Health Matters: Dean's Newsletter - Fall 2020

S R E T T A M H T L

HEA

r e t t e l s w e N s ’ Dean Volume 5 / Issue 1

E M O C WEL BACK

BUCS

1 MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Welcome Fall 2020 Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Friends, As we approach a new academic year at ETSU and in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, we know this will not be a typical fall. I encourage all of you, and our students in particular, to make the most of 2020—2021.

Your college experience will be what you make it. Delve deeper into your subject matter, take advantage of opportunities, and make bold steps toward the graduation stage!

I’d also like to commend our faculty, staff, students, and clinical affiliates. The last several months have been challenging globally, with an impact in higher education as well. Everyone in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences has risen to the challenge, worked tirelessly, and continues to innovate in an effort to ensure that our graduates will truly be the best trained health care professionals in their chosen fields. Your diligent effort does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do.

We hope this newsletter will provide a small glimpse into all the amazing things that have been happening across the college.

Go Bucs!

Don Samples

SPORT NUTRITION CERTIFICATE The Department of Rehabilitative Sciences now offers a 15-credit, fully online graduate certificate in Sport Nutrition. This certificate is designed for professionals and graduate students who are interested in increasing their knowledge of sport nutrition and helping athletes and sports enthusiasts use food to enhance health and physical performance. “More than ever, professional and college-level sports organizations are acknowledging the importance of exposing their athletes to more nutrition conscious lifestyles,” said Dr. Michelle Lee, Associate Professor in Nutrition. “If you are interested in integrating nutrition with athletes and sports enthusiasts then the Sport Nutrition Certificate is just for you.” For more information, contact Dr. Lee at LeemL2@etsu.edu.

2 ALUMNI NEWS

Respiratory Therapy Alumni Battle COVID-19 in NYC

As the number of COVID-19 cases started rising in New York City earlier this year, two alumni from the Cardiopulmonary Science Program, Rayford Johnson and Jessica Burleson, were among a group of respiratory therapists from across the country who decided they wanted to use their professional abilities to help. Johnson and Burleson have never met and they took separate paths to New York this spring, but both are currently on the front lines, caring for patients on COVID floors in two New York City hospitals. Both said they have never seen anything like what COVID has done to hospitals and patients, and both agree that they would not want to be anywhere else right now.

“Of course, we were hearing how badly they needed respiratory therapists to work with all of the COVID patients in New York, and a friend told me about an opportunity to go work there,” Johnson said. “Hundreds of people show up in one day, and on the first day I was there, I intubated 16 COVID patients. You just have to put your head down and have the confidence that you can deal with these issues and do what you were trained to do.”

“I was potentially exposing my family every time I went to work, so when I heard they needed RTs in New York, I thought about just going to work there by myself and not putting my family at risk,” Burleson said. “Also, I just kept thinking that if Tennessee were in the same situation as New York, I just hope someone would want to come help us.”

When she arrived at NYU Langone in Manhattan, she was surprised that there were nine COVID ICU floors, with 30 ventilators to each ICU unit.

“This virus is real, it’s happening,” Burleson said. “It doesn’t pick and choose. If you can, stay home and stay safe.”

3 COLLEGE & FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

FACULTY Awards

Brittany Wilkins Social Work Teaching

Michelle Johnson Nutrition Research

Welcome Dr. Sirmon-Taylor!

CCRHS welcomes Dr. Bess Sirmon-Taylor as the new chair for the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Prior to joining the college’s faculty this summer, Sirmon-Taylor served as associate dean for academic affairs at University of Texas at El Paso, College of Health Sciences. She is a licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist and worked as a clinical practitioner for more than 25 years. “ETSU’s Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology has a strong national reputation,” Dr. Sirmon-Taylor said. “It is an honor and privilege to be a part of this team.”

A Place to Call Home Inspired by her teaching, research, and service in the Department of Social Work, Dr. Donna Cherry is undertaking a project to help homeless young adults in Johnson City. To address this issue in the community, Cherry created a 501(c)(3) called Huschka House Transitional Living Program, named in honor of her 92-year-old mother, Virginia Huschka. This program will provide homeless young adults, ages 18-22, with the skills and services they need to make a successful transition to adulthood - starting with a safe and stable place to live.

