HEALTH SCIENCES
FALL 24 | SPRING 25
WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR
Dr. Patrick Mathews Division Chair, STEM
New Programs and Opportunities
As the new Chair of the Division of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), I want to share the exciting news happening in our division.
In recent years, we have expanded our division to include Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science programs. We are also continuously seeking opportunities to improve and enrich existing programs, such as Health Science.
In This Issue
• Faculty Spotlight
• Student Spotlights
• 2024-25 Club Officers
Students have the chance to participate in research projects alongside faculty members and shadow health professionals. Additionally, they can explore international travel opportunities and engage in service-learning experiences.
The Health Science Club is engaging and sponsors various activities, from Homecoming floats to Chili Cook-off entries to inviting medical professionals as speakers.
Our division equips students with the resources to develop intellectually and spiritually, aiding you in your journey toward your profession. Our faculty members are readily available to assist you in career decisions and support you throughout your undergraduate journey. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Faculty Spotlight
Did you always know you wanted to be a professor?
When I originally started my college career, I wanted to go into medicine. I was in International Baccalaureate biology courses during high school, so I had never taken chemistry before college. While taking the prerequisite chemistry courses, I fell in love with the subject. I changed my major during the first year of undergraduate and never looked back.
Dr. Kayla Eschliman
Tell us about your journey through school and how you ended up at Friends University.
I attended Kansas Wesleyan University for undergraduate college, completing two Bachelor of Science degrees (Biomedical Chemistry and General Chemistry with a minor in Biology), followed by Kansas State University, where I earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemistry. A full-time professor of chemistry position opened at Friends University just as I was completing my dissertation, which I happily applied for and was formally offered in January 2021. My husband and I moved to Wichita, KS that summer and I started teaching in August 2021.
What drew you to science?
I’ve loved science from a very young age –growing up in Kansas, I always loved going to the Kansas State Fair and visiting the Kansas State University building, where you can watch animals being born in person and various surgical videos. My parents had trouble dragging me away as young as four years old.
Faculty Spotlight
What struggles did you have through your Bachelor's and Doctorate?
Sophomore year of my Bachelor’s degree, I took organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics concurrently. The coursework was tough, especially on top of participating in choir and orchestra, playing in the symphony, and working a job.
The first year of graduate school was the most challenging prior to starting my career as it involved the toughest coursework I’ve ever endured, teaching chemistry labs for the first time, cumulative exams, etc., as well as my first year of marriage. Within that year on top of everything else, my husband’s biological father was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and passed away a month later.
Life is never without struggle. It is how we react, survive, and adapt that makes the difference. When in doubt, never underestimate the power of prayer.
Which course did you find challenging in college and how did you overcome that?
What advice can you give to freshmen on this?
For me, the most challenging courses were physics and calculus. I think it is important to seek help when you are struggling – I frequented the library for free tutoring, my professor’s office hours, and initiated study groups with students who excelled.
We heard you love cats. How many cats do you have?
What are their names?
I LOVE cats – I currently have three: Pablo (white and orange shorthair, 13 years old), Murphy (black long hair, 5 years old, and Sebastián (white and grey shorthair, nearly 1 year old).
I also have a cockatiel that is 13 years old. I adopted him at 2 weeks old when I was 16, and his name is Maestro. He loves to talk and sing – he will happily proclaim that “Maestro is a pretty bird” and does a wonderful rendition of “If you’re happy and you know it!”
How should students study when enrolled in a science class? What are good study habits for learning science?
Study habits that work for students are very personal. If you do not already know, I encourage you to determine what kind of learner you are (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.) as this will help determine what kind of studying would work best. I personally am a visual and tactile learner, so I thrive on making study guides and memorizing. Typing the material out on the computer helps me to visualize. Also, completing multiple problems of the same type until muscle memory forms.
Do you think technology made learning science better or worse?
Technology is great when it works, however, it is still important to learn how to perform calculations by hand (using a calculator rather than Excel for example) so that we have the skills if need be. I believe that technology will never be able to replace the human aspect involved in teaching and learning. Using artificial intelligence programs can be helpful when allowed by your instructor and used appropriately like any other tool.
