Health Sciences
Spring 2016
Gateway
As part of 50 Acts of Kindness, the CSD Academic Clinic received a visit from Inde (short for Independence), the therapy dog. His “people� happen to be Drs. Scott and Susan Lephart. Read more on page 19.
College of Health Sciences
+ 50
Anniversary Research: Improving outcomes for military First Human Health Sciences graduate th
Cover photo by Rachel Curtin; Photo above provided.
Above: Lauren Knasel and Harvest Moon. Through UK’s collaboration with 4 Paws for Ability, CHS students foster future service dogs, gaining a different kind of hands-on learning experience and making a positive impact on our community. Read more on page 4.
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Future Leaders: Pinning, White Coat, and Graduation
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Students Making an Impact: CHS students foster future
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Academic Achievements: First HHS graduate & first
service dogs
recipient of the Undergraduate Certificate in Research
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50 Years of Impact: Gateway to the health sciences
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Research that Impacts Lives: Metformin clinical trial &
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Alumni Making Difference: Q & A with PA Stacey Sale &
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Giving to a Cause Near Your Heart: Lepharts’
DOD grant launches Sports Medicine Research Institute
50 Acts of Kindness
planned gift leaving a legacy at UK
Health Sciences Gateway is a publication of the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences. Publisher Scott M. Lephart, PhD Editor & Graphic Designer Melanie J. Sparks Contributing Writers Alicia Gregory Kendra Sanders UK College of Health Sciences Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building 900 South Limestone, Room 123 Lexington, KY 40536-0200 (859) 323-1100 www.uky.edu/healthsciences Copyright 2016, University of Kentucky. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the UK College of Health Sciences.
Investing in our future Message from the Dean If you follow the news in Kentucky, you have no doubt heard about the proposed budget cuts to higher education. As this issue of Gateway goes to press, the University still awaits final word from Frankfort on the state budget. Be assured, the impact of the University and of the College of Health Sciences is being conveyed. UK President Eli Capilouto is leading the conversation with state government, as well as with the citizens of the Commonwealth. He continues to speak powerfully on issues that are critical to the future of the University and the Commonwealth. His primary point: UK is an economic engine that deserves more investment, not less. The health sciences professions are a vital part of the economic engine, and our graduates are in demand. Career growth in the health sciences disciplines far outpaces average growth across all occupations, which is a mere 7 percent. The 2014-24 job outlook facts, courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demonstrate the point: • Athletic trainers: Employment expected to grow by 21 percent. • Medical laboratory scientists: Employment expected to grow by 16 percent. • Physical therapists: Employment expected to grow by 34 percent. • Physician assistants: Employment expected to grow by 30 percent. • Speech-language pathologists: Employment expected to grow by 21 percent. Average growth across the five disciplines above is 24 percent, more than triple the 7 percent average job growth projected across all occupations. An education at the UK College of Health Sciences is a solid investment, and it has both tangible and intangible returns. The knowledge and expertise of a health sciences degree can be seen when a recent graduate begins his or her career. The compassion and service-oriented mindset nurtured by our faculty and staff is evident in the contributions made by our alumni. There is also something that higher education imbues its recipients with – an experience, a confidence, a sense of pride – that is not so easily identified with percentages and statistics, yet every bit as essential to what we do every day. Our students are investing not only in themselves and in their futures, but indeed in all of us. We all need health care providers, each and every one of us, no matter our age or state of health. There will never be a time when we do not need heath care providers. As the demand for competent health care providers grows, we will continue to invest in our students as the health care leaders, healers, and innovators of tomorrow.
Scott M. Lephart, PhD Dean Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Research
Spring 2016 1
Future Health Care Leaders Medical Laboratory Science Pinning Ceremony 2015
Physical Therapy Graduation Ceremony 2015
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Spring 2016 3
Physician Assistant Studies White Coat Ceremony 2015
Students Making an Impact
It’s More Than Puppy Love For CHS students, fostering a future service dog is a privilege by Kendra Sanders, CHS Marketing Assistant
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s a Human Health Sciences senior, Lauren Knasel had the desire to help people improve their lives. She also had a seemingly unrelated fondness for dogs, having grown up around them prior to college. “4 Paws for Ability was the perfect combination of the two,” said Knasel, who fostered a female Labrador, named Harvest Moon. 4 Paws for Ability is a service-dog program dedicated to enriching the lives of children and veterans with disabilities by providing them with quality, task-trained service dogs. The dogs specialize in a number of areas, such as hearing-ear dogs, seizures assistance, and autism assistance. The high level of service specialization ensures dogs are trained in those distinct areas of need for a particular disability. In other words, 4 Paws service dogs are trained to provide the best level of individualized care to those in need. Few would disagree that there’s something magical about getting a puppy as a child and growing alongside one’s own furry, best friend, that there’s something soothing and comforting in an animal, a connection. The 4 Paws dogs build these connections by providing a very specific and essential service to disabled children and veterans alike. Through their training, 4 Paws dogs bridge a vital relation between their own natural ability to comfort and their potential as caregivers. Human Health Sciences major and two-time 4 Paws foster Brendan Lucas admits he’s learned more than imaginable. “There is a legitimate need for service dogs,” Lucas said. “[They] can provide assistance to an individual and can make life so much easier.”
