Healthy Connections Winter 2012

College of Health Sciences • Georgia College • Winter 2013

Dean’s Welcome Dear Alumni, Friends and Colleagues: With great pleasure, I present you with the College of Health Science’s (COHS) annual print publication Healthy Connections.

This issue highlights some of the many accomplishments of our gifted students and outstanding faculty. Despite fiscal challenges, we have been moving forward, challenging our students with rigorous academics and providing them with real world hands on experience in field-based settings, working with our clinical partners.

While managing transitional and ongoing fiscal challenges, 2011-12 was also a year of significant opportunities. Several key COHS driven initiatives came to full fruition. These very tangible accomplishments are the result of a sustained effort of many, including a strong COHS leadership team and highly collaborative efforts of our COHS faculty and staff.

These sentinel accomplishments included: 1. Completing construction and operationalizing the programming of the new Georgia College Wellness and Recreation Center 2. Achieving Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) implementation approval for our Doctor of Nursing Practice program 3. Implementation of Master of Art in art therapy

4. Achieving Association for Experiential Education (AEE) accreditation re-affirmation of our outdoor education programs.

In addition, Georgia College welcomed its 11th president, Dr. Steve Dorman, this September. Dr. Dorman came to us from the University of Florida, where he served as Dean of the College of Health and Human Performance. He is a nationally known health educator, and we are very pleased to have him at the helm here at Georgia College.

On behalf of the COHS faculty, staff and students, I extend our appreciation for your support both past and present. We ask that you will continue to support our efforts to repare top level health professionals for the state and the region through your advocacy and philanthropy.

Please feel free to send us your news. We encourage you to visit us if you get the opportunity to be near this wonderful community of Milledgeville. We would be happy to give you a tour around our newly renovated facilities on the main campus and our new Wellness and Recreation Center. Thank you again for your continued support!

Yours in Health, Dean Sandy K. Gangstead sandra.gangstead@gcsu.edu

Inside this issue:

College of Health Sciences: Dean Sandra Gangstead

Deans welcome.....................................2

Faculty Honors ....................................12

Welsome Doctor of Nursing Practice Students! .................................3

Center for Health and Social Issues Battling Childhood Obesity..............................14

Associate Dean Martha M. Colvin

Survive and Thrive:................................6

Music Therapy Clinic Serves the Community .......................16

Healthy Connections Editor Julie N. Collis

Georgia College’s Cancer Wellness Program .................................8

FNP Students Benefit from New Patient Simulation ......................17

Students Explore Health in Belize..................................................9

Art Therapy Degree Now Offered........................................18

Contributors Kirk Armstrong, Julie N. Collis, Anna Hiscox, Rasheda Jones, Jim Lidstone, Debby MacMilan, Judith Malachowski, Dave Terrell

COHS Honors Students......................10

Outdoor Education earns Continued Accreditation ....................19

Meet the DNP Trailblazers ...................4

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Photo Credits Kirk Armstrong, Julie N. Collis, Sharon Daniel, Jim Lidstone, Jess Tanner, Tim Vacula, Katie Whipple

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Welcome Doctor of Nursing Practice Students!

The “Trailblazers�: From left to right in photo (Standing) Laurie Parkman, Chioma Okereke, Keshana Snead, Kay Brooks, and Carol Boyer. Seated from left to right: Beth Sipper and Sandra Copeland

eorgia College School of Nursing welcomed its first cohort of students to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program this May. The inaugural 2012 cohort spent a week during May getting to know each other and their faculty at the Macon Graduate Center.

During the week students had an opportunity to meet with Interim President Stas Preczewski and Provost Sandra Jordan at a luncheon sponsored by the dean of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Sandra Gangstead. The students were also welcomed by two honored guests from the nursing community: Ms. Judy Paull, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Medical Center of Central Georgia and Dr. Melinda Hartley, CNO of Houston County Medical Center. Ms. Paull and Dr. Hartley shared their research projects in which they were involved during their Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. The intensive week of learning ended with

G

a faculty and student dinner where Dr. Donna Ingram shared her DNP Capstone Project with the students.

interact with other health care providers and agencies at diverse levels.

The DNP is a professional terminal degree with an applied nursing focus.

The program is committed to educating advanced practice nurses who possess the knowledge, skills and values necessary to contribute to and lead in the efforts to improve the health care delivery system of the nation. Students are trained for advanced science-based practice and practice-oriented research in privateand/or public sector careers to include clinical practice, health education, research application, leadership, and analysis of health care outcomes. The DNP is a versatile degree that prepares nurses to provide leadership in public and private organizations; assess health care needs; develop and implement new health care practices, and evaluate health care outcomes; recommend health care policy; and

The Post-Masters DNP program consists of 37 credit hours and 540 clinical hours. The program completely online and is offered fulltime for five semesters. Guided by the AACN Essentials for Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice, sequencing of courses allows the development of content expertise prior to the initiation of the clinical project and experience core. A capstone practicum allows for role immersion and competency integration. The first cohort will graduate in December 2013.

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For more information visit nursing.gcsu.edu or contact Dr. Debby MacMillan at 478-752-1074 or debby.macmillan@gcsu.edu.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Meet the DNP Trailblazers The DNP trailblazers are the first DNP class at Georgia College.

