UTHSC College of Health Professions Magazine - Summer 2020

HEALTH PROFESSIONS THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SUMMER 2020

Making Strides

POINT OF PRIDE!

Everyone who passes the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Dunlap Street can now see UTHSC’s pride in being part of the UT System of academic institutions displayed in 35-foot bright orange and white letters.

UTHSC is the site of the third mural in the system’s “Everywhere you Look, UT” awareness campaign. The campaign emphasizes the statewide reach and impact of the UT System’s contributions through a series of murals proclaiming those words and located in prominent spots across Tennessee that have been donated by friends and alumni of UT.

In addition to showcasing the UT System, the Memphis mural calls attention to UTHSC’s status as the state’s public, academic health care institution, responsible for educating and training a majority of Tennessee’s health professionals, dentists, pharmacists, physicians, and doctorally prepared nurses.

For more information about the “Everywhere You Look, UT” campaign or to submit recommendations for future sites, please visit everywhere.tennessee.edu/murals.

UTHSC Chancellor Steve J. Schwab, MD

< On our Way

Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operations Officer Kennard Brown, JD, MPA, PhD, FACHE Dean, College of Health Professions Stephen E. Alway, PhD, FACSM Senior Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies James A. Carson, PhD, FACSM Associate Dean for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs Hassan A. Aziz, PhD, FACSs, MLS(ASCP)cm

Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message touts progress toward goals

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Assistant Dean, Student Affairs Richard Kasser, PhD, PT Chair, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology Ashley Harkrider, PhD Interim Chair Diagnostic and Health Sciences Hassan A. Aziz, PhD, FACSs, MLS(ASCP)cm

Joining Together >

Departments merge for better collaboration

Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy Anne H. Zachry, PhD, OTR/L Chair, Department of Physical Therapy Jeffrey B. Taylor, PT, PhD, DPT, SCS, CSCS

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Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs Love Collins, III, MBA Associate Vice Chancellor for Development Bethany Goolsby, JD

< COVID-19 Response

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development Services Jada Williams Assistant Vice Chancellor, Alumni Affairs Chandra Tuggle Associate Director of Development College of Health Professions Lara Reynolds

Virtual Seminars share knowledge in pandemic

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Director of Alumni Affairs Natassha Works Assistant Director of Alumni Programs Terri Catafygiotu

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Sally Badoud, MBA Editors Peggy Reisser Jackie Denton Contributing Writers Peggy Reisser Amber Carter Jackie Denton Designer Adam Gaines Photographers Allen Gillespie Natalie Brewer On the Cover: Alexandria Harris, a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program, works in the COVID-19 testing laboratory in the 930 Madison Building on the Memphis campus.

On the Air >

Innovative podcast broadcasts joys of OT

9 All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations.

In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 910 Madison Avenue, Suite 826, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, telephone 901-448-7382 (V/TTY available). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity. E073701(004-201311)

From the Dean The College of Health Professions has taken important steps toward our goal of obtaining a Top 20 national ranking in each of our programs within six years.

Jeffrey Taylor, PT, DPT, PhD, SCS, CSCS, the new chair in the Department of Physical Therapy, is strengthening research efforts and moving to better coordinate the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curriculum within the department.

We have established a new Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences (DDHS), under the leadership of Hassan Aziz, PhD, FACS, MLS(ASCP)cm, as the interim chair.

DDHS now includes programs in cytology and histotechnology, medical laboratory science, and health informatics and information management.

To reduce financial barriers for students who wish to come to UTHSC to train, we were excited to obtain approval to reduce the out-of-state tuition for training programs in DDHS (in some programs by two-thirds), as well as in-state tuition in one program beginning in the fall.

We are adding new training opportunities to the college including the following degrees: Master of Health Sciences in Pathology Assistance (PathA), Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Human Health Sciences (BHHS), Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition Coordinated Program, and Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy. The first class for the new programs will start in the fall of 2021. We also have a new PhD track in Rehabilitation Sciences.

Our research infrastructure has begun to grow through the network of support for faculty research created through the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Division of Rehabilitation Sciences. We have established the first approved research center in this division, the Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology. We are recruiting faculty for the center, who will contribute to the research, clinical, and teaching mission of the college.

The Office of Research in the college, under the leadership of Dr. James Carson, PhD, has helped faculty develop a record 55 research proposals with funding requests that exceeded $12.5 million, up from 12 to 15 proposals and approximately $6 million during the past two years.

Dr. Taylor and Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, are working together to create a new interdisciplinary UT Human Performance Research and Clinical Care Laboratory, which will provide outpatient treatment for patients, training opportunities for students, and interventional research opportunities for faculty in physical therapy and occupational therapy.

The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, under the leadership of Dr. Ashley Harkrider, is moving closer toward completing its new building, previously the UT Conference Center, on the Knoxville campus. The projected move-in is scheduled for late this year. We are hoping to expand other college programs into this same building, as we develop a strong and integrated college presence on the Knoxville campus within a few years.

COVID-19 has consumed most of our attention since March, yet we are still moving forward as a college. We are very proud of the way our faculty members have stepped up to convert in-person training to courses that would be taught by Zoom, on Blackboard, and fully remotely, and sometimes moved classes to a different semester than originally planned. Our students have also adapted to this new format, and we are grateful for the cooperation of everyone in our college. Importantly, while COVID-19 may have interrupted our lives, it did not stop us. All of our students have graduated on time with May 11, 2020, as the official date of conferral of the degrees at UTHSC. Our college is open and still functioning, albeit mostly remotely, at least until we transition back to our campuses with the appropriate PPE and social distancing that is now becoming the norm. You can learn more about the outstanding impact of our faculty and students during this pandemic at uthsc.edu/health-professions/covid-19.

We appreciate and value your support, as we work together to embrace change today that will fuel growth for tomorrow. Thank you for coming together with us to support the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission, as we seek to train a wider workforce of health care leaders, clinicians, and researchers, who will impact health care delivery and allow us to better impact our communities, our state, and our world.

Be healthy and be safe!

Stephen E. Alway, PhD, FACSM Dean of the College of Health Professions

IMMEDIATE GOALS As we start a new decade in 2020, we have much to be optimistic about but much work to do.

Our 2020 college goals include: 1. Growing student enrollments across departments 2. Growing research, which will forge new approaches for improving our clinical care 3. B eginning our Clinical/Research Laboratory through the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences in the Center for Muscle Metabolism and Neuropathology 4. Increasing college philanthropy to fund scholarships and clinical training

UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | SUMMER 2020

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From the Chancellor I am proud to tell you that our most-recently completed academic year was a record-breaking one for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

UTHSC awarded a more than 1,000 degrees (more than 90 percent of them graduate degrees) and more than 400 specialty certificates. Both UTHSC records were achieved while keeping overall graduation and first-attempt board pass rates at more than 95 percent. We did this while limiting increases in tuition and fees. We generated record sponsored program revenue (all-source non-clinical grants and contracts) of over $300 million, the largest of any public institution in the state, as well as record clinical revenues. In research, we achieved record grant awards of more than $100 million.

It was a year of great accomplishments. Our partner hospitals were nationally and regionally ranked as the best. This is a major source of pride for the university and reflects the excellent work of the faculty and staff.

Additionally, our Campus Master Plan continues to move ahead to bring the campus â&#x20AC;&#x153;best-in-classâ&#x20AC;? facilities with the renovation of our Historic Quadrangle, the recently completed Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation, and the renovation of our Dental Building, which is poised to begin this year.

The four-campus (Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga), six-college, one UTHSC model has served the university and the state well. Our strategic plan requires us to meet the needs of the state with outstanding graduates. We continue to perform in all metrics as the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most-outstanding public health science center.

We are committed to becoming a top-rated research university and we are spending the time, effort, and money to get there.