4 Paws dogs have extra-human capabilities in that they are able to detect signs not necessarily visible to human eyes and ears, giving service dogs an advantage in helping individuals with disabilities. For example, dogs can assist persons in detecting seizure and migraine activity, as well as a post-traumaticstress-disorder episode, before it occurs, allowing the individual to take the proper precautions.
4 UK College of Health Sciences
Opposite page: Celene and Fandago. This page: Brendan and Dundee (left); Lauren and Moon. Photos provided
“My patients may have underlying issues inside the body that are not directly visible… taking this into consideration during the care for my patient[s] will allow for a more thorough assessment to be performed without bias,” said future Physician Assistant Lucas. The University of Kentucky is one of only nine universities with an official 4 Paws for Ability campus training program. UK Students may become involved as fosters, co-fosters, or as sitters for puppies that range from four to six months old. The puppies are already house-broken, know basic commands, and are trained to be patient, so students are able to bring the dogs along to class. A foster trains and handles an assigned dog full time, which includes bringing the dog almost everywhere. A co-foster acts as a co-trainer alongside another individual. Co-fosters still share a great deal of responsibility for the dog, but may or may not be living with the dog. Unlike fosters and cofosters, sitters are not assigned to a specific service animal or trainer, but are added to a pool of available sitters who can watch dogs for a few hours or more.
Spending nearly 24/7 with a service dog, it’s no surprise that students become attached to the dog they are training. But any negatives are outweighed by the positives. Human Health Sciences major Celene Steele recently finished her first semester as a foster with a pup named Fandango. Steele describes her experience as humbling. “Even though I have grown to fall in love with this dog, it makes it even better to know that their forever-home will get such a great, loving, well-trained dog,” Steele said. Each service dog will become a life-long companion to a child or veteran with a disability. “What you are doing is making a difference in someone else’s life that needs it,” Steele said. It’s no wonder so many CHS students become involved with the 4 Paws program. The commitment of a foster to make lives better is a close match to the commitment to improving lives made by all health sciences professionals. For more information on 4 Paws for Ability, please visit the website at http://4pawsforability.org.
Spring 2016 5
Academic Achievements
First Human Health Sciences Graduate Q & A with HHS grad Kyla Altmann
Kyla Altmann received a Bachelor of Science in Human Health Sciences in December 2015. She is now a graduate student in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2018. Her hometown is Ferdinand, Indiana. How did you become interested in the health care professions or becoming a PA? I wanted to do something meaningful with my life and in my profession, which led me to the health care field. There are many different types of clinicians, but I was drawn to the Physician Assistant profession because of its flexibility and impact on health care accessibility. As a PA, I will be able to practice in a rural or urban setting and will have the option to choose what area I want to practice in. Why did you choose Human Health Sciences at the UK College of Health Sciences? I chose Human Health Sciences because it is a pre-professional major, meaning students are working toward attending a medical professional or graduate school. The HHS curriculum included vigorous science courses that were prerequisites for PA school,
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HHS class on their community outreach trip to New Orleans (Pictured: Ashlie Aviles, Sarah Hicks, Alex Schalk, Kyla Altmann, Megan Thomas, Dr. Somu Chatterjee) Photos provided
as well as courses on ethics, research, and cultural competency in health care. I also wanted to be in UK’s College of Health Sciences, which I am still part of as a PA student. What were the main benefits of the HHS program? The HHS program allowed me to meet the PAS faculty and staff long before I applied to the program. This was beneficial because it further solidified my choice to attend the UK College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Studies program. Through HHS, I was able to complete all prerequisites within the HHS curriculum and graduate a semester early. This allowed me to apply to the PAS program a year early and transition from undergraduate to graduate immediately. This will ultimately allow me to see patients as a practicing Physician Assistant an entire year earlier than I had originally anticipated. Is there one key experience that you will carry with you over your career? One key experience as an HHS student was the health service project and fellowship in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was a service learning and clinical experience in which HHS students, along with Dr. Karen Skaff and Dr. Somu Chatterjee, collaborated with New Orleans’ largest Head Start program in the Ninth Ward to provide health services and information to 100 underserved
children ages 3-5. This experience gave me the opportunity to use what I had learned in my HHS courses, gain clinical experience, get to know my classmates and professors, and explore a new city. This was truly a service project I will never forget! What advice would you give to other students considering the HHS program? I would recommend Human Health Sciences to any student considering a career in the health field. Not only did HHS prepare me academically, it got me involved. I discovered volunteer opportunities in the hospital and Markey Cancer Center, service projects within the community, and gained friendships with my classmates that extended outside the classroom. What are your career plans? Currently, my plans are to graduate in 2018 and start my career as a practicing Physician Assistant back home in Southern Indiana. I am very passionate about pediatrics and would like to work in this area at some point in my career; however, I have not yet experienced every area of medicine and am waiting for my clinical rotations to decide what area I like best. I would like to provide care to an underserved population in whichever field I choose.
