Health Connections

COL LE G E OF HE ALTH SC IE NC E S

• Center for Health & Social Issues • Kinesiology

Health Sciences • Music Therapy • Outdoor Education

• School of Nursing • Student Health Services • Wellness Programs

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE • LEADERSHIP • COMMUNITY SERVICE • SCHOLARSHIP

Spring 2011

Kinesiology • Music Therapy Healthy Connections School of Nursing • Wellness Programs • Student Health Services • Outdoor Education Center for Health and Social Issues • Wellness Programs Student Health Services School of Nursing • Wellness Inspiring andOutdoor Enhancing Sustainability Programs, Education Outdoor Education • Center for Health and Social Issues www.gcsu.edu/health

Health Sciences Inside this issue:

Dean’s Welcome A Message from the Dean Dear Alumni and Friends, We are pleased to present our newly formatted annual publication, Healthy Connections.

Within you will find special feature articles spotlighting impactful university initiatives promoted by the College of Health Sciences. Healthy Connections will also include highlights of Health Sciences faculty, staff, and student accomplishments made throughout the year, as well as updates from the College’s academic departments and service divisions. This print publication will also be available online on the College of Health Sciences webpage, www.gcsu.edu/health/ The College will continue to publish our newsletter, Health

Sciences News & Notes, in an on-line format only. News & Notes will provide our alumni, professional colleagues, and friends with timely information about the College’s activities on a more frequent basis. Alumni news, College announcements, and upcoming events will be included in this publication. If you would like to receive News & Notes, please send your email address to julie.collis@gcsu.edu and we will add you to the list.

It is our sincere hope that you will find time in your busy schedules to visit the Georgia College campus soon. We would delight in assisting you in touring our recently renovated Health Sciences and Marvin Parks Memorial Buildings. You will easily recognize

these two beautifully restored buildings located on the NE corner of the main campus as their exteriors have been brought back to their original grandeur. Within you will find that the interior now contains state-of-the-art classrooms, clinical and instructional laboratories, as well as common meeting spaces where students may actively and informally engage in academic and social discourse. As a result of this three-year renovation project, Nursing, Music Therapy, Kinesiology and Outdoor Education faculty, staff, and students are now able to interact with each other under the same roof as a true family of Health Sciences scholars, learners, and professional practitioners.

Dean’s Welcome

Wellness & Recreation Center 3 Childhood Obesity

4

Breast Education

4

Physical Education at GC is changing

5

Student Honors

6

Residential Learning Communities

7

Where Are They Now? 8 Outdoor Education

9

Kinesiology

10

Music Therapy

11

School of Nursing

12

Wellness Programs

13

Student Health Services

13

New Faculty

15

See “Dean’s Welcome” page 14

College of Health Sciences Dean: Sandra Gangstead Associate Dean: Martha M. Colvin Newsletter Editor: Julie N. Collis Photo Credits: Julie Collis, Martha Colvin, GC Archives, Lisa Griffin, Amanda Hall, Chesley Mercado, Julie Nelson, Christy Preston, Liz Speelman, Rachel Sullivan, Tim Vacula, Erin Weston Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 2

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Health Sciences

COHS News

Wellness and Recreation Center

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ne of the most exciting projects to hit the GC campus in years is the new Wellness & Recreation Center located on West Campus. The $29 million, 100,000-square-foot facility adds much needed space for expanded student wellness, fitness, recreation, intramural sports and social activities. The center will also be the new home for Student Health Services and Counseling Services providing a new, holistic health approach under one roof for our students.

Funding for the construction of the center is being provided by a new studentapproved fee and has the full support of the Student Government Association (SGA). SGA representatives have been involved with the proposed project during its three-year planning stage.

“Georgia College is committed to a holistic approach to campus wellness”, said Dr. Gangstead, Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “We’re interested in providing students with lifelong health and fitness activities and by placing both the Student Health Services and Counseling Services inside the new center, we are working with holistic wellness in mind.”

An aquatic center will feature a 25 yard competition-size indoor recreation pool for water polo, volleyball and other intramural and recreational activities, as well as lap and leisure swimming. The pool will have a zip line, basketball

goals, will host a variety of water aerobic classes, will act as a venue for our Swim Cats Club Sports team and more.

A three-court gym will house basketball, volleyball and badminton courts which will offer additional recreational opportunities for all students, as well as greatly enhanced intramural team competition venues. One court will serve as a multi-purpose court for indoor soccer

and roller blade hockey. The center will also house a classroom. Regular shuttle service will be available from main campus.

Students will enjoy a rock climbing wall, classes of Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, spinning, zumba, krank, boot camp and a huge variety of state-of-the-art fitness

equipment. In addition, the center will offer social spaces, a fitness testing lab, locker rooms and an indoor jogging track. Individual services such as personal training, health and wellness coaching and massage therapy will also be available.

The project calls for the center to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified as a ‘green

building,’ and will be the first on campus.

To obtain LEED certification, the building must address six major areas: Sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design process.

An official ground-breaking ceremony was held on September 14, 2010 to celebrate the new Wellness & Recreation Center. The 14-month project is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

- Mr. Dave Terrell, Director of Wellness Programs, dave.terrell@gcsu.edu

On the Web Watch the groundbreaking ceremony at: tinyurl.com/wellnesscenter

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Health Sciences

COHS News

Center for Health and Social Issues Battles Childhood Obesity

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he Center for Health and Social Issues at Georgia College has teamed up with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to address the childhood obesity epidemic. Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities is the largest community-based investment ever made by a private foundation with a price tag of $33 million. Milledgeville/ Baldwin County joins 49 other communities from across the nation, including Puerto Rico and Guam, with the goal of reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2013 through policy and environmental change aimed at increasing opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity in those communities.