I am so pleased to say that last year was likely the most successful in the history of our institution. This could not have happened without the generous support and engagement of our outstanding alumni. I invite you to take pride in the strides made by your college and your university, and to join us as we move into the future.

Sincerely,

Steve J. Schwab, MD Chancellor The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

BY THE NUMBERS

248

AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY ENROLLMENT 73 BS ASP 96 MS SLP 69 AUD 10 PHD

PASS RATES

PRESENTATIONS

100%

61

98%

PUBLICATIONS

PRAXIS FOR AUD

27

PRAXIS FOR MS SLP

92

116

183

44 MLS/CLS 9 MCP 39 HIIM

PASS RATE

PASS RATE

PASS RATES

PRESENTATIONS

PRESENTATIONS

18

15

PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

DIAGNOSTIC AND HEALTH SCIENCES ENROLLMENT

PHYSICAL THERAPY ENROLLMENT

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ENROLLMENT

100%

88% MLS/CLS

100%

96%

7

9

MCP

PRESENTATIONS

6

MLS

3

MCP

16

HIIM

PUBLICATIONS

11 6 MLS

MCP

5

HIIM

282

TOTAL GRADUATES COHP DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES AWARDED

93 8

BACCALAUREATE

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

108 73

MASTERS

DOCTORATE

Department Reorganization Fosters Collaboration

By Amber Carter

When Hassan Aziz, associate dean for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs for the College of Health Professions, joined the college, he knew the first step to foster collaboration among the different programs was to reorganize the departmental structure. Two departments merged, the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and the Department of Health Informatics and Information Management, to become the Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences.

“This move created a new synergy and fostered new exciting collaborations among our faculty, staff, and students,” said Stephen E. Alway, PhD, FACSM, dean of the College of Health Professions. “The restructure also provided us the opportunity to reallocate resources to make the college more efficient, flexible, and competitive as outlined in our strategic plan.”

Dr. Aziz said the alignment involved CoHP meeting as a team to begin the process of working together to achieve greater success for the new department.

“A strategic plan was developed with input from every faculty and staff member in the department,” Dr. Aziz said.

“It will act as the roadmap for us in the short term and will chart the future of the department and its programs.”

Several new developments and initiatives are taking place under the restructure. Last year, four new certificate programs were launched: clinical microbiology, clinical chemistry, histotechnology, and health data analytics. CoHP faculty members are also exploring collaborative efforts in teaching and research. In addition, work is underway to

develop interprofessional curriculum covering the areas of health informatics across the different health professions disciplines.

New programs, which include a two-year pathology assistant (PathA) program that leads to a Master of Health Science degree, are also being proposed. A PathA is a highly trained allied health professional who provides various services under the direction and supervision of a pathologist. If approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the proposed program will complement the college’s current educational offerings and research goals.

Merging the Departments of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and the Health Informatics and Information Management required transferring degrees and academic programs and respective faculty. Departmental spaces also adapted.

“It is my sincere hope that the Diagnostic and Health Sciences faculty continues to work together, building on the strong foundation and history of the academic programs, to discover the unlimited possibilities for a stronger alignment in all College of Health Professions and UTHSC mission areas,” said Dr. Aziz, who is serving as interim chair of the new department.

Each program within the Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences (Medical Laboratory Science, Cytopathology and Histotechnology, and Health Informatics and Information Management), has its own program director. Kathy Kenwright, EdD, leads Medical Laboratory Science, while Keisha Burnett, EdD, oversees Cytopathology and Histotechnology. Rebecca Reynolds, EdD RHIA, FAHIMA, leads the Health Informatics and Information Management program.

From left: Dr. Hassan Aziz, Dr. Rebecca Reynolds, Dean Stephen Alway, Dr. Keisha Burnett, and Dr. Kathy Kenwright

UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | SUMMER 2020

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Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences Hosts Series of Webinars

By Jackie Denton

The Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences contributed to the university’s comprehensive effort to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) by hosting a series of free webinars in April to inform health professionals and the public on the valuable roles of telehealth and laboratory science during a pandemic.

The first webinar titled, “Telemedicine in the time of COVID-19,” drew more than 200 participants from across the state and was moderated by Hassan Aziz, PhD, associate dean for Academic, Faculty and Students Affairs in the College of Health Professions.

It featured a panel of experts who specialize in the field of telemedicine and presented on the rapid implementation and evolving nature of telehealth.

Telemedicine has emerged as one of the primary means of providing patient care during the coronavirus pandemic, as a result of the social distancing measures in place in hospitals and clinics across the country.

“In response to the current coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine implementation and utilization has increased across all health care specialties,” said Sajeesh Kumar, PhD, associate professor of Health Informatics & Information Management. He presented on COVID-19related regulations impacting telemedicine practice.

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Studies continue to show that telemedicine saves time, money, and lives, enabling patients to speak to a provider by phone, tablet, or a computer, anywhere, at any time.

A second webinar titled, “The Role of Laboratory Testing in the COVID-19 Pandemic,” featured a panel of experts in laboratory sciences, who spoke on the heightened importance of laboratory testing in a pandemic.

“We salute the heroes in lab coats, whose dedication and strength are more important than ever,” Dr. Aziz said. “Truly, this is the year of laboratory testing, the year we recognize that medical decisions depend on quality laboratory test results.”

Mahul B. Amin, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Gerwin Endowed chair for Cancer Research, and director of Translational Research for the UTHSC Cancer Research Center, offered an overview of how the UTHSC Pathology Department responded to the coronavirus crisis by establishing a COVID-19 analysis lab on campus in the first 45 days of the outbreak, and is developing diagnostic and screening tests for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 lab is the result of repurposing existing cancer and histology labs, he said. “We said, why not meet the need of the community in a deadly pandemic,” Dr. Amin explained. “We said, we’d love to rise to this challenge.”

OT Podcast Has Worldwide Reach

By Jackie Denton

Stephanie Lancaster, program director for the UTHSC Department of Occupational Therapy, saw a gap in the podcast world and decided to take a chance in sharing her love of occupational therapy with others by developing a podcast titled On The Air.

“I really wanted to loop in those prospective students, current students, and others who want to learn more about the field and people who wanted to connect with what those in OT school and in the profession were talking and learning about,” she said.

To get started, Dr. Lancaster discovered tips and tricks online about how to start a podcast, bought start-up recording equipment, and watched YouTube videos and other tutorials online to learn how to record and edit effectively. She found spaces to record and edit where background noise was reduced. Sometimes this was in a recording studio in the UTHSC Teaching & Learning Center and sometimes in a closet in her home, where she set up a makeshift studio.

Guests on her podcast come from all over the world, including students and faculty at UTHSC. “I’m really inspired to share the experiences and the insight from guests from different backgrounds,” she said.

Now, almost three years later, this passion-project for sharing information about the occupational therapy profession is reaching audiences as far away as South Africa, Germany, and Australia. In August, the podcast will celebrate three years of being on the air.

“I’m a podcast enthusiast,” said Lancaster, EdD, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS. “I had a long commute between home and work for several years, almost an hour each way every day. I filled that time by listening to podcasts, and what I noticed over time is that there really wasn’t a podcast that regularly released content centered on general topics related to occupational therapy.”

Dr. Lancaster decided to fill that missing niche market and designed On The Air to appeal not only to occupational therapy practitioners but also to OT educators, current and prospective OT students, and other individuals trying to learn more about the profession. She committed to releasing content regularly, aiming for two to four episodes every month.

Topics covered have included things like applying to OT school, with tips from current students on the application and interview process; various entrepreneurial ventures; and ways that animals and art are used in occupational therapy.

With every episode, Dr. Lancaster includes resources and recommendations related to the topic at hand so that listeners can choose to learn more and even connect with guests on their own.