Spring 2016 7
Academic Achievements
First Recipient of Certificate in Research Q & A with HHS student Amanda Hayek
Photo by Rachel Curtin
Amanda Hayek is a Human Health Sciences senior (pre-Physical Therapy). Her hometown is Dayton, Ohio. Why did you choose Human Health Sciences? Originally I chose HHS because of the unique course structure, tailored to prepare me to become a well-rounded, holistic health care professional, preparing me not only in the science fields but also skills and competencies in the field of health care. I especially was interested because it had a specific track for Physical Therapy, the field I have been pursuing since I came to college. How did you become interested in research? I first became involved in research as part of a requirement for my major. However, the more I got involved, the more I realized how much I found it interesting and began to really enjoy what I was doing. I really shouldn’t have found that as surprising, as it basically runs in my family with my father having a career in research.
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Tell us about your work with Dr. Esther DupontWhat are you education/career plans? Versteegden, Division of Physical Therapy: Because I find the human body fascinating, especially the I worked on four independent projects, observing the muscular system, and have a passion for helping people, number of myonuclei, M2 macrophages, satellite cells, I want to complete a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. With endothelial cells, and fibroblasts to identify which of the my involvement with the UGR program, however, I have listed cells contributed to the DNA synthesis increases started to consider the possibility of a PhD in previously seen with massage. There were procedures Rehabilitation Sciences as well. It is my goal to work as a in which I utilized included basic experimental design DPT and maybe work in a research lab to develop new by gathering and analyzing data on Axiovision imaging and more individualized therapeutic techniques for the software (Zeiss), as well as field. I also have a passion for health learning and applying novel care ethics, patient advocacy, and culexperimental techniques. Through tural competency. Thus, it would be a Highlights: these processes, I have even dream come true if I could work with developed new techniques in the a nonprofit to foster these things in • CHS is the first college at laboratory, when the previous the younger generation (mainly high UK to offer an undergraduate protocols failed. Lastly, I gained school and college-aged). firsthand experience at manuscript certificate in research. preparation. • The certificate program is
open to any major and
Why did you decide to complete enhances the the Certificate in Research in undergraduate experience. Human Health Sciences? • The certificate may I decided to complete the UGR certificate because I felt it would be completed in offer a unique, hands-on 12-15 credit hours. education opportunity to help me not only apply what I was learning in lectures, but also provide an experience of how I could apply the information in a work setting. The more I continued the UGR certificate, the more I realized I really enjoyed research and how fundamental it is going to be to my future practice. What are the benefits of earning the certificate for you educationally and professionally? Earning the certificate benefits me on an educational level in the sense that it gave me opportunity to completely involve myself in research so that I could fully experience the experimental process. This not only gave me a better appreciation of how information is gathered in the science fields, but also made me more aware of the importance of evidence-based practice. The skills and knowledge I developed through the UGR program will definitely set me apart in my professional career and will hopefully make me a better health care provider.
Spring 2016 9
50 Years of Impact
Gateway to the Health Sciences College of Health Sciences celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2016 by Melanie J. Sparks
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he UK College of Health Sciences, originally called the College of Allied Health Professions, was one of the first 13 colleges formed following the passage of The Allied Health Professions Personnel Training Act of 1966, with Joseph Hamburg, M.D., serving as dean. The original schools, including those at The Ohio State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Pennsylvania, paved the way for allied health professions in the U.S. The legislation was passed in response to growing demand for high quality health care and brought recognition to the wide array of health care professions beyond medicine, dentistry and nursing. The act reads in part: “There has been increasing awareness of the necessity to develop linkages among academic, training, and service institutions and the various related professional groups so that dynamic educational programs can be offered that will attract able students and prepare them for satisfying careers.�
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Education That statement still rings true for the UK College of Health Sciences, as it continues to innovate in the key areas of education, research and service. The College was one of the first at UK to offer a complete distance learning degree program. It began educating physical therapy students at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard in 1992 and physician assistant students in Morehead in 1996. More recently, the Medical Laboratory Science Program was re-established to educate students at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard. The College prides itself on offering students a robust educational experience, which includes interprofessional, innovative learning opportunities, as well as the chance to go beyond the classroom with hands-on patient care, research, service, and study-abroad opportunities. The College of Health Sciences offers innovative programs, such as Human Health Sciences, which serve as the gateway to the health sciences professions, including
medicine and dentistry. Its aim is to prepare career-ready professionals to enter health care fields that are in high demand. Today, the college has more than 1,000 students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs in Athletic Training, Clinical Leadership and Management, Clinical Nutrition (in collaboration with the College of Medicine), Communication Sciences and Disorders, Human Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and the Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program. Research Researchers at the College of Health Sciences share a common vision – a dynamic, sustainable research enterprise that reaches into the community, improving the lives of Kentuckians and extending beyond its borders. Helping individuals attain the highest level of health possible is at the core of the college’s research. Areas of focus include the prevention of injury and disability due to exercise/sport participation, aging, chronic disease, or other adverse factors; rehabilitation after injury or illness; innovations in the treatment of voice, swallowing, and language disorders; exercise; nutrition in the context of optimal health and performance enhancement; and military injury prevention and performance optimization. Research is also a fundamental part of the educational experience at the college, as students have the opportunity to be involved in ongoing research projects. The college also maintains a thriving undergraduate research program, which fosters the curiosity of undergraduate students by offering opportunities across a variety of topics for mentored, self-directed work. Additionally, the College is the first on campus to offer an undergraduate certificate in research, which is open to all majors.