The title of the local effort is Live Healthy Baldwin. The Center for Health and Social Issues is the lead agency in a coalition consisting of partners from throughout Baldwin County: Baldwin County Health Department, Oconee Regional Medical Center, the Oconee River Greenway Authority, UGA Cooperative Extension Service, Baldwin County Parks and Recreation, the College of Health Sciences at Georgia College, the Bicycling Club of Milledgeville, and the Milledgeville Community Garden Association. The amount of funding received totaled $360,000 for the project period beginning December 2009 through December 2013.

The first six months of Live Healthy Baldwin involved assessing the opportunities and barriers to physical activity and healthy eating in the community. We found that, out-

side of school, opportunities for physical activity are very limited in low income neighborhoods. Once children arrive home from school, they are restricted in their opportunities for active play for a variety of reasons related to availability and safety. In terms of healthy eating, fast food restaurants and convenience stores are the predominant source of food. Perceived barriers to healthy eating can be summed up as higher cost, lack of time to prepare healthier meals, and lack of knowledge about how to prepare those meals.

Live Healthy Baldwin is addressing these issues through community vegetable gardens, the Milledgeville Farmers’ Market, and making Milledgeville/Baldwin County more conducive to active transportation such as walking and bicycling for recreation and to get to school and work. At a partnership meeting held on August 27th, 2010 the plan for the next 18 months was ratified and work teams were formed under team leaders. The five work areas are: 1. Expanding A family works in the community garMilledgeville Community dens to school Garden. and Milledgeville Housing Authority properties; 2. Acceptance of SNAP/WIC benefits at the Milledgeville Farmers’ Market; 3. Obtain-

ing additional funding to complete Phase 2 of the Fishing Creek Community Trail which will provide a safe route to school for children who wish to walk, skateboard, Artist’s conception of the Fishing Creek Com- rollerblade or bicycle; 4. Providing munity Trail healthy snacks in after-school programs; and 5. Pursuing the Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

- Dr. Jim Lidstone, Director, Center for Health & Social Issues, jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu

About the Center for Health & Social Issues The mission of the Center is to improve the health of the residents of Central Georgia through collaborative campus/community partnerships to provide research and education concerning contemporary health problems and social issues. The major focus areas are: cancer prevention and treatment; access to healthcare services; and lifestyle related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. For more information or to join in the work of the Center, contact Dr. Jim Lidstone, Director at (478) 445-2133, jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu or go to www.gcsu.edu/chsi.

On the Web • Bicycling Club of Milledgeville mvillebikes.com

• Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities tinyurl.com/healthymville

• Millegeville Community Garden mvillegarden.wordpress.com

• Center for Health & Social Issues www.gcsu.edu/chsi

• Live Healthy Baldwin Facebook Site tinyurl.com/livehealthybaldwin

• Milledgeville Farmer’s Market milledgevillemarketplace.com

Breast Education for Women with Intellectual Disabilities Expanded

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he College of Health Sciences received a grant from the Central Georgia Affiliation of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It is designed to fund expansion of the Breast Education Program for Women with Intellectual Disabilities funded

by Komen last year. Last year, the grant focused on Baldwin County. Through Komen funding this year, the program will expand to serve women from not only Baldwin County but Bibb, Peach, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Jones and Monroe counties.

Each participant will attend a class in the fall and again in the spring where they will learn about the importance of self-breast examinations, how to do the examinations, and to learn about the importance of mammograms so their fear of having one will be reduced. In addition, participants will tour a mammography site and will receive a pink Komen bracelet when they have a mammogram.

Nursing faculty and nursing students will be facilitating the classes.

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 4

- Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair, Department of Music Therapy, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

Health Sciences

COHS News

Physical Education at GC is Changing!

Students play basketball

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hysical health and well being have been staples at this institution since its doors opened in 1891 as Georgia Normal & Industrial College. As a matter of fact, one of the pre-requisites for entrance was sound physical health. Students arrived on campus knowing they would be required to take pleasant, invigorating exercises daily in order to preserve health; and as the President (Chappell) at the time stated, “Physical Culture will be carefully taught throughout the academic session to every class and will be made obligatory upon all pupils.”

Physical culture was so ingrained in the fabric of this college that, in 1893, Mrs. Sarah Boudren was hired as the first Director of Physical Culture. She developed a physical training program consisting mainly of gymnastics.

Forward in his thinking, President Chappell felt that there would be a growing demand in southern schools for good teachers of physical culture, and that every Georgia girl who made herself thoroughly proficient in this beautiful and noble branch of education would be assured lucrative employment.

Under President Chappell the first gymnasium was built and Boudren organized what she called outdoor sports…later to become our modern day Field Day. Activities such as lawn tennis and a new rollicking outdoor game called basketball were introduced.

By 1907, Physical Culture became known as Physical Training/Health. By 1917, the first Health Education program in the country ar-

rived with Miss Kathleen Wooten. Soon came the arrival of the Georgia Normal & Industrial College Department of Physical Education with the hiring of Miss Marcia Perkins. Miss Perkins stayed long enough to submit the first organized Physical Education program outlined in the 1920 catalog – which was significant because that was the year the school completed its transition from a two year to a four year college.