Although she is now an experienced podcaster, Dr. Lancaster remains true to her reason for starting the podcast: “Years ago, I heard it said that if someone who’s considering a career in a particular field doesn’t see or hear about someone that they relate to doing that job, they may not realize that it’s a viable option for them,” she said. “I think that’s true -- if someone doesn’t know an OT or doesn’t have a true understanding about what an OT does, they may not be able to envision themselves as an OT. I hope that through the podcast some of that can be remedied.”

A member of the faculty at UTHSC since 2013, Dr. Lancaster has been an occupational therapist for 29 years. She specializes clinically in assistive technology and has expertise as an OT educator in educational technology and instructional design. She believes On The Air has brought her love for OT and technology together.

“If you talk to pretty much any OT practitioner, they’ll say this profession is a calling,” she said. “It’s not just a job for those of us in the field; it’s part of our identity. This venture has allowed me to network with other OTs from all over the world and to have conversations about the joy -- and sometimes the struggles -- that we find in our

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UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | SUMMER 2020

work. I’ve loved the camaraderie that’s come from that on a global, worldwide basis. That’s not something I expected at all.”

You can find On The Air at www.ontheair.us or listen on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeartRadio, and all other major podcast hosting sites.

PT Allows New Chair to be a Healer and Impact Lives of Others

By Amber Carter

Department of Physical Therapy Chair Jeffrey Taylor, PT, PhD, DPT, SCS, CSCS, discovered his love of physical therapy while he was an athlete. It is the perfect profession that combined his love of science and sports.

“While playing baseball, I got a few nonserious injuries that led me to seek the care of physical therapists,” he said. “Under their care, I began to see how a career that combined activity, sports, and science was a great fit for my strengths, but would also allow me to be a healer and impact the lives of others.”

Dr. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biological sciences from the University of Delaware, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Duke University, and a PhD in kinesiology with a concentration in applied neuromechanics from the University of North Carolina. He decided to specialize in the area of sports medicine, once again combining his two areas of interest. “When I was a full-time clinician, I used to love working with my patients and then following their athletic careers and getting to see them play,” he said.

For Dr. Taylor, the best aspect of the profession is the broad scope of practice that physical therapists enjoy.

“Physical therapists treat individuals across the lifespan, from the neonatal intensive care unit to hospice, and with a wide array of conditions, from orthopedic to neurologic and others,” he said. “I love that no matter where a physical therapist is working or who they are working with, there is always the same underlying goal of trying to optimize movement to improve someone’s quality of life.”

Dr. Taylor came to UTHSC in August 2019 from High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, where he was an associate professor and director of Curriculum and Outcomes and the course director for the Movement Science curriculum for the Department of Physical Therapy.

Prior to his faculty appointment, Dr. Taylor practiced for eight years as a physical therapist in general and sports medicine outpatient clinics in New York and Pennsylvania.

UTHSC’s long history and distinguished faculty attracted Dr. Taylor to his new position. “From my initial interviews until now at UTHSC, the department’s growth has been quite apparent,” he said. The physical therapy program has a long history of producing exceptional graduates

and has an incredible faculty that are leaders in their fields and expert educators.

Dr. Taylor is also an accomplished researcher. He is currently studying the prevention and rehabilitation of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and other ankle/ foot injuries. “I am attempting to identify best practices of incorporating wearable technology into lower extremity injury prevention and rehabilitation,” he said.

“As technology gets cheaper and more portable, there are ways that we can use it to change standard practice.

This technology can help give more accurate results of a patient’s progress and can potentially allow us to monitor and advise a patient while they are outside of our clinic’s walls. My hope is that this will lead to lower re-injury rates and a more successful return to sport after injury. A group of UTHSC physical therapy students is working with me to pilot some brand-new technology in patients after ACL reconstruction.”

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$1 Million Grant to Aid Work with Hearing Impaired Children

By Amber Carter

Faculty members in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville have received a $1.08 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will allow graduate students to receive advanced, evidence-based training to improve language and early literacy outcomes for young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The four-year grant is titled, “Interdisciplinary Preparation of Speech-language Pathologists and Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to Improve Early Language and Pre-Literacy Outcomes for Young Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.” This particular population was chosen because of the severe state and national shortages of professionals prepared to work with young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.

The training is structured around use of literacy frameworks and a framework for interdisciplinary practice.

The project will be directed by Ilsa Schwarz, PhD, CCCSLP, FASHA, professor emeritus in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. Other project leadership includes co-directors Jillian McCarthy, PhD, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology; Kimberly Wolbers, PhD, professor and co-director of undergraduate studies, Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Educational Interpreting Program at UTK; and David Smith, PhD, research professor and director of the Center on Deafness at UTK. Julie Beeler, CCC-A/SLP, program liaison for Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, will serve as project coordinator.

“The vision for this grant is to strengthen the collaborative and interdisciplinary teaching and research activities that already exist between our academic programs at UTHSC and UTK,” said Dr. Schwarz. “As a result, graduate students in both programs will be better prepared to provide optimally effective and evidence-based services to young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. We anticipate that our students will be able to improve language and early literacy outcomes for young children using a family-centered approach and set them on the path for later academic success.” The ultimate goals of the project are to promote successful reading

comprehension for the children and successful teamwork across the disciplines.

Over the next four years, 15 students from each discipline will be selected to participate by a grant admissions committee. The students will be chosen based on academic excellence, performance in clinical or educational settings, and sign language ability. They will receive a tuition remission for three semesters of their education and complete a capstone research project related to improving language and early literacy outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Upon completion of their training, all students will be prepared to obtain state teaching licensure and professional certification in their discipline.

This project is funded by a grant from the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education for their 84.325K (Focus Area A) competition: Preparing personnel to serve infants toddlers, and preschool-age children with disabilities who have high intensity needs.

Interest in Science Leads to Fulfilling Career for MLS Grad A typical Friday for Amanda Bodkin begins at 8 a.m. and doesn’t end until 7 a.m. the following day.

A graduate of the UTHSC Medical Laboratory Science program, Bodkin is not only studying full-time to earn her Master of Cytopathology Practice degree but is putting her MLS degree to use working as a med-tech generalist at Methodist Germantown Hospital.

“I work overnight four nights a week for 10 hours,” she said. She does all this to support her 8-year-old son, Ayden. “I want to set a good example for him.”

During her senior year of high school, Bodkin received an art scholarship to train in graphic design. A summer job led to a full-time managerial position. However, after having her son, Bodkin decided to pursue something new.

“Science and being in a lab have always been my thing,” she said. “I enrolled at Southwest Tennessee Community College to get my prerequisites and that’s when a chemistry teacher suggested the MLS program and that it’d be a good fit. So, you know I completely did a 180, and here I am in a completely different scope of things.”

Bodkin says she loves the microscope, and a part of the cytopathology field that she loves is her ability to look for disease.

“You are pretty much a step under the pathologist,” she said. “You are screening things, you are looking and trying to see if there is cancer. You are diagnosing cancer and passing it on to the pathologist and they make that final call, but you know you are impacting someone’s life.

You’re helping them take a step forward one way or another.”

Bodkin has enjoyed her time in both programs and credits the faculty and her classmates for helping push toward the finish line.

“I wanted to do something that I was proud of doing every day and I’m definitely proud,” she said. “I feel like I’m making a difference in people’s lives every day that I go to work.”

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Physical Therapy Student Committed to Serving the Memphis Community A native Memphian, Elizabeth Sueing returned home after receiving her bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to work at Le Bonheur Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital. It was there she determined that a career in physical therapy would combine her love for serving others and her desire to increase the quality of life for patients.

Sanctuary Chorus member, Praise Team member, Church Council 18-35 Representative, Room In the Inn Volunteer, and Dance Ministry Creative Director and Choreographer.

Sueing is committed to helping her hometown continue to flourish and grow. She recently graduated from the DPT Program, and looks forward to entering a career in Pediatric Physical Therapy.