Are you the only one in your family who loves science? Do you have any protégé’s?
My parents both enjoy science and were always highly supportive. My younger brother is currently pursuing an engineering degree at Kansas State University. My younger sister is interested in caring for animals and DIY cosmetology.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
I like to dye my hair and manicure my nails in my free time. I also enjoy crafting, horror movies, hanging out with my pets, and taking my nieces and nephews to Exploration Place.
A Semester with Dr. Andrea Rhodes at Advanced Physical Therapy
An Inspiring Journey into Occupational Therapy
Hanna Wood
Bachelor of Science in Health Management
For this semester, I had the honor of observing Dr. Andrea Rhodes, an occupational therapist from Advanced Physical Therapy (APT). I really enjoyed my time at Advanced Physical Therapy and Dr. Rhodes was very kind, helpful and patient.
She worked well with my tennis schedule and we got along great. She is one of my favorite occupational therapists I have observed and I had a great experience. She was incredibly helpful regarding all my questions about OT school and the application process. She gave me great advice and made me feel less stressed. When I left APT, I was even more motivated to perform well in school to succeed in my future career.
At Advanced Physical Therapy, Dr. Rhodes sees a wide range of patients from pediatric to geriatric, both recurring and new patients. I have always thought I just wanted to work in pediatrics, but I enjoyed being able to work with and meet so many different people. I observed many hands, wrists, and shoulders. I was able to see a few pediatric patients, which are my favorites. I love watching Dr. Rhodes work with pediatric patients because I find it interesting how pediatric occupational therapists incorporate play into their work. Dr. Rhodes was very good at using games to fit a child’s goal.
This experience guided me further into wanting to become an occupational therapist and I hope to become as good as Dr. Rhodes in my career. At Advanced Physical Therapy, Dr. Rhodes sees a wide range of patients from pediatric togerlatric, both recurring and new patients. I have always thought I just wanted to work in pediatrics, but I enjoyed being able to work with and meet so many different people. I observed many hands, wrists, and shoulders. I was able to see a few pediatric patients, which is my favorite. I love watching Dr. Rhodes work with pediatric patients because I find it interesting how pediatric occupational therapists incorporate play into their work. Dr. Rhodes was very good at using games to fit a child's goal.
She taught me a lot about the different injuries that each patient had, how they occurred, and treatment. She made sure to explain what she was doing and why; she is extremely knowledgeable. She made sure to include me during the appointments and the patients were personable as well.
She taught me a lot about the different injuries that each patient had, how they occurred, and treatment. She made sure to explain what she was doing and why; she is extremely knowledgeable. She made sure to include me during the appointments and the patients were personable as well. They were all comfortable and open to talking about their injuries/accidents and why they were there.
I observed Dr. Rhodes use different scraping massage tools, often on patient's arms, wrist and fingers, to increase blood flow and restore movernent patterns in injured tissues. It also helps with any pain and discomfort in the muscles and joints by releasing trigger points. Dr. Rhodes made different braces as well. I watched her make one for a patient's thumb by heating up a piece of long plastic and molding it to his hand. She also used the stim unit multiple times. She used electrical stimulation to increase circulation, reduce muscle spass, and promote healing of fractures or tissue.
They were all comfortable and open to talking about their injuries/accidents and why they were there. I observed Dr. Rhodes use different scraping massage tools, often on patient’s arms, wrist and fingers, to increase blood flow and restore movement patterns in injured tissues. It also helps with any pain and discomfort in the muscles and joints by releasing trigger points. Dr. Rhodes made different braces as well. I watched her make one for a patient’s thumb by heating up a piece of long plastic and molding it to his hand. She also used the stim unit multiple times. She used electrical stimulation to increase circulation, reduce muscle spasms, and promote healing of fractures or tissue.
In conclusion, I had an amazing experience at Advanced Physical Therapy, and it has led me to want to pursue a career as an occupational therapist. Dr. Rhodes was excellent to observe and someone I look up to going into this career field.