Health Education Faculty (left to right) Mrs. Kathleen Wooten, Miss Mary Ellen Nelson, and Mrs. Mary Joyce Ireland By 1922 Georgia Normal & Industrial College became Georgia State College for Women.

During the next two decades the Physical Education program remained solid with the changing of faculty and the addition of courses along the way. In 1950 the depart-

5 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

ment became known as HPER (Health, Physical Education, & Recreation), eventually becoming our current Department of Kinesiology.

The culture of health, well being and physical activity has always been a pillar at GC. We have transitioned our undergraduate health and physical education teacher certification degree to a 4+1 graduate Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Kinesiology/Physical Education degree. As we made this decision, we examined our economy and our student population. Using those as our guide, we felt the transition was necessary, but very positive.

Our students continue to seek teacher licensure in health and physical education, and as a university with such a strong commitment to this discipline, we had no intentions of ever doing away with it. We look forward to the new MAT program and will be diligent about holding the standards of quality as high as it was with our undergraduate degree. Here’s to change at GC being very positive!

- Dr. Lisa Griffin, Interim Chair, Department of Kinesiology, lisa.griffin@gcsu.edu

On the Web Health Sciences Historical Slideshow tinyurl.com/healthhistory

Health Sciences

COHS News

COHS Honors Outstanding Students 2009 Student Honors

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egan Day was named the 2009 College of Health Sciences Outstanding Student on April 17, 2009 at the COHS Student Recognition Ceremony. Day, an undergraduate Music Therapy senior, was honored for being an exceptional student academically, musically and clinically.

Day, who had a 3.9 GPA, is an accomplished cellist. In addition, she plays guitar, piano, and sings. She was a leader among her peers, serving as an officer for the Music Therapy Society for three years. Under Day’s leadership, the Music Therapy Society raised money for students to attend the Southeastern Regional Music Therapy Convention.

She was also instrumental in designing, or-

ganizing, and implementing the annual Music Therapy Society fundraiser dinner and performance.

Clinically, Day was an outstanding student. She worked with the Creative Expressions performing groups for four years, traveling with them to performances. Her clinical sites included the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Med-

ical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, Brantley’s Assisted Living and the Early Learning Center located in Milledgeville.

She completed a six month full-time internship at the Veterans Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia.

After graduating from Georgia College in May 2009, Day is now working in a continuing care retirement center as an Activities Assistant in the memory care unit.

Day plans to attend graduate school to complete a Master’s of Social Work degree so she can continue her career work with elderly patients.

- Dr. Chesley Mercado & Ms. Julie N. Collis, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu, julie.collis@gcsu.edu

2010 Student Honors

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he College of Health Sciences honored its 2010 outstanding students on April 16, 2010. Katie Ragan, a Community Health & Human Services student, was named COHS Outstanding Student.

Ms. Ragan held a 3.88 GPA and was an active member of an undergraduate research team.

She published one manuscript in the GC Corinthian and has another manuscript in review for the 2011 Corinthian. She collaborated with Dr. Scott Butler, research team advisor, on two additional papers for publication in peer reviewed, professional journals.

Ragan also provided leadership to a group of graduate students to present a workshop at the BACCUS Peer Education Network and presented two research papers at the GC Student Research Conference.

As a member of Dr. Butler’s research team, Katie had three presentations in review for the American College Health Association and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality national conferences.

She was a member of the COHS Dean’s Student Advisory Committee and received

several honors including the Outstanding Major for the Community Health and Human Services concentration, Weir/ Wells International Study Scholarship, Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant, and the STARS Grant. She was also on the President’s and Dean’s Lists and a member of the Eta Sigma Alpha Honors Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society, and participated in the National Society of Success and Leadership program.

Ms. Ragan is also a leader in community service and philanthropy at GC. She completed a 1-year internship at the GC International Center and has been actively involved with Chaplin Nursing Home, Relay for Life, Stepping Stone Farm, Oak Hill Middle School, Health Occupation Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 6

Students of America, and the PAWS Peer Education Program.

Ragan graduated with her undergraduate degree in May, 2010 and plans to attend graduate school at the Emory University School of Public Health and plans to pursue a career as an epidemiologist.

- Dr. Jude Hirsch & Ms. Julie N. Collis, jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu, julie.collis@gcsu.edu

On the Web • 2009 Student Recognition Ceremony tinyurl.com/2009honors • 2010 Student Recognition Ceremony tinyurl.com/cohs2010honors • Student Honors Recipient List 2009/2010 tinyurl.com/awardrecipients

s

Health Sciences

COHS News

Residential Learning Communities Make a Difference

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eorgia College implemented Residential Learning Communities (RLC) in 2000 with a mission of integrating student “academic, social, and service experiences in small community settings.” As a consequence, GC currently has seven themed communities. Two of these communities Nursing and Wellness - are part of the College of Health Sciences. Students in these communities become closely connected with their advisors and participate in academic learning and campus and community events.

Nursing RLC Beginning in the fall of 2009, the Georgia College School of Nursing introduced its first Residential Learning Community (RLC) to better enhance student development in accordance with GCs liberal arts message. An RLC is a group of students that share a similar interest and are typically housed together while engaging in RLC events. The Pre-Nursing RLC is comprised of fourteen first-year freshmen.

These students were selected through a competitive interview process with School of Nursing faculty. Members of the Pre-Nursing RLC are provided with the opportunity for guaranteed admission to the Nursing program.