She applied to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at UTHSC and was accepted into the 2017-2020 class and immediately became involved on campus.

She has participated in many departmental and college committees and activities, including serving as the DPT White Coat Ceremony Committee Co-Chair (2017-2018), Physical Therapy Day Committee Chair (2017-2018), BSA College of Health Professions Representative (2018-2019), UTHSC Student Government Association Executive Council Member (2019-2020), Student Parking Appeals Committee Chair (2019-2020), and Black Student Association President (2019-2020).

Of all of these roles, Sueing said she is most grateful to serve as president of the Black Student Association. She strives to ensure that all students on the UTHSC campus have a voice that is heard and respected, and that there is a safe space for everyone to gather, learn about one another, and grow personally and professionally. She was honored by the organization at its Annual Awards Ceremony in February.

In addition to serving on the campus of UTHSC, Sueing is a member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, where she serves in several capacities including

UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | SUMMER 2020

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Audiology Student Succeeds with Help from Canine Companion Lauren Armstrong’s first year of audiology school would not have been possible without her service dog, Elroy, the first animal to support an owner with hearing loss on the UTHSC campus in Knoxville.

“It has been a new experience, but a sweet journey so far,” Armstrong said. “I think the most challenging aspect of

my studies has been navigating life in school, the clinic, and aural rehabilitation with my service dog.”

Armstrong was born with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss, or hearing loss in both ears. She has been able to hear with the assistance of cochlear implants.

“At first I did not want to do audiology, but the more I became in tune with my hearing loss and this incredible field, I realized that I could make a difference,” she said.

When Armstrong was accepted into the Clinical Doctorate of Audiology program at UTHSC, she knew she had to take a new path to remain independent because her implants failed at times. At the urging of her mother, Armstrong began her search for a service dog. “We found a Canine Companions for Independence puppy, and went from there,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said having Elroy has given her confidence in herself. “I am completely comfortable with who I am in all environments,” she said. “Before Elroy, I would have a lot of hearing anxiety in public. He has alerted me to my keys dropping, several sirens that have passed by the stadium, my name, and other sounds. I am currently training him to alert me to feedback on hearing aids, as I sometimes cannot hear that.”

Next year, Lauren is looking forward to taking a cochlear implant course, which ties in with her goal of one day opening her own private practice for pediatric and geriatric patients with cochlear implants. “This is such a passion and dream of mine,” she said. “I am eager to help make a difference in people’s lives.”

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OT Student Dedicated to Helping Older People Remain Independent Occupational Therapy student Lauren Crowder’s passion for helping older people grew from her relationship with her grandmother.

“I saw firsthand the importance of skilled, caring, and trustworthy health care professionals as she aged and needed increasing support,” Crowder said. “I quickly realized I had a passion for supporting aging individuals to continue to maintain their independence and participation in important daily tasks.”

the Student Occupational Therapy Association, and the occupational therapy honor society, Pi Theta Epsilon.

Crowder plans to work as a geriatric occupational therapist. “After my older adult courses and clinical experiences, I fell in love with working with aging adults and hope to get the opportunity to continue to serve this population in the city of Memphis,” she said.

Her passion for assisting the geriatric population led her to receive a $3,000 scholarship from the Professional Network on Aging, allowing her to work to further the organization’s mission to educate the public on issues related to aging and offer assistance to the geriatric population.

A Memphis native, Crowder originally pursued occupational therapy because she loved the profession’s holistic approach and focus on teaching functional skills that help people participate in the things they find most meaningful. She chose to come to UTHSC after getting positive feedback from her friends who completed the occupational therapy program and were leading successful careers. “I knew based on my research and discussion with other students that UTHSC offered a strong, well-rounded OT program,” she said.

Crowder served as the marketing chair and a community outreach board member for the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center, which provides free occupational therapy to uninsured and underinsured children, and participated in

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PT Alumna Shares Pearls of Wisdom from a Blessed Career

By Peggy Reisser

Alumna Jane Jolley has been a physical therapist for more than 35 years. She’s seen her share of miracles and endured times when miracles were in short supply.

“My experiences in PT have been so rich that I wanted to share a few of them with you, as well as a few hints learned along the way,” she wrote.

Through it all, she says she has been blessed by the career she chose and the university that equipped her for it. It’s a message she’s only too happy to share with the next generation coming into the profession.

Among the hints, she advised:

So, when the Department of Physical Therapy recently sent out a call to its alumni to donate money to help finance white coats and a white coat ceremony for Doctor of Physical Therapy students, Jolley was happy to send the money, and something else. Instead of the note card that accompanied the funding request so alumni could send greetings to the students, she sent a five-page letter filled with advice, encouragement, and wisdom gleaned from her decades of patient care.

• Some days will be great, and others will be stressful.

“I have more to say than just fit on a small note cart,” Jolley explained. “It just sort of flowed.”

Jolley, who is married, the mother of three grown children, and lives in Hixson, Tennessee, has lately been working two days a week with lymphedema patients in a rehabilitation center in Chattanooga. She is on hiatus in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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•E njoy the ride — you never know where the journey will take you.

•D on’t take all the credit for successes and don’t take all the blame when things don’t go well.

•T he gait belt is your friend — it will prevent hundreds of falls. Learn to use it well.

•R egarding prognosis, I often tell patients, “No promises, no guarantees, but I’m not going to tell you what you can’t do, because I don’t know that, either.”

Perhaps even more useful were the eloquent words about patients who stand out in her memory and have shaped her career.

The patient who most influenced her was a quadriplegic she encountered only a few weeks after she began working as a physical therapist. He had a reputation of

having a bad attitude, but it turned out he was resistant because he felt previous therapists had acted like knowit-alls toward him.

“I learned very quickly to respect my patients and never to think that I have all the answers,” Jolley wrote. The patient’s quadriplegia was permanent, however, he progressed to the best of his ability, married, and recently called her to thank her for the care he had received from the fledgling physical therapist.

“Occasionally we hear of miracles, and every therapist wants to be part of them,” Jolley continued. “I was blessed to witness a spectacular one midway through my career.”

A 6-year-old girl was catatonic after contracting West Nile Virus. Others had given up, but the child’s mother insisted her daughter was trying to communicate. Months of therapy generated little progress, and Jolley admits she suffered burnout trying to manage work and her home life.

“One day, it just seemed like too much,” she wrote.

“I walked into work thinking, I just can’t do this anymore.

Something’s got to give.”

That day, the little girl, who was by then “walking” in stiff Barbie Doll fashion with great assistance, advanced her leg on her own. The burnout was over. The child began to progress, and eventually could run, jump, get up from the floor, and climb. She could use her hands and she talked without prompting.

Butterflies were released to commemorate the young woman’s spirit. About 20 fluttered into the sky and away. One, particularly wobbly butterfly with a bad wing, remained in the box. The family imagined it was the deceased woman and watched it slowly fly solo away.

When Jolley was leaving, she found that butterfly with the bad wing resting on the ground near her car. “As I bent down to pick it up, it began to fly — low and wobbly just like before,” Jolley wrote. “This time, it hovered around me for what seemed like forever. My mind could hear (my patient) talking to me as plain as day: ‘Jane, it’s me! Look I’m flying! I can do it! I finally can do it!’ “ Jolley ended her letter to future physical therapists with one wish built on that encounter. “May you think of her in situations where nothing seems to be going as it should,” she wrote.

The 2020 Physical Therapy Department White Coat Ceremony was postponed until fall. To donate to the Physical Therapy Department White Coat Support Fund, you may give by check payable to UTFI, by phone by calling 901.448.4974, or online by visiting giving.uthsc. edu/PTWhiteCoat.

“In a sweet, normal voice she thanked me for working with her in PT,” Jolley wrote. “I’m reminded of what Dr. Ann Craig used to tell us in PT school: ‘Your patient has not read the book. They don’t know what they’re supposed to be able to do or not do after a medical issue.

