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College of Health and Human Services
BGSU nursing alumna Karen Schwind ’85
School nurses keep students healthy
School nurses are an important part of an educational system. As BGSU nursing alumna Karen Schwind ’85 notes, “Healthy children learn better, and school nurses make it happen.” Schwind, who is the Health Services Coordinator for the New Braunfels School District in Texas, has been an advocate for children’s health for many years. She started as a freshman at BGSU in 1976, but didn’t make it into the nursing program. Instead of changing majors, she attended Toledo Hospital Nursing School and completed that program as a diploma R.N. She continued to attend BGSU part time while working full time. She then was accepted into the BGSU Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. After earning her “long-awaited” BSN in 1985, she was happy with the path she had taken. “The foundation I received through the BSN program at BGSU has paved the way for my nursing careers both in Ohio and Texas,” she said. “The diploma program offered me the skills and many hospital hours, where the BSN program continued the nursing process and introduced me to the community and education component being an RN,” she said. For several years, she worked as an occupational health nurse in the Toledo area, switching to part time once her children were born, working at Toledo Edison, Owens-Illinois and OwensCorning Fiberglas. In 1994 she and her husband, Scott (also a BGSU alumnus), moved their family from Ohio to Central Texas where his job was relocated. They landed in New Braunfels because of the positive familykid environment.
Her children were in elementary school at the time and she started substituting for nurses within the local school system. “Although I did not ever ‘plan’ for a career in school nursing, I fell in love with it that first year,” she said, and eventually became full time. She was a school nurse in the elementary school for 10 years before taking the coordinator position five years ago. She supervises 12 nurses in the district, including six RNs and six LVNs. She is responsible for budget management for the district, coordinating continuing education to include CPR and AED courses, website {continued on page 3)
Photo provided by Laura McKenzie/Herald Zeitung
Karen Kotula Schwind ’85 loves her job as a school nurse in New Braunfels, Texas.
Inside this Issue | SPRING 2011 v A Message from the Dean v Clyde Willis Faculty Award v Ned E. Baker Lecture v Health Care Administration
Program v Benefits of Service-Learning Classes BGSU is an AA/EEO institution.
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Message from the Dean “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.” William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice As you read the latest issue of Signature, the College of Health and Human Services newsletter, you will realize that many of the stories are about alumni, faculty, staff and students who are giving back and making a difference. They are like Shakespeare’s analogy of the candle….. Our cover story about Karen Schwind tells of one of our nursing graduates who is an advocate for children’s health in her Texas community. Not only is she helping the children, but she is also providing leadership for a team of school nurses, together impacting thousands of children every year. Former Health and Human Services Dean Clyde Willis continues his strong tradition of supporting the College. His gift to award outstanding faculty research supports and recognizes faculty success, which in turn makes the College programs even stronger for our students. Alumnus Mark Nussbaum ’03 is making a difference in many students’ lives by facilitating internship opportunities at his employer. He is one of many graduates who are happy to offer these experiences that often lead to jobs for our students. Even our students are learning to give back. The story about the communication sciences and disorders class demonstrates the value of servicelearning when students are encouraged to interact in community settings. I continue to be impressed with the generosity and truly caring spirit of our students, faculty and graduates. There are so many ways our alumni and friends support our students and the College mission. If you are interested in exploring how you can be a part of making a difference, please contact my office at 419-372-8243, or email me at lpetros@bgsu.edu. Many thanks, Linda Petrosino, Dean
Baker Lecture
addresses social marketing “Using Social Marketing to Strengthen Public Health Policies” was the focus of the 12th Annual Ned E. Baker Lecture in Public Health. Kristen Grimm, founder and president of Spitfire Strategies, was the featured speaker at the annual lecture series on March 31. She talked about using marketing “to help get people to do the public health behaviors we want them to do. She explained, “We have to have, not just good laws and good recommendations, but really good marketing that tells us why it’s in our interest to do that.” To hear the lecture in its entirety, visit http://wbgustream.bgsu.edu/baker2011/