“As far as we are aware, there is no other nursing program in the state that offers incoming freshmen with an admissions guarantee,” explained pre-nursing advisor Erin Weston, M.Ed. “This gives the Pre-Nursing RLC members an experience like no other in the state.”

Members of the Pre-Nursing RLC must obtain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and maintain active status in the community to retain their guaranteed spot.

RLC members have participated in a number of activities, including a “behind the scenes” tour at Oconee Regional Medical Center, assisting nursing students in the clinical skills lab, volunteering in the community, and a luncheon with faculty.

“The RLC has provided me Wellness and Nursing RLC Students work at Andalusia to clean out with a great support system to a flower bed for RLC Community Service Day. help each other through our challenging courses,” said a healthier lifestyle. Wellness RLC students exRLC member Page Gamel. “It has given me a plore the different aspects of health to bemore direct connection with the School of come “healthier” all-around students.

Nursing and has been a great way to start my journey here at GC.” The Wellness RLC consists of eleven students, Applications for the Pre-Nursing RLC are available at www.gcsu.edu/nursing.

Wellness RLC The Wellness Residential Learning Community (WRLC) is a two year community where students grow together in the development of attitudes and practices that foster holistic wellbeing in a community of people who come together with a shared commitment to pursue all the dimensions of wellness. The Community promotes respect and understanding of each other, creating an environment that values, encourages, and facilitates the pursuit of

mainly freshmen with two upperclassmen.

These students meet bi-weekly to discuss health and wellness topics. Wellness RLC students must actively participate in community events in order to maintain membership. Students participate in W.H.A.Ts (Wellness & Health Activities and Things), co-sponsored events hosted by The Wellness Depot and Student Health Services, as well as University affiliated events and activities such as Fine arts, Seminars, and Athletic Events.

- Mrs. Erin Weston, Nursing RLC Advisor, erin.weston@gcsu.edu & Ms. Rachel Sullivan, Wellness RLC Advisor, rachel.sullivan@gcsu.edu

On the Web GC Residential Learning Communities www.gcsu.edu/rlc

Front row (L-R): Nursing RLC students Bethany Abresh, Brittany Lampe, Melissa Little, Michelle Lingner, Amanda Veillon Back row (L-R): Jessica Lisska, Catherine Rentz, Michael Sawers, Aleacia Floy, Rebekah Baughman, Page Gamel, Katie Caviston, Andrew NeSmith, Bailey Harrison

Above - Wellness RLC students Kendra Schneider and Chelsi Colburn rake new soil over a flowerbed at Andalusia for RLC Community Service Day.

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Alumni

COHS News

Julie Nelson, ’08

Are They

Now?

A Music Therapy student shares how her degree from GC has enhanced her professional career

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Where

became more than just the one who taught music therapy techniques, or the one who taught music theory, or sight singing. My professors became advisors to how life was going to be after we left the safety of college and became professionals in our own fields.

hile it hasn’t been very long since I graduated from Georgia College, it does feel like my college days were a lifetime ago. I graduated, officially, in 2008 but did not attend my graduation because I was already working across the country. My bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy has served me quite well as I now work for a private practice called Heartland Therapy, Inc. in the Surprise, Arizona area. I travel all over the west valley area of Arizona and have 30 clients I see on a weekly basis.

My four years at GC are years that I treasure, probably more so than my high school years. I felt I was able to be grow, display my abilities and independence not just for my parents but more importantly for me. No one was telling me to do my homework, to study, or even when and what to eat! Yet even with that feeling of independence and freedom, the college was still in an environment of security and safety.

I could go on and on about my life at Georgia College and whenever I get together with friends from school, a rarity for me due to the distance as most still live in Georgia or at least on the East Coast, all we seem to be able to talk about is how it was and how much we loved to be able to walk to Blackbird for coffee, sit on front campus playing the guitar, or how we dreaded staying late in a practice room to get ready for juries. Though there were those few moments when I thought: “What am I doing? When will I have time to study? When will I have time to sleep? It can’t possibly be time for finals!”

I spent the majority of my time at Porter Hall, as most music majors seem to. And all my music and music therapy professors, who I’m afraid I will never be able to call by their first names,

And even though GC prepared me for “real life” in the work force, more importantly to me it was where I met lifetime friends and learned qualities about myself I am confident I would

Christy Preston, ’08

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career in nursing allows for many amazing opportunities. One such

not have been able to find anywhere else but in Milledgeville.

- Julie Nelson, MT-BC

Would you like to share your story? email julie.collis@gcsu.edu

opportunity that it has given me

is the chance to spend three months in Brazil working on a medical and dental boat. This particular boat, and others like it, travel up and down the Amazon River and its tributaries providing medical and dental care to the people that live along it. I love that I can be a nurse in Durham, North Carolina as well as on the Rio Negro in Brazil.

Don’t pass up the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and use your nursing skills in other places!

- Christy Preston, RN Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 8

OutdoorEducation Programs

The Outdoor Center at Georgia College

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he mission of the Outdoor Center at Georgia College is to provide excellent technical training, outdoor recreation education, leadership training, and group development experiences. The Outdoor Center serves outdoor education professionals, Georgia College faculty, staff, students, and members of the surrounding community. It seeks to enhance the mission of Georgia College through safe, environmentally sound, and effective programs and services. All programs and services are led by competent personnel in compliance with The Association for Experiential Education accreditation standards.

Technical Training Adventure-based outdoor activities are the tools we use to create experiential learning learning about self, learning about others, learning subjects, and learning how to accomplish important goals in our lives. Adventure-based outdoor activities, by their nature, require training about how, when, where, and why. Our technical training programs are for teachers, trainers, leaders, and professional outdoor educators who are interested in using adventure-based outdoor activities to work with others - or just because!

