MEET DR. ELAINE NICPON MARIEB
Elaine Nicpon Marieb, R.N., Ph.D., lived a life dedicated to healthcare, teaching and an internationally acclaimed textbook writing career. She was also a philanthropist whose passion for education saw her donate $15 million to FGCU to create what’s become one of America’s top health and human services education programs.
In turn, she became the namesake for the Marieb College of Health & Human Services, as well as for the program’s home, Marieb Hall. The facility contains state-of-the-art practice laboratory facilities, classroom and conference spaces and offices that support and nurture the college’s interprofessional mission.
Marieb cited the university’s academic excellence and forward-thinking curriculum as inspiring her gift. Designating her as the namesake commemorates, for the university community and the world beyond, the late Naples resident’s contributions to humanity as an outstanding educator, scholar and benefactor.
Marieb was a human anatomist whose distinguished career in the sciences spanned more than 40 years. Those years saw her author or co-author more than a dozen anatomy and physiology textbooks and lab manuals. Those volumes are used by more than 1,000 colleges and universities.
Among the most well-known titles are “Human Anatomy & Physiology,” “Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology” and “Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual.”
The Massachusetts native was also a longtime educator. She began her teaching career at Springfield College of Massachusetts, where she taught anatomy and physiology. She joined the faculty of the Biological Science Division of Holyoke Community College in 1969 after receiving her Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She worked there until 1993, when she retired to devote herself to writing.
While teaching full time, Marieb also pursued an education in nursing that culminated in a master’s degree, with a clinical specialization in gerontology, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Those studies furthered her quest to better understand the relationship between the study of the human body and nursing’s clinical aspects.
FGCU recognized her with an honorary doctorate, one of several awards she received for her work and philanthropy, which included donations to other institutions of higher learning.
In 1994, Marieb received the Benefactor Award from the National Council for Resource Development, American Association of Community Colleges, for her sponsorship of student scholarships, faculty teaching awards and other academic contributions to Holyoke Community College, which named its science building in her honor.
She was a member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a past director of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota and a member of the Women’s Resources Center of Sarasota County’s scholarship committee.
Marieb died in 2018 at 82. However, her legacy and passion for learning lives on each day through the hard work of the faculty, staff and students who work in the college bearing her name.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
As we have done for the past several years, we paused in February to celebrate Elaine Marieb Day, commemorating the college’s namesake with what has become a signature community event, and showcased the Fourth Annual Student Medical Illustrations Art Show. Valerie Weiss, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, leads the event and improves it yearly! Mark your calendar for Feb. 24 and plan on joining us for Elaine Marieb Day 2025!
Dear students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends,
It is my pleasure to present the fourth annual report from Marieb College of Health & Human Services. One aspect that has changed in the past year is that after serving as co-acting and then interim dean since October 2020, I was appointed dean on May 12, 2024 after an extensive national search. In this year’s report, you will find several highlights from our team that illustrate our college’s impact and important developments during the past academic year. The 2023-2024 academic year was a year that set the college for long-term success. The Florida Gulf Coast University Strategic Plan, “Innovating For Student Success: FGCU’s Journey to Excellence,” was approved by the Florida State University System Board of Governors in January 2024 and will guide the strategic framework for our college and our programs as we continue to be the leader in the preparation of health-related workforce talents. However, none of our success would be possible without our dedicated faculty and staff striving daily to ensure our students’ and programs’ success.
Wow, we do have some impressive success within the programs to brag about! This past year marked the seventh time that Marieb’s bachelor of science nursing students led the state university system in first-time licensure pass rates. In fact, ours was the only such program to claim a 100% first-time pass rate. However, Marieb’s licensure success did not end there. For the 10th year, our master of science occupational therapy program maintained a 100% overall pass rate. Moreover, the doctor of physical therapy program secured a 100% first-time pass rate on the Florida Board of Physical Therapy licensing examination, with four students posting perfect scores. Our master of physician assistant studies program also secured a 100% overall pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination again this year, marking five consecutive years with this success!
We have a renewed focus on interprofessional education that has been accelerated with gracious gifts from the Marieb Foundation and the hiring of Joe Buhain, Ed.D., our director of interprofessional education (IPE) and emerging technology. He has already started making an impact by creating an IPE advisory council and three IPE simulations. In the new academic year, we will be launching AI Avatar student’s assistant for three of our courses offered in the college as a pilot project. This is an expansion of our Dr. Hologram technology capabilities.
The Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging has hired three faculty members to help grow its impact in our community and has new searches being launched again for the 2024-2025 academic year. This past year, with support from the institute, Marieb College invested in cutting-edge technology by acquiring five Cognivue units to transform cognitive assessment education at FGCU. These units leverage 130,000 data points to provide customized assessments tailored to each patient’s unique profile. The results allow individuals to recognize signs of cognitive decline early on, prompting them to seek guidance from their healthcare provider.
We were also very successful this past legislative session in securing the second half of funding for construction of the new health sciences building, Academic Building 10. This building will support further expansion of the college and will be the largest academic building on campus and will further cement our ability to train the needed healthcare workforce in the region and beyond. I’m thankful for the ongoing support of our local state legislators who were instrumental in arranging that funding, as well as the allocations we received again through Florida’s PIPELINE and LINE Funding program that supports our School of Nursing and nursing program expansion.