Carol Boyer RN, MSN, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Carol Boyer of Milledgeville, Ga. graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Ms. Boyer also obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Public Administration, and Post–Masters Nursing in Psychiatric Nursing from Georgia College. Psychiatric nursing has been the focus of Ms. Boyer’s twenty-eight year career at Central State Hospital. She currently serves as an Associate Nurse Executive over Nursing Services and Staff Development.

“I want to expand on the knowledge and experience that I have gained in my twenty-eight years of nursing practice working with the developmentally disabled, adult mental health, child and adolescent mental health, and staff development,” Boyer noted. “All of these experiences have made me more aware of the need for nurses to be involved in the development of evidence-based nursing practice and in the design of health care delivery.

The DNP will assist me in moving to the next phase of my career: educating the next generation of nurses or helping to develop healthcare policy for the population of patients that I serve. Also, as a Georgia College alumni, I am honored to be a part of this exciting new program.”

Sarah Kay Brooks RN, MSN, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

the field of nursing and will prepare me to design evidence-based strategies that will improve healthcare outcomes for the client populations I serve.”

Sarah Brooks of Milledgeville, Ga. graduated from Georgia College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and in 1994 with a Master of Science in Nursing. Mrs. Brooks has focused her nursing career on providing care for patients at Central State Hospital. During her career at Central State she has worked in the following areas: Georgia War Veterans Home, Comprehensive Healthcare Division, Nursing Home, and Psychiatric Treatment and Forensic Services. She currently is the chief nursing officer at Central State Hospital. “I accepted this role as a leader for nursing because I want to make a difference for the clients and their families, along with the nurses and staff at this remarkable hospital,” Brooks stated. “I continue to push forward each day with the many challenges that present themselves to ensure our client population is provided a safe and therapeutic environment at all times.”

Sandra Copeland RN, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner

Additionally Mrs. Brooks is employed

by Georgia College as a part-time faculty member for the School of Nursing, where she teaches in the undergraduate nursing program. She is a member of the Theta Tau Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. Additionally she serves on the Live Healthy Baldwin committee.

She chose to return to Georgia College to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. “I feel attending Georgia College for the DNP program will assist me in demonstrating the highest level of clinical expertise in Healthy Connections I Winter 2013 I 4

Sandra Copeland of Juliette, Ga. graduated cum laude from Western Carolina University with a bachelor degree in nursing in 1991 and received her Master of Science in Nursing and her Nurse Practitioner Post-Masters from Georgia College.

She has worked in various areas in nursing including: staff nurse, management, research, and education. Currently, Mrs. Copeland works as a Nurse Practitioner at a private practice in Barnesville, Ga. and in a supportive role at the Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG).

Additionally Mrs. Copeland is employed by Georgia College as a part-time faculty member for the School of Nursing, where she teaches both in the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. She volunteers in her community as a camp nurse, CPR instructor, and recently worked at a medical clinic in Honduras for the underserved.

The College of Health Sciences offers a variety of graduate programs that will provide the additional education you need to accomplish your goals.

See page 20 for more details.

Keshana Snead Goddard RN, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Keshana Snead Goddard of Milledgeville, Ga. graduated from Macon State College in 2005 with a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. Mrs. Goddard received her Master of Science in Nursing in 2009 from Georgia College and her PostMasters Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health in 2012 from Georgia State University. She is dually certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Mrs. Goddard’s nursing career has focused on caring for the psychiatric client. She is currently employed as a nurse practitioner at River Edge Behavioral Health Center and Care Improvement Plus House Calls Program.

Mrs. Goddard is interested in the use of motivational interviewing as a therapeutic approach to making a difference for her clients. The patient population she serves is often in Georgia’s rural and medically underserved areas.

Chioma Okereke RN, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner Chioma Okereke of Acworth, Ga. received both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1999) and Master of Science in Nursing (1996) from Kennesaw State University. She currently owns her own private practice, Wellness Family Clinic, in Marietta, Ga., where she cares for families as a family nurse practitioner.

life spans and to provide that care in a holistic approach,” Okereke said.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my practice is observing infants get their first immunization, then seeing them meet each milestone.

“I decided on the Georgia College DNP program because they offer the curriculum that is necessary to achieve my goal with an online approach. As a result, I am able to continue working in my practice. This makes for an excellent combination.”

Laurie Eady Parkman RN, MSN, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Laurie Parkman of Dublin, Ga. graduated from Georgia College with a bachelor degree in nursing in 1994 and received her nurse anesthesia degree (CRNA) from Medical College of Georgia in 1999. During her nursing career she has specialized in caring for patients in the telemetry unit, intensive care, emergency department, and has worked as a staff CRNA. Presently, she is employed at the Medical Center of Central Georgia as a CRNA. Mrs. Parkman chose Georgia College for her Doctor of Nursing Practice program because of the history of excellent nursing education and the online classes. “I liked the idea of being in the first Doctor of Nursing Practice program offered by Georgia College. My career began with a degree from Georgia College, which has served me well, and I look forward to continuing the tradition.”

For more information visit nursing.gcsu.edu or contact Dr. Debby MacMillan at 478-752-1074 or debby.macmillan@gcsu.edu.

