COVER STORY
Global Reach: special section pages 8-20
connect ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP Randy Leite DEAN Jennifer Horner ASSOCIATE DEAN, RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES Sally Marinellie ASSOCIATE DEAN, ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Tia Barrett CHIEF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Becky Zuspan ASSISTANT DEAN FOR STUDENT SERVICES Elizabeth Jones ASSISTANT DEAN FOR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT Ginny Valentin SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL OHIO PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Space has expanded
Competing for change
After nearly a year, the state-of-the-art renovations in Grover Center are coming to a close. From new fitness spaces to nursing labs and other educational facilities, Grover Center exemplifies the future of health sciences.
For three years, the Global Health Case Competition has offered students opportunities of a lifetime. Now, former winners and competitors reflect on how the competition impacted their lives and the world.
Regina Schwartz SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
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SCHOOLS & DEPARTMENTS LEADERSHIP Dhiraj Vattem SCHOOL OF APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES AND WELLNESS, DIRECTOR Michael Kushnick DEPARTMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH STUDIES, CHAIR Deborah Henderson SCHOOL OF NURSING, DIRECTOR Gary Chleboun SCHOOL OF REHABILITATION AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES, DIRECTOR Tania Basta DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH, INTERIM CHAIR
CONTRIBUTORS Graphic Designer: Lauren Dickey Writers: Paige Bennett, Spencer Cappelli, Kate Fox, Regina Schwartz, Elizabeth Jones, Randy Leite Photographer: Lauren Dickey
CONNECT WITH US Connect is published for alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. College of Health Sciences and Professions, W361 Grover Center, Athens, Ohio 45701, Phone: 740.593.1433. Ohio University is an Affirmative Action Institution. Visit us online at ohio.edu/chsp. Send letters to the editor at chsp@ohio.edu. ©Copyright 2017
On the cover: Social work student Amber Ostrander at the service learning project worksite in Barrio San Francisco, Caaguazu, Paraguay, where students spend two to three days constructing a house with Paraguayan volunteers. Photo courtesy of Kerri Shaw
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Transcending boundaries
A R H I returns
Ohio University and CHSP offer incredible study abroad opportunities for students to expand their horizons and gain global experience. The global perspective provides students with a distinctive advantage in their future careers.
CHSP faculty member Caroline Kingori’s research on HIV is working to combat stigma and to inform communities on the virus. She shares some of her most intriguing recent global findings with Connect.
The Appalachian Rural Health Institute’s new director Michele Morrone sets goals to foster community engagement and collaboration in the Southeast Ohio region as well as to provide students with the opportunity to deepen their education.
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Adventure a w a i t s
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MESSAGE FROM OUR DEAN
Transforming our space, our approach and our world
distant future, you will find state-of-the-art research labs and newly-designed teaching spaces also used to provide clinical care to student athletes, performing arts students and members of the community. Because of our new space, we will be able to create learning opportunities for our students that they could not get anywhere else. I hope you will get a taste of the project from the pictures here in Connect and invite you to stop by Grover Center to see the space for yourself. We would be happy to show you around!
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am pleased to welcome you to the spring issue of Connect, the magazine for alumni and friends of the College of Health Sciences and Professions. As you peruse this magazine, over 9,000 students are enrolled in our programs—nearly one-fourth of the entire Ohio University student body. Year after year, our college graduates more students than any other college at the University and we see that our graduates are highly successful at getting jobs in their chosen professions. Our faculty continue to be leaders at the University and in their disciplines in exploring health issues of critical importance to our society. For the past several issues of Connect, we have shared information about the project to renovate approximately one-quarter of Grover Center, our college’s home since 2001. As you will see, the first phase of that project is complete and our students and faculty now have access to wonderful new teaching spaces, research labs, simulation/skills facilities and clinical resources. This renovation is not just an updating of our space but, rather, an opportunity to transform our approach to education, research, and community outreach in several of our disciplines. Already today and certainly more so in the not too
Check out CHSP’s new video
ohio.edu/chsp/about/history-mission-vision.cfm
As you will also see in this issue of Connect, the College of Health Sciences and Professions extends well beyond Ohio and the United States. A little over five years ago, we embarked on an effort to develop a global health program that would allow our students and faculty to explore the global dimensions of health, wellness, and disease around the world. In the following pages, you will see some of the results of our journey thus far. Today, College of Health Sciences and Professions students and faculty are studying and researching in locations across five continents. We’ve also continued to bring students from around the world to Athens to study. I have had the opportunity to talk with many students whose perspectives have been broadened because they have participated in a study abroad experience, joined a team for our annual Global Health Case Competition or taken one of our many new courses addressing global health topics. I think it is safe to say we are well on our way to being a leader among health-focused colleges in attention to global health issues. I know that all of our successes could not be possible without the support of so many alumni and friends. I would like to thank all of you who have supported us with financial donations, made time for our students or provided advice and input as we plan our future directions. We couldn’t do it without you! Sincerely,
Dean Randy Leite
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IN MEMORY by Regina Schwartz The College of Health Sciences and Professions was deeply saddened to lose several faculty members last year. While their loss has left a void, we cherish the fond memories and academic contributions that remain.
CLIFF HOUK
Professor Emeritus of Health Sciences Clifford C. Houk passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. Houk, who founded CHSP’s Industrial Hygiene Program (now the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Program) in 1987, joined the Ohio University faculty as a professor of chemistry in 1966 and shifted to the School of Health and Sport Sciences (now the Department of Social and Public Health) as a professor of health sciences for the 1987-1988 academic year. In total, he served as an OHIO faculty member for 37 years. He was selected by the students of the University as a University Professor and was named AIHA Fellow in the first class of awardees. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OHIO and received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Montana State University. Contributions may be made to the Clifford Houk Industrial Hygiene Scholarship, c/o Ohio University Foundation, P.O. Box 869, Athens, Ohio 45701.