The LINE Funding program allowed us to further strengthen our relationship with Lee Health, which serves as the local healthcare partner required to qualify for the grant. They provided a dollar-for-dollar match to the LINE grant — more than $500,000. In addition, Naples Comprehensive Health provided $50,000 of support that was also matched by the LINE funds. We would not have been able to receive any LINE dollars without our strong partnerships with Lee Health and NCH.
The coming academic year is highlighted by several priorities, among them is a laser focus on our strategic plan and student success. The year will be extremely busy as we design Academic Building 10 with RG Architects and HuntonBrady Architects. As always, we’ll be focused on continuing our academic excellence in terms of preparing students to meet regional workforce needs, along with further expansion of our interprofessional education and simulation initiative and meaningful translational research. I am proud to be a part of FGCU and specifically Marieb College as we all strive daily to achieve our mission to
MARIEB ADVISORY COUNCIL
advance the education, health and well-being of our Sr. Director Human Resources and students through teaching excellence, impactful scholarship Organizational Development (Arthrex) and service. This is our effort to improve our community and make Southwest Florida the best place for education and living. With many other opportunities that exist for our college, I am so excited and optimistic for the new academic year.
Now, please enjoy the stories in this year’s annual report. And remember that for every story told, there are several more amazing stories that have been shaped in our college that have gone untold. I am so proud to lead our dedicated faculty and staff and serve our remarkable students. Thank you for your ongoing support.
All the best,
MR. MIKE BOOSE
DR. IAHN GONSENHAUSER
Chief Medical Officer (Lee Health)
DR. ILIA ECHEVARRIA Chief Nursing Officer (NCH Healthcare System)
MS. LIBBY MCHUGH (Marieb Foundation)
Shawn Felton Dean & Professor
Marieb College of Health & Human Services
MR. GEURT PEET President (Millennium Healthcare LLC)
DR. RONALD RINER President and CEO (Riner Group)
DR. KEN SMITH President and CEO (TarponBlue Resource & Land Management, Inc.)
FALL
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
MARIEB COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
ENROLLMENT DEMOGRAPHICS
(71)
(24)
(3)
2023-2028 Strategic Framework: Marieb On the Move
MISSION
Advance the education, health and well-being of our students through teaching excellence, impactful scholarship and service.
VISION
To be the university of choice in Southwest Florida with aspirations for regional and national recognition for academic excellence, scholarship and service benefiting the communities in which we live.
VALUES
• Excellence in pursuit of our mission.
• Interprofessional teamwork in caring for others and ourselves.
• Professionalism as befitting our work in service of others.
• Ethics and integrity in all we do.
• Civility and respect at all times, especially in challenging moments.
• Inclusivity across all domains of our mission.
TOP GOALS
1) Enhanced teaching through our evidenced-based andragogy techniques.
a. Strategy 1.1 – Ensure infrastructure and faculty support is available to support innovative teaching.
b. Strategy 1.2 – Implement unit-specific metrics which demonstrate high quality education and student success.
c. Strategy 1.3 – Explore new curriculum offerings including implementation of expansion of micro-credentials and continuing education offerings.
2) Foster impactful and interprofessional scholarship addressing solutions for contemporary issues in health and wellness.
a. Strategy 2.1 – Identify barriers that are limiting faculty pursuits of scholarship, grants and other extramural funding.
b. Strategy 2.2 – Design and implement unit-specific plans that foster quality pursuits of scholarship and metrics for measurement of high-impact scholarship.
c. Strategy 2.3 – Design unit-specific plans to increase the number of extramural awards including contracts.
3) Conduct meaningful service motifs for the profession and skills we teach and the communities we serve.
a. Strategy 3.1 – Implement unit-specific metrics which measure high-quality impactful service.
b. Strategy 3.2 – Develop a database of service opportunities and connect faculty expertise with opportunities.
c. Strategy 3.3 – Incorporate students in service opportunities that foster interprofessional education and learning.
4) Enhance relationships with alumni, community partners and donors to promote healthcare teamwork, the success of our students and the reputation of our college.
a. Strategy 4.1 – Connect with all college alumni and develop strategies for enhanced connection.
b. Strategy 4.2 – Foster relationships with our community to support experiential learning, service, scholarship and development.
c. Strategy 4.3 – Explore events and educational offerings that will further connect the MCHHS with the community and possible philanthropic supporters.
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Nursing program achieves 100% pass rate, No. 1 ranking
The bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program has achieved a 100% pass rate in the National Council Licensure Examination in 2023, ranking it No. 1 among Florida State University System nursing programs. Only twice in the past 16 quarters has the program not reached 100%: the third quarters in 2021 (95%) and 2022 (97.78%).
Kelly Goebel, DNP, ACNP-BC, program director and assistant professor, attributes the success to three factors:
u BSN faculty advocates for student success every day. “They provide quality, evidence-based instruction that prepares our students to practice at the highest level.”
u A strong nursing curriculum that creates graduates ready to practice entry-level nursing. “The BSN program routinely reviews, evaluates and updates our curriculum. This process ensures there are no gaps or duplication in content and that we are preparing students for a successful transition to nursing practice.”
u An administrative team that works endlessly to foster student success.
The program has created two Counseling and Psychological Services liaisons — a registered mental health counselor intern and a doctoral psychologist intern — focusing on additional support to enhance the resiliency and mental health and wellness of their students.
They also have added two student success coaches who provide additional resources to the general student population as well as those identified as at-risk students. A new nursing simulation coordinator works to provide high-fidelity, experiential learning opportunities to all levels of students.