“As a primary care provider, I have developed the skills and knowledge to care for an entire family across their 5 I Winter 2013 I Healthy Connections

Elizabeth Sipper RN, MSN, Nurse Educator Elizabeth Sipper of Louisville, Ga. received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1994 and a Master of Science in Nursing in 2006 from Georgia College. She returned to Georgia College in 2007 to complete Post-Masters courses for Nursing Education. Ms. Sipper currently is an Assistant Professor of Nursing and Satellite Director at Darton College. When she heard that Georgia College was offering the DNP she knew this was where she wanted to apply because there was “no other place for her.” She explained, “The accidental placement of my name on a layoff list changed the course of my life. That simple clerical error twenty-two years ago gave me the courage to reach for the impossible. I had given college a try two decades earlier. I was an impoverished high school dropout armed with a general education diploma, and I realized in short order how ill prepared I was.

Too old to go back and claim my three lost years of high school, I joined the Women’s Army Corps and set off on a journey of high hopes. Seventeen years later, in the wake of my name accidently appearing on the layoff list, I stood before an incredulous Georgia College nursing advisor who wanted to know if I really wanted to be a nurse.

The dismal grade point average displayed on the dated transcripts before her made that lifelong dream of mine seem highly improbable. Four years later I graduated with honors, president of Georgia College nursing Class of 1994.”

Ms. Sipper was diagnosed with breast cancer during the summer semester and has taken a medical withdrawal from the program. She plans on returning to the program as soon as her treatment is completed. She asked to be included in the DNP 2012 Cohort biographies because of her intense pride in being selected for this inaugural DNP cohort.

Survive and Thrive

Georgia College’s Cancer Wellness Program Survive and Thrive is a free oncology recovery program at Georgia College’s Wellness and Recreation Center for newly diagnosed cancer patients.

The program combines exercise, education, mind/body activities and support to assist people with cancer in returning to their fullest physical and emotional potentials. The holistic approach incorporates all aspects of a person’s health and well-being and focuses on improving quality of life.

The program meets a tremendous medical need in Milledgeville-Baldwin County and the surrounding area. According to Dave Terrell, director of the Wellness and Recreation Center, “The program is one way the university’s College of Health Sciences reaches out to the community to deliver needed health-related services.”

Survive and Thrive is grant funded and has received grants from The MedCen Community Health Foundation in Macon, the American Cancer Society, and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

The program is supported by local oncologists who refer their patients to the program. It is free to cancer patients who have been diagnosed within the last year and/or currently undergoing primary active therapy.

The goal of Survive and Thrive is to improve quality of life by addressing fatigue, depression, nausea,

pain, stress and other side effects of cancer and its treatment.

Patti Weimer, who has been in the program for 14 weeks, commented on the program’s effectiveness. “I am so amazed at the level of fitness I have accomplished with the help of the staff at the Wellness Center. We started out slow with just being able to walk a couple of laps before I had to rest because of the numbness and burning in my feet. Yesterday, I walked a complete mile without having to stop at all.”

Another program participant, Terri Lingold, concurred. “Because of the kind, caring instructors of this program, I have the energy that the cancer and treatments had robbed me of. I would highly recommend this program to any and all cancer patients that want to take back control of their life.”

During the first hour of each two-hour session the survivors participate in professionally prescribed and supervised exercises based on therapy restrictions and energy level. A significant amount of research has been done to demonstrate the effectiveness of exercise as a quality of life intervention following cancer diagnosis.

During the second hour of the program, a variety of educational topics such as coping skills, stress management, nutrition, and

Patti Weimer (l) being evaluated by Wellness and Recreation Center staff Tyler Rawlings

side effects of medications are discussed. The second hour also includes mind/body programming such as meditation, yoga, journaling, music therapy, art therapy, guided imagery and more. The American Cancer Society’s “I Can Cope” educational series is part of the educational component.

cerns and feelings

According to the American Cancer Society, the series can help dispel cancer myths by presenting straightforward information and answers to cancer related issues, including:

Measuring outcomes is an important part of the program. A variety of fitness parameters and quality of life assessments are administered when a participant enters the program.

After 12 weeks of participation, the parameters are measured again. Clinical outcomes related to quality of life are assessed and documented for each

• Diagnosis and treatment • Side effects of treatment • Self-esteem and intimacy • Communicating con-

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• Community resources • Financial concerns • Pain management • Nutrition and physical activity • Cancer related fatigue • Keeping well in mind, body, and spirit

I am so amazed at the level of fitness I have accomplished

participant and their physician.

Early results demonstrate a significant reduction in fatigue and depression, and an increase in self-esteem.

Program Coordinator, Laura Childs, and Graduate Assistant, Liz Hathaway, are both Certified Cancer Exercise Specialists.

The program, which meets midmorning three times per week, also provides experiential learning opportunities for College of Health Sciences students studying Exercise Science, Community Health, Music Therapy and Art Therapy. These students get hands-on experience working with this special population. Survive and Thrive is part of Georgia College’s commitment to be a strong partner for creating a better community, and similar to the College of Health Sciences logo, Survive and Thrive helps to connect mind, body and spirit.

For More Information, contact: Laura Childs laura.childs@gcsu.edu 478-445-7542 Dave Terrell dave.terrell@gcsu.edu 478-445-7536 gcsu.edu/wellness

Top and Middle: Survive and Thrive participants take part in a Music Therapy drumming circle designed to reduce stress and aid in relaxation.