There will be a few who defy the odds. Don’t sell them short. Give them a chance to try.’ ” Jolley also wrote that for every patient who defies the odds, there are those, who for some reason, do not.

“We can be blessed by them as well,” she advised.

She recounted working with an infant with cerebral palsy.

She was progressing at the time and it looked as if she would become ambulatory.

After years of apart, however, the girl became a patient again at age 19. Things had not gone as expected, and she was now quadriplegic, but using a wheelchair and enthusiastically living life.

Again, after some therapy, they lost touch. The therapy to regain lost skills was unsuccessful. When Jolley later read her former patient had declined and passed away, she attended the funeral. “What happened was straight from the movies,” she recounted.

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Congratulations to Our Graduates!

The following students received their degrees during commencement ceremonies in May and December 2019.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE Abdoulaye Ba Jordan Bintz Amanda Bodkin Dawn Cornett Olivia Nicole Ramirez Tonya Renise Richardson Peyton Alex Robinson Loydene Stooksburya

MASTER OF CYTOPATHOLOGY PRACTICE Tierney Shari Jordan aMicaela Marie Taylor Whitney Paige Thomas Lauren Marie Tracy Destinee R. Williams

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE Robert Hatfield Christopher Fred Justus Nafisa Khalafalla Sara Haley Kurrus Christal Marie Lane Deja McIntosh Brittany Morgan Spicer Courtnee Suzanna Wall

MASTER OF HEALTH INFORMATICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Kristin S. Brukl Kerry Christie Tamika Douglas Susan Elizabeth Duffy Sara Fletcher Debbie Hoza Courtney Nicole Huie Sharieka Nacole Lester Raweewan Liengsawangwong Stephanie Johnson Kathryn Elizabeth MacFarlane Dharaben Naik Ryan Payne Jacqueline Monique Perry

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Kenneth D. Sykes Elizabeth M. Wills Qian Zhao

MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Ellen Ranson Bermudez Sarah Mintory Bryant Sarah Berry Caldwell Chelsea Rae Chandler Rachel Jane Cox Kiera Latrice Crutcher Makayla Jean Flatt Katelyn Leonard Grammes Whitney Eliza Hicks Valerie Michelle Holmes Annese Tyeba Jaffery Lauren Suzanne Laborde Lauren Elizabeth Leiser Katherine Ann Manning Lauren Estelle McGee Meghan Anne Mincey Caroline Louise Montague Lauren Allison Murphy Lauren Emily Newman Timothy James Nichols Lauren Rae Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brian Grace Ann Pennell Macy Elizabeth Porter Alicia Nichole Rinks Audrey Regan Robertson Cameron Austin Sanders Rachel McKensie Scarbrough Rachel Henderson Spain Alexa Lindsey Tooker Camille Treadwell Vaughn Eric Gabriel Walker Virginia Ann Ward Sarah Caitlin Wheat Caitlyn Elizabeth White Emily Grace White Maggie Ann Widick Haleigh Nicole Wilson

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY Cale Porter Alexander Ashley Louise Aycock Meghan Taylor Bell

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Nicholas Thomas Betts Hillary Renee Brunner William David Burleson Anna Elizabeth Callins Shital Vinod Chauhan Zachary Lee Clemens Jackson David Clouse Eryn Paige Coleman Kylle Colquhoun Kaylin Rose Cowley Kelsey Leigh Cunningham Alyssa Marie Curtis Isaac David Swafford Durrington Shannon Elizabeth Feamster Sarah E. Flammang Dallis Glenn Forsythe Elizabeth Frances Fortin Steven Neal Fortner Alma Lidia Godoy John Payton Graves Whitney Nicole Greene Michelle Elise Grzybowski Osman Gurel Gursakal Landon Harding Rachel Diane Harmon Catherine Claire Hays Robert Cody Heismann Cortney Walters Howell Marcus George Hudson Rina Ishii Allison Jones Charquita Devoncha Lightfoot Kelley Danielle Little Jennifer Mackenzie Maddox Sean Andrew McComiskey Matthew Chase McDurmon Marissa Marie McGurr Lindsey Purvis Michelotti Duncan Lloyd Monger Abby Lee Morton Holly Brooke Nelson Lauren Alice Nyland Shelby Hayes Parrish Taylor Lee Patterson Sarah Kathryn Pratt Wilson Taylor Raines Leah Michelle Richardson Grant Christian Smith David Tarak Spellings Jeremy Kevin Stamps

Austin Webber Steward Breanna Dawn Thompson James David Tutor Sara Sinclair Wilkinson Morgan Chelsea Woods Morgan Leigh Zigelsky

DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY Jacqueline Barry Thomas Bushur William Garrison Kyndal Gray Alexis Hickox Meredith McGhee Leighanna Morris Lorann Potter Alicia Rutherford Kathleen Stanford Abbey Stigers Elizabeth Tobener Bethany Watson

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY Kara Amin Brittany Ary Alison Bacon Mary Barr Bridget Boyer Meghan Crisp Nicole Davidson Jennifer Dehart Annelise Doran Briana Gaines Kayla Gillispie Ashtyn Goshaw Mallory Gray Rebekah Green Hannah Hatmaker Olivia Hecker Karli Herbert Jennifer Holmes Virginia Ingram Rebekah Keith Ghawaly Alisha Kukreja Marilyn Mays Margaret Meares Heidi Miller Shelby Nelson Shawnee Osborne Priya Patel Seaton Pritchett Julia Quiroga Erika Riggs Claudia Robinette

Cassandra Russell Molly Schaefer Madison Schantz Lauren Scharfstein Nolan Sexton Hannah Sluder Kristen Taylor Gabrielle Tomaszewski Kaylie Warren Angela Weaver

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY Mandy Adams Abigail Anderson Charlotte Anderson Lauren Armstrong Emma Arnold Abby Atkins Tori Barber Alexandra Barker Sidney Baumert Laura Black Abigail Bowman Anne Marie Bradford Abbigail Brown Colby Cartwright Alexandra Cavanaugh Brenna Clary Laine Coey Tyler Coldiron Alexandra Conwell Alex Dawson Allyson Decker Jamie Dillard Kaitlyn Dixon Elissa Doll Madeline Domyslawski Kristin Duff Natalie Falconer Haley Gent Lindsey Graham Molly Green Bailey Grisham Charlton Abby Hannah Emily Harding Michaela Hearon Jennifer Hopper Alyssa Hunter Breana Jeter Hannah Jones Madison Jones Breanna Jordan Sarah Joyce

Anna Kops Hannah Kujawa Smith Megan Kusenda Samantha Leduc Zoey Line Haley Lisle Pamela Lively Ansley Maness Reagan Manning Jackson Marshall Meredith Martineau Deneen Matheson Hannah McAdams Chelsea McCurry Haley Meyer Emily Miller Rachael Miller Jessica Mink Kathleen Moore Simone Morgan Kayla Morris Kelsey Naler Mary Newbill Sarah Orians Sklar Orr Candace Overbay Holly Petherick Emma Phillips Monique Reed Olivia Robbins Erynn Sandman Alexa Saravi Abigail Seal Rachel Soetje Natalie Stasch Alana Stephens Erika Sudbrink Blair Tinker Madison Tomasek Madison Trent Sloane Warwick Mikala Welch Abby Werner Kathryn White Natalie Woliver Kathryn Worley Hanna Wright Ashley Yank

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY David Thornton Karen Martin

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Student Leaders Honored The College of Health Professions is proud to recognize the following students honored during 2019 Spring and Fall Commencement Ceremonies.

