, as well as support the equity and inclusion of leaders with IDD to build a system that is responsive to the needs of the diverse tapestry of Illinois stakeholders.”

The Arc of Illinois is a nonprofit organization that advocates with and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and community organizations that support them, to ensure that people with disabilities can live, work, learn and play in communities across the state.

Stay connected!

Exciting life change? New milestone? Ready to get involved?

Contact Kristen Kepnick, associate director of engagement and participation, at kkepnick@uic.edu or 312-996-8219.

24

Casey Tiesman ’12 BS KINES Owner, Tactic Sports Performance

“I want Tactic to be known as a training facility that positively impacts every member. I owe a great deal to my professors and classmates for helping me get where I am now and for providing guidance and encouragement when I needed it. The program did a fantastic job preparing me to tackle my business plans, training philosophy and program designs. I’m still in contact with many of my classmates who have done tremendously in their respective fields, and I’m incredibly thankful for the mutual support we provide one another to this day.”

Tactic Sports Performance is a high-performance training facility for athletes and members who want serious improvement in their athletic potential and overall health and wellness.

Shawn White ’15 DPT

Founder, Mobile Physical Therapy “Physical therapists are health care providers who have the ability to change the lives of people by providing them with information about their bodies.

This is truly powerful and should be accessible to everyone. My goal is to disseminate physical science education and knowledge to individuals and their families, and to increase awareness of the transformative benefits of physical therapy services. UIC provided me with a solid foundation of didactic knowledge of the human body that I still apply on a daily basis with my patients.”

Mobile Physical Therapy is a mobile, outpatient practice that eliminates the barriers to access to physical therapy by bringing the benefits of high-quality care and services to patients at their homes, gyms and offices.

Your donations have fueled success toward our IGNITE fundraising goal As we near the conclusion of IGNITE: The Campaign for UIC, we are deeply grateful for your generosity in helping us inspire discovery, transform health care practice and social systems, and positively impact the lives of Chicago residents and communities around the world.

Since its launch, we have created 27 new gift funds, including 16 scholarships.

Our society’s needs are always shifting.

But our diverse research capacity and ability to innovate puts us on top of what’s needed now and a step ahead of the critical demands of tomorrow–in large part, because of your support.

CAMPAIGN GOAL: $15 MILLION PROGRESS AS OF DEC 1: $13.5 MILLION 90% *Campaign ends Dec. 31, 2022

DONATE TODAY AT GO.UIC.EDU/SUPPORTAHS

Winter 2022

UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE

25

College of Applied Health Sciences University of Illinois at Chicago 808 S. Wood St., 169 CMET Chicago, Illinois 60612-7305 Address Service Requested

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Chicago, Illinois Permit No. 4860