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Webber Offering Degrees in Occupational Therapy & Assisting; Health Services Administration; and Sports Performance, Health & Fitness by JULIE GMITTER

In fall 2019, Webber began offering three new Health Science majors: Occupational Therapy and Assisting; Health Services Administration; and Sports Performance, Health & Fitness. The addition of these programs brings the total number of bachelor’s degree options at Webber to 16. Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s level degree programs are all available and offered in in-person courses as well as complete online courses. Webber is proud to offer its rapidly growing list of Education and Business degrees that make it an extremely well-rounded university with a multi-disciplined student population. Occupational Therapy and Assisting

Occupational Therapy and Assisting is a rapidly growing field that trains for a high-demand career that boasts a high rate of job placement. Webber University’s Occupational Therapy and Assisting bachelor’s degree, with a minor in Health Sciences Administration, will train, educate, and prepare students to enter the field of occupational therapy. As it is a relatively new major, some prospective Webber students may not know exactly what Occupational Therapy is, although it encompasses an integral part of their lives and the lives of their family.

The Occupational Therapy and Assisting program consists of 120 credit hours, as well as a minor in Health Services Administration. The first two years focus on general education requirements, and the third and fourth years will focus on integrating the general education and HSA courses with more specialized, major-centric Occupational Therapy courses.

We caught up with Saritza Guzman-Sardina, director of the baccalaureate Occupational Therapy and Assisting program, to discuss the new opportunities at Webber, as well as the Occupational Therapy Program. Guzman-Sardina was born and raised in Puerto Rico and brings her experience as the former program director of the OTA Program at thenPolk Community College to Webber International University. GuzmanSardina has a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and a master’s degree in Education. After two years of retirement (from 2016 to 2018), she returned to academia to collaborate with Webber International University on its newest project, developing the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assisting (BSOTA) with a minor in Health Services Administration in the state of Florida. She worked extensively in the areas of academia, mental health (including inpatient forensic mental health services treating male inmates referred from high security prisons throughout the state of New York), and acute care for adolescents and adults with various psychiatric conditions. Additional areas of expertise include treating developmental disabilities, orthopedic and neurological conditions at skilled nursing facilities, hospital setting, outpatient, and home health. The first BSOTA Program in the State of Florida is pursuing accreditation by the American Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) will begin official enrollment in Aug 2021 upon approval of Candidacy Application. Two cohorts (24 students each) will be admitted every year. Students will learn many clinical, leadership, managerial, and research skills that will prepare them w WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY knows the importance of a relevant education and degrees that keep up with trends in up-and-coming fields.

to be competent therapists and treat clients of all ages suffering from psychosocial and/or medical conditions. Information about the program curriculum and admission guidelines is available at: webber.edu/ academics/undergraduateprograms/occupationaltherapy-assisting-ota/

Guzman-Sardina says she enjoys working under the visionary direction of Dr. Nelson Marquez developing this new program and collaborating with colleagues from other health professions programs. “It is my hope that the BSOTA Program becomes a highly regarded program in Florida, setting an example for future BSOTA Programs in the State.” Health Services Administration

The Health Services Administration Bachelor’s program is another new addition to Webber University’s curriculum. Dr. Keith Wade, Webber University’s president and CEO, emphasizes that Webber’s curriculum has always been driven largely by the needs of employers, and that is what makes these new additions so needed by students and Webber as a university. “While we have offered management degrees for decades, the evolution of this one has been driven by the needs of hospitals, healthcare agencies, managed care organizations, medical practices, health insurance companies, and nursing homes and residential facilities. Much like our existing Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management, Bachelor of Science in Sport Business Management, and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management degrees, this degree combines universal leadership and management education with a number of industry specific areas such as healthcare trends, quality assurance, ethical issues, public policy, management of key healthcare industry financial metrics, and risk management.”

We spoke with Dr. Nichole Murray, DrPH, MPH, MSW, assistant professor and Director of Health Services Administration at Webber International University. Murray has a master’s degree in Public Health and Social Work from Florida State University and a doctorate in Public Health from the University of South Florida. She joined the Webber family in December 2018 to assist in the development of the Health Services Administration program and the other health-related programs. The Health Services Administration Bachelor’s degree program enrolled its first students in fall 2019. She has worked extensively in the social services and public health arenas, including mental health. Murray explains, “I have assisted in the development and implementation of many statewide programs to ensure that the most appropriate services were being provided to the people throughout the state of Florida. I have worked collaboratively with community and health providers in designing and developing health programs resulting in behavioral changes, clinical improvement and individual well-being.”

The program targets students seeking to advance their education and careers in the health services industry in an administrative capacity. The Health Services Administration program is designed to prepare students to become health services managers and leaders in an ever-changing technological and global environment. Students will explore health regulations, financing, healthcare planning, and ethical and legal factors that contribute to the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system. Sports Performance, Health & Fitness

In addition to these two new

majors, Webber is also pleased to announce the bachelor’s degree in Sports Performance, Health & Fitness. Students who choose the Sports Performance, Health, and Fitness major for their undergraduate degree are entering a unique program that will prepare them for certification as personal trainers, if they desire to do so. The program provides students the foundation to design health and wellness programs for clients throughout the duration of their study. The program’s curriculum will also allow a student to acquire a minor in any of the programs and business concentrations offered at Webber. Fall of 2019 marked the first active semester of the SPHF undergraduate program at Webber. The program is designed to educate and prepare our students to become the next generation of successful coaches, strength and conditioning professionals, personal trainers, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, gym managers, and wellness counselors. Dr. Carleigh H. Boone, assistant professor and program director of Sports Performance, Health, & Fitness at Webber had a hand in the final stages of organization for the program.

She completed her undergraduate and graduate education and training at the University of Central Florida in the areas of Sport & Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology and conducted research examining recovery from exercise with and without nutritional supplementation among trained and untrained adults, as well as the effects of a nutraceutical supplement on markers of glucose regulation in pre-diabetics. Throughout their time in the SPHF program, students will learn about proper nutrition, physical activity and exercise recommendations, and how to improve health and fitness levels among a diverse range of populations.