Bottom:Program participants doing weight and balance training

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School of Nursing Receives Outstanding Department Award The School of Nursing received the Georgia College Outstanding Program/Department award for 2012.

The School of Nursing was evaluated on five criteria: (a) excellence in teaching and service to students; (b) departmental/unit policies that encourage collaborative faculty efforts; (c) an ongoing process for reviewing and re-

Nursing Hosts Accreditation Visit The Georgia College School of Nursing is hosting an accreditation visit by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) for the BSN and MSN programs on February 5-7, 2013.

Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the visiting team. Please note that the comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the professional nursing education programs offered and should specify the party’s relationship to the institution and/or program (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduate).

shaping curricula; (d) exemplary programs for advising, mentoring, recruiting, and retaining students; and (e) successes of department’s or program’s students.

ence in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program boasts a 98.27 percent pass rate on the FNP national certification examination during the past five years.

The activities of students, staff, and faculty contributed to this honor. The reputation of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is well known throughout the state of Georgia and the Southeast. Pass rates on the licensing exam for this program have averaged 97.8 percent over the past four years. Twice during this time, pass rates have reached 100 percent for two cohorts, well above the minimum benchmark (80 percent) required by the Georgia Board of Nursing. In addition, the School has increased the number of new students to 56 each semester and is retaining 98 percent of each cohort. Also, the Master of Sci-

Faculty efforts over the past four years have resulted in the establishment of a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the first doctoral program in the university’s 123 year history. The first cohort was admitted for Summer 2012 and will graduate in December 2013.

Nursing faculty continue to work collaboratively with faculty across campus and in the community at-large in workshops and subsequent mentoring relationships.

The award was given at the Georgia College Faculty Awards Ceremony in April 2012.

There will be a time for the NLNAC visitors to meet with various communities during the site visit. More information will be available at nursing.gcsu.edu at the beginning of January 2013.

Mail your comments to: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30326 School of Nursing Faculty: Front row l to r: Dr. Judy Malachowski, Mrs. JoAnne Raatz; Second row l to r: Dr. Flor Culpa Bondal, Mrs. Sheryl Winn, Dr. Martha Colvin, Mrs. Jeanne Sewell, Dr. Susan Steele; Third row l to r: Mrs. Erin Weston, Mrs. Carol Bowdoin; Fourth row l to r: Dr. Debby MacMillan, Dr. Debbie Greene, Dr. Leslie Moore, Dr. Carol Sapp

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Student Explore Health in Belize Health Science students set abroad for the adventure of a life time this past May in Dr. Kirk Armstrong’s course, “Exploring Health Perspectives in Belize: Medicine, Health, Society, and Culture”. The nature of the course was to experience various aspects of Belize (located in Central America) through the perspective of health. Using this unique perspective, students experienced the history, culture, and other developmental initiatives evolving in Belize.

In the health sciences, serving others constitutes a large component of professional practice, either encouraging patients or clients through therapeutic benefits or serving the profession itself. This course emphasized the importance of service within the health sciences and how serving others or the profession was beneficial to personal and professional growth.

During the program, students lived and learned through interacting with native Belizeans.

Most of their time was spent in San Ignacio, the capital of the Cayo district of western Belize.

The last few days were spent in Hopkins, a Garifuna community in the Stann Creek district on the eastern coast. Both locales were not only geographically distinct, but the culture of the native Belizeans were also quite unique.

In San Ignacio, students completed six different service learning projects, accumulating more than 50 service learning hours per student. Highlights of the service projects included: • Sacred Heart High School: During the school day, students were paired with a “host teacher” to spend time getting to understand and

experience students in the Belizean education system.

After school, the students facilitated a coaches clinic for more than 12 coaches (including track, soccer, softball, basketball), discussing injury prevention and management, basic first aid, and nutritional considerations for athletes.

• Barzakh Falah: Barzakh Falah is a sustainable home for orphaned, abused, neglected, or forgotten children of Belize. Under construction, Barzakh Falah is literally being built from the ground up. The students spent two days building a hexagonal playset (including low rope line and tire swings) and a meditation structure with prayer benches.

• Octavia Waight Centre: The Octavia Waight Centre is the elderly care facility of the Cayo district, serving 27 livein residents. The staff of the Octavia Waight Centre includes a cook, care staff, and Registered Nurse who provides therapy and rehabilitation to the residents. Here, students cooked lunch for all of the residents and staff, worked with residents in completing therapy or sat and played various games with the residents.

Daily activities concluded with dinner and a reflective de-briefing of the day. Much time was spent differentiating the events of the day to life back in the United States. A considerable amount of time was also spent making connections to how the knowledge and skills obtained during service learning projects could be applied to future practice in a health science profession.

Founder of Hot Mama’s Hot Sauce Factory (center left), stopped to talk with Georgia College students during their tour of the hot sauce factory in San Ignacio, Belize. Pictured: Front Row: Bailey Harrison, Hot Mama, Jillian Lisiakowski, Toni Gray, Tour Guide, Erin Kelly; Back Row: Micah Davis, Dr. Kirk Armstrong, Ian Thomas, Brittany Maddock, David Gibson

Students Jillian Lisiakowski and Bailey Harrison pulled bark from one of the support beams of the Challenge Course at Barzakh Falah Children’s Home

ological, historical, health related, and cultural sites of importance in Belize. A few noteworthy stops during the trip were Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan archeological site; Actun Tunichil Muknal, an ancient Mayan cave with religious and sacrificial backgrounds; and the San Ignacio Market, where native food and wares are sold.

In addition to classroom and service learning projects, students visited a variety of arche-

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Students get a birds eye view of the Xunantunich ruin site outside San Ignacio, Belize, being able to climb to the top to see the view that the royal family once had more than 1,500 years ago.

STAYCONNECTED Alumni Updates gcsu.edu/alumni

Giving foundation.gcsu.edu

Community Health Major Receives Next Generation Leaders Award Sharon Daniel, senior community health major, was awarded a $4,600 internship stipend from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Next Generation (NextGen) nonprofit leaders program. This award will assist Ms. Daniel with finances while fulfilling her internship requirement for her major. These stipends help Nonprofit Leadership Alliance students complete their nonprofit internships. The stipends are funded by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

Ms. Daniel will be interning Spring 2013 in Honduras at a faith-based orphanage called Miques 6:8 (Micah 6:8) for abused, abandoned, and neglected children. The orphanage currently has 39 children. During her internship she will work as an English tutor and will assist orphanage management with initial planning for an orphanage school.

Daniel joins two previous students, Lindsay Ayers and Britton Tuck, in receiving this nationally recognized honor. Community Health Coordinator, Dr. Barbara Funke, notes that “these students have been among our best and brightest and it is gratifying to know that the College of Health Sciences is helping launch future leaders who will champion health-related initiatives in nonprofit settings.”

Exercise Science Professor Becomes National ‘Educator of the Year’ Georgia College professor Dr. Mike Martino has earned the 2012 Educator of the Year Award by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for his contributions to the fields of exercise science and human performance.

Martino became this year’s recipient for his leadership and commitment to the education of general strength training and conditioning, exercise and sport science and enhancement of the discipline through the NSCA. Martino also serves as coordinator for Georgia College’s Exercise Science Program and NSCA’s Southeast Region.

NSCA is an international nonprofit educational association that includes more than 30,000 members in 52 countries. The association develops and presents the most advanced information about strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention and research findings.

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Sewell Receives MERLOT Award

College of Health Sciences Faculty Honored Excellence in Scholarship Award Dr. Scott Butler, assistant professor of community health, Department of Kinesiology, received the Georgia College Excellence in Scholarship Award. Receipt of the award is based upon scholarly merit of publications, contribution to the field or discipline, and recognition to Georgia College.

Jeanne Sewell, assistant professor of nursing, was awarded the 2012 MERLOT Distinguished Service Award. This is MERLOT’s highest honor.

MERLOT is an acronym for Multi-media Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching. It is an online higher education community that shares peerreviewed online learning materials and pedagogy.

Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award are selected because of their contributions and dedication to MERLOT. Former Distinguished Service Award winners and MERLOT management select the winner.

Mrs. Sewell has been a member of MERLOT since 2000 and has served as the Editor of the MERLOT Health Sciences Editorial Board since its inception. The Health Sciences Editorial Board covers a variety of areas including but not limited to pharmacy, sports medicine, medical technology and nutrition.

Mrs. Sewell is nationally certified in nursing informatics and has co-authored a textbook entitled Informatics and Nursing. It is currently in its fourth edition and is the leading textbook in nursing informatics. She maintains active consultation in nursing informatics with clinical facilities and institutions of higher learning.

Excellence in Teaching Award Dr. Kirk Armstrong, assistant professor of athletic training, Department of Kinesiology, received the Georgia College Excellence in Teaching Award. Receipt of the award is based upon excellence in classroom teaching, continued professional development, and contributions to the overall institutional goals of Georgia College.

Laurie Hendrickson McMillan Faculty Award Dr. Leslie Moore, assistant professor of nursing, School of Nursing, received the Laurie Hendrickson McMillan Faculty Award. This is awarded to non-tenured faculty employed at Georgia College teaching in the College of Business and School of Nursing for less than five years. Award selection criteria is based upon teaching, research and campus and community service.

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Center for Health and Social Issues Battling Childhood Obesity In 2010, the Center for Health and Social Issues at the College of Health Sciences received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to battle childhood obesity in Milledgeville/Baldwin County. Milledgeville/Baldwin County is one of only 49 communities across the nation working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic through policy and environmental change, aimed at improving access to healthy, affordable food and increasing opportunities for physical activity. The name of the project is Live Healthy Baldwin. Now in the third year of a four year project, Live Healthy Baldwin has six initiatives it is pursuing.

ing and sharing healthy food. Live Health Baldwing has also worked with the Milledgeville Housing Authority and the Baldwin County Commission to establish gardens in the Graham Homes neighborhood and at the Collins P. Lee Center in the Harrisburg neighborhood of Milledgeville. In addition, a grant for $13,350 was received from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia to build a garden, outdoor meeting space, and an “edible” walking trail (fruit trees and berry bushes) at the Collins P. Lee Center.

Live Healthy Baldwin Initiatives 1. Installing community and school vegetable gardens where families can grow, harvest and share healthy food.

2. Establishing policies and procedures to accept electronic SNAP (food stamp) benefits at the local farmers markets.

3. Working with Baldwin County Schools to establish a farm-to-school program to get more local, fresh food into the school nutrition program.