From Friends University to Dental Hygiene Professional
Graduated student 2021
Hello! I am Lauren Hills, RDH, a Friends University Alumni. I graduated in 2021, with a degree in Health Science and minor in Chemistry.The health science department at Friends University, gave me the educational tools and background knowledge I needed to earn my degree and licensure from the UMKC Dental Hygiene Program. In the Fall of 2021, I started the degree program at UMKC for Dental Hygiene.
During my time in the program, I gained dental knowledge and skills to provide first class care for the patients in my chair.
The program is two years long, including five semesters of demanding course work pertaining to the dental field. This includes dental related courses and clinical experience earned on the clinic floor with faculty guidance.
Faculty and staff at the UMKC Dental Hygiene Division are informative, supportive, and thorough with your educational experience. They equipped me with the skills and knowledge to demonstrate competence in my field of Dental Hygiene.
Lauren Hills
These courses and clinical experiences helped my classmates and myself have 100 percent pass rate on the written and clinical boards in the Spring Semester of our senior year.
This program is unique in the aspect that you earn a bachelor’s degree at the end of your program. This helped set me apart as a new clinician in the dental field. Having earned competence in this program helped set me up for success in finding a job in a private practice after graduation.
I have been a Registered Dental Hygienist for just around a year. I continue to learn and grow as a clinician during this first year out of school. I work for an amazing Doctor and alongside fellow Hygienists that have helped guide and support me with my skills and knowledge after school.
I continue to challenge myself and learn from my coworkers every day. Dental Hygiene is an outstanding career with a lot to offer. It is rewarding to help provide a high standard of care for each patient, to help them become confident with their oral health.
Meet the Health Science Club Ofcers
Alayna Welch
Isabella Boulanger President Vice President
My name is Alayna Welch, and I am the Friends University Health Science Club President. I was born in Arizona but have lived in Wichita most of my life; I like to call myself a Wichitan. This is my third year at Friends University, majoring in Health Science and Bio-Chem. I work on campus in the Registrar’s office, but I have shadowing experience in many fields. I love healthcare because of the puzzle-solving part of various medical cases. I plan to attend medical school after graduation to become an orthopedic surgeon.
My name is Bella Boulanger, and I’m the Health Science Club Vice President. I am a junior at Friends University. I was born and raised here in Wichita, KS. I currently work as a Physical Therapy Tech at True Physical Therapy. I get to work with various patients and take them through exercises to help them recover from surgery or improve their pain/strength with different activities. I plan to attend Physical Therapy school after graduation and become a Physical Therapist.
Gianna Honda
Secretary
My name is Gianna Honda, and I am the Friends University Health Science Club Secretary. I was born and raised in California, and this is my third year at Friends. Additionally, I am on the women’s soccer team here at Friends. At a young age, I fell in love with science, and Friends has allowed me to continue to explore this passion. In the future, I hope to be able to combine my love of science and helping others into a career in medicine.
The Health Science Club had the opportunity to attend the Radiology Procedure Night hosted at Wesley Medical Center by radiology interns, residents, and attendees. A behind-the-scenes look into both interventional and diagnostic radiology techniques was offered. We learned how to use and read sonography and apply those skills to take a biopsy sample. Additionally, we were taken into a procedure room where the interventional radiologists taught us how deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolisms (PE) are treated. We were also shown how spine fractures can be treated under fluoroscopic imaging. I found this event very interesting because I work in an orthopedic office, and we commonly refer patients out to assess whether or not they have developed a DVT after surgery. I now have the background of what truly happens if a patient is diagnosed with DVT and what the procedure consists of. I highly recommend that any student interested in healthcare attend this event in the future. Radiology is prevalent in all areas of medicine, and this event provided us with a brief and beneficial understanding of an extensive field.
Madison Moses Radiology Experience
For more information about Friends University’s Health Sciences degree: friends.edu/health-sciences admissions@friends.edu 316-295-5100 | 800-577-2233