Goebel believes the program’s success has been a significant factor in increasing enrollment by 50% over the past year, which has sparked the provision of additional seats in the fall and spring semesters and the highest level.” admission of their first cohort of the accelerated BSN pathway.
“Administration, faculty and staff are very aware that we need to continue to work hard on a daily basis,” she says. “We do not rest on our 100% pass rate. With increased growth, we are paying particular attention to outcomes, ensuring that we continue to prepare our graduates at the
SCHOOL OF NURSING
New pathway helps fill nationwide need for more nurses
The School of Nursing has launched a new, accelerated bachelor of science pathway in nursing (BSN) that allows qualified applicants with a bachelor’s degree from any field to obtain their BSN in four semesters.
The addition was driven by a Good Jobs Challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration in 2022 that provides $22.9 million in federal funding — the largest grant in FGCU history.
“We’ve been able to pay for the students’ tuition for the inaugural cohort of the ABSN option,” says Brenda Hage, Ph.D., DNP, ARNP, director of the School of Nursing. “In addition, we also received scholarship dollars through that same grant mechanism to be able to increase the number of students in our master of science in nursing (MSN) nurse educator track. We have expanded enrollment in that program to increase the number of qualified nurse educators, further opening up the pipeline of nurses for Southwest Florida.
“Nationwide, there’s a shortage of nurses and of nursing faculty. Florida has been particularly hit hard because of the rapid increase in the population, particularly in Southwest Florida. So, there’s a big need for additional nurses to work in our community. We want to try to help fill that need. A big part of our focus at FGCU is preparing professionals to join the workforce and support the community.”
In FGCU’s accelerated BSN program, students take four semesters instead of the traditional five to six.
“The option is just a faster conduit from entry to completion, and it’s for the adult learner who’s already shown that they can do baccalaureate work,” Hage says. “They’re very focused, and typically they can move through the program more quickly. So, it’s just a
means of us doing outreach to all different types of student groups. Not only do we have the traditional freshmen, but we also have more mature adult learners who decide they want to retrain for a new career in the workforce.”
In addition, the School of Nursing will receive $3.15 million this academic year from the State of Florida’s Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) fund that began in 2022-23.
“That funding is to open the pipeline of more nurses in the area, so those funds are used to hire new faculty and retain faculty, to help provide scholarships and to assist at-risk students to enhance their academic success,” Hage says. “We were very fortunate because we had a 100% pass rate — the highest in the state system — that was factored into why we got an increase in our performance-based
funding by almost $900,000 this year compared to past years.”
The School of Nursing also has launched a new psychiatric nurse practitioner concentration in the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program, partly because of what Hage calls a “mental health crisis” in which fewer than half of Americans with a mental illness are able to utilize mental health services.
“There’s this big gap between the needs of the population and available healthcare services, and what makes it hard is that only about 4.1% of advanced-practice nurses like nurse practitioners will specialize in in psych and mental health,” Hage says. “FGCU’s new program is working to fill that void.”
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
ENROLLMENT
ENROLLMENT BY GENDER
Black (20)
Hispanic (61)
Native American (1)
Non-resident
ENROLLMENT Alien (1) DIVERSITY Not reported (4)
White (105)
DEGREES AWARDED
2+ Races (9)
Bachelor’s 46
Master’s 49
Doctorate 0
TOTAL 95
FACULTY/STAFF
FULL-TIME FACULTY 7
FULL-TIME STAFF 1
TOTAL 8
DEGREE PROGRAMS
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Medical Social Work Certificate
These include:
Exploring AI in classroom and clinical settings
Using their presentation at the FGCU 2024 Teaching, Learning and Researching With AI Symposium as a springboard, Ariella VanHara, clinical assistant professor of social work, and her Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) colleague, Melody Schmaltz, have ambitious plans for this academic year.
u Piloting artificial intelligence (AI) and implementing it in the classroom with students as a training tool, exploring how different responses could translate into different reactions from a potential client.
u Submitting a proposal for consideration in an e-textbook that will focus on AI in the psychology-related fields.
u Engaging in cross-departmental research on attitudes towards AI in collaboration with CAPS, the Department of Psychology and the Department of Social Work.
u Piloting using AI as a training tool in CAPS with master’s level trainees. They will use AI during initial training, supervisions and down times (no-show/cancellations) as an opportunity to practice skills with specific prompts about presenting problems that are common among the clients CAPS serves. The AI training will not replace face-to-face training but will be used as an additional training tool.
“There is a focus in the helping field currently on AI that can assist with documentation, but we are looking at it from more of a practice standpoint,” VanHara says. “For future clinicians, there is the potential to allow them to obtain guidance with clients they are working with, learn more information about different theoretical interventions, practice skills and brainstorm creative ways to assist clients.”
AI cannot provide the human connection that people desire, but it may be beneficial as a starting point for clients apprehensive about therapy.
“This has the potential to assist individuals who may never seek help,” she says. “Additionally, the AI models do suggest that a person seeks help. If a person is receiving the information and feels like their own ‘self-help’ is not successful, this may allow them to process whether therapy may be the next step for them. The intervention suggested by the AI may be better than no intervention at all.”