JOAN JURICH
Faculty member Joan Jurich, associate professor of family studies, lost a battle with cancer on Monday, May 23, 2016. Jurich joined the college in 2008 and taught a variety of child and family studies courses. She also served on the National Council of Family Relations (NCFR), the Ohio Council on Family Relations (president), and the Family Science Association (editorial board), which named her 2014-15 Family Science Review Outstanding Reviewer. The CHSP Student Advisory Council selected her to receive the Outstanding Teaching Award for the 2015–16 year. She was also a past recipient of the Ernest G. Osborne Award, given to an NCFR member who has excelled in teaching family science. The Joan Jurich Excellence in Engaged Learning Scholarship has been established to ensure that her legacy continues through the support of outstanding students. Contributions in Joan’s honor may be made online at ohio.edu/give or mailed to the Ohio University Foundation, P.O. Box 869, Athens, Ohio 45701.
BRIAN PHILLIPS
Health Services Administration Lecturer Brian Phillips passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Phillips, who was also a part-time doctoral student in the OHIO School of Communication Studies, joined OHIO in 1997 and served the University in various capacities, including as Chief Information Officer for the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. He joined the CHSP faculty in 2011 and taught health management courses to approximately 450 undergraduate students each year. He received the college’s Innovative Teaching Award in 2014.
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NEW • NOW • NEXT
Grover Center renovation:
stretching toward the finish lin by Regina Schwartz fter nearly a year of hard work, the Grover Center renovation project is approaching the finish line! The project, which is currently both on schedule and on budget, promises to launch the college into a bold new era. From a cutting-edge CRYOTherm tank for athletes, to a serene Pilates/yoga space and three new state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs, the renovation is being hailed as a resounding success.
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The first phase of the project, which included a new test kitchen and an Atrium Café facelift, was completed prior to the start of fall semester and is perfect for cooking demonstrations and tastings such as the Olive Oil tasting presented by Olivari during Homecoming weekend. New areas for exercise physiology, athletic training, WellWorks and nursing simulation labs were completed over winter break and are facilitating improved work and study across a variety of program areas. Beyond teaching and research, these spaces will also enhance the college’s ability to provide clinical services to students and others. WellWorks is now able to offer enhanced member opportunities in two new spaces: the Mind/Body room and the Fitness room. The tranquil Mind/Body room includes a yoga wall with straps and supports that allow for a partially suspended experience, while the Fitness room boasts improved ventilation and fans, new mats and exercise resistance bands, and an upgraded sound system. The expansive new nursing area is a fully equipped, modern teaching environment, accessible to a greater number of students and at more convenient times than the previous lab. Up to 360 nursing students are enrolled on the Athens campus at any given time and the former lab, which only accommodated 30 students at a time, was utilized from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday through Friday. Now, three instructional labs can run concurrently, accommodating three times the number of students. In addition to the three instructional labs, there is also a practice lab, which will be open at times that are convenient for students. Practice time, mandated by the nursing curriculum, was previously available only between teaching times. Additionally, new state-of-the art equipment will allow students to learn in an environment that mimics that of the actual workplace. 4
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NEW • NOW • NEXT
ne
Far left: New athletic training renovated facility. Middle left: WellWorks fitness room. Middle right: One of nursing’s three simulation labs. Right: Exercise physiology’s biomechanics lab with a force plate built into the floor. Photos by Liz Moughon
The final phase, which will include an interprofessional simulation suite and a computer lab expansion, is scheduled for completion in June, 2017. The suite will feature removable walls for maximum flexibility and the computer lab will offer recording technology to assist students in preparing for interviews and presentations. While this exciting new space will boast many modern features, Dean Randy Leite is committed to honoring the college’s health education heritage as well. “We plan to honor both historical and current health education pioneers,” Leite said.
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The nursing area will hearken to the work of Florence Nightingale, regarded by many as the founder of modern nursing, and students entering the athletic training area will walk past the newly relocated Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame. Additionally, the Charles R. “Skip” Vosler Athletic Training Education Facility will recognize Skip Vosler’s work in elevating the reputation of both Ohio University and the college’s athletic training program. Funding and equipment donations for the renovation project are currently being accepted. For details, contact CHSP’s Assistant Dean for Outreach and Engagement Elizabeth Jones at 740.566.0484.
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AROUND THE COLLEGE
First cohort of Doctor of Nursing Practice program students. Photo by Lauren Dickey
CHSP welcomes first students into DNP program by Spencer Cappelli he College of Health Sciences and Professions celebrated the launch of its new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program this spring semester, welcoming 21 doctoral students into the first cohort.
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“We are really excited about the students—they are truly outstanding, and will be a great asset,” said Marjorie Vogt, a clinical professor in the School of Nursing at the Dublin Integrated Education Center. With concentrations in advanced clinical or executive practice, the program is designed to broaden the administrative and clinical expertise of the advanced nurse clinician or administrator. Vogt said the program stands out for its various interprofessional educational activities, which are built into the coursework. “The DNP will allow nurse leaders and advance practice nurses to increase the depth and breadth of their knowledge and skills, while increasing their knowledge in population health, informatics, health policy, advocacy and evidence-based practice,” Vogt said.
Are you the 1%?
In addition, elective course options will allow students to take a deep dive into areas of individualized interest and increase their understanding of specialty areas. “We’re proud of the unique opportunities this program offers for our students,” said Deborah Henderson, professor and School of Nursing director. “The interprofessional focus will help students prepare for today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment where they will be expected to work as part of a team of providers.” A blend of web-based and on-campus classes will comprise the instructional component of the program. Students will travel to either the Athens or Dublin campus once or twice a semester to engage in interactive, interprofessional activities.
LESS THAN
AROUND THE COLLEGE
New dietetics program embraces community health by Spencer Cappelli he Combined Master of Science and Dietetic Internship program, which debuted at the Dublin Integrated Education Center this spring semester, accepted 10 interns into its first cohort class. Grounded in both theoretical and practical approaches to the field of dietetics, the program prepares dietetic professionals during two years of classroom and community-health centered internship experience.