Positive Eating Program

Donna Cherry Social Work Service

For the past five months, appointments for the Positive Eating Program have been delivered via telehealth, using electronic audio and video communication to provide remote services. The telehealth appointments make it possible for more family members to attend therapy sessions, leading to additional insight and coaching opportunities.The program is designed for children with behavioral and sensory-based feeding challenges, and is currently accepting new patients. To learn more, call 423-439-4355 or email Dr. Teresa Boggs at boggs@etsu.edu.

4 STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MSW Student of the Year Megan (Meg) Dew, a former master of social work (MSW) student, recently was named the recipient of the 2020 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Tennessee Chapter MSW Student of the Year award. Dew, who graduated with her MSW this May, served as president of the ETSU Master of Social Work Student Association and as the MSW student liaison on the Northeast Tennessee branch of NASW. While in her second year, Meg worked as a coordinator for the Diversity Educators at ETSU, where she used her social work justice knowledge and skills to mentor undergraduate students to become peer educators, focused on enhancing civil dialogue.

New Dental Hygiene District Delegate Senior Dental Hygiene student Emma Tobias was selected as the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) District VI Delegate. As the delegate, she will represent dental hygiene students from Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi at the ADHA’s National Conferences.

Students Host Carnival to Benefit Crumley House The Allied Health Student Association and Physical Therapy Club collaborated with other ETSU Health student associations to benefit the Crumley House, a local nonprofit brain injury rehabilitation center. This family friendly carnival helped raise funds for the Crumley House, provided awareness of traumatic brain injuries, and kicked off Brain Injury Awareness Month in March.

STUDENT Awards

John Sterrett Nutrition Outstanding Undergraduate Student & 1911 Society Member

Emily McClelland Audiology Outstanding Graduate Student

Chase Teagarden Physical Therapy G.E.M. (Going the Extra Mile)

5 Bucky’s Food Pantry Contact Us Visit our website: www.etsu.edu/crhs/ Visit our college: 156 S. Dossett Dr.

Johnson City, TN 37614 Email: CARHS@etsu.edu Phone: 423-439-7454

2020 Dates of Interest September 2020 - National Food Safety

Education Month September 2020 - World Alzheimer’s Month September 13-19, 2020 - Rehabilitation

Awareness Week September 18, 2020 - National Concussion

Awareness Day September 24-30, 2020 - International Week

of the Deaf October 2020 - National Dental Hygiene Month October 2020 - National Physical Therapy Month October 2020 - National Audiology Awareness

Month October 25-31, 2020 - Respiratory Care Week November 1-7, 2020 - National Allied Health

Week

- National Radiology Tech

Week November 15-21, 2020 - Health Professions Week

Invest in the Future by Giving

By Check: Payable to ETSU Foundation with CCRHS in the memo line.

By Credit Card: Call 423-439-4242 for assistance.

Mail to: ETSU Ways Foundation P.O. Box 70721 To Johnson City, TN 37614 Give!

Online: Go to etsu.edu Click “Give” to go to Online Giving.

Designate The College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences For additional ways to give, contact University Advancement at 423-439-4242

Any member of the ETSU community experiencing food insecurity during these difficult times can seek resources at Bucky’s Food Pantry. An application is available on the Bucky’s Food Pantry website (etsu.edu/ foodpantry) and at the pantry for those unable to apply online. The pantry is available for students, faculty, staff and alumni of ETSU. For more information, please call 423-439-2825.

Virtual Honors Convocation Each spring, the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences celebrates and recognizes students who achieve academic and clinical excellence in their field of study and respective disciplines through a formal awards banquet. However, this semester brought new challenges, requiring the college to move the Honors Convocation online. The Dean’s Office is proud to announce that 268 students were honored in the virtual ceremony, and we congratulate their hard work during a time of online courses and physical distancing. To be recognized in the convocation, students had to hold the honorary title of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude; received an award or grant; been a member of an honors society; or held a position in a student association.

Social Media Make sure to follow our social media pages to stay up to date on all of the college’s events and activities! facebook.com/etsuccrhs

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