Student of the Year now pursuing his master’s at FGCU
of the Year, has been an exemplary student in the bachelor of social work (BSW) program since his start at FGCU. According to
BSW student Christopher Rossi, Marieb College’s 2023-24 Student the Innovator of the Year Award from the Florida Coalition for Children at its annual conference. He has also been awarded the “2024 Future CEO Award” by Children’s Network of Southwest department chair Hugh Clark, Ph.D., Rossi is an actively engaged Florida. For the past seven years, he has been an active public student who has shown a commitment to the social work code of speaker at community recovery meetings where he shares his ethics and maintained a 4.0 GPA since entering the program.
only meet the NASW Code of Ethics but identify areas in this field journey in substance use recovery with current patients at detox and According to Rossi, “At FGCU, BSW & MSW students are given rehabilitation facilities across Southwest Florida. access to countless pieces of information which we will need to not
In addition, he spoke in January 2024 at the Annual Global Health that we can continue to improve upon.” Conference hosted by the University of Central Florida School of Medicine. He was asked to speak about his lived experience with In addition to his academic endeavors, Rossi has maintained addiction and the implementation of peer recovery specialists within full-time employment as a lead behavioral health technician the child welfare system. His volunteer work includes serving as the at Calusa Recovery and later as a peer recovery specialist supervisor with Children’s Network of Southwest Florida. In this role, he was responsible for the implementation of the first ever Naloxone (Narcan) distribution system within a child welfare case management organization.
Like the college’s namesake, Elaine Nicpon Marieb, he is a nontraditional student — “arguably one of my favorite titles I have earned so far in life,” he says.
“I came into the BSW program having had a couple of years’ experience working in substance use treatment. Thankfully, a college degree or certification after your name is not a prerequisite to being an empathetic human and committing your life to better others’.” His efforts with this program did not go unnoticed. He received
web and graphics chairperson for the Florida Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous, participating in the annual Pointin-Time Count homelessness surveys in Lee County, and assisting at the Von Arx Wildlife Hospital at The Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
Rossi began his work in FGCU’s master of social work program this summer and will complete his degree in May.
As for Rossi’s plans after he graduates, he says the sky is the limit.
At FGCU, BSW & MSW students are given access to countless pieces of information which we will need to not only meet the NASW Code of Ethics but identify areas in this field that we can continue to improve upon.”
CHRISTOPHER
ROSSI
Marieb College’s 2023-24 Student of the Year
100% of OT grads pass licensure last 10 years
The first cohort of occupational therapy students at FGCU enrolled in 1999, pursuing a bachelor’s program that later transitioned to the master of science degree. Paul Arthur, Ph.D., arrived two years ago, replacing Lynn Jaffee, who retired after many successful years as program director.
One of Arthur’s goals was to continue the run of graduates achieving a continuous 100% annual pass rate in the licensure exam hosted by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, which Arthur describes as a “high-stakes, four-hour, 180-question exam.”
Mission accomplished. FGCU’s streak is now 10 consecutive years.
The national board does not have data beyond the past nine years. But Arthur said he’s not aware of any schools that have such a long stretch of success. In fact, FGCU was the only state school in Florida that achieved the 100% milestone in the last exam.
“It’s quite rare,” he says. “We are just fortunate to have had this incredible streak for the past decade. FGCU’s OT program is the little engine that could, and we are starting to stand out among our peers. This hasn’t been reflected nationally, with our present U.S. News & World Report ranking at No. 105, though I will be very surprised if we don’t see continued momentum. Our outcomes, paired with affordability and student support mechanisms, are truly second to none.”
What makes the occupational therapy program so successful?
“We are well-supported with eight full-time faculty members,” Arthur says. “Among us, we actually have a little over 200 years of practice experience. We’re really not that old, though. We do not rely on adjuncts to teach primary content. I’m the new one. Most of our faculty have been here for an average of six years. Our faculty attrition is quite low when compared to national numbers — and that shows in our cohesive curriculum, where faculty have been building upon and teaching content for multiple years, have through trial and error improved student learning outcomes and made relationships with practicing therapists in the community who come in and help with content-specific focus.
Model developed to help guide exercise science practitioners
You’ve heard of ESPN, “the worldwide leader in sports.” But have
you heard of ESPM?
Mark Erickson, DScPT,
associate professor in the Department of
Rehabilitation Sciences, hopes that one day the exercise science practice model (ESPM) will be as recognizable in the exercise science profession or the community as ESPN is in the sports world.
When Erickson began teaching in the exercise science program at FGCU in 2019, he noticed the profession did not have a universal client-management model. He investigated published models from other professions, including physical therapy, medicine, pharmacology, athletic training and occupational therapy, and developed the exercise science practice model.
The ESPM has six components that describe the process exercise professionals go through with clients:
1) Psychosocial (“it’s really important to always remember your client is a whole person and has a life outside of their situation or condition”).
2) Assessment (the review of systems screen for serious pathology [“safety first”], health history, determination of readiness and the physical assessments performed by exercise science professionals).
3) Diagnosis (the impairments identified through exercise science examination procedures).
4) Prognosis (the professional judgment of the exercise science practitioner regarding the likelihood that client goals will be reached).
5) Intervention (the exercise prescription, all related client education and any referrals made to other healthcare professionals).
6) Outcomes (a reassessment to see if a client has met their goals).
“My personal goal is that exercise science professionals have an organized, systematic method of managing clients,” Erickson says. “What we know from literature is that the No. 1 error practitioners make — regardless of profession — when it comes to reasoning is the failure to consider enough hypotheses. ESPM helps exercise science students and practicing professionals remember what they’re supposed to remember and then more effectively manage the client.