ALPHA ETA SOCIETY

Cale Porter Alexander Amanda Bodkin Kaylin Rose Cowley Rachel Jane Cox Kerry Christie Kiera Latrice Crutcher Isaac David Swafford Durrington Shannon Elizabeth Feamster Sarah E. Flammang Steven Neal Fortner Robert Hatfield Debbie Hoza Nafisa Khalafalla Katherine Ann Manning Duncan Lloyd Monger Caroline Louise Montague Shelby Hayes Parrish Wilson Taylor Raines Leah Michelle Richardson Peyton Alex Robinson Austin Webber Steward Lauren Marie Tracy Emily Grace White Morgan Chelsea Woods

Faculty Nominee Charisse Madlock Brown HONORS GRADUATES HIGHEST HONORS Mandy Adams Cale P. Alexander Emma Arnold Abby Atkins Alexandra Barker AnneMarie Bradford Brenna Clary Laine Coey Rachel Jane Cox Alex Dawson Elissa Doll Natalie Falconer Shannon E. Feamster Molly Green Michaela Hearon Sarah Joyce 22

Nafisa Khalafalla Megan Kusenda Haley Lisle Katherine Ann Manning Jack Marshall Deneen Matheson Jessica Mink Caroline Louise Montague Kyla Morris Duncan Lloyd Monger Shelby Hayes Parrish Holly Petherick Wilson Taylor Raines Leah M. Richardson Peyton Alex Robinson Abigail Seal Rachel Soetie Austin Webber Steward Erika Sudbrink Jordan Shari Tierney Madison Tomasek Abigail Werner Emily Grace White Kathryn White Natalie Woliver HIGH HONORS Abigail Anderson Kiera Latrice Crutcher Tyler Coldiron Kaylin Rose Cowley Allyson Decker Isaac David Swafford Durrington Bailey Grisham Sarah E. Flammang Steven Neal Fortner Robert Hatfield Jennifer Hopper Alyssa Hunter Hannah Jones Madison Jones Hannah McAdams Chelsea McCurry Haley Meyer Kathleen Moore Kelsey Naler Mary Newbill

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Lauren Rae Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brian Olivia Robbins Audrey Regan Robertson Alexa Saravi Natalie Stasch Blair Tinker Alexa Lindsey Tooker Courtnee Suzanna Wall Mikayla Welch Destinee R. Williams Morgan Chelsea Woods Kathryn Worley HONORS Charlotte Anderson Laura Black Amanda Bodkin Abigail Bowman Alexandra Cavanaugh Brenna Jordan Zoey Line Ashley Maness Regan Manning Meredith Martineau Rachael Miller Simone Morgan Skylar Orr Olivia Nicole Ramirez Monique Reed Madison Trent Hanna Wright

THE IMHOTEP SOCIETY Graduating Members Ellen Ranson Bermudez Amanda Bodkin Sarah Berry Caldwell Chelsea Rae Chandler Kaylin Rose Cowley Kiera Latrice Crutcher Kelsey Leigh Cunningham Sarah E. Flammang Elizabeth Frances Fortin Katelyn Leonard Grammes Michelle Elise Grzybowski Whitney Eliza Hicks

Valerie Michelle Holmes Annese Tyeba Jaffery Tierney Shari Jordan Christopher Fred Justus Nafisa Khalafalla Christal Marie Lane Lauren Elizabeth Leiser Charquita Devoncha Lightfoot Katherine Ann Manning Caroline Louise Montague Abby Lee Morton Lauren Allison Murphy Lauren Emily Newman Lauren Rae O’Brian Grace Ann Pennell Macy Elizabeth Porter Audrey Regan Robertson Peyton Robertson Cameron Austin Sanders Rachel McKensie Scarbrough Brittany Morgan Spicer Whitney Page Thomas Alexa Lindsey Tooker Lauren Marie Tracy Virginia Ann Ward Caitlyn Elizabeth White Emily Grace White Maggie Ann Widick Haleigh Nichole Wilson Morgan Chelsea Woods Morgan Leigh Zigelsky

MASTER OF CYTOPATHOLOGY PRACTICE AWARDS Cyrus C. Erickson Award in Cytotechnology

MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AWARDS Achievement Award in Occupational Therapy

Tierney Jordan

Katherine Manning

Gerre Wells Gourley Award in Histotechnology

Leadership Award in Occupational Therapy

Destinee Williams

Lauren Newman

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AWARD Frances Guthrie Outstanding Student Award in Medical Technology

Kerry Christie Tamika Douglas Sara Fletcher Valerie Michelle Holmes Tierney Shari Jordan Raweewan Liengsawangwong Lauren Emily Newman Macy Elizabeth Porter Emily Grace White Maggie Ann Widick Destinee R. Williams

Ellen Bermudez

President’s Award for Service in Occupational Therapy

Amanda Bodkin

Katelyn Grammes

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AWARD Brenta G. Davis Outstanding Clinical Laboratory Science Graduate Student Award

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AWARDS The Outstanding Physical Therapy Student Award

Robert Hatfield

Dr. Duncan Monger Dr. William Burleson

Ayers Award

Alice Scott Hitt Faculty Award in Medical Laboratory Science Dawn Cornett

SIGMA XI, THE SOCIETY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH AWARD

The Rosemary Batorski Community Service Award in Occupational Therapy

Dr. Charquita Lightfoot Dr. Isaac Durrington

Physical Therapy Faculty Award Dr. Leah Richardson

MASTER OF HEALTH INFORMATICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AWARD Mary “Mamel” McCain Achievement Award Tamika Douglas Sharieka Lester

Tennessee Health Information Management Association Outstanding Student Award Stephanie Johnson

Aural Habilitation Concentration Jennifer Kathryn DeHart Annelise Marie Doran Olivia Shea Hecker Virginia Carter Ingram Meredith Janet McGhee Marilyn Mays Owens Molly Michelle Schaefer Madison Alexandria Schantz Lauren Scharfstein Nolan Sexton Hannah Logan Sluder Elizabeth Nora Tobener Kaylie Warren

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Supporting RKS The lobby of the Madison Plaza was transformed into a circus-themed art gallery for the thirdannual Rachel Kay Stevens Art Show and Auction July 25. The art show raised $3,100 for the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center, the only student-run, pro bono OT clinic in the Mid-South. The clinic opened in 2016 and provides occupational therapy services at no cost to uninsured and underinsured children. OT students work at the clinic under the supervision of faculty, assisting with screenings, evaluations, and treatment of patients. The therapy center is named after Rachel Kay Stevens, an OT student who died shortly after beginning her OT program at UTHSC. The art show honors her memory and her passions, pediatric occupational therapy and the arts.

Aziz Receives Multiple Awards Dr. Hassan Aziz received multiple awards throughout the year. He was the recipient of the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s (ASCP) 2019 Membership Lifetime Achievement Award. The Membership Lifetime Achievement Award honors ASCP laboratory professional members, who have demonstrated a commitment to the profession through their work, attitude, and ASCP involvement during the course of their careers. He also received the Distinguished Author Award, Education Section, from the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science. Dr. Aziz’s paper, “A Comprehensive Assessment Plan for Medical Laboratory Science Programs,” is the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive assessment model for medical laboratory science and medical laboratory technician educational programs.

SGAEC Teaching Awards Jacque Bradford, PT, DPT, EdD, MS, (left) assistant professor, the director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy, and Keisha Burnett, EdD, MS, SCT (ASCP) MB, an associate professor and program director of cytotechnology and histotechnology in the Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences, received Excellence in Teaching Awards at the 2019 Student Government Association Executive Council Banquet in April.

The awards are vetted by the CoHP’s SGAEC representative, as well as students from the college, and are among the highest honors given to faculty on campus.

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Helping Kids GoBabyGo! CoHP students wrapped up an eight-month collaborative effort with engineering students at Christian Brothers University as they showcased their work designed to help children with special needs during the third-annual GoBabyGo! Rodeo in September. Students from both institutions, under the supervision of faculty, modified off-the-shelf, ride-in toy cars for eight children with disabilities. who would otherwise not be able to use them. The GoBabyGo! initiative was launched at UTHSC by the Department of Physical Therapy in 2016. Since it began, 22 children with special needs have received cars. The children were referred to the program by therapists in the community.