The Ned E. Baker Lecture in Public Health was established in 1999 to honor Baker’s many contributions to the field of Public Health. Baker received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 from Bowling Green State Kristen Grimm University and a Master of Public Health degree in 1954 from the University of Michigan. In December 2009, he was presented an Honorary Doctor of Science in Public Health degree by BGSU, and in April 2010 he was named one of BGSU’s Most Prominent Alumni. Baker’s professional career included service as a sanitarian with the Wood County Health Department and the Ohio Department of Health, a health planner and associate executive director for the Health Planning Association of Northwest Ohio and director for the Northwest Ohio Area Health Education Center at the Medical College of Ohio. He served 12 years on the Wood County Board of Health, including two terms as its president. In 1992, he was a founding member of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH). As NALBOH’s first executive director, 1995-98, he established the association’s headquarters in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Ned E. Baker Lecture in Public Health is made possible by support from: v BGSU Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan v BGSU College of Health and Human Services v Cove Charitable Trust of Boston v National Association of Local Boards of Health v Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health v Wood County Hospital Foundation
School nurses keep students healthy {continued from page 1)
Clyde Willis with John Liederbach, 2010 recipient
Willis Award recognizes faculty researchers Two Criminal Justice faculty members earned the Clyde Willis Faculty Research Award in 2009 and 2010. The 2009 recipient was Dr. Melissa Burek, whose research interests include structural influences on crime, rehabilitation of offenders, alcohol use on college campuses and the impact of race and class on crime and the criminal justice system. Burek came to Bowling Green in 2003. Previously, she was the chair and graduate coordinator of the criminal justice department at Saint Ambrose University, in Iowa. She teaches Research Methods and Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice, Seminar in Contemporary Juvenile Justice, and Criminal Justice Policy Analysis. During fall 2010, Willis presented the award to Dr. John Liederbach, who came to BGSU in 2007. Previously he had been an assistant professor at the University of North Texas. Liederbach’s research interests include rural and small-town policing, racial profiling, patrol allocation, and crime by physicians. In the college, he teaches classes in policing, research methods, and senior seminar. The award is named for Dr. Clyde R. Willis, former health and human services dean, who retired in 2002 after 18 years in the position. The award has been presented each year since 2003. Willis continues to support the college and has been tireless in his effort to find new ways of helping faculty succeed, especially during their junior years in academia. While he was dean, he helped find additional funding for research and travel, promoted crossdisciplinary research and investigation, built new academic degree programs, and fostered distance learning. Melissa Burek accepts 2009 award from Clyde Willis
management, employee wellness and “most importantly, coordinating the health services that are provided to the students of our schools and community.” During the 2007-08 school year she was awarded the School Nurse of the Year Award, presented by her peers. Last year, she completed the National Certification for School Nursing test and passed – a pleasant surprise for her after being out of the classroom for so long. During the 15 years she has been a school nurse, “the complexity of student health in school has changed dramatically,” she stated. “Changes in children’s healthcare and the complexity of disease and medical issues have greatly affected the school nurse. “We have seen a dramatic increase in students with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes; obesity and its related health issues; asthma; life-threatening allergies, such as peanuts and milk; mental health issues; and students with special needs such as gastrostomy tubes, tracheostomies and colostomies. The school nurse is often the link between school and the medical and dental community,” she explained. Schwind recommends a career in school nursing for practical reasons such as compatibility with family schedules, but she is not really motivated by smooth logistics. She devotes her heart to caring for kids. “I love what I do. I love the kids and I love the team of nurses that I work with. “The teachers are my eyes and ears in the classroom, and the whole team creates a caring educational context. We can’t separate education from a child’s emotional or medical health,” she explained, concluding, “Healthy kids make better learners.” v
ALUMNI Accomplishments ’84 grad among Cambridge Who’s Who Elizabeth E. Mick, a clinical laboratory specialist for University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership, and excellence in immunohematology, hematology and toxicology. Inspired by her two grandmothers, Mick entered the health care field, where she works as a registered medical technologist. In 1984, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Bowling Green State University, and in 1991, she completed a Master’s Degree in Regulatory Toxicology at Northeastern University. Throughout her 27 years of professional experience, she has found great success through her internal drive.