OT FACULTY MEMBER WINS JUNIOR FACULTY TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Kevin Minner, OTD, OTR/L, an assistant professor in the occupational therapy program, won the Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award during FGCU’s 2023-24 Celebration of Excellence. Prior to joining FGCU, Minner worked as an occupational therapist in a variety of practice settings with a focus on older adult health and vestibular training. He is a registered member of the National Board of Certified Occupational Therapists and a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
“It also helps the exercise profession communicate to other professions what it does. If you say, ‘I’m an exercise science professional,’ not many people know what that means. Interestingly, one of the goals in exercise science is to have exercise science professionals get reimbursed for services by insurance.”
Erickson and assistant professor Patti Bauer, Ph.D., have presented ESPM and its application in higher education at the American College of Sports Medicine Southeast Regional Conference.
“It was very well received, which is nice,” he says. “And so now we’re trying to take the next step and give it some national exposure so it’s more widely accepted.”
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCE
ENROLLMENT
Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S)* 100% *Overall pass rate after all attempt by all takers
Researchers study health effects of Ian’s floodwaters
Hurricane Ian reinforced the threat to human health posed by contaminated water from floods and post-flood dampness that can lead to the growth of harmful microbes, which can produce mycotoxins and volatile organic compounds.
That was the basis for a study conducted by a team of investigators from FGCU and Georgia Southern University: Jayanta Gupta, Ph.D., associate professor in FGCU’s Department of Health Sciences; Michael Savarese, Ph.D., professor in FGCU’s Department of Marine & Earth Sciences; and Atin Adhikari, Victor Ezeamii and Oluwatoyin Ayo-Farai, all from Georgia Southern’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health.
They investigated surface microbial activity and relevant environmental factors (moisture, relative humidity and temperature) and determined the levels of total volatile organic compounds, formaldehydes and particulate matter in residential buildings in Hurricane Ian-affected coastal areas. Environmental samples from 13 flood-affected coastal homes were collected in November 2023.
Gupta says visible mold and dampness were not evident in the homes — probably because they have been renovated and painted — but volatile organic compound levels were higher than those previously
reported to be associated with respiratory problems and decreased lung function, except for formaldehyde.
“The presence of hidden moisture in the floors suggests that there may be ongoing water damage that is not visible to the naked eye,” he says. “It is important to take post-flood steps to initiate remediation processes removing wet materials like drywall and insulation, using dehumidifiers to remove moisture, cleaning and disinfection. Continuous monitoring of homes for moisture and microbial growth is recommended.”
The results from this study were presented as two posters at the Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference in May, with one receiving the first prize for research posters.
The investigators are preparing a manuscript based on the study results,
to be submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Clinical lab science graduates are in high demand
If you’re a graduate of FGCU’s clinical laboratory science program, you’re in luck. The program produces 100% gainful employment.
“Employers are knocking down my door for me to send them graduates from our program,” says Julie Zemplinski, program director for clinical laboratory science and molecular diagnostics. “Each student will graduate with many options for immediate employment upon passing their board exam. Usually, a student can receive multiple job offers to pick from, and oftentimes they can go to work at the facility where they interned.”
Laboratories are dealing with a monumental issue in staying at full staff, given the proliferation of employees retiring, according to Zemplinski.
“We cannot graduate enough students to fill all the open positions,” she says. “This worries me as I get older: Are we going to receive the highest quality of care with the lower numbers of lab workers? The profession requires a rigorous, four-year college education — a ‘mini-med school,’ as I usually explain it. So, it’s not easy.
“More young people need to be aware of this profession when they’re deciding what career they want, and what to major in at college. When they finish four years of college, they will have a high-paying job — possibly $60,000 as a new graduate —
waiting for them. There’s great job security and good benefits.”
And FGCU is ready to usher them into that prosperous reality. Florida has just a handful of clinical laboratory science programs, and none other than FGCU south from Tampa on the west coast across to Palm Beach on the east. FGCU has added many new partnerships with hospitals and medical facilities all over South Florida to now include the counties of Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hardee, Desoto, Highlands, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade.
“The more partnerships we have, the more future employees we can graduate, and the better we serve the health of our communities in South Florida,” Zemplinski says. “In the last few years, we now have more spots for students to do their clinical internships than we have students applying to our program.”
PA PROGRAM ACHIEVES 5 YEARS OF 100% OVERALL PANCE PASS RATES:
The physician assistant studies program has successfully helped 100% of their graduates since the program’s launch pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The five-year average for first-time takers of the exam is currently sitting at an impressive 93%.
Addressing the growing need for licensed counselors
Sherdene Brown-Simpson, Ph.D., LMHC, says Southwest Florida is a due to a high percentage of people struggling with mental health issues.
“mental health desert” — meaning that the community has a critical need
So, as she enters her second year as clinical mental health counseling program director in the Department of Counseling, she’s focused on doing something about it.
“When you look at the number of people versus the services, there is a need to increase the number of providers in this area,” says BrownSimpson, who joined FGCU in 2022 as an assistant professor. “So that is something that we are really working to address in our program. How can we increase the number of licensed mental health counselors to really address the need? The need far outweighs the number of providers that we have in this area. This is an opportune time to really look at how can we impact the community.”
Other goals for 2024-25:
u Ensure that the department is aligned with its Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation standards so that everything in the curriculum exemplifies the standards of the accreditation body. “I think that’s something that we do well as a faculty.”
u Promote student learning outcomes and success. “It’s important that we really help them in developing their personal and their professional identity.”
u Continue to work collaboratively with faculty to examine how they could continue to be innovative with the curriculum to support the overall goals and mission of the program.