OT Students Make Face Masks for Health Care Providers OT faculty and students made masks for health care providers as part of Project PrOTect during the coronavirus pandemic. The hand-made medical masks were sewn and mailed to OT alumni at no cost. Masks were also provided to others for pick up at designated locations throughout Memphis. Due to the shortage of N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the masks were used to wear over surgical masks and N95 masks to extend their wear.

Patti Johnstone Elected To Audiology Advisory Council Patti Johnstone, PhD, CCC-A/SLP, associate professor and director of clinical education in audiology. was elected to serve on the Audiology Advisory Council for the American-Speech-LanguageHearing Association (ASHA).

The Audiology Advisory Council identifies, discusses, and ranks issues of concern to members and advises ASHA’S board of directors on issues pertinent to the speechlanguage-hearing professions.

Stovall-Frady 5K The Tennessee Health Information Management Association held its third-annual 5K, Natalie’s Run, in November at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis. The 5K is named for Natalie Stovall Frady, a 2005 College of Health Professions alumna, who died in a car accident in 2016. Proceeds from the race were divided between the Natalie Stovall Frady Memorial Scholarship and the veteran’s organization, Carry the Load.

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Garrett Bowdle Ambassador for American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Physical therapy student Garrett Bowdle was selected to be a Core Ambassador for APTA. The position consists of serving as a communication liaison between the Student Assembly Board of Directors and each physical therapy and physical therapy assistant program in the state. The goal is to foster engagement between PT/PTA students in the state and the board, implement strategies and initiatives to enhance student engagement with the APTA, increase awareness of advocacy efforts, and keep a steady line of communication and the passing of information between the board and all involved programs in the state.

‘Window Masks’ for Hearing Loss Patients The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology received special ‘window masks’ for their employees, clinicians, and students, created by speech pathologist Kandy Turner.

The communicator masks allow patients with hearing loss to easily read lips, while keeping both the patient and doctor safe.

Student Innovation Showcase First-year occupational therapy students displayed their own creative takes on therapeutic materials and adaptive equipment during the OT Innovation Showcase held in August. Students used basic household materials to create products that can be used as therapeutic materials or adaptive equipment for individuals with disabilities. The showcase was a part of the course requirements for OT 537 Neurological Aspects of Occupational Performance, taught by Stephanie Lancaster, EdD, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS, who specializes in assistive technology within the field of occupational therapy.

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Tuition Reduced in Some Programs Annual tuition in several programs in the College of Health Professions will see decreases, ranging from 28.3 percent to 54.1 percent. In-state tuition for the Master of Science in Cytopathology Practice program will decrease 28.3 percent, from $13,814 to $9,900.

Out-of-state tuition in the program will drop 54.7 percent, from $31,796 to $14,400. Out-of-state tuition for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program will decrease 54.1 percent, from $26,156 to $12,000. Out-of-state tuition for the Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences will decrease 48.6 percent, from $28,008 to $14,400.

Zachry Completes Training at Harvard Medical School Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L, chair of Occupational Therapy, completed the Harvard Medical School Global Clinical Scholars Research Training program. The one-year, postgraduate training program enrolls three cohorts and provides clinicians and scientists progressive training in the methods and implementation of clinical research, with an emphasis on team-based learning. Training is offered online and onsite through coursework and training sessions.

Participants are selected from a pool of medical professionals from around the world, who have prior clinical research experience and whose work has appeared in one or more publications. Completing the program’s clinical trials concentration will allow Dr. Zachry to continue her research in OT interventions.

Savanna Altman Awarded Scholarship Master of Cytopathology Practice Program (MCP) student Savanna Altman was awarded the 2020 Bob Gay Scholarship by the American Society of Cytotechnology (ASCT). The ASCT created the scholarship in honor and memory of Robert “Bob” Gay, who was a long-time supporter and a founding member of the ASCT and the ASCT Foundation. Altman will be recognized for her achievement at the next ASCT annual conference in August in Palm Springs, California. She is the only student from the MCP program to win this national scholarship.

PT Day

HIIM Grads Win Multiple Honors

Physical Therapy students shared their skills with students from other colleges at PT Day in October. The event allowed students from other programs who were experiencing pain, muscle tightness, trigger points, and more, to receive free physical therapy assessments and treatment from DPT students.

Five HIIM graduates took home honors from the Tennessee Health Information Management Association Foundation’s (THIMA) Honoree Celebration held March 2019 at the Hilton Memphis. The honorees were: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD ,RHIA, FAHIMA, who received the Mentor/Educator Award/ Volunteer Award; Seth Johnson, MBA, RHIA, who received the Visionary Award; Patti Gust, RHIA, who received the Volunteer Award (shared with Dr. Reynolds); Chanetra Jones, who received the 2019 Outstanding Student Award; and student Elizabeth McCandless, who received the 2019 Natalie StovallFrady Memorial Scholarship. The foundation fosters the professional development of its members through education, representation, and lifelong learning.

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Thank You for Your Membership in the 1911 Society The University of Tennessee Health Science Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1911 Society recognizes annual supporters, who are critical to our mission of educating, conducting innovative research, and improving health.

Named for the year the Health Science Center was founded, the 1911 Society celebrates the total giving by donors, who each year make their gift of $100 or more between July 1 and the following June 30.

These individuals have made gifts to the College of Health Professions in Fiscal Year 2020.

Debbie Alderton Rhonda K. Allen Michael L. and Chandra D. Alston Kim J. Arnwine Sherry Denise Ashe Sherrie Atkins Margaret Ayers Bobbie Bable Sally E. Badoud Jeffrey M. and Sally Jo Baerman Aditya and Mona A. Bagrodia Dana Bailey Carol and Jerome J. Barthelemy II Deborah Barton Montana Rashae Bawcum Janice E. Beard Julie A. and George Beeler Ellen Ranson Bermudez Kelly Lynn Chappell Bien Joe Black Kent Blazier Carol Sue Bloomquist Ashley Boehm Kendal L. and Richard W. Booker Dollie Winston and Leslie Boone Tara Booth Ashley Nations and David C. Bradford Jacque Lynn Barnes and Jeremy Lynn Bradford Lillian J. and Jack W. Bray

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Gifts are renewable annually to retain membership in the 1911 Society.

The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs wishes to thank all donors for their commitment to the College of Health Professions and to the university. For details go to giving.uthsc.edu/1911. To make a gift, please visit giving. uthsc.edu/give or call 901.448.5516.