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The program’s mission is to provide a distinctive program that integrates theory, research and practice to prepare quality, entry-level registered dietitians, who will advance the practice of dietetics and improve the health and wellness of the communities they serve. The admitted interns spend their first two semesters taking graduate-level coursework at the Dublin Integrated Education Center, while simultaneously completing dietitian rotations in the greater Central Ohio area. During their second year, students will undertake additional coursework at Ohio University’s Athens campus; all internship opportunities during this second year will be conveniently located in Southeastern Ohio. Interns will also complete a graduate project in an area of personal interest prior to graduating and are encouraged to participate in professional organizations focused on enhancing community health and wellness.
According to Program Director Kimberlee Orben, the understanding of community health and wellness forms a crucial part of the interns’ training. “The Combined Master of Science Program and Dietetic Internship’s focus on community wellness will equip our students with the skills and experiences necessary to foster healthier communities, taking into account the unique healthcare challenges of the people and regions they will serve,” Orben said. The incoming cohort is a demographically diverse group, with interns hailing from California, Maryland, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Five of the students are also first-generation college students. Graduates of the program will receive a Master of Science degree and be eligible to sit for the national Registered Dietitian exam. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Left: Christine Zachrich, assistant clinical professor for nutrition, works with a child to identify different kinds of food. Photo by Liz Moughon Right top: Dietetic intern Rachel Ritzenthaler helps to educate Athens community members at the Diabetes Expo sponsored by the Diabetes Institute at the Athens Community Center. Right bottom: Dietetic intern students prepare a salad bar and serve the food to individuals at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, Ohio. Photos by Lauren Dickey
GLOBAL REACH
Competition makes a
of change Annual competition gives students opportunity to make a global difference
by Paige Bennett he Global Health Case Competition—a competition administered by CHSP’s Global Health Initiative— provides students with invaluable international experiences and learning opportunities. From strengthening skills to jumpstarting careers, participants benefit from the competition while making a worldwide impact. The competition has allowed students to research and investigate global health challenges for the past three years.
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In the previous competitions, winning teams traveled to Guyana and Botswana, with the most recent winners set to travel to Paraguay in May 2017. The competition requires interdisciplinary teams of four students from at least two colleges and four majors to propose a solution to a health challenge in a target country. Each team’s diverse students come together to create an innovative answer to the problem, and the winning team is awarded a trip to the country to explore the feasibility of their solution. “I found the Global Health Case Competition to be the most rewarding competition I have ever participated in,” said Jared Roese, a student studying business marketing and a member of the second place team from 2015. “The competition allows students to work together and have creative minds. The structure of the competition encourages and motivates students to think outside the box and create some remarkable solutions.”
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Every year, students find that the competition presents a learning experience that they cannot get in a traditional classroom setting. “It is one thing to develop an idea in a classroom,” said Seth Baker, a graduate student studying international development studies and a member of the 2014 winning team. “It’s another thing to be talking face-toface with the people directly affected by the problem and the officials who can implement real change. It is an eye-opening experience.” Through the years of the competition, participating teams have developed innovative solutions to tough healthcare challenges happening in real time around the world. The winning team from 2014 proposed planting Eucalyptus trees, then producing carbon nanoparticles from the wood of the trees. They also proposed launching a study abroad program for students to confront infrastructure issues in Guyana, where the challenge was to reduce vector-borne diseases like malaria. The 2015 competition required students to propose a solution to reduce non-communicable diseases in Botswana. The winning team created a solution that involved a government internship program, mobile clinics and a media campaign to educate the community on early detection and prevention of the diseases, such as diabetes.
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Top: Student Danielle Turner teaches children about health in Botswana. Photo courtesy of Global Health. Right top: 2016 case competition winners Fithi Embaye, Ellen Haile, Brenna Innocenzi and Abby Young will travel to Paraguay in summer 2017. Right middle: 2015 case competition winners Kingsley Lims Nyarko, Keith Phetlhe, Kumba Gborie and Kingsley Antwi-Boasiako traveled to Botswana in 2016. Right bottom: 2014 case competition winners Noah Rosenblatt and Katherine Clausen traveled to Guyana in 2015 (not pictured Seth Baker and Morgan Stanley). Photos by Lauren Dickey
The most recent winners were posed with the challenge of reducing vector-borne diseases in Paraguay due to climate change. Their innovative solution plans to reduce health risks by increasing health promotion and reduce environmental risks by repurposing trash as “bottle bricks.” The creation of “bottle bricks” requires people to fill plastic bottles with non-biodegradable trash until they are full; then, the bottles can be used as bricks for construction of houses and other buildings. Teams spend countless hours brainstorming and researching the target country and their ideas before presenting the solutions to a panel of judges. Despite the difficulties of the competition, the participants reap the benefits of their hard work. If students find their solution to be feasible, they are able to take action and make their proposal a reality, just as the first winning team did after the competition. Winners of the 2014 competition moved forward to start the company Vaylenx, which is researching a sustainable pesticide that would attack mosquitos to slow the spread of vector-borne diseases.
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“This experience instilled in the team the desire to work harder and push forward; to design a product that could truly change the world,” said the team on the Vaylenx website. “This competition is a very pragmatic activity you can do as a student to gain global thinking skills,” said Fithi Embaye, a graduate student studying social work and a member of the winning team in 2016. “It broadens your horizon. This isn’t about winning or losing—it is about relating to other people and the environment just by the drive of your passion. It’s about doing research and coming together to interact with different people and different backgrounds.”
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GLOBAL REACH
GOING GLOBAL CHSP international students prepare to impact the world by Paige Bennett he College of Health Sciences and Professions welcomes students from around the world to pursue their academic and occupational passions.