“I was drawn to FGCU because of the program,” says Brown-Simpson, who was a visiting assistant professor at Cleveland State University and also had her own private practice. “I like that the program was in a cohort model. I was really impressed when I came to visit the faculty — just how they had such a strong professional counseling identity, and
that they had a really high level of commitment to student success.”
Community Counseling Training Center available to employees, family
The Community Counseling Training Center (CCTC)
at FGCU
Clients are prescreened during an intake phone call to determine has new leadership and a team that is ready to provide access the level of care needed before providing an appointment. to low-cost, affordable mental and behavioral health counseling in Southwest Florida. “We are not a crisis center,” said Wenk. “For immediate crisis
including stress management, grief, marital and family conflicts, bullying, depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions and child/ care, we provide resource information. We offer referrals when The center is open to FGCU staff, faculty, graduates and their clients’ counseling needs are beyond the scope of practice and family members. Counseling services cover a variety of areas experience of our student counselors. In addition, our student counselors do not have the expertise to assist with any courtrelated cases, DCF cases, custody issues and social security or adolescent behavioral issues. disability cases.”
Kristen Valus, the new administrative specialist, is the first
According to Valus, “It’s nice to be able to come to one place to contact for client inquiries. “We have found that there is a real need for our services,” Valus said. “Clients who are looking for affordable counseling care in Southwest Florida and either don’t have health insurance or cannot get a timely appointment in network and can’t afford out-of-network prices are thrilled to have the CCTC as an alternative, low-cost option.”
Counseling instructor Julieta Wenk is the new CCTC coordinator. She and new CCTC clinical coordinator Eileen Cherbini provide supervision to graduate-level students in FGCU’s clinical
have access to distinct types of counseling services including individual, child, family, couples and group. For instance, clients may want both individual and family counseling, and we can accommodate that based on appointment availability. These clients would meet with two different counselors for each type of session to avoid any conflict of interest or privacy issues.”
Along with individual session rooms, the center has a play therapy room designed to assist children from ages 4 to 11 to freely express thoughts and emotions through play. The facility also has a group therapy room.
To ensure the best possible care for clients, supervisors and faculty review recorded counseling sessions and meet with
the student counselors for discussion. mental health counseling program. The students provide counseling services to clients in both English and Spanish through in-person or telehealth/telecounseling visits.
Cherbini said, “I feel honored and love the opportunity to guide the future mental health counselors of our community. The service we provide is so necessary, and we strive for high quality to meet the mental health needs of the community while guiding and educating them.”
GROUP THERAPY
CAPS began expanding group therapy options in 2010 and during the 2023-2024 academic year offered 18 group opportunities during the fall and spring semesters, and five during the summer session.
Attended Group Sessions
Group therapy evolves to meet changing needs
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) continues to modify what and how they offer groups in response to student concerns and attendance, including supporting their diverse student populations.
In 2023-24, CAPS offered 18 different group opportunities during fall and spring semesters and five groups during summer session. That included two new groups: a Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) student support group and a group to process challenging family dynamics. They also added Luna and Dasher, CAPS therapy dogs, to individual and group therapy interventions.
“Group therapy is often considered the most effective and efficient mode of treatment for some clients and for many of our students presenting mental health concerns,” says Rebecca Wiemerslage, staff psychologist and group therapy coordinator for CAPS.
“Our groups provide students the opportunity to learn with and from each other with the expertise of our facilitators. Students also report that they connect on a deeper level with their peers through group therapy. One member shared, ‘This (group) helped me express my emotions and feelings around others in a safe and fun way.’ ”
CAPS trainees co-facilitated a combined 197 group sessions over the past year. CAPS offers opportunities for specialized group therapy training
and supervision for their trainees and staff. “We aim to offer services/ groups that will improve their confidence and ability to manage their challenges while at FGCU as well as strategies they can take with them,” Wiemerslage says. “In a group, members not only work and learn with a therapist, but they learn through other members’ experiences, questions, perspectives and feedback.
“These aspects can help build connection and community, which many students report lacking or struggle to create in their lives. Through group therapy, students practice and engage in interpersonal experiences and growth in addition to therapeutic interventions.”
CAPS using adjunctive therapies and technology to treat student needs such as trauma COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
According to the 2023 annual report from the Center for Collegiate mental health support on campuses, says Julie Rego, Ed.D., LMHC, assistant director of outreach and prevention in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
clinical issues such as anxiety and phobias. VR exposure therapy
Mental Health, nearly half of college students attending counseling has a reported success rate of between 66% and 90% for those sessions have experienced trauma. The significant increase in with post-traumatic stress disorder when used to enhance cognitive trauma cases among college students, from 37.5% in 2012 to behavioral therapy, according to 2022 research. VR technology “has 46.8% in 2023, underscores the pressing need for enhanced the potential to improve clinical training,” according to the Journal of Counseling and Psychology.
Trauma-informed care is a framework for providing a safe environment to people who have had traumatic experiences; more university counseling centers now provide post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, and CAPS is leading the way. FGCU’s counseling center offers several trauma-informed adjunctive therapies including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, accelerated resolution therapy and clinical hypnosis. Rego also reported that CAPS began to offer neurofeedback in the fall 2024 semester. These treatments are researched-based and known for their flexibility and effectiveness in alleviating PTSD symptoms,
“I think it’s innovative,” Bakalar says. “It’s a new way to engage both traditional clients and those who have that tech-focused mentality when it comes to supporting mental health and seeking support. Not a lot of campuses across the country do this, so it’s not a universal practice at this point. It’s exciting just to know that we can contribute to that continuing growing body of knowledge and research.”