Mary F. Bray Shawn Briggs Robert W. Bruno Matthew D. Bryan Phyllis S. and Fred S. Buchanan, Jr. Loretta L. Bunn Lezlie E. and David G. Burden Katherine V. and Bill Burnett Janet Stotts and Steven Holmes Bush William H. Byrd Elizabeth S. Carlson Delilah C. and Walter E. Clark Laken Clark Maryann Fedun Clark Judy Clifft Benjamin T. Cockrill Jr. Jeannine Hopper Cockrill Alexander Ryan Cole Kimberly and Danny Cole Karen and Brian Coltharp Barbara H. and Michael J. Connolly Elizabeth Mae Councill Johnny R. an Andrea Crisler Sheila L. Criswell Gina R. Curry Vicki Lynn Davidson Judith Gayle Davis Mike L. and Donna Dillard Shani Henley Doyle Barbara Lynn DuBray-Benstein Mary Ellen Duffy Jerry J. and Peggy Faerber

Stephen H. and LaDonna L. Falwell Jami E. Flick Cheryl Springer Fowler Denise M. and Mark A. Fredette Alice F. Freeman Adam C. Gaines Tarlesha Mechelle Gales Anna C. Garrett Isabelle Katherine Gelfand Deborah B. and Ted M. Gleason Toni A. Glover Julia P. and Guadalupe L. Gonzalez Lori S. Gonzalez Chris Graham Lenard A. and Nina Q. Grice Cheryl D. Gunter and Paul A. Rabe Ren S. Hammer Harold Steve Hampton Shelby Hamrick Ashley Harkrider Elaine Dockery Harper Jazmine Harris-Branch Michael James Hastie Elizabeth Hayes Wendy Hayes Peg and William Alan Helms Morgan Kay Henry Jamie Lou Henwood Steve and Mary Anna Hoelscher M. James and Joyce A. Howard Chris and Dawn Hurt Tonya andDavid Hurt III Raymond D. and Alexis Hurt Mary Jacobs Annese Tyeba Jaffery Jane and Harmon L. Jolley, Jr. Janet H. and Alan L. Jones Sajeesh Kumar Kamala Raghavan Richard John Kasser Margaret Wolfberg Kedia Kathleen McLoughlin Kenwright Alison Catherine Kilgore Michael W. and Michelle L. King Nancy L. and Victor D. King Rebecca C. Kirk Elizabeth Anne Klein Kimberly Lyn Knipper Nikki Jean Koehler Stephanie B. Lancaster Lareasa L. Leatherwood Jewell B. and George M. Lee Sara Ogilvie Leonard

Cherisa Tisdale Lewis Carol Likens Sheila R. Littleton Timothy D. Lockey Julie Alyse Lowell Elizabeth A. and Robert D. Massey Lynda P. and Ross McAllister, Jr. Jillian Heather McCarthy Christopher William McClain Michael J. and Angelea H. McCollum Susan Lynn McConnell Cynthia McCormick Richburg Paula S. McCune Tammy R. and Patrick W. McEnerney Jacqueline McManis Joy A. and Mark W. McMaster Jessica Marie Mcnatt Bobby Meadows D. Yvonne Means Myra M. Meekins Mary C. and Curtis P. Meier Tim and Carol Melton Ellen Mitchell Anita W. Mitchell Phyllis C. Mitchell Pearlean and Edward Glen Mohlke Jacen Moore Stephanie Dee Moore Terri Nabiam Janice and Barry Olswing Terri Flake Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill Claire Lee Overmyer Logan Clint and Stephanie Owens Marilyn Owens Allyson Mackenzie Parks Kathryn A. and William T. Patten, Jr. Ashley Anne Patton Pearl A. Payne Jason L. Peeples Morgan Petersen Toni and James Peterson Angela T. Polk Melinda Quinn Lee and Nola Radford Vanessa V. Rando Kimberly Rayder Donna Leigh and Matthew Robert Reed Kevin Joseph Reilly and Jill L. Passano Charles Remaklus III Kevin T. and Jaimie Reneau James R. Reno Rebecca D. and Jeremy Reynolds

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Shirley Newberry and Harold T. Ritter Charles Atlee Robbins, Jr. Elaine Perry Robinson Elaine Rogers Marilyn Albright and Larry C. Roofner Linda Ross Jenness M. Roth Debra W. and Gary D. Salansky Kathleen Faulkner Scalzo Joan and Dudley P. Schaefer, Sr. Bobbie Jean and Lacy E. Scott James C. and Yvonne B. Sensenig Barbara B. and Harry Shadden Marcia Y. Sharp Dana Shoops Nicole Christine Simmons Rachel Sinclair Neal R. Smith Sherrece Smith Jessica Leigh Sorrell Corlis Trice Spencer James Dion and Coleen Stevens Randy and Katrina Stevens Cheryl K. and William R. Stewart, Jr. Scott Eric and Kimberlee Beth Strome

Carolyn Sweney-Fisher and Michael J. Fisher Katelyn Gayle Tansey Donna D. and Thad J. Thomas Jane Diddle Thompson Rebecca N. Tiller Vanessa S. and M. James Torrence Charlene Towns Joe Wayne Walker, Jr. Tamra Reneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Weakley Kimberly K. Wehner Orli M. Weisser-Pike and Stephen J. Pike Jeromey S. White Ashley Brooke Whited Billie Whitney Lee Williams Terry H. Williams Danielle Woodward Alan S. Wright Ashley Nicole Yank Kelly Rene Yeager Anne H. and Michael S. Zachry Edward Alvin Zeno

Why Make an Annual Gift to UTHSC? Donating to UTHSC every year helps us provide scholarships, laboratory equipment, travel grants, community outreach initiatives, and many other benefits that would not be available using state or tuition-provided dollars alone!

Thank you for being a partner with our campus, our colleges, and our programs.

Your gift in any amount will make a difference.

Donate $100 or more and become a member of our 1911 Society!

For details, go to giving.uthsc.edu/1911.

Make your gift today! giving.uthsc.edu/give | 901.448.5516

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UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | SUMMER 2020

Golden Graduate Homecoming 2019 The 2019 Golden Graduate Homecoming was a great success, with the largest number of attendees to date.

Alumni from all six colleges, including three from the College of Health Professions, attended the three-day event last October to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation from UTHSC. Alumni were greeted on Wednesday at the historic Peabody Hotel with a welcome reception, followed by dinner at the iconic Rendezvous Restaurant. The class of 1969 enjoyed a breakfast together on Thursday morning, and then headed to the UTHSC campus for individual college open houses and a tour of the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS). We continued to celebrate Thursday evening with the Golden Graduate Ceremony and Dinner at the Peabody Hotel, and concluded the homecoming on Friday morning with a farewell breakfast. It was a wonderful reunion for everyone!

Leave Your Legacy Have you thought about the legacy you will leave behind?

With a Planned Gift, you can: • Simplify your estate for your family • Reduce the tax burden applied to your assets • Benefit causes you hold dear

Legacy donors become members of the Hershel “Pat” Wall Legacy Society Dr. Wall’s more than 50 years of dedication as a student, faculty member, and administrator at UTHSC are unsurpassed.

His legacy will live forever, as will the impact made by our donors.

For more information about planned gifts to UTHSC and Legacy Society membership, contact Bethany Goolsby at 901.448.5516 or estateplans@uthsc.edu.

Reynolds New Associate Director of Development for College Lara Reynolds is the new associate director of development for the College of Health Professions.

Reynolds grew up in Memphis and attended Rhodes College for her undergraduate studies and the University of Memphis for her master’s in international business. Upon graduation, she started working for a regional bank in marketing for wealth management and private client. She’s a classically trained ballet dancer and is fluent in three languages.

Reynolds is looking forward to connecting with alumni to share information about the students, faculty, and programs in the College of Health Professions.

Contact her by calling 901.448.8387 or emailing her at Lreynolds@utfi.org.

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UTHSC COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS | SUMMER 2020

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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit No. 4026 Office of Development and Alumni Affairs 62 S. Dunlap, Suite 500 Memphis, TN 38163 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

SAVE THE DATE! 2020 GOLDEN GRADUATE HOMECOMING OCTOBER 28–30 | MEMPHIS, TN Honoring graduates of 1970 from all six UTHSC colleges.

THIS YEAR’S EVENTS INCLUDE: Welcome Reception at the Peabody Hotel

Welcome Dinner at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous

College Open Houses and Tours

Tour of the Center for HealthCare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS)

Breakfast with classmates

Golden Graduate Reception, Ceremony, and Dinner at the Peabody Hotel We recognize that there is great uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UTHSC Alumni Relations staff is meeting regularly to assess the situation, so that we can provide the safest event for all who attend the reunion. Please be assured that we will share updates if there are any changes to our scheduled reunion activities.

For more information, contact Terri Catafygiotu, Assistant Director for Alumni Programs, at tcatafyg@uthsc.edu or 901.448.8580. alumni.uthsc.edu/golden.