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Students in the college hail from more than 15 countries, and they are finding a second home on the campus where they are following their dreams. The students’ career levels range from excited freshmen beginning their undergraduate studies to highly skilled graduate students working toward their doctoral degrees. These students come with global perspectives and leave Ohio University with new experiences and skills that help them excel in their chosen fields, no matter where their paths might take them. The college’s students gain expert knowledge in healthcare that they then implement both in the United States and abroad, leading to an impressive global impact. Students such as Mohammed Alhashim, a student from Saudi Arabia studying Health Services Administration, come to Ohio University to pursue their professional goals. Alhashim chose to attend the College of Health Sciences and Professions because of the outstanding healthcare training he will receive before he graduates in August 2018. “I came here to learn, gain experience and help my home country when I return,” Alhashim said. “I think it is a great experience to be part of this college.” After he receives his bachelor’s degree, Alhashim is considering pursuing a master’s degree. He hopes to one day return to Saudi Arabia to manage hospitals. “I would like to be a part of a health system that helps patients and professional workers in a way that they enjoy, where professional workers do their best and patients get the help they need,” Alhashim said. While academic opportunities offered through Ohio University appeal to many international students, it is the quality education and supportive faculty and staff that truly prepare students for their future careers. Maureen Carney, a graduate student studying child and family studies from Toronto, Canada, applied to Ohio University because the child and family studies programs in Canada were limited. Carney researched programs in the U.S. and found CHSP’s program at Ohio University. She was drawn to apply because of the study abroad opportunities the college offers. 10
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GLOBAL REACH
After more than a year in the child and family studies program, Carney finds faculty support and encouragement are strong assets to achieving her dream of becoming a certified child life specialist in a Toronto hospital. “I had no idea what to expect when I came here, and I’ve been blown away constantly,” Carney said. “I feel like I will be 100 percent prepared for this field. Every faculty member is behind you every step of the way. They want you to do well and succeed, which makes you want to do well and succeed. I’ll take that away from here, and I hope that I can encourage others to do well also. “I am just so happy I chose OHIO. The value [faculty] shows to international students has made it a really amazing transition, and it is going to be really hard to leave when I graduate.”
Tapedza Tshireletso, a student from Gweta, Botswana, who is also studying child and family studies knows that the education she is receiving in CHSP is crucial to her future success and her relationships with patients. She came to the University as a trained nurse who wanted to gain more knowledge on psychosocial support for children. “The knowledge I gained in child and family studies will improve the care that I give to my patients,” Tshireletso said. “I hope to make a difference in the lives of children admitted in hospitals and their families.” From challenging courses to hands-on service learning opportunities and supportive faculty and staff members, CHSP offers students from around the world an opportunity to become outstanding community members, caring professionals and global health advocates. Using the knowledge and skills they gain during their time in CHSP, students leave ready to make an enormous impact around the world.
United Kingdom
Saudi Arabia
3%
13%
Canada Vietnam 3%
Oman 15%
Eritrea
8%
3%
Nigeria
China
5%
18%
Australia 3%
Taiwan 5%
Botswana
3%
Columbia 3%
Iran 5%
r l d o WSP Family:
C
Malaysia
One One
10%
H
CHSP student hail from across the world
Korea 5%
*percentage of the total current CHSP international student population
International student body within CHSP SPH: Department of Social and Public Health AHSW: School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness SON: School of Nursing RCS: School of Rehabilitation and Communication Studies
AHSW 26%
SPH 44%
SON
RCS 15%
15%
GLOBAL REACH
Study Abroad
Advancing Health for All by Kate Fox
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f you thought study abroad was a relatively new concept, consider this: according to Oxford University, the first scholar to study abroad was Emo of Friesland, who travelled from Holland to Oxford University in 1190!
While today’s university-led student travel experiences differ significantly from those of the past—including options for shorter duration trips and alumni participation—the focus on international exchange and understanding has always been viewed as an important part of a successful OHIO education.
Will you come with us? Global Health Opportunities
Focus: Healthcare (3 weeks) Program Directors: Gillian Ice, Professor, Social Medicine, and Director, Global Health Initiatives, and Eliza Harper, Asst. Professor, Nursing, CHSP Focus: Rehab Services (2-3 weeks) Program Directors: Janice Wright, Asst. Clin. Professor, Speech Therapy, CHSP, Janice Howman, Asst. Clin. Professor, Physical Therapy, CHSP, and Rebecca Meier, Asst. Clin. Professor, Audiology, CHSP Focus: Global Public Health (11 days) Program Director: Tim Ryan, Professor, Occup. Hygiene and Safety, CHSP Focus: Comparative Health Systems (1 week) Program Director: Dan Skinner, Asst. Professor, Social Medicine, Heritage College Focus: Community and Public Health (2 weeks) Program Director: Tania Basta, Interim Department Chair, SPH, CHSP Focus: Tropical Disease Research (2-15 weeks) Program Director: Mario J. Grijalva, Director, Tropical Disease Institute, and Professor, Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College 12
Key Offered Summer Offered Winter Intersession Offered Spring Break
Focus: Wellness in Older Adults: Community Based Service (2 weeks) Program Director: Brooke Hallowell, Professor, Comm. Sciences and Disorders, CHSP Focus: Explore, Connect, Serve (2 weeks) Program Director: Kerri Shaw, Lecturer, Social Work, CHSP Focus: Clinics (2 weeks) Program Director: David Drozek, Asst. Professor, Specialty Medicine, Heritage College Focus: Child Life and Medicine (4 weeks) Program Directors: Jenny Chabot, Associate Professor, Child Life, CHSP, and Sarah Rubin, Lecturer, Social Medicine, Heritage College Focus: London Global Public Health (1 week) Program Director: Tim Ryan, Professor, Occup. Hygiene and Safety, CHSP Spring 2017 | connect
GLOBAL REACH
According to Debra McBride, assistant director of Global Health Initiatives—which oversees CHSP’s global health field experiences in collaboration with OHIO’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine—students in the health professions may choose from nine different destinations and 10 different concentrations. All programs offer course credit, are open to all CHSP majors as well as alumni and welcome an average of 10-15 students. According to McBride, the winter intersession and spring break programs “being the shortest, are more observational, although they can include lecture and service learning, as well as opportunities for really immersing themselves in the culture—and seeing the sights, of course.” The summer programs, being longer, are more intensive and focused, allowing students to gain clinical experience, complete in-depth service learning projects—even conduct research—while they earn course credit.
“I was intrigued when I got an email regarding study abroad,” she said. “It was always something I thought would be awesome, but not feasible while working a job and running a household.” But she thought she could work Cuba’s one-week program into her schedule and was ecstatic when she was accepted. Along with learning about their healthcare system, Wozniak is eager to experience the culture.