Bakalar added, “We also hope to have it for individual use. If a student comes into CAPS and says, ‘I want to use a VR headset for relaxation,’ they can do just that. These are the two main goals we have for VR next year.” as well as a range of other mental health related symptoms such as anxiety, depression and more. Related to trauma-informed care, CAPS has two therapy dogs, Luna and Dasher, and they “pawsitively” love supporting students participating in trauma treatment.
Additionally, Brian Bakalar, Ed.D., LMHC, assistant director of consultation and case management points to CAPS’ aim to be on the cutting edge of technology using virtual reality (VR) devices in addressing practices such as meditation and mindfulness and
INITIATIVE (GIDDI) intellectual and developmental disabilities FGCU enhancing lives of people with GOLISANO INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY
A new Marieb College initiative with a well-known name attached aims to help improve the quantity and quality of resources available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disability Initiative
(GIDDI) was established through funding from the Golisano Foundation. The foundation’s other philanthropy in the region includes Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples.
The Golisano initiative at FGCU positions the university as a regional conveyor of supports and services related to improving the lives of people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) on campus and throughout Southwest Florida. It has already begun efforts to increase and amplify communication among the many regional agencies serving intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals of all ages.
The initiative also seeks to identify needs for supports and services for this population. The information gathering includes formal and informal conversations, “think tanks,” community visits and surveys with caregivers as well as those living with IDD.
Once needs are identified, FGCU will work with area organizations to assist in building programing, services and infrastructure to improve the quality and amount of services and supports offered to those in need. These regional partners include LARC, God’s Protected Harbor, STARability Foundation, Gigi’s Playhouse and Special Olympics, as well as on-campus supports and student organizations such as FGCU R.I.S.E., Adaptive Services, Career Services, All Ability Sports and Recreation and Best Buddies.
In Southwest Florida, 24,000 to 27,000 individuals live with IDD, based on 2023 census data, according to Ellen K. Donald, PT Ph.D. She is program director of the initiative and assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Individuals with IDD and their families face many challenges, they live, she says. Donald says. Barriers to maximizing their independence and success can include affordable housing, appropriate healthcare, learning opportunities beyond K-12 programs, recreation, employment, transportation and, simply, acceptance from the communities in which
The most common reasons for unmet need in healthcare are cost, accessibility and lack of appropriate providers, according to Donald.
“There are excellent programs and services available. There are just not enough of these resources in our rapidly growing Southwest Florida region,” she says.
The purpose of GIDDI is threefold, according to Donald.
The first is to create a campus community that welcomes and includes individuals with IDD. Existing supports for students with disabilities will be enhanced by offering additional training and support for faculty and staff, as well as developing a culture of inclusion in the student population through engagement activities.
Secondly, faculty within Marieb College and the broader university community will work toward improving students’ exposure and training so they graduate better equipped to work with, care for, educate and live alongside individuals with IDD. Students in many academic fields may interact with the IDD community as they pursue careers including social work, occupational therapy, special education, nursing, counseling and physical therapy.
Lastly, GIDDI will partner with on- and off-campus groups and agencies to provide continuing professional and community education related to IDD, as well as partner to develop new programs and services for those with IDD.
“We hope to contribute to a culture, both on and off campus, where those with disabilities and their families find FGCU and Southwest Florida a desirable place to live, play and learn.”
New faculty hires bolster institute’s initiatives for older-adult community
Up until this point, the Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging has really been more of a person: Tom Felke, Ph.D., the executive director and social work professor.
But that has changed with a cluster hire of three faculty members who started on campus in August in these areas: music therapy, community arts engagement, construction management and exercise science and nutrition. The institute also will relaunch a search for a faculty member in long-term care administration.
“These faculty coming on board are going to be a big driver because to this point, it’s basically just been myself and a student assistant that I had who was helping with some social media, website creation and data collection and management,” Felke says. “This upcoming academic year is going to be a really important one.
“We’re also going to be reaching out to faculty already here on campus for the purpose of bringing them into the institute as affiliate faculty members. We plan to extend invitations to our colleagues across campus because we believe that they have ideas, information and research that they can provide for older adults from the business setting for long-term care planning, wealth management, real estate, etc.”
The Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging serves as a regional hub to connect FGCU faculty, staff and students from across academic disciplines with community organizations in a unified purpose of supporting the older-adult community in Southwest Florida through education, service, research and advocacy. The institute was founded in August 2022 through a $5 million gift from the Shady Rest Foundation.
Plans for this academic year include:
u Rollout to the community of Cognivue, the world’s first FDAcleared computerized test of cognitive function. The 10-minute self-administered computerized assessment — which is based on adaptive psychophysics and collects 130,000 data points — removes the bias that can be associated with more traditional cognitive assessment tools. The institute has five units that will be taken out into the community to allow individuals to check their brain health.
“It’s not a diagnostic tool. It’s not something to tell people, ‘You have symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia.’ It’s not unlike an individual going for an annual eye exam. This is a little bit higher version of that. If we see that maybe there are some deficiencies, we can assist with making referrals as needed. There’s been a lot of buzz around it.”
u Deciding how to utilize a funding gift for two additional scholarships for students pursuing careers with older adults, and a gift of $100,000 for the institute.
u Utilizing a cargo van from another venture on campus that was accepted as a gift. The institute has been using it at community-engagement efforts, including a collaborative effort with senior friendship centers and the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, where the institute delivered 100 disaster resilience preparation kits to older adults at a facility in Englewood.