Service The College has more than 7,500 alumni, serving health care needs across the Commonwealth and beyond. In addition to the care its alumni provide, the College of Health Sciences provides expert clinical care in physical therapy and communication disorders. The Division of Physical Therapy offers a clinic for runners and a student-managed physical therapy clinic. The Runners Clinic offers injury evaluation and treatment, as well as 3D gait analysis to help prevent injury. Samaritan’s Touch is managed by physical therapy students and faculty and provides services for uninsured or under-insured adults. The college also offers clinical speech-language pathology services through its Communication Disorders Academic Clinic, and the UK HealthCare Voice & Swallow Clinic and Speech-Language Pathology Clinic. Future Moving forward, the College is working to develop a sustainable research enterprise, invest in strategic collaborations and support meaningful growth in its academic programs. The College is aligning its work with the trajectory of health care toward an emphasis on wellness and prevention. “The common thread among our programs and our people is our mission,” said Scott M. Lephart, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “We are driven by the desire to help people attain the highest level of health possible. Our work in education, research, and service can be boiled down to one outcome: optimal health. The key is to help unlock the potential for optimal health in each individual we affect, indirectly or directly, through providing patient care, educating future health sciences professionals, and engaging in research aimed at the prevention of injury and disability.” Spring 2016 11
Research that Impacts Lives
Clinical Trial of Metformin’s Muscle Effect UK and UAB are partners on a $2.9 million NIH grant by Alicia Gregory, UK Research Communications
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he University of Kentucky and University of Alabama at Birmingham are partners on a $2.9 million, five-year National Institute on Aging clinical study to explore how Metformin may benefit older adults who do not respond well to exercise. Metformin, a generic drug and the most widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, may be a low-cost, personalized approach to prevent frailty in the elderly by improving their muscle growth response.
these different strengths and puts them together in one grant.”
Principal investigators Charlotte Peterson and Philip Kern at UK are partnering with Marcas Bamman at UAB. Kern, director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, said, “We have significant strength in clinical and translational research through our CTSA. We have strength in diabetes, in metabolism, and in muscle biology. So I think it really leverages
In previous studies Peterson, the Joseph Hamburg Endowed Professor and associate dean for research in the UK College of Health Sciences, and her lab team identified a key cellular feature of muscle that was associated with a better response to exercise. Research participants who gained more muscle mass and strength than other participants had this key feature in their muscle tissue. “In an unrelated study, the drug Metformin seemed to increase these cells in muscles,” said Peterson “So we put things together. Maybe by giving people this drug before they start to exercise, it would help their muscles adapt more readily. So the current clinical trial is combining very mechanistic studies of muscle tissue, with analysis of muscle mass and strength gains in response to exercise in individuals over 65 years of age.” Trial participants take the drug or a placebo, undergo a three-month weight lifting training program, and then have their muscle morphology, mass and strength measured to quantify the impact of Metformin. Scientists across the country are looking at Metformin as an anti-cancer and anti-aging treatment, and Peterson said her team is eager to contribute to this emerging research area. Peterson points to a recent article in Science on Nir Barzilai’s push for the first wide-scale, anti-aging trial of Metformin. Peterson said, “We could be a part of this really large initiative to try to determine if Metformin may be one of the first drugs given to slow the aging process. There’s a lot just on the horizon in terms of trying to help older people maintain their quality of life and being part of that and trying to contribute to that knowledge base is very exciting.”
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New Grants John Abt, PhD, ATC Associate Professor, Athletic Training Abt was awarded $4,188,000 from the Department of Defense for a two-year research project entitled, “MARSOC Injury Prevention and Human Performance Research.” He will collaborate with co-investigators Scott Lephart (Dean, College of Health Sciences), and College of Health Sciences faculty, including Phillip Gribble, Nicholas Heebner, Carl Mattacola, Kathleen Poploski, Scott Royer, Travis Thomas, Timothy Uhl, and Joshua Winters. Gilson Capilouto, PhD, CCC-SLP Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders and Director of Undergraduate Research Capilouto was awarded $40,761 from NFANT Labs LLC for a six-month research project entitled, “Lingual Dynamics and Feeding Coordination in Neonates.” Esther Dupont-Versteegden, PhD Professor, Physical Therapy Dr. Phillip Kern (Internal Medicine) and Dr. DupontVersteegden received a three-year grant award of $1,536,705 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. They will collaborate on a project entitled, “Cold Induced Change in Human Subcutaneous White Adipose.” Rachel Hogg, DrPH Assistant Professor, Health Sciences, Education, and Research Hogg received a $43,632 award from the University of Colorado to collaborate with Danielle Varda on a research project entitled, “Identifying Indicators Driving Hospital’s Investment in and Interaction with Public Health Systems to inform such efforts by states and communities.” The project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Patrick Kitzman, PhD, PT Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Kitzman was awarded $5,000 from the Francis Hollis Brain Foundation for the “Safe Bathing Project.” This project provides bath benches, grab rails and mats to people in the Appalachian counties of Kentucky who have disabilities resulting from strokes or neurological damage.