4. Establish a regional Food Policy Council to influence the food system so fresh, local food is more affordable and accessible to those who need it.

5. Working with Baldwin County Schools to implement a Safe Routes to Schools program to en courage students, faculty and staff to walk and bike more on the Baldwin County School campus.

6. Introduce and pass a Complete Streets policy for Milledgeville and attain Bicycle Friendly Community status from the League of American Bicyclists.

Significant progress has been made on these initiatives in the past 12 months. A community garden on the south side of Milledgeville at the New Beginning Worship Center (site of the old Southside Elementary School) has been established. There are also community/school gardens at Creekside Elementary, Midway Elementary, Eagle Ridge Elementary and Oak Hill Middle Schools (Garden on the Hill) which involved students in planning, planting, harvest-

Lesly McGiboney, Live Healthy Baldwin summer intern (second from left) works with Baldwin County students to prepare and plan the children’s garden at the Milledgeville Community Garden.

After months of hard work, the Fall Line Farmer’s Market will be able to accept SNAP benefits. Beneficiaries will be able to swipe their benefits card at the market and receive tokens that can be used to purchase fresh food from the local vendors. The vendors will then turn the tokens in for reimbursement from the market manager.

Over the summer, Live Healthy Baldwin provided support to the Baldwin County Schools in writing a $38,000 USDA Planning Grant to develop a five year vision and one year plan for implementation of a Farm-to-School program. Live Healthy Baldwin also worked with the Bicycling Club of Milledgeville to draft a Complete Streets policy. It is now awaiting consideration by the Mayor and City Council of Milledgeville. A Complete Streets policy affirms that when

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new roads are constructed or when existing roads are renovated, the needs of all users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, individuals with disabilities, etc.) will be considered in the planning, design and construction of the streets. The goal is to create a more “livable� downtown area that is accessible by alternate forms of transportation. A Complete Streets policy will be essential to attaining the Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

Also, this summer, Live Healthy Baldwin worked with the Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State University to sponsor and host a Regional and Statewide Food Policy Council Summit in Macon. The two-day event brought together people from all over the state to develop plans for influencing the state and local food policy system to make healthy food available and affordable for all. The meeting was facilitated by national food policy council expert, Mark Winne, whose participation was made possible by the support of the Georgia Food Policy Council and Live Healthy Baldwin. Lesly McGiboney, a Georgia College community health student and Live Healthy Baldwin summer intern, and Jessica Lowery, a Georgia College health promotion graduate student and Live Healthy Baldwin graduate assistant were instrumental in planning and coordinating the event. The next step is to establish a regional Food Policy Council for Central Georgia with representation on the State Food Policy Council.

Live Healthy Baldwin staff at the Georgia Food Policy Summit in June.

L-R: Jessica Lowery, Live Healthy Baldwin Graduate Assistant; Mark Winne, Food Policy Council Expert; Dr. Jim Lidstone, Live Healthy Baldwin Director; Tiffany Mathews, Milledgeville Community Garden Manager; Lesly McGiboney, Live Healthy Baldwin Student Intern

Finally, Live Healthy Baldwin will be represented on a committee to revise the Baldwin County Schools Wellness plan.

Farm-to-school and safe routes to school will be significant components of the plan.

In 2011, Live Healthy Baldwin, collaborating with Baldwin County Schools, received a $500,000 Safe Routes to School grant to create a network of sidewalks and trails on Baldwin County school campuses to enable safe walking and bicycling between and among the various school buildings.

Construction on that project is slated to begin in early 2014.

For more information about Live Healthy Baldwin initiatives, please contact Dr. Jim Lidstone at 478-445-2133 or jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu.

Georgia College graduates Bobby Jones (center) and Chelsea Losh (right) display their fresh produce at the Saturday Fall Line Farmers Market at First Presbyterian Church

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Music Therapy Clinic Serves the Community The Music Therapy Clinic, part of the Department of Music Therapy, is dedicated to providing quality music therapy services to individuals in middle Georgia, while offering an opportunity for music therapy students to acquire and develop therapeutic skills and abilities. The Clinic offers music therapy services to adults, adolescents and children with or without specified disabilities. In addition, the Clinic collaborates with the Life Enrichment Center, a nonprofit community agency located in Milledgeville. The Life Enrichment Center focuses on providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Through the collaboration, music therapy students work with Life Enrichment Center clients in their Creative Expressions program. This program enables clients to participate with music therapy students in the performing arts through three musical groups: Jungle Royale, a rock-n-roll band; Harmonettes, a hand bell choir; and Good Vibrations, a drumming group.

Harmonettes Handbell player, Mamie Wells, and music therapy student accompanist Esther Kim rehearse in the Georgia College music therapy clinic. The Harmonettes handbell choir utilizes an adaptive lighting system designed by Dr. Chesley Mercado, music therapy department chair. Ms. Wells is watching for her light that cues her to play her bell.

Good Vibrations

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For more information about the Music Therapy Clinic, please contact Rasheda Jones at 478445-2645 or via e-mail rasheda.jones@gcsu.edu.

Additional information regarding the Life Enrichment Center can be found at www.baldwinlec.org/index.html.

Music therapy student Laura Bentz (left) and Good Vibrations percussionist Latesha Sapp (right) rehearse their parts on the bongos for their performance of “Feliz Navidad” at last year’s holiday concert. Latesha is part of the Creative Expressions Studio program where she works on honing her art and musical skills. Drumming and spending time with the college students are her favorite parts of the program.

Jungle Royale Selena Wiggins (right), and music therapy student Crystal Pratt (left) practice for an upcoming performance. Selena Wiggins is the newest addition to the Creative Expressions Jungle Royale band and has been exploring the musical elements of the xylophone in an original piece entitled, Cat in the Hat.

Outdoor Education Earns Accreditation The Accreditation Council of the Association for Experiential Education has granted continuing accredited status to Georgia College’s Outdoor Education programs for the next 10 years.

“This achievement reflects exceptional compliance with all national standards set forth by AEE for operations of Outdoor Education academic programs,” said Dr. Sandra K. Gangstead, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “We will continue to work hard to sustain the strong reputation this program has nationally and internationally, knowing the unique contribution the

Outdoor Education program makes to the liberal arts mission of Georgia College.”

Georgia College outdoor education programs prepare students for careers in recreation, education, training and development and therapeutic settings in which outdoor adventure activities are a primary vehicle for helping individuals, groups and organizations grow.

The Georgia College programs are one of 10 university programs in the nation accredited by the Association for Experiential Education, an international association ded-

icated to furthering learning through experience. Additionally, the Georgia College Outdoor Education Center is one of only two university outdoor education programs in the nation that is jointly accredited for academic and service programs.

During 2006 the Georgia College programs and outdoor center were awarded the AEE's highest honor — Organizational Member of the Year Award. AEE presents the award annually to an organizational member who has piloted and implemented a new experiential program and/or initiative.

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For more information regarding the Outdoor Education program, please contact Dr. Jude Hirsch at 478-445-1226 or jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu.

FNP Students to Benefit from New Simulator

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t’s official: Harvey, the cardiopulmonary patient simulator, has checked in for an extended stay at the Georgia College School of Nursing Macon Graduate Center Lab. Harvey is the first patient simulator to be permanently housed at the Macon Graduate Center. The simulator arrived just in time to help educate the largest family nurse practitioner class ever admitted to Georgia College. A full-time two year program has been added to the already existing part-time three year program. This summer, 10 full-time students and 26 part-time students began the family nurse practitioner program. Harvey is no dummy and will keep the students on their toes as they master the skill to assess the 30 heart conditions he can mimic. These students completed a four day orientation and face to face learning experience at the Macon Graduate Center and began their online classes using Collaborate, an interactive classroom management system that allows students and faculty to see and talk to each other in real time, even when they are geographi-

cally miles apart.

Assistant professor Lora Crowe, PhD, FNP-BC will work with newly admitted Family Nurse Practitioner students as they learn the advanced assessment skills necessary for their new role. Harvey and a team of standardized patients were ready for the students as they returned to campus in July for 45 hours of intensive clinical. The use of simulation and specially trained real patients enable students to learn new skills safely and to receive feedback from not only their faculty but from their patients as well.

Harvey is the latest addition to the school’s upgraded simulation laboratories and the newest member of the Sim Fam. These lifelike practice manikins, including Sim Man, Vital Sim Man and Sim Baby, give nursing students hands-on experience without the anxiety of working with actual human beings. “The addition of Harvey adds the next level in simulation education,” said Deborah MacMillan, assistant director of graduate programs at the Georgia College School of

Top: Family Nurse Practitioner students Bottom: “Harvey”, the cardio-pulmonary patient simulator

Nursing. “Now both our undergraduate nursing students and graduate nurse practitioner students can assess a wide range of cardiac conditions, from the simplistic to the complex.”

Harvey realistically simulates nearly any cardiac disease at the touch of a button, with varying blood pressure, pulses, heart sounds and murmurs. The software installed in the simulator allows users to track history, bedside findings, lab data and medical and surgical treatment.

In addition to Harvey, the Georgia College Milledgeville campus has a Sim Man and a Sim Baby.

Sim Man and Sim Baby can be used to assess blood pressure and radial, carotid and femoral pulse read-

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ings, as well as basic heart, respiratory and abdominal sounds. Sim Man also has more-advanced features that allow his use in roleplaying scenarios; speakers, for example, allow the patient to talk to students. He can also be given CPR, defibrillated and intubated in emergency situations. Sim Baby performs many of the same functions as Sim Man. The Milledgeville lab also has a virtual IV that allows students to realistically get the feel of starting an IV and to master this skill before performing this skill on a real patient.

For more information, contact Dr. Debby MacMillan at 478-752-1074 or debby.macmillan@gcsu.edu.

Oustanding Students 1. College of Health Sciences Outstanding Student Julia Borland • Major: Excercise Science

2. Outstanding Athletic Training Majors Jordan Vaughn • Outstanding Major Michael Benfield • Outstanding Junior Adriana Acuna • Outstanding Junior Clinical Practitioner Not Pictured David Patch • Outstanding Senior Will Mathis • Outstanding Senior Clinical Practitioner

College of Health Sciences Honors Students

The College of Health Sciences honored students for their academic accomplishments on Friday, April 20, 2012.

1.

2.

3. Outstanding Exercise Sciences Majors Matthew Murphy • Outstanding Junior Practitioner Julia Borland • Outstanding Major Excercise Science Outstanding Department of Kinsiology Major Laura Kight • Outstanding Junior Brien Lee • Outstanding Senior Practitioner Sloan Williams • Outstanding Senior

4. Outstanding School of Nursing Majors Shelly Lord • Junior Nursing Star Award Kayla Albright • Pre-Nursing Award Valrie Sinchak • Outstanding Major Not Pictured Kalli Trepanler • Shooting Star Nursing Award Katie Intorcia • Senior Nursing Star Award

3.

4.

5. Outstanding Music Therapy Majors Mark Toole • Outstanding Graduate Clinical Research Student Stephen Montgomery • Graduate Clinical Award Sean Richardson • Outstanding Major Miquel Garland • Leadership Award Ting Ting Chang • Outstanding Equivalency Student Crystal Pratt • Outstanding Second Year Student Sarah Scott • Spirit Award Not Pictured Julia Splittorff • Outstanding First Year Student Esther Kim • Undergraduate Clinical Award Linda Ingles • Gray Nursing Home, Community Partner Award Coral Karsky • Outstanding Graduate Student

5.

6. Outstanding Communiy Health and Human Services Majors Tyler Rawlings • Outstanding Major Lindsey Ayers • Outstanding Senior Not Pictured Will Long • Outstanding Major 7. Outstanding Outdoor Education Majors Not Pictured Sarah Canatsey • Outstanding Graduate Student Mark Schleier • Outstanding Junior Dan Horseman • Outstanding Senior Corey BeVier • Outstanding Major

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6.

Art Therapy Degree Now Offered Georgia College is the first university in the state to offer a master’s degree with a major in art therapy. This is a collaborative degree program between the Department of Music Therapy and the Department of Art. After students complete the program, they will be eligible to apply for licensure and certification.

Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art which involves the process of making art, focusing on the art product, recognizing metaphor and symbols and fostering the client’s cogent interpretation to assist in decreasing and/or eliminating symptoms related to stressful life challenges, depression or other mental health conditions. The goal of the art activity must be therapeutic, and it may include diagnosis, treatment and interaction with a multidisciplinary team of professionals.

Pictured l to r: Students Theodore Windish, Robyn Musto, Janine Van Natta, and Assistant Professor of Art Therapy Anna Hiscox.

Art therapists are Master’s level clinicians who are trained both in art and therapy. As mental health professionals, art therapists must know about art material, the nature of symbols, and the creative process. They must know how to assist clients to create and to express feelings through the

use of art, bypassing language skills. Therefore, art therapists must also know about art education. However, teaching clients about the elements of art is always secondary.

Art therapists think in terms of the client’s issues, diagnoses, primary conflict and behavior(s), and treatment and developmental interaction with art materials. The art process becomes the vehicle of expression and therapeutic intervention.

For more information, please contact Anna Hiscox at 478-445-2646 or anna.hiscox@gcsu.edu.

Meet Our Students Theodore Windish Theodore Windish is a Georgia College alumna and graduated with a B.A. in studio art with a concentration in Fiber Arts and Museum Studies. After graduation, he moved to New York City where he worked as a gallery registrar and later as an art consultant.

Wanting to take a new direction with his passion for the arts, he started to explore new career fields and found art therapy meshed his passion for art and his interest in psychology. When he heard that Georgia College was offering a masters degree in art therapy, he quickly applied, knowing that was the direction his life needed to go.

Janine Van Natta Janine Van Natta describes her artis tic beginnings as a self-taught artist who became a graphic designer in college.

Her inspirations are vast as nature itself.

Ms. Van Natta has a diploma in graphic design from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, a BA in Art/Psychology from Norwich University and a MAT in Special Education from Valdosta State University. She continues to return to education to polish new skills and use her skills freelancing in packaging, publishing, promotions and multi-media events.

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Robyn Musto Robyn Musto received her BFA in painting from the Atlanta College of Art in Atlanta, Ga. While in school, she spent her last semester of school studying abroad in Cortona, Italy exploring print making, paper making, traditional book binding, and learning the process of painting fresco murals.

She has also exhibited work in group shows at the ACA Gallery and Clove Gallery in Atlanta. After taking psychology courses and learning of art therapy, she became interested in obtaining a masters degree in this field.

She currently lives and works in Atlanta.

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Continue Your Education The College of Health Sciences offers a variety of graduate programs that will provide the additional education you need to accomplish your goals.

Kinesiology Dr. Lisa Griffin, Chair 478-445-4072 lisa.griffin@gcsu.edu Music Therapy Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair 478-445-2645 chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

Kinesiology (M.Ed. and M.A.T.) kinesiology.gcsu.edu M.Ed. in Kinesiology • Health Promotion - 100% Online • Human Performance • Outdoor Education Administration Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): Kinesiology/Physical Education

Nursing Dr. Judith Malachowski, Director 478-445-5122 judith.malachowski@gcsu.edu Outdoor Education Dr. Jude Hirsch, Chair 478-445-1225/1226 jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu

Department of Music Therapy musictherapy.gcsu.edu • Master of Music Therapy • Master of Art Therapy School of Nursing nursing.gcsu.edu • Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner • Doctor of Nursing Practice - 100% Online