I can see our alumni valuing the chance to help educate this next generation of health workers
Both Emily Lachowski, a long-term healthcare administration junior from Cleveland, and Paige Henry, an applied nutrition senior from Hudson, Ohio, recently returned from the study abroad trip to Costa Rica in December 2016. Lachowski chose the trip because it was short, but would still give her valuable experience in working in another culture. “One thing that I found surprising was simply just the different lifestyle of the country.” Henry, too, was struck by how the culture differed from American culture. “I noticed that a lot of Costa Rican people didn’t seem to be in too much of a rush to get anywhere,” she said. “If there was ever a setback, they just went with the flow and didn’t worry too much. In my opinion, this is very different from the United States, where everything seems much more rushed and stressful.” Both agreed, though, that the beaches and waterfalls of Costa Rica were a high point of the trip and that their experiences will prove invaluable in the future: “I’m sure it will help me to be more culturally sensitive when I am working as a Registered Dietitian and will make me better at working with a wider range of people,” said Henry.
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Bethanie Wozniak will become OHIO’s first online RN to BSN student to study abroad when she travels to Cuba during spring break 2017. Wozniak, who lives in Port Clinton, Ohio, began the CHSP online program in fall 2016.
“I love traveling, and I know that many Americans have never had the chance to visit Cuba,’ she said. “I feel this is an opportunity I will never get again.”
The study abroad programs, according to McBride, have become well established, with the directors and students working to build capacity and continuity in the communities they serve—to the point where alumni involvement and expertise would be an added bonus for everyone involved. The summer programs such as Botswana Healthcare, Ecuador Tropical Disease Research Program, Peru Clinics and Botswana Rehabilitation Services offer unique opportunities—and possibly CEUs—for alumni in the health professions to participate as clinical preceptors. “I can see our alumni valuing the chance to help educate this next generation of health workers,” she said, “while at the same time gaining valuable work experience themselves.” They may also come away, like Emily Lachowski, with an unbelievable group experience. “It was really extraordinary going on the trip with the other OHIO students,” she said. “We all clicked so well. I was truly blessed to be with a great and fun group of people.” If you would like to know more about joining in one of the CHSP Global Health programs, contact Elizabeth Jones at jonese4@ohio.edu or Meredith Gartin at gartin@ohio.edu.
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GLOBAL REACH
CHSP alumni countries of residence
Alumni GPS In the heart of the country by Kate Fox he reach of our health programs extends throughout the world, thanks to alumni who are devoted to serving international populations in numerous ways. Some, like Matilda Mazwiduma Dijeng (MSHC ’00) who came here from her native Francistown, Botswana, to earn her master’s degree in physical therapy, return home afterward. Matilda returned to her hometown to establish Progressive Physiotherapy Hospital, where she is in private practice as a physiotherapist.
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Similarly, Michael Robinson (MSAT ’14) and Kristen Wells (MSAT ’14) traveled from Canada, where they met at Sheridan College, earned their bachelor’s degrees in athletic therapy, then decided to pursue advanced degrees at Ohio University. “CHSP’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program had a great reputation in addition to having a well-known program coordinator in Dr. Chad Starkey,” said Robinson, now a Ph.D. student at Elborn University in London, Ontario. “Additionally, it offered an opportunity to do proper graduate research and work as a graduate assistant athletic trainer.” Both Wells and Robinson were accepted into the program, and upon graduation, they returned to Canada, where Wells is head athletic therapist at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario, and Robinson works and teaches part-time while completing his doctoral degree.
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Others, such as Robert Flahiff (BSAT ’89), Christine Navin (BSH ’93) and Holley Arbeit (MA-SLP ’80) hail from the U.S., but move abroad after graduation. Robert moved in 2013 to Lecksand, Sweden, where he works as an employee representative director for Clas Ohlson and is also equipment manager/acute medical provider for the Leksand junior hockey team. In 2013, Navin moved with her husband Todd and two children to Hong Kong, where she blogged about life as an “ex-pat,” studied the local cuisine and applied her study of nutrition to helping her young son deal with celiac disease. The family recently returned to Virginia. Arbeit worked in private practice in speech therapy in Quito, Ecuador, from 2002-2005, while also doing extensive volunteer service in the community. She graduated from Ohio University in 1980 with a master’s degree in speech pathology and now lives and works in San Francisco, Calif. About 100 CHSP graduates currently work in different healthrelated professions in 34 countries around the world, with the highest concentrations living and working in Canada, China, India and Japan. If you are CHSP graduate and currently work abroad, we would love to hear from you. Your story could possibly be featured on our website or in our publications. Please contact us at chspalumni@ohio.edu. Spring 2017 | connect
Photo by Lauren Dickey
by Kate Fox here are many ways CHSP alumni impact the world, but few as perilous as U.S. Army First Lieutenant Brian Tilly’s military deployment in Afghanistan.
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Tilly, a 2012 OHIO graduate with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal following his second deployment in Afghanistan, where he served as a medical advisor. Rather than being awarded for a single event, Tilly earned his medal for serving in critical roles during a number of situations in the Nangarhar Province, including an emergency medical resupply mission during an outbreak of violence, and assisting other medical personnel to eradicate an outbreak of tuberculosis.
“Initially, I pursued athletic training at Ohio University, but found my niche in exercise physiology, as it seemed to be more in line with my interest in human anatomy and the physiology of exercise.” Tilly credits his education with providing the foundation he needed for his current position. “As a medical advisor to Afghan doctors and medical personnel, and as a Medical Platoon Leader in charge of the training and readiness Brian Tilly earned the Bronze of 20+ medics, I have leaned on Star (top, red and blue ribbon). my exercise physiology education throughout my service.”
Dean Randy Leite commended Tilly, noting, “Brian Tilly and a number of other CHSP graduates are providing medical care under the gravest of conditions. The college is proud of their service and honored by their commitment.” Tilly, a self-described “army brat” from Cincinnati, was born into a military family. “My father served for more than 20 years as an Armor Officer, climbing the ranks to retire at Lt. Colonel,” he said. “His father also served as an Armor Officer and also achieved the rank of LTC. That legacy has had a huge impact in my life.” Tilly developed an interest in physical therapy in high school while undergoing six months of physical therapy treatment for a knee injury.