He will collaborate with co-investigator Elizabeth Hunter (Gerontology) on a research project entitled “Healthcare Decision Making of Adults Living in Rural Communities with Acquired Neurologic Conditions.” Charlotte Peterson, PhD Associate Dean for Research, Joseph Hamburg Endowed Professor Peterson received a five-year grant of $204,342 from Northwestern University to collaborate on a five-year research project from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Peterson will collaborate with Dr. Mary McGrae McDermott on, “TELmisartan Plus EXercise to Improve Functioning in PAD: The TELEX Trial.” Peterson and John McCarthy (Physiology) received a five-year competitive renewal grant of $1,301,736 from the National Institute of Arthritis, and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases for a study entitled, “Novel Roles for Satellite Cells in Adult Skeletal Muscle Adaptation.” Peterson and John McCarthy (Physiology) received $1,598,756 from the National Institute on Aging for a fiveyear research project entitled, “The Effects of Exercise of Satellite Cell Dynamics during Aging.” Karen O. Skaff, RDH, PhD Professor, Health Sciences, Education and Research Skaff received a $5,000 grant from American Dental Hygienists Association Institute for Oral Health for an interprofessional community engagement project. Timothy L. Uhl, PhD, ATC, PT Professor, Athletic Training and Director of the Musculoskeletal Laboratory Uhl received a grant award of $28,301 from Patterson Medical Supply Incorporated for a one-year project entitled, “Effectiveness of Smart Handle on Rate of Increasing Strength.” Student Grants Four students in the Athletic Training Program received grants from the NATA Research & Education Foundation. Under the mentorship of Dr. Phillip Gribble, Ian Crossett, Colin Drinkard, and Ryan McCann received awards ranging from $850 to $2,500. Under the mentorship of Dr. Carl Mattacola, Shelby Baez received a grant of $1,000.
Kitzman received a two-year grant of $248,287 from Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Spring 2016 13
Research that Impacts Lives
$4.2 Million Grant from U.S. DOD Supports research on injury prevention and performance optimization by Melanie J. Sparks
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he College of Health Sciences has received a $4,188,000 grant from the Department of Defense to support research on injury prevention and performance optimization in U.S. Special Forces. The award, the largest ever received by the College of Health Sciences, coincides with the establishment of the new UK Sports Medicine Research Institute (SMRI). The award allows Dr. Scott Lephart and his team to continue providing leadership of one of the U.S. Special Forces research projects he launched during his 27-year tenure at the University of Pittsburgh.
“The award permits our crucial work with Special Forces to continue and aligns with the long-term aims of the project under the newly established SMRI,” said Lephart, who also serves as Endowed Chair of Orthopaedic Research at UK. “This is the beginning of a reinvigorated research enterprise at the UK College of Health Sciences, as well as the addition of a vital asset to the research efforts of UK HealthCare and the University.” The planned 6,000-square-foot SMRI will be a multidisciplinary scientific center focused on contemporary approaches to prevention and treatment of sports injuries and concussions, performance optimization, musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation, metabolism, and neuro-cognition. Scheduled for completion in summer 2016, the SMRI will be located on the UK campus. “This grant brings a unique opportunity to the University and to the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Eli Capilouto, University of Kentucky President. “SMRI’s purpose meshes well with the University’s commitment, as a land-grant institution, to the Commonwealth and its people.” Eight new faculty members will join UK to work with the SMRI. Two of the faculty members are based in Lexington: John Abt, Ph.D., director of the SMRI; and Nicholas Heebner, M.S., A.T.C., SMRI laboratory manager. Other faculty members, including Josh Winters, Ph.D., and Scott Royer, M.S., will operate the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operation Command (MARSOC) lab at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
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Architectural rendering of SMRI entrance. MARSOC is the Marine Corps’ arm of the U.S. Special Forces. Through concentrated and specialized training and education, MARSOC develops and maintains agile combat athletes, organized in small, adaptable teams of Marine Raiders. MARSOC Marines must complete a two-phase assessment and selection process, starting with a 21-day course that begins and ends with an intense physical evaluation. Those who move forward from phase one proceed to a nine-month course meant to transform a Marine into a Critical Skills Operator or Special Operations Officer. Approximately 100 Marines are selected as CSOs each year. Musculoskeletal injuries are common during the demanding training, as well as during combat. The short-term and longterm effects of such injuries include loss of active duty time, financial impacts, and adverse effects on the overall health of military personnel. The aim of the research is to develop strategies for injury prevention and performance optimization, similar to those used with athletes, but adapted to the specialized needs of military personnel. “These Marines are training to become small teams of elite warriors, expected to be at peak performance in extremely dangerous and unpredictable situations,” Lephart said. “There is absolutely no room for sustaining a preventable injury. That’s why our work is so mission-critical for the Special Forces.”
The SMRI staff will conduct a variety of field studies focused on the physical demands on MARSOC Marines during the ninemonth course. For example, SMRI researchers will identify common injury patterns among MARSOC Marines and develop clinical trials with their human performance personnel to test training programs targeted at injury prevention. “The SMRI’s work with MARSOC has the potential to inform and improve their resiliency, and ultimately improve their mission outcomes,” Lephart said. The SMRI’s reach will extend beyond military personnel. The SMRI will provide outreach opportunities incorporating applicable strategies on injury prevention, human performance, sports nutrition and overall wellness to recreational and competitive youth, high school, collegiate, professional, and senior athletes; coaches, parents, and other health care providers. Michael Karpf, M.D., UK Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, predicts that SMRI’s impact will extend far beyond the realms of tactical warriors and professional athletes. “The bottom line – the SMRI is a powerful merger of research, outreach, and collaboration, enhancing UK HealthCare’s efforts to address chronic disease and poor health in Kentucky,” Karpf said. “The SMRI is dedicated to research excellence, community outreach, and collaboration – all directed toward one outcome: optimal health through healthier lifestyles.”