Recreation Have you ever wanted to do something different in your spare time, or learn a new skill like

canoeing or climbing, or meet new people who like to do the same thing you do? The Outdoor Center is a great place to discover how exciting outdoor recreation can be. We offer healthy and exciting ways to meet new people or hang out with old friends. A program with the Outdoor Center is a perfect way to feed your passion for adventure!

Group Development Most people would agree that a group that plays together, stays together! As well, a group that works together is more effective when its members communicate and problem solve well, respect and utilize diversity in the group, cooperate and constructively deal with controversy, and use leadership within the group to transform itself into a highly functioning team. The Outdoor Center at Georgia College offers a broad range of custom designed group development experiences that are focused on team building and team effectiveness.

Leadership Training The leadership training programs offered by the Outdoor Center are a blend of traditional and experiential education strategies that are taught by experienced facilitators. We teach, model ,and discuss topics such as instructional techniques, facilitation strategies, program design, industry standards, and explore leadership models for a variety of contexts, clients, and environments. Self-awareness is central to learning how to effectively lead others with confidence and enthusiasm. Our leadership training programs are designed to promote personal growth and professional development and we

Department of Outdoor Education

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istorically, academic programs focused on preparing professional outdoor educators grew out of a demand to expand traditional recreation or education professional preparation programs to include outdoor activity. Outdoor education programs at Georgia College began in the 1950s as academic workshops in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) in the School of Education (now College of Education). In the fall of 1996, HPER was relocated to the School of Health Sciences (now College of Health Sciences) and more recently became the Department of Kinesiology.

On August 1, 2010 outdoor education programs and services formed the new Department of Outdoor Education in the College of Health Sciences. The Department’s new home is a suite of offices on the third floor of the newly renovated Health Sciences building. We are very excited about the possibilities and believe we are the only stand-alone public university Department of Outdoor Education in the country.

The mission of the Department of Outdoor Education is to provide a learning community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to the development of professional outdoor

9 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

believe that the goal of leadership is to have a positive impact on others.

The Outdoor Center’s programs give you the opportunity to have a unique experience and visit new places with experienced guides. Not only are the Center’s programs fun and unique, they are low stress and easy to plan. If you are interested in a certain activity or creating a special program, give us a call or email us and we will be happy to work with you.

For more information contact: Ms. Liz Speelman, Outdoor Center Director Phone: 478-445-5186/4217 outdoor@gcsu.edu

On the Web • Outdoor Center at Georgia College www.gcsu.edu/outdoor • Department of Outdoor Education www.gcsu.edu/outdoored educators who are grounded in the liberal arts tradition at Georgia College. The Department is committed to exemplary teaching, scholarship, service, and practice that promotes holistic wellness, fosters stewardship of natural environments, and creates opportunities for positive change. We ascribe to the principles of experiential education set forth by The Association for Experiential Education and believe that professionalism is central to the pursuit of excellence.

- Dr. Jude Hirsch, Chair, Department of Outdoor Education, jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu

Programs

Kinesiology

Department of Kinesiology

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he Department of Kinesiology relocated classrooms, laboratory facilities and offices to Marvin Parks Memorial from the Centennial Center. We are now more centrally located on one floor of one building. The energy is high and the interactions frequent among colleagues, staff and students! Our new exercise science, athletic training, and movement labs are beautiful, state of the art facilities.

Faculty and staff have been extraordinarily productive. For example, faculty produced 34 presentations & 13 publications. Scott Butler, Mandy Jarriel, Jeff Turner and Will Hobbs completed their doctoral degrees.

Faculty provided leadership to their professions on multiple organizational boards, committees and/or publication reviews.

Grant writing and recognition awards also increased.

Students in the Department were very active as well. Highlights include 13 presentations at international, national, regional or institutional conferences, 4,600 service learning hours, and three students were appointed or elected to leadership positions in professional organizations.

We now offer a BS in Athletic Training degree and our accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) has been affirmed.

The new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree in Kinesiology/Physical Education provides initial teacher preparation at the master's degree level for qualified candidates who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related discipline such as Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Outdoor Education, and Human Performance.

- Dr. Lisa Griffin, Interim Chair, Department of Kinesiology, lisa.griffin@gcsu.edu

Exercise Science Lab

On the Web Department of Kinesiology kinesiology.gcsu.edu

Athletic Training Lab

Movement Lab Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 10

Music Therapy

Programs

Music Therapy

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usic Therapy has two reasons to celebrate. First, we have been officially designated as a department in the College of Health Sciences. This was the vision of my predecessor Dr. Sandra Curtis and finally over 10 years later it is a reality. Second, the Department of Music Therapy is housed together in our newly renovated space in the Health Sciences Building. Those of you who remember being in the basement of Health Sciences will not recognize the new space. Doug Keith, Vicky Robinson, Phillis Brown and I have a beautiful suite of offices with a workroom and a space for graduate assistants and undergraduate workers.

dedicated recording studio. Great care was taken to design a space that has minimal reverb and is sound proofed. The last room is a more traditional seminar room that seats 20 comfortably.

New Music Therapy Space

Speaking of technology, we are planning an exciting research study using biofeedback and the Somatron. New GSR and EEG equipment will enable us to systematically investigate the benefits of the Somatron for a variety of populations.