Tilly entered ROTC at OHIO as a freshman in 2008 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in 2012. A year before Tilly graduated, William “Seth” Blevins, a fellow OHIO ROTC recruit and Tilly’s “battle buddy” and roommate during his freshman year, was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan. “Seth was eager to serve his country and make a difference in the world, so he enlisted in the Army before he had the chance to graduate,” said Tilly. “He enlisted as an 11B (Infantryman), deployed to Afghanistan with the 25th Infantry Division out of Hawaii and was killed in action while serving alongside his brothers. He’s a real hero. He’s a big part of why I do what I do.” Tilly was recently promoted to captain and transferred to the Fort Polk Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital in Louisiana, where he will serve through summer 2017. After discharge, Tilly plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.
GLOBAL REACH
Photo by Lauren Dickey
by Kate Fox ictorian England author Charles Dickens and CHSP faculty member, researcher, and Kenyan native Caroline Kingori have a lot more in common than meets the eye.
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Dickens’ novels have been praised in medical circles for their concise descriptions of the illnesses of the time, and literary critics often cite Dickens’ use of disease as “the great social equalizer,” underscoring why we must care for one another, no matter what our differences might be. Kingori’s research on HIV crosses physical and cultural boundaries as well, as she examines the link between stigma and HIV prevention and treatment. Like many students, Kingori started out in a very different course of study: psychology.
Kingori’s work with HIV-positive women at a community-based organization in Baltimore eventually led to doctoral work with Dr. Michael Reece at Indiana University. During that time she traveled back to Kenya to research what would become her abiding interest: how HIV stigma affects prevention and treatment. Since coming to Ohio University in 2012, she has continued her research on HIV and stigma and overall health issues in such diverse populations as college-age students, Appalachian residents, and Somali immigrants/refugees.
“Given that I’m from Africa, and we have HIV issues also, I thought, ‘This is it!’”
“I really wanted to work in industrial and organizational psychology,” said Kingori. “And then I was introduced to something called prevention science as a sophomore at Morgan State University in Baltimore,” which led Kingori into research and public health.
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“I fell in love with public health,” Kingori recalled, so when she began her master’s degree at Morgan State, it seemed a perfect fit to focus on urban health and HIV in African-American communities. “Given that I’m from Africa, and we have HIV issues also, I thought, ‘This is it!’”
Surprisingly, Kingori found remarkable similarities in perceptions surrounding HIV in the various populations she studied—the main one being everyone’s reluctance to discuss it. Spring 2017 | connect
GLOBAL REACH
“HIV is still a hush-hush topic because it’s a sexually transmitted infection,” she said. “Since sex is considered a moral issue by a majority of religions, most people really don’t want to talk about it.” That includes Kenya and Appalachia—both predominantly Christian—as well as Islamic Somali immigrants, for whom sex is a taboo subject, as well. Unfortunately, “not talking about it” means that methods of HIV transmission and prevention are not discussed either, she added, a grave danger for public health everywhere. Kingori also found that those who are HIV positive in the cultures she studied often isolate themselves—what she calls “internalized stigma”—because they fear the judgment of others. This is especially predominant in the group-based cultures of Africa—and Appalachia, too, where individuals keenly feel the social stigma of having HIV. A third similarity is perceived risk. Many of the individuals studied believe their chance of getting the virus is very low. In Kenya, for instance, where the government didn’t even acknowledge HIV and AIDS until 2002 and where HIV is transmitted mainly through heterosexual contact, many think HIV is transmitted only through gay sex. Similarly, the college-age students Kingori studied demonstrated a low level of perceived risk, also based on misinformation or lack of information coupled with the sense of invulnerability felt by most people in that age group. However, Kingori also identified some significant differences across the cultures—the main one, of course, being the language barrier. As Kingori explained, when she tried to use an HIV stigma questionnaire in Kenya that had been validated in previous studies, she had to make a few changes.
“We found that there is no word for ‘stigma’ in Swahili or in some of the different dialects spoken by the people we were interviewing, so we had to find a substitute that carried roughly the same meaning,” she said. “What we ended up using were words like “fear” to help us determine the level of stigma.” Another difference across the cultures she studied is method of transmission. “What we find is that HIV is predominantly transmitted through heterosexual contact in Africa,” she said. “In the U.S., it is predominantly through gay sex. And in Asia, it is primarily through injection drug use”—a threat that Kingori points out may well become a reality in Southeast Ohio with the rise of heroin use and with youth ages 15-24 becoming the new at-risk age group. Kingori has worked together with fellow OHIO researchers Tania Basta and Zelalem Haile on various research papers and proposals based on a Reproductive and Sexual Health Initiative they developed in 2015. The team is slated this spring and summer to develop or adopt an HIV intervention program, targeting college students. As she noted, “Prevention is the same for everyone: provide them with relevant information. But the challenge,” she added, “is to be cognizant of the prevailing beliefs, attitudes and structures of the culture. In many ways, culture determines how best to provide contextualized information.”
Ohio University CHSP faculty members Caroline Kingori (center) and Gillian Ice (back, fourth from right) along with Heritage College faculty member Zelalem Haile (back, third from right) met with a group of research training participants who worked together to analyze research programs using the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey. Photo courtesy of Global Health
Researchers to fight HIV abroad
by Spencer Cappelli fter traveling to Botswana in 2012, Dean Randy Leite returned home eager to increase CHSP’s collaborative efforts with the country. Soon after, the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA), in partnership with the Botswana Ministry of Health and the University of Botswana, approached CHSP with a request: that it train new personnel on the research process, using survey data NACA had collected on HIV in the country.
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NACA had been gathering the survey data, called BAIS IV (Botswana Aids Impact Survey), and could use it to identify such information as regional breakdowns and trends. The problem, according to Gillian Ice, director of CHSP’s Global Health Initiative, and a faculty member in social medicine and biomedical sciences, was that NACA had not been able to use the data as effectively as possible to launch public health interventions.