At University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, a 200-bed hospital that includes laboratory and pathology services, Mick conducts laboratory work involving immunohematology, hematology, and toxicology, and intends to further her research in coming years. In her free time, she volunteers through United Way Worldwide and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Criminal justice grad earns employee of the year honors
as the 2010 Officer of the Year. He is a native of Marion and a 2003 graduate of Bowling Green State University. He started with the department in June 2003, working in the patrol division. Esterline is always at the top of the performance evaluations each month. “His outstanding performance in the patrol division is what helped him get to this next step,” Chief Tom Bell stated. In January, Esterline was assigned to the department’s detective bureau. v
The Marion Police Department has selected a BGSU criminal justice graduate as its Officer of the Year. Patrolman Nick Esterline has been with the department for seven years, and was nominated and selected by his peers
William Harper, a 1977 BGSU graduate and one of BGSU’s 100 Most Prominent Alumni in 2010, was the guest speaker at the College’s Homecoming Symposium last fall. Harper spoke and facilitated a panel discussion about Mental Health Consumer Empowerment in the Context of Healthcare Reform. The College sponsors the symposium as an outreach to alumni and area professionals in the health and human services fields.
B G S U gra d uat e f acili tat e s in t e r N s h ip o pp o r t uni t i e s
Internship key for health care administration students Dr. Hans Schmalzried serves as the coordinator for internship experiences required by students who are seeking degrees in the health care administration specialization program administered by the College of Health and Human Services. This program prepares students to work in management and administration of hospitals, clinics and other organizations providing health care services. Health care administrators are responsible for finance, billing, human resource management, facilities management, marketing, procurement, and quality measurement and improvement. “Many graduates of the program are getting jobs in health care organizations even though as a whole the job market is presently lukewarm, at best,” said Schmalzried. “Each year since the College of Health and Human Services took over the program, enrollment has increased significantly. There are almost 100 students in the program this year. “I think parents are encouraging their children to go into health care management where economic downswings have less effect on employment opportunities than other fields,” said Schmalzried. One common concern of most students nearing completion of the program experience is understanding where they will fit into the large and complex health care industry. This is why the internship component of the program is so important. The internship component is designed to provide students hands-on experience to enhance their classroom learning. It also allows students to apply the knowledge that they have learned in the classroom to real world problems and situations. All of this provides students with the opportunity to better understand their career options and preferences, as well as make invaluable contacts with practitioners and professionals. Students are required to complete a minimum of 420 internship contact hours, which is
equivalent to 10½ weeks of full-time work. Another related student concern is choosing the right organization for their internship. Since 2007, almost 100 students completed internships in the program. We have never had a problem matching a student with an organization. “Most students complete their internships over the summer, and I used to worry about locating enough sites to place students,” said Schmalzried. Nearly all of the sites that have taken students in the past report they will continue to accept students for internships. We now have more health care organizations requesting interns than we have students to place in them. “I believe there are primarily two reasons that this is happening,” Schmalzried said. One is that many site supervisors are raving about how well our students are performing during their internships. The other is that I am actually getting calls from students who graduated from the program and are employed as administrators. They want to give back to the program by providing an internship site. One example is Mark Nussbaum who is a 2003 graduate of the program and now employed as senior director, Regional Hospital Operations, Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals. Out of the blue one day, Nussbaum called and said “I would be happy to help in facilitating an internship opportunity whenever, wherever possible.” Two days later Amanda Suter was preparing to do her spring semester 2011 internship under Nussbaum’s supervision. Students are prepared for internship interviews similar to the process of preparing for employment interviews. The most valuable lesson for the students is that successful internships can lead to landing a position. Schmalzried facilitates at least three orientation sessions with students about the importance of the internship experience. He also provides
Mark Nussbaum, Senior Director, Regional Health Operations, Cleveland Clinic
one-on-one coaching and training for those who need or want it. Students are provided guidance about how to successfully transition from “college student” to “professional health care administrator.” Such topics as professional behavior, appropriate dress, and preferred work ethic are discussed in the preparation process. Students are prepared to promote the knowledge and skills they have acquired through their classroom work. The goal is for them to be able to communicate to their potential internship supervisor within 30 seconds what they have to offer as well as what additional skills and knowledge they hope to acquire through their internship experience. Most students complete their internships in organizations located in northern Ohio. Some students have preferred to complete their internship in states such as California, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois and Michigan, where they hope to relocate. One such student was John Margaritis, who moved to Chicago where he landed an internship at Healthcare Information Services, L.L.C. (H.I.S.). He stated he felt like he had “won the internship lotto” when H.I.S. offered him a permanent job on the last day of his internship. v
Students, communities benefit from service-learning
Allison Hadley
Service-learning opportunities at BGSU benefit both students and communities. When students in CDIS 4800, a general communications disorders seminar, took their classroom knowledge into the community, they gained significant experience and provided valuable expertise. At the end of the fall semester, students from the class presented posters about their experiences, sharing the knowledge they learned. For Victoria Gora, a senior from Toledo, the time she spent at Toledo Day Nursery proved invaluable. “I enjoyed working with the infants and toddlers, so for me, the experience solidified my career choice of working with children in speech pathology.” She gained a better understanding of a professional’s role in acting as a connection between the children and the parents. In turn, she helped organize a collection for clothing, cloth books and puzzles, and learned how advocating for families can positively impact children’s development. At BGSU, service-learning is part of the University’s commitment to be an engaged public university, and to be an active partner in creating vibrant communities, promoting justice and equity as part of a democratic society and enriching the quality of life for everyone. Service-learning opportunities help “ground students’ academic experiences in the context of community-based problems and applications.” Alexa Nichols, a senior from Lima, Ohio, was happy that she was able to use her classroom knowledge in her service-learning experience. “I got to try so many different things I learned in the classroom. Communications are such an important part of a child’s development,” she said. Aerial Cox, Upper Sandusky, worked with the parenting group at Children’s Resource Center in Bowling Green. She interacted with the children and the parents during the eight-week session. From play time to discussions, she learned, not only how to work with both groups, but also admits she learned about herself. Kayla Newkirk, an audiology major from Bellevue, Ohio, appreciated the handson experiences she gained in the service-learning opportunity. Placed at the Jordan Family Development Center on BGSU’s campus, Newkirk learned a lot about play, since that is what kids do well. “I was able to gain valuable experience with language, cognitive problem-solving, all which I can take with me when I go into the field. v
Challenges unite recent nursing graduates The 2010 graduating class of nursing students will be successful or so believes the class president, Michael Barth of Port Clinton, Ohio. As the president of the Student Nurses Association for BGSU and University of Toledo’s consortium nursing program, Barth was asked to speak at the class convocation. During his presentation he focused on the close relationships that have developed during the cohort’s time together. “We were the first group of students to enter the nursing program during a time of reform,” he said, citing such changes as admitting three groups per year, shortening the semesters, and increasing the workload.
According to Barth, the BGSU nursing program “provided the opportunity for personal growth through student organizations.” Getting involved as president of the UT/BGSU Student Nurses Association and then vice president of the Ohio Nursing Students’ Association provided “an opportunity to represent my fellow nursing students on a state and national level, along with developing policies for the organization. “I have grown as a leader and interacted with many great minds to discuss nursing issues over a broad spectrum,” he said. His involvement earned him the Dean’s Award at the convocation, and he also was named Nursing Student of the Year by the state association.
Michael Barth at the convention
“We helped establish an integrity that I do not feel can be matched in this venue.” Because of the challenges they faced, the group grew closer and successfully met the goal of graduating together. During their tenure, the student nurses’ organization won top honors for the organization, and had the best fundraising project of the year within the Ohio Nursing Students’ Association.
Dean Petrosino is Allied Health Fellow The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) selected Dr. Linda Petrosino, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, as one of four outstanding national allied health leaders to be named a Fellow of the society. The Fellows Award was established in 1981 to provide meaningful recognition to those who have contributed significantly to allied health as administrators, educators, clinicians or researchers. Those given this honor must have demonstrated leadership, been published in professional journals and shown professional creativity. Petrosino was presented with the honor at the ASAHP Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina in October. The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) is the national professional association for administrators, educators, and others who are concerned with critical issues affecting allied health education (www.asahp.org).
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