The Improv Room is still on the first floor but now there is state of the art audio/visual equipment and a huge storage room for the Orff instruments and all of the drums.

Side closets organize the small percussion instruments for easy access. The new music therapy technology is exciting. We have a separate room for Sensory Integration, a cozy Somatron room , and a small therapy clinic room. These three rooms are linked by an observation room with video and audio capabilities. Faculty can video students working with consumers, make notes, and then upload the document to a website so students can review it before the supervisory conference. Students can do the same as they watch faculty or other students work with consumers or participate in role playing activities. The new Piano Lab is equipped with electronic keyboards and new computers for each station with Finale and internet capabilities. We finally have a

alum, Katie Whipple. Other exhibitions this year included paintings by Sarah Flinn, pottery by Pat Black, oil and watercolor paintings by Juanita Sigmon, and the Eduardo Mercado Jr. Arts Competition

Art Gallery

Art Gallery One of my favorite additions to the renovated space is the Art Gallery. A gallery hanging system has transformed our walls into an art gallery. The first exhibition was Creative Expressions, Milledgeville, Ga. This was incredible art by adults attending Baldwin Enrichment Center (formerly Baldwin Service Center) under the direction of Barbara Coleman and GC Music Therapy

featuring work by artists with disabilities from Georgia.

This is a wonderful time to be part of the Music Therapy Department. I hope each of you will visit, volunteer and add your expertise to the exciting new projects we are planning. Our theme this year is Expanding our Horizons. We are expanding the community involvement of the MT Clinic and we are planning the Master of Arts in Art Therapy degree program. I look forward to working with you this new year.

- Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair, Department of Music Therapy, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

On the Web • Baldwin State Prison Art Show tinyurl.com/mtbaldwin • Cracked Art Show tinyurl.com/mtcracked • Creative Expressions Art Show tinyurl.com/mtcreative • Eduardo Mercado, Jr. Arts Competition for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities tinyurl.com/mercadoshow • Music Therapy Classrooms and Labs tinyurl.com/mtspace

Piano Lab

• Through My Eyes: Juanita H. Sigmon Collection tinyurl.com/mtsigmon 11 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

School of Nursing Programs

School of Nursing Update

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elcome to the School of Nursing at Georgia College!

Many exciting changes have occurred since the publication of the last newsletter! In late Spring 2009, we moved back into newly renovated space.

The Health Sciences Building now

Coke and Leslie Moore completed the requirements for the PhD and defended their dissertations. We are so proud of their accomplishments! Donna Ingram is completing the requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Lora Crowe successfully defended her dissertation proposal and is in data collection. Carol Bowdoin and Gail Godwin are newly enrolled in a PhD program at Georgia Baptist.

Nursing Programs

Nursing Skills Lab

houses our classrooms, computer lab and skills lab. All of the nursing faculty offices are in Parks Memorial Hall. The skills lab is a 30-bed unit including a private exam room, a 34-space simulation area, and a media teaching area. The spacious new lab has plenty of light with surrounding ceiling to floor windows.

Students’ skills are tested through simulation using Sim Man and Sim Baby.

With the critical need for nurses, we are pleased that our students have opportunities to work with these resources.

Faculty and Staff!

A number of new faculty have joined our School over the past few years: Mrs. Lora Crowe, Mrs. Leslie Moore, Mrs. Carol Bowdoin, Dr. Brian Mendyka, and Mrs. Sheryl Winn. They bring an exciting combination of clinical and teaching experiences that have enriched our nursing education programs.

Drs. Dean Baker, Flor Culpa-Bondal, Debby MacMillan, Susan Steele, Sallie

We admitted our second class of prenursing students into the academic-based Residential Learning Community (RLC).

The program offers an opportunity for talented new Freshmen to engage in service learning activities related to the nursing profession. These students earn an automatic placement in the junior nursing cohort pending their service learning participation and maintaining a high grade point average. As a result of the Georgia Board of Nursing visit in January 2010, the School of Nursing earned full approval of its BSN program through December 31, 2014. We received nine commendations, including recognition for a four-year running NCLEX-RN pass rate of 96%. The students in the RN/BSN program participate in a mentorship model for career development activities. This model replaces the former clinical preceptorships. The MSN students have been the recipients of federal traineeship money each year.

The certification pass rate for our MSN/FNP graduates stands at 100%.

The nursing faculty are writing a proposal for a Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Please come by and visit us!

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 12

GC Nursing Grads On Top Georgia College nursing graduates who took the national licensing exam for the first time in 2010 earned the highest overall pass rate among public colleges and universities across Georgia.

Fond Farewell In May 2009, three tenured nursing faculty with about 60 years of combined

service to GC (pictured from left to right): Ms. Margie Johnson, Assistant Professor Emeritus; Dr. Cheryl Kish, Professor Emeritus; and Ms. Carol Ormond, Assistant Professor Emeritus.

- Dr. Judith Malachowski, Director, School of Nursing, judith.malachowski@gcsu.edu

On the Web • School of Nursing nursing.gcsu.edu • GC Nursing Grads tinyurl.com/nursinggrads

g Student Health Programs

Wellness Programs

A

host of new programs and events are being offered on campus to encourage students to “Be Well Connected” in order to enhance student engagement in activities that promote healthy choices and behaviors. Making the connection between the mind, body, and spirit is critically important to a successful college career and lifelong wellness. Increasing student awareness of good nutrition and dietary habits, the importance of exercise and physical fitness, body mass index and healthy body composition, along with reducing tobacco use are primary target areas for programming.