Ice and collaborator, Caroline Kingori, who is an assistant professor in social and public health for CHSP, worked on the project along with Heritage College collaborators, Zelalem Haile, Joseph Bianco and Dawn Graham, in June 2015 and 2016. They taught their students—mostly government health officials—grant and manuscript writing, quantitative and qualitative research methods and data collection and analysis. The students participated in a oneweek intensive workshop, which concluded with a professional research presentation. Ice and Kingori deemed their efforts successful.
“The thing about interdisciplinary work is that it fosters a understanding between and health, and and health”
In Botswana, HIV rates are among the highest in the world, at 18.5 percent of the adult population, according to BAIS IV data. “They hadn’t used the data as much as they could, so they wanted us to come and help out,” Ice said. “Fortunately, there were already a lot of resources in the county, so we didn’t need to come in and do all of the training. We were able to make our instruction as practical as possible.”
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“Those who participated will now be able to produce manuscripts that can be disseminated globally via peer-reviewed journals, apply for local or international funding that will develop more interventions to address HIV prevention, train other practitioners in order to increase research methods, knowledge and skills, and pursue higher degrees themselves,” Kingori said.
Ice believes that Botswana—a country in the midst of economic and social transition—will need interdisciplinary health solutions to solve the public health challenges of tomorrow, including noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension. She says the door will be open for additional CHSP programs in the future, and believes students will benefit from the cultural and disciplinary exchange. “The exciting thing about interdisciplinary work is that it fosters a deeper understanding between culture and health, and poverty and health,” Ice said. “What people find is a collaboration between professionals lends them the insight required of the field as it evolves.” Spring 2017 | connect
GLOBAL REACH
EDUCATING ECUADORIANS ON ZIKA VIRUS by Paige Bennett ith ten students in tow, Tania Basta, interim chair of CHSP’s Department of Social and Public Health and social and behavioral researcher, will make the nearly 3,000 mile trip to Ecuador in July 2017. Her mission: to gather research on an infamous disease that has been making headlines worldwide for more than a year.
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Zika is a viral disease primarily transmitted by mosquitos. For many, Zika will be short-lived with mild symptoms at most. But for pregnant women, the disease can be dangerous, causing microcephaly and other brain defects in babies. Basta first began her research on Zika in 2016 as an addition to other health research she was conducting in Ecuador. She found the knowledge of Zika to be very low, as it was for people worldwide during the time. After an earthquake on the coast of the country in April 2016, transmissions of the disease from mosquitos rapidly increased. Basta expects her research to find that overall knowledge about the disease in the area has increased. But she is most interested in talking with locals about their preventative behaviors. “I asked last year about access to bug spray, condoms and similar items and most people, about 70 percent, strongly agreed they’d be able to access these preventative items,” Basta said. “But now it has been about a year that we’ve been living with widespread Zika, so I want to know if people were able to buy bug spray or access condoms if they are having sexual intercourse. I want to ask some of those questions to find out specific behavioral information.”
Spring 2017 | connect
The hope is that once the data from 2017’s research is analyzed, it will help the Ministry of Health with prevention efforts, through brochures or other educational services, for the people of Ecuador. As a result of the research, it would be ideal if the people in Ecuador learned how to stop the transmission of Zika and similar diseases. Basta expects Zika to become endemic and hopes locals learn more about the disease and how to prevent it. According to Basta, the research not only touches the lives of those in the South American country, but also the lives of students involved in the research process. “We need more people doing global research and just traveling in general,” Basta said. “There are so many study abroad trips for students to travel and experience other cultures. They will learn that people are the same everywhere. We all have the same goals in life. We might speak a different language, or look a different way, but essentially we are all the same.”
Top: Sunset in Ecuador. Left: Randy Leite, dean, and Tania Basta in Ecuador. Photo by Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Left: Sally Marinellie speaks to the Institute of Health Sciences in Gaborone, Botswana, about curriculum development. Top right: Deborah Henderson, director of CHSP’s School of Nursing, collaborates with Batswana faculty. Bottom right: Kimberlee MillerWenning, nursing lecturer, and a faculty member from the University of Botswana explore ways to collaborate and share clinical space for the Institute of Health Sciences’ curriculum. Photo courtesy of Global Health.
by Regina Schwartz hen Sally Marinellie was asked to go to Gaborone, Botswana in 2014 to assist the Institute of Health Sciences in developing a nursing curriculum, she says she was excited to “travel and learn about their curriculum.” To her surprise, the trip provided that and much more, including an opportunity to learn about a new culture and gain an appreciation for a less hectic lifestyle.
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A typical day in Botswana for Marinellie involved leading workshops and attending meetings from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and throughout the day her hosts interjected activities that encouraged interaction and relationship-building. Tea breaks, observed daily at 10:30 a.m., provided participants with a chance to talk while enjoying a snack, and prayers of thanksgiving set a reflective tone. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise for Marinellie, however, was how the workgroup ended their last meeting: an hour devoted to singing and dancing in celebration. Marinellie expected there to be differences in the institution and its curriculum procedures compared to Ohio University but as she worked, she found many more similarities than differences. “They are faced with many of the same challenges we are. Most importantly, though, their goals for their students are the same. They care about them and want to see them succeed just like we do,” she said. 20
The curriculum development project, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief and administered by the American International Health Alliance’s Twinning Center, was established to create a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the institute to enhance their current two-year nursing diploma. On the 2014 trip, which was the first of three such visits, Marinellie was accompanied by Deborah Henderson, Kimberlee Miller-Wenning, Gillian Ice, and Nancy Stevens from the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The group discussed topics such as curriculum development, continuous quality improvement, establishing and assessing program learning outcomes, evidence-based care and problem-based learning, along with curriculum mapping (which ensures that desired learning outcomes are addressed in the curriculum). Follow-up trips for Marinellie in 2015 and 2016 continued the successful work and the good vibes. “The second trip in June of 2015 with Gillian Ice and Debra McBride (from Global Health) involved discussion of continuous quality improvement principles as well as hands-on curriculum mapping. We worked to put a more frequent curriculum review process in place,” Marinellie said. A third trip, in March 2016 with McBride, focused on HIV/AIDS curriculum mapping and included mapping and creating two new HIV/AIDS courses. Marinellie hopes that future trips will be scheduled she is thankful for the “amazing experiences.” And, thanks to Marinellie and her colleagues, the institute now has the knowledge and skills they need to create curriculum for a new generation of nurses in Botswana. Spring 2017 | connect
ALUMNI • DONORS
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t appears that we escaped winter this year—February days reached over 70 degrees and had everyone on the “sakura watch”, the annual blooming of the campus’s cherry trees (if you miss seeing these beauties along the Hocking River, visit ohio.edu/cherryblossoms), and daydreaming of the wonder that is springtime in Athens. The only thing better than Athens in spring is the idea of an exciting trip somewhere across the world! Do you often find yourself daydreaming of exciting vacations in faraway lands? As you have been reading throughout Connect, you’ll find that our students and faculty have been busy creating amazing global experiences. Study abroad has changed since it was first introduced at OHIO in the late 1960s. Then, the experiences were based on learning a foreign language to satisfy the requirement for graduation. Today, from Paraguay to London to South Africa and beyond, CHSP students are exploring their major fields through both observational and hands-on learning. Yet the experience resonates with them as it did with those first students to explore the world under the OHIO banner. In the summer of 1968, Jean Blosser (1969 B.S. in Hearing-Speech Science alumna) traveled to Lindau, Germany as part of Ohio University’s “German Work Program.” Jean and her roommate were hired to work in a popular tourist hotel as restaurant staff, but were reassigned to housekeeping when the hotel owners realized they spoke no German. Jean, however, recalls the eight-week job, which was followed by a month of European travel, fondly. She was planning a career in speech-language pathology and working and living alongside people with whom she had a communication barrier taught her lessons she used later in practice. For an example, things such as how do you communicate or form a bond with someone with whom you can’t speak? Not only did she gain some important insight into her future career, but a passion for travel was ignited as well. Did you have a study abroad experience? Do you have a passion for travel? We invite you to consider joining one of our global health field experiences as a mentor to CHSP students. Being a mentor allows you to be a positive influence on a student while participating in a potentially life changing experience. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at 740.566.0484 or at jonese4@ohio.edu.
Elizabeth Jones Assistant Dean for Outreach and Engagement
Spring 2017 | connect
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SCHOLARSHIPS • AWARDS
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he CHSP Student and Faculty Awards ceremony recognized more than 85 individuals in Grover Center Atrium on Friday, April 7, 2017.
“As I look around this room of outstanding students, teachers, researchers and leaders, I am proud to be the dean of CHSP,” Dean Randy Leite told the audience. “Your accomplishments have placed you among the very best in the college, and I am deeply honored to present these awards in recognition of your hard work and dedication.” Recipients were recognized for their contributions and accomplishments during the 2016–17 year. Individual awards were given under the categories of “Outstanding Graduates,” “Student Achievement,” “Dean’s Recognition Awards,” and “Faculty Awards.” A complete list of the awards and recipients can be found online at ohio.edu/chsp/ alumni-giving/giving.cfm 22
Spring 2017 | connect
ARHI improves Appalachian health through partnerships by Kate Fox hile serving national and international populations, the College of Health Sciences and Professions also maintains a strong commitment to the Appalachian Ohio region it calls home.
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The Appalachian Rural Health Institute (ARHI), under new director Michele Morrone, is one of the many CHSP collaborative efforts committed to increasing the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals in the Appalachian region through community-engaged research. The institute, established in 1999 as the “Center for Appalachian and Rural Health Research,” was renamed ARHI in 2003, and since then has worked to improve all aspects of rural Appalachian health. Morrone, professor of environmental health science in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, brings a distinctive collaborative approach and public health perspective to the position. Upon assuming the directorship last year, she set three goals for the institute: • Create opportunities for students to study and work collaboratively on Appalachian health issues. • Establish ARHI as an Appalachian health research hub that complements other work being done through the college and University. • Form strong connections with other community and regional organizations in Appalachia working to address rural health issues. Regarding student engagement, a major priority for Morrone has been crafting the curriculum for a new undergraduate Appalachian Studies Certificate. Morrone hopes to receive University approval for the certificate program in 2018. The program will incorporate courses offered throughout the University. Plans are also under way for a graduatelevel Appalachian Studies Certificate.
As for research, Morrone noted, “I see ARHI complementing a lot of the other work going on at the University, but my goal is to find our own niche in research. There are many public health issues in particular where I can see ARHI playing a research role.” ARHI, which already maintains close ties with the University’s Diabetes Institute and Heritage College’s free Community Clinic, is working with other University institutes and research teams, as well as various community health programs, to identify and pursue research avenues that directly address the region’s needs. “Our overarching goal is to have our community organizations define the research needs for our area,” Morrone said, “and then have researchers from across the University work collaboratively to address those needs.” Morrone is developing a research strategy for collaborators to examine the connection between housing conditions and health in Appalachia. Morrone is also working with local health departments to determine what services ARHI can provide as the health departments seek to meet the Public Health Accreditation Board’s mandatory accreditation requirements by the 2020 deadline. “Our first step is seeing what they need to do to meet the requirements, and then identifying the resources we can offer to help with that.” For more information about ARHI, visit ohio.edu/chsp/arhi/ or contact Michele Morrone at morrone@ohio.edu.
NEW • NOW • NEXT
Commencement 2017:
MORTARBOARD
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER 24
Graduates wear a cap based on a cleric’s biretta that originated in the 15th century. Though scholars are divided on its symbolism—a book? Oxford University’s quadrangle?—its name is derived from the flat board bricklayers use to hold mortar. A more recent tradition, started at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912, is throwing caps into the air. An even more recent tradition is grad cap decoration, often expressing thanks or capturing a particular sentiment or interest.
Often OHIO’s commencement speakers have been our own alumni: NBC-TV “