EDUCATION
College expanding opportunities for simulation-based learning
Interprofessional education (IPE) is a strategic learning approach
that brings together healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds within a simulated setting to enhance collaboration and communication among practitioners, thus fostering an environment where they can learn from one another to effectively improve health outcomes.
Marieb College is committed to advancing this initiative by establishing an Interprofessional Simulation Center in the coming years that will serve as a hub for collaborative efforts among various programs, academia and partners, thus facilitating preclinical and simulation-based training.
“Many allied health programs require justification and use of IPE in their curriculum,” says Joe Buhain, Ed.D., director of interprofessional simulation and emerging technology and assistant professor. “This strategic approach provides a collaborative method of measurement and training in allocation of this need.
“Currently, the college has approximately 1,500 square feet of simulation space. With a new building in the planning phase and support from their largest benefactor, the college is investing in interprofessional simulation and the exploration and implementation
of emerging technologies across all college disciplines, assisting the faculty in the delivery of healthcare to the community and beyond. Numerous universities are embracing similar initiatives to mitigate costs, enhance outcomes and bolster student retention through interprofessional development.”
The university’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan incorporates IPE collaboration. The objective is to establish a robust IPE framework at FGCU, demonstrating a sustained commitment to fostering collaboration across all divisional schools and programs. This initiative aims to offer a comprehensive array of IPE activities that cater to the specific needs of health professions students and other academic programs, thereby contributing significantly to overall academic success.
“The overarching goal is for FGCU to develop, implement and
sustain IPE programming that effectively cultivates Interprofessional Education Collaborative competencies among students across its divisional schools and programs.” Buhain says. “This strategic alignment ensures that FGCU students are equipped with essential skills and knowledge, aligning with the broader strategic objectives of the institution.”
He says IPE is a collaborative approach aimed at enriching educational and learning experiences, with foundational elements rooted in the Marieb College and the School of Nursing, driven the imperative for accreditation. However, extending this framework to include other disciplines such as the fine arts, education and business can yield additional benefits within the context of IPE.
“Interprofessional simulation involves the coordinated efforts of multiple programs to define effective solutions,” Buhain says. “Whether encountered in clinical, hospital or medical settings,
complex scenarios impact a multitude of professionals. IPE serves as a vital tool to address communication gaps and provide innovative
solutions. By fostering a safe learning environment, IPE contributes to achieving better outcomes, ultimately facilitating student success.”
Five DNP students receive Eagle X awards
The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program had five awardwinning research projects for the 2023-24 Eagle X research day:
Stephen Hodulik – Graduate Best Overall Presentation for Implementation of a Tailored Stroke Prevention Protocol to Reduce the Risk of Stroke in a Retirement Community
Katherine Augustin – Dean’s Award for Best Overall Presentation for What’s Holding Us Back? An Education-Based Approach to Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Engagement in African Americans
Andrea Aceves — Impact Award for her project poster presentation, The Impact of a DASH Adherent Diet on Blood Pressure of Hispanic Adults
Christine Lillard - Sustainability Award for her project poster presentation, Implementing the Full Plate Living Healthy Lifestyle Program to Manage Adults who are Overweight or Obese
Julianna Farhood, Annette Castaldo, Julia Prior – Impact Award for Treatment of Postdural Puncture Headache: Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Education Among Anesthesia Providers
PT ALUMNI GATHERING IN BOSTON
In February, with the support of Marieb College, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences hosted an inaugural alumni event during the annual American Physical Therapy Association conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The goal was to connect alumni with current students, faculty and clinical preceptors in an effort to provide new networking and community building opportunities and to showcase the continued successes of the program and its stakeholders across the country.
STUDENTS & ALUMNI
Alum credits her success to caring faculty
For Bonnie LaFemina, it sometimes seemed like she was climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops while carrying a cement-block backpack.
She began her higher education journey as a single mom in her 20s, taking a night class while working full time in the financial services industry. It took her 17 years to finally get her associate’s degree at Florida SouthWestern State College. In 2019 — 36 years after graduating from Mount St. Joseph Academy in Vermont — she arrived at FGCU while working as academic affairs coordinator at FSW’s Collier Campus.
She received her bachelor’s degree in health science, graduating summa cum laude Dec. 18, 2021. Receiving her master’s May 4, 2024, she was nominated for the Marieb College Graduate Student of the Year for all of FGCU’s graduate programs. In between, she survived two bouts with COVID, Hurricane Ian’s wrath and her father’s leukemia diagnosis.
Now that’s perseverance. But she had some help.
“I cannot even begin to describe to you the dramatic impact that the professors in the Marieb College of Health & Human Services have had on my life,” she says. “It makes me cry. I get very emotional about it because I worked so hard. And they all knew that I was working full time and doing this.
“They gave me encouragement when I was struggling to balance work and school and family. They kept me going. They told me how much I was valued, how much I was appreciated. When I felt like my plate was too full, they were always there to lift me up and to give me encouragement. When it seemed like the load was too heavy, they just kept saying, ‘You can do it. You’re almost there.’ ”
LaFemina has been promoted to senior coordinator of academic affairs at FSW-Collier.