Opportunities for students to “Be Well Connected” include: Fit Fridays: A new fitness topic highlighted each week, such as basic components of fitness, functional training, and gender specific training. Wellness staff will have information tables and demonstrations set up on campus every Friday for seven weeks.

Fuel for Life: A different nutrition topic highlighted each week, such as basic nutrition, glycemic index, and hydration. Wellness staff will have information tables set up on campus every Friday for seven weeks.

Fitness 1st: Avoiding the Freshmen 15: A fun 10-week program designed to help fresh-

men tackle the adjustments of college life, the healthy way! Participants will have group support and learn tools and skills to help them get started on the right foot.

Freedom From Smoking: A seven week smoking cessation program offered free to students, faculty and staff.

What’s Your Number?: Body Mass Index and Body Composition screenings conducted twice monthly on campus to help students know their numbers and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight.

Wellness Connection Newsletter: An electronic Wellness newsletter sent to students, faculty and staff each month.

Wellness Presentations: Wellness staff present programs to Freshmen Seminar, Bridge Scholar and other classes, campus groups, and organizations on a variety of health and wellness topics.

Colonnade and Radio: Weekly wellness tips and articles in the campus newspaper and “Health and Wellness” weekly campus radio show.

Wellness Depot Personal Training and Wellness Coaching: One-on-one personal fitness training and health coaching to help students, faculty and staff reach their individual health and fitness goals.

Wellness Programs also works in collaboration with Student Health Services and other departments to offer events and educational activities that promote national health observances, like Breast Cancer Awareness, Alcohol Awareness Week, and Fruit and Veggies: More Matters month.

- Laura Childs, Assistant Director, Student Wellness Programs, laura.childs@gcsu.edu

On the Web • Wellness Programs www.gcsu.edu/depot • Student Health Services www.gcsu.edu/studenthealth

Student Health Services

T

he Student Health Services staff is ready for a busy semester. We have already begun seeing students with many of the common ailments we normally see.

We had a successful flu shot campaign. For the past few years nursing students have helped administer the vaccine and this has been a tremendous help. We successfully dealt with the H1N1 flu last year and have had much less fear and anxiety this flu season. In order to protect as many of the campus family as possible from the flu, vaccine is be given to students at no cost and to faculty and staff at a low cost.

The American College Health Association Health Assessment will be administered to students beginning spring 2011. These sur-

veys provide data on the health and wellness of our students and to help guide our programming efforts. We also receive information on our students and compiled data from all participants to see how our students compare to others.

We began using the American College Health Association Patient Satisfaction Survey in spring 2010. Data from the survey are used to help us set goals and objectives for the upcoming year.

Rachel Sullivan, the University Health Educator, has many fun yet educational activities planned for the year. She participates in many Freshmen Seminars and helps train peer educators to deliver health programming. In addition, she is the Advisor for the Wellness Residential Learning Community.

13 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

We continuously try to improve the health and health choices of our students yet are here to treat them when they are sick. We all believe that in order to be the best one can be academically, good health and wellness are essential!

- Alice Loper, FNP-C, Director, Health Services, alice.loper@gcsu.edu

Health Sciences Dean’s Welcome continued By the end of 2011, Health Sciences two service divisions will be functioning together in the new Georgia College Wellness & Recreation Center located at West Campus on the HWY 441 by-pass in Milledgeville. This LEED Silver, green building will be home to our Student Health Services and Wellness Program’s administrative offices, clinics, and laboratory/activity spaces, including a new aquatics center. Also housed within the Center will be the Georgia College Counseling Center and administrative offices for Campus Intramurals and Recreational Sports. This building represents Georgia College’s continued commitment to sustaining a “culture of wellness” in the campus community.

As you physically or “virtually” tour today’s Georgia College and read about our current Health Sciences academic, community, and campus service programs in this publication, you will note that the holistic health and wellness traditions established at Georgia College in the 19th and 20th centuries continue to flourish in the 21st century.

Indeed, the College of Health Sciences has much to celebrate: newly restored facilities, outstanding and dedicated faculty, students majoring in high-demand and challenging undergraduate academic programs, ever increasing opportunities for community outreach within the state and region, national programs of distinction, and a strong reputation for providing exceptional professional continuing post-baccalaureate and graduate education. However, the task of upholding our mission becomes ever more challenging. As state funding support decreases permanently, we as a College must look to external sources of financial support to help us provide superior programs for our students.

We have significantly increased our external grant applications in recent years and have met with success in getting several key grants funded that have assisted the College in its goal to provide professional support for health enhancement initiatives, as well as assist health professionals with pursuing advanced educational opportunities. But we must continue to seek significantly more funds to assist the College in helping students gain access to our fine programs and continuing to improve those programs.

We ask your assistance in supporting the College of Health Sciences programs and services. Your donations will help us continue to meet our commitments to improving the health and well-being of our communities, families and individuals in Georgia and throughout the region. Through your generosity, we can offer opportunities for well-deserving, financially-challenged students to attend Georgia College and major in a Health Sciences academic program. These highly talented,

dedicated health professional graduates will most certainly make a significant impact in the lives they touch

...the holistic health and wellness traditions established at Georgia College in the 19th and 20th centuries continue to flourish in the 21st century. throughout their professional careers. Your contributions will also assist the College in procuring sophisticated instructional laboratory equipment, supplies, and support for critical instructional technology upgrades. Additionally, donations will support the efforts of our faculty in providing exemplary instructional, scholarly and service opportunities for our students. All of these play a vital role in enhancing programs within the College.