Spring 2016 15
College News and Announcements New Faculty/Staff
Promotions
Dr. John Abt, Associate Professor, Athletic Training, and Director of the UK Sports Medicine Research Institute
Meredith Houlihan promoted to Administrative Services Assistant
Meaghan Beck, Administrative Research Coordinator, UK Sports Medicine Research Institute
Dr. Janice Kuperstein promoted to Associate Dean of Clinical Engagement
Julie Brock, Staff Support Associate II, Physical Therapy Alex Bugg, Laboratory Technician
Denise McCarthy promoted to Assistant Dean of Operations Betsy Northrup promoted to Director of Extramural Support
Dan Croake, Speech-Language Pathologist, Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Rebecca Serrano promoted to Student Affairs Officer II
Christian Ecker, Director of Technology, Office of Technology Services
Melanie Sparks promoted to Communications Director
Tammy Jo Edge, Staff Support Associate II, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Becky Unites promoted to Director of Assessment
Eric Forman, Research Analyst, Physical Therapy Tracey Gdovka, Placement Coordinator, Health Sciences, Education, and Research Micki Ginter, Speech-Language Pathologist, Communication Sciences and Disorders Catherine Gohrband, Lecturer, Physical Therapy Jaime Grace, Administrative Support Associate I, Medical Laboratory Science, Hazard Campus Chad Guilliams, Lecturer, Medical Laboratory Science Dr. Nicholas Heebner, Assistant Professor, Athletic Training, and Laboratory Manager of the UK Sports Medicine Research Institute
New Director of PAS Named
The College of Health Sciences has appointed a new Director of the Division of Physician Assistant Studies. Please welcome Dr. W. Scott Black to the College. Dr. Black formerly served as the medical director of UK Employee Health and as a team physician for the UK Wildcats and the EKU Colonels. He is a graduate of the UK College of Medicine and completed his family medicine residency at UK. After working in private practice for several years, he returned to UK to finish an MS degree in exercise physiology. He then completed a sports medicine fellowship at Wake Forest University in WinstonSalem, N.C.
Robyn Johnson, Lab Instructor, Medical Laboratory Science Ashley Lewis, Student Affairs Officer, College of Health Sciences Barret May, Computer Support Specialist III, Office of Technology Services Bianna Music, CERH Associate Director, Medical Laboratory Science, Hazard Campus Kathy Poploski, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, North Carolina Jenean Presberry, Staff Support Associate, Physician Assistant Studies Scott Royer, Assistant Professor, Athletic Training, North Carolina Nicole Sand, Web Services Manager, Office of Technology Services Dr. Joshua Winters, Assistant Professor, Athletic Training, North Carolina
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CSD Clinic Wins Award for 2nd Time
Congratulations to the outpatient Speech-Language Pathology Clinic, which has been recognized by UK HealthCare with the Patient Excellence Award. This is their second time winning the award. Pictured left to right: Micki Ginter, Ellen Hagerman, Teresa Clark, Christina Gonzales-Sanders, Katie Maddy, Meg Shake, and Lisa Hill.
Marshall and Stemple Receive ASHA Honors of the Association Dr. Robert C. Marshall and Dr. Joseph C. Stemple, professors in Communication Sciences and Disorders received Honors of the Association at the annual convention of the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA) in Denver in November. This award is the highest award given by ASHA. It is a public recognition of the recipient’s distinguished contributions to the field of speech, language and hearing over the course of their career that have enhanced or altered the course of the profession. Before 2015, no individuals from Kentucky had received this award. Marshall’s selection was based on his years of sustained research, scholarship, teaching and service activities within the profession, which stretched from the public schools, to the VA and academia in Oregon, Rhode Island and Kentucky. He has held clinical and leadership positions in all employment settings and is widely regarded for his scholarly expertise in Aphasia. Stemple’s selection was based on his unique ongoing research, scholarship, teaching and service activities within the profession, that include his development of centers of excellence for voice care, voice research and educational opportunities, his prolific publication record including textbooks and scholarly manuscripts, as well as his international reputation as a dynamic presenter on issues related to the voice across the lifespan. CHS alum Dr. Lynn Covert was named an ASHA fellow during the event. Nancy Swigert, CSD adjunct faculty, also received the Honors of the Association. Pictured at left: Marshall (top) and Stemple were honored to receive the award from 2015 ASHA president and CSD faculty member, Dr. Judy Page.
Recent Awards and Achievements Dr. Richard Andreatta, along with a group of speech scientists in the U.S., worked for two years to establish a dedicated Speech Sciences special interest group through the national professional organization ASHA. The group has been approved, and Andreatta will serve as the founding editor for the group’s research and educational publication Perspectives in Speech Sciences.
Annual Meeting.
Dr. Timothy A. Butterfield was the featured presenter in 2016 for the Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Marjorie A. King Research to Reality Presenters. His presentation was titled “The architectural determinants of skeletal muscle function, and how they can be used to optimize our rehabilitation protocols.” Past presenters include Drs. Tim Uhl and Scott Lephart.
Dr. Anne Olson was elected President of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology. The primary purpose of this national organization is to promote excellence in hearing care through the provision of comprehensive rehabilitative and habilitative services.
Dr. DeShana Collett and Tamara Bennett co-authored a feature article titled “Putting intimate partner violence on your radar”, published in the October 2015 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Dr. Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden, along with Benjamin T. Barnes (former CHS undergraduate research participant), Amy L. Confides (CHS staff), Mark M. Rich (Wright State University), co-authored an article in the Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility. The accompanying image was featured on the journal’s cover. The article is titled “Distinct muscle apoptotic pathways are activated in muscles with different fiber types in a rat model of critical illness myopathy.” Dr. Harold Kleinert, Professor Emeritus in the CHS, was awarded the George S. Jesien Distinguished Achievement Award for lifetime achievement at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Dr. Scott M. Lephart was keynote speaker at the 2015 Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, held July 8, at Keeneland, on behalf of The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Inc. Dr. Carl Mattacola also presented during the event.
Dr. Kevin Schuer successfully defended his doctoral work in public health (DrPH) at UK. He was also recently elected to the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Board of Directors. He will serve a two-year term as a director at large, beginning January 2016. Dr. Deb Suiter has been appointed as the Chair of Board of Special Interest Group (SIG) Coordinators by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Tim Uhl received the fall 2015 CHS Undergraduate Research Enhancement Award. He is mentoring undergraduate students Kayla Kuhfeldt (Biology) and Jeanna Yamamoto (Kinesiology). Dr. Tim Uhl, along with Elizabeth Lawinger, (Athletic Training ‘13), Mark Abel (UK College of Education), and Srinath Kaminenim (UK College of Medicine), were recently published in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation (Human Kinetics). The article is titled “Assessment of Accelerometers.”
Spring 2016 17
Our Alumni: Making a Difference
PAS Alumna Talks State Law and Advice for Students Stacey Sale, Physician Assistant Studies, ‘13
Q & A with Stacey Sale, Physician Assistant Studies ‘13, Advanced Practice Provider II, Physician Assistant, UK HealthCare Pediatric Cardiology.
What are your primary job responsibilities? I evaluate and assess patients in Kentucky Clinic as outpatients and in Kentucky Children’s Hospital as inpatients. This involves taking a history, performing a physical exam, ordering tests, interpreting data, developing a plan, and charting all of this information. I also interrogate ILR/pacemaker/ICDs and review remote monitoring for these devices. Why did you choose the UK College of Health Sciences for your studies? I grew up in Kentucky, so in addition to a love of everything UK, it was important to me to be able to stay in Kentucky to help provide quality care for the people here as a PA. Do you have any concerns about things in your current field? As the current President of the Kentucky Photo by Melanie Sparks Academy of Physician Assistants (KAPA) and a practicing PA at the University of Kentucky, my main concern regarding the PA profession is to ensure that PAs around the state are being utilized to the fullest extent of our scope of practice, according to state law. Over the past three years, KAPA has been able to eliminate the “18-month” rule for new graduates, reduce the co-signature requirement to 10 percent of patient charts, increase the number of PAs supervised at one time by a physician from two to four, and eliminate the 30-minute rule from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML) regulations. However, not all hospitals currently allow their PAs to practice to the full extent of the law, and this is negatively affecting patient care. Many times these scope-of-practice barriers are a result of a misunderstanding of state law. This year, as both a PA and KAPA president, I want to focus on hospital education, to ensure the administrators understand how PAs can now provide more effective care with these new statutory changes. Do you have any advice for students interested in your field? Shadow PAs in a lot of different settings like family medicine, surgery, cardiology, ER, inpatient, outpatient, and in both large and small hospitals. PAs work in a large variety of specialties and settings. So just because you shadow someone in a small family medicine clinic and do not enjoy it, that does not mean that you will not enjoy working as a surgical PA in a large hospital. But in the meantime, as a student, it’s important to understand the widely varied scope in which PAs practice. Also, it’s important to be involved in your profession. When you are a student, sometimes you do not think about how legislation or hospital administrative regulations will affect your future. However, when you graduate, you realize how much state law and hospital regulations impact you and your patients every single day. When you get involved with organizations like KAPA as a student, you are not only provided with a great networking opportunity but also a way to shape your future as a health care provider.
Interested in being featured? Email Keturah.Taylor@uky.edu 18 UK College of Health Sciences
Development News CHS faculty member, Dr. Gilson Capilouto, Communication Sciences and Disorders, recently made a planned gift to create an endowed scholarship to be awarded to full-time undergraduate students pursuing a degree within the UK College of Health Sciences Communication Sciences and Disorders program. When asked about her inspiration for the gift, Dr. Capilouto responded, “My decision to leave a legacy of education was an easy one. I believe it is necessary to secure our future and the future of our children. As the cost for professional preparation continues to rise, it is important that we make sure gifted and talented individuals don’t see their dreams forfeited because they can’t afford the cost of a college education. In this way, we make sure wonderful ideas are captured; beautiful songs are sung; thoughtful books are read; inspiring poems are recited and striking works of art admired.” Members of the UK Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association created a scholarship for students enrolled in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program in the College of Health Sciences. Two scholarships will be awarded annually for five years. Megan Brown and Courtney Johnson, who led the effort, said, “The members of NSSLHA are excited about the scholarship because it is the first scholarship solely for and by CSD students. This allows an opportunity for students who go above and beyond in the program and exceed the expectations to receive financial support. We feel very fortunate to have had guidance in creating this scholarship and we hope to see it flourish in years to come.”
50 Acts of Kindness
Photo by Rachel Curtin
Join the UK College of Health Sciences in celebrating its 50th anniversary with 50 Acts of Kindness, an initiative demonstrating the goodwill and reach of the alumni, students, faculty, and staff of the College. Acts of Kindness can be great or small, affect a few or many, and occur any time between now and October 1. You do acts of kindness every day, certainly, but take the time to record just one or two that reflect the goodwill you shared with others in the College. Throughout the year, the College will recognize these acts and during the Gala, 50 of the Acts of Kindness will be showcased. Please submit your Act of Kindness online at http://bit.ly/CHS50. Spring 2016 19
Giving to a Cause Near Your Heart
Leaving a Legacy at UK CHS Planned giving allows Lepharts to invest in education by Melanie J. Sparks A planned gift is a present decision to make a future gift. After speaking with Drs. Scott and Susan Lephart, one fact is abundantly clear – they value higher education. When the couple decided that Scott would accept the offer to become Dean at the UK College of Health Sciences, relocating from Pittsburgh to Lexington, it was a sizeable commitment for the both of them. Their commitment to the University of Kentucky and to higher education is evident in their choice to make a planned gift to the College.
Drs. Susan and Scott Lephart with their dogs, Inde and Boogie Woogie.
Photo by Shaun Ring
“We believe that you create your own legacy,” Scott said. “We wanted to leave an enduring contribution to subsequent leadership, enabling creative ways to contribute to the College’s excellence, and thus to UK’s mission. Planned giving enables us to make a lasting contribution to the College, beyond an annual giving or major gift capability.”
The couple is creating a legacy focused on excellence in higher education. “We have chosen the University to be our legacy,” Susan said. “We’ve both always considered education and research to be the cornerstones. It’s a passion we both share.” The Lepharts’ gift is earmarked to provide an endowed chair for the dean of the College at that time, demonstrating their trust in future leadership and their belief in a promising future for CHS. “We chose the College of Health Sciences because my entire career has been dedicated to higher education,” Scott said. “Beyond my immediate family, it is my top priority. I can’t see any better way to sustain my lifetime commitment to higher education than through a planned gift.” The planned giving process was seamless and simple, according to the Lepharts, who said it was easily integrated into their estate planning. “Through a planned gift, we can touch a lot of lives and make a greater difference,” Susan said. “We both strongly believe that education changes lives. That’s why we have invested our lives in it.” For more information on planned giving, please contact Loralyn Cecil at laceci2@uky.edu or 859-218-0563.
20 UK College of Health Sciences
7th Annual Scholarship Scramble Golf tournament raises scholarship funds
F
ourteen teams teed off during the 7th Annual CHS Scholarship Scramble, which was held on a beautiful, blustery fall day at the University Club of Kentucky. The event grossed $10,450, all proceeds benefit CHS student scholarships. This event is made possible by our major sponsors: The Committee 101, Norton Healthcare and Rockcastle Regional Hospital. We extend our gratitude to Chuy’s of Lexington, all of our donors, players, and volunteers for making the Scholarship Scramble such a success each and every year. Thank you to the 2015 Golf committee: Tony English, Terry Malone, Kevin Schuer, Joe Stemple, Tim Uhl, and Joe Meadors.
The winners: Team Physician Assistants. Left to right, Jamie Schuer, Danny Steckler, Kevin Schuer, and Gabe Pendleton. Score: 51.
Photo by Cameron Ainslie
2015 GOLF SCRAMBLE SPONSORS HOLE SPONSORS
CART SPONSORS
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
The Committee 101 Rockcastle Regional Hospital Norton Healthcare Athletic Training Physical Therapy Communication Sciences and Disorders Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Nutrition Human Health Sciences Physician Assistant Studies Health Sciences, Education & Research
Kindred RehabCare Lexington Clinic Foundation The Lexus Store of Lexington Drs. Sharon and Gary Stewart
CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS The Lexus Store of Lexington Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred RehabCare
Major Sponsors
The Committee 101
Lexington Clinic Foundation Drs. Sharon and Gary Stewart Chuy’s of Lexington Team Cloud 9 Team BJRC UK Legal Pat Waggener
Spring 2016 21
We’ve changed the name of the magazine! Connection is now Health Sciences Gateway.
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Lexington, KY Permit #51
College of Health Sciences Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building 900 South Limestone, Room 123 Lexington, KY 40536-0200
uky.edu/healthsciences
The faculty & staff invite you to the UK College of Health Sciences 50th Anniversary Gala October 15, 2016, at Fasig-Tipton Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Program at 8:00 p.m. Live entertainment at 9:00 p.m. Ticket prices: • Dinner only: $67 • Dinner and entertainment: $100 • Entertainment only: $33 Purchase tickets online at: healthsciences/50