Your contribution to Health Sciences, or to any one of its outstanding programs will provide you with the opportunity to “pay it forward,” knowing that your support will make it possible for a young professional to enter into a health science career or assist an aspiring professional in the field to gain an advanced degree or certificate.

We invite you to become our partners in making an impactful, long-lasting difference in the lives of those we serve. Please make your contribution to the College of Health Sciences today. Enclosed is an envelope in which you may send your gift. Or, you may make a secure donation online at the Georgia College Foundation website http://tinyurl.com/healthsciencesgiving We will be absolutely delighted to share with you personally our vision for the future of the College of Health Sciences. Please do not hesitate to call upon us!

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

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 14

Health Sciences Health Sciences and Parks Memorial Open House State and local dignitaries attended the Health Sciences and Parks Memorial Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House held on Friday, October 16, 2009. The buildings underwent renovation from Summer 2006 to Spring 2009.

From left to right: Jack Hill, Georgia’s 4th District; Seth Harp, Senator, Georgia’s 29th District; Robert Hatcher, Chair, Board of Regents; Errol Davis, Chancellor, Board of Regents; Dorothy Leland, President, Georgia College; Tad Brown, Chairman, GC Board of Trustees; Rusty Barber, Project Architect Surber, Barber, Choate, & Hertlein Architects; Barbara Black, Associate, Surber, Barber, Choate, & Hertlein Architects; Ben Tarbutton, Regent, Board of Regents; Jeff Arlington, Vice President, Garbutt-Christman Company; Felton Jenkins, Regent, Board of Regents; Sandy Gangstead, Dean, GC College of Health Sciences; Andrew Morton, GSFIC Project Manager; Leslie G. Callahan III, Descendant of Marvin Parks, the University’s second president and the building’s namesake.

On the Web • Renovation Pictures tinyurl.com/hsbpmb • Historical Pictures tinyurl.com/cohshistory

Welcome New Faculty Carol Bowdoin Ms. Bowdoin is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the GC School of Nursing. She has had a diverse career in clinical, academic, and military practice with 16 years focused in the area of Executive Nursing and Hospital Administration. Her clinical specialty areas are in critical care, emergency/disaster care and renal services. In addition, she is a Colonel in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Reserve (1980 – present) and has served as Chief Nurse and Commander of two US Army Reserve Hospital Units (2003 and 2006).

She has a Diploma in Nursing from Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Science in Executive Nursing Administration / MBA from Marymount College.

Elizabeth Speelman Ms. Speelman is the Director of the Georgia College Outdoor Center. Previously she was Assistant Director of Program Development at the Clemson University Youth Learning Institute.

She holds a Masters Degree in Education in

Outdoor Education Administration and Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science. Her research includes challenge course meta-analysis.

Sheryl Winn Ms. Winn is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the GC School of Nursing. Previously she was an Instructor at Emory University School of Nursing and an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Macon

Health Science B.S. from Kennesaw State University and an Exercise Science M.S. from Georgia State University. She is an ACSM Certified Health and Fitness Specialist, an ACE Certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist, and an ACE Certified Personal Trainer as well as an ACE Personal Trainer Certification Program instructor. She has worked in the health and fitness field for 18 years as a fitness professional and has 8 years of teaching experience with areas of expertise in: exercise physiology, anatomy/physiology, biomechanics, fitness assessment and exercise programming, special populations, and personal training/group fitness instruction.

State College.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pensacola Christian College and a Masters of Science in Nursing from Emory University School of Nursing.

In addition, she is nationally certified through American Nurses Credentialing Center as an Adult Nurse Practitioner.

Kelly Manning Ms. Manning is an assistant professor of Kinesiology. She is currently completing her doctoral studies in Kinesiology at Georgia State University. She has an Exercise and

15 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

Heidi Fowler Heidi Fowler comes to GC by way of Georgia Southern.

She is completing her doctorate in Public Health, having earned her Masters degree in Public Health from Armstrong Atlantic and her BA in Women’s Health and Gender Studies at Mercer University. Her areas of interest are in rural health/populations, infectious diseases/epidemiology and environmental health. She has spent the past several years studying/researching mosquitoes for the development of a mosquito control device that is currently being used world-wide to prevent the spread of malaria and dengue.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 73 Milledgeville, GA

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES Campus Box 64 Milledgeville, GA 31061 Phone: (478) 445-4092 Fax: (478) 445-1913 E-mail: sandra.gangstead@gcsu.edu Change Service Requested www.gcsu.edu

For information regarding admissions and programs offered contact: Kinesiology

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.

Dr. Lisa Griffin, Chair (478) 445-4072 lisa.griffin@gcsu.edu

Kinesiology (M.Ed. & M.A.T.) kinesiology.gcsu.edu

Music Therapy

Music Therapy (MMT) musictherapy.gcsu.edu

Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair (478) 445-2645 chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

Nursing (MSN) nursing.gcsu.edu

Nursing Dr. Judith Malachowski, Director (478) 445-5122 judith.malachowski@gcsu.edu

Outdoor Education (M.Ed.) outdoored.gcsu.edu

Outdoor Education

Certificates

Dr. Jude Hirsch, Chair (478) 445-1225/1226 jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu

• Cancer Exercise Specialist (Graduate level certificate) • Cancer Nurse Navigator (Continuing education course) For more information about the certificate programs, visit www.gcsu.edu/chsi or contact Dr. Jim Lidstone at (478) 445-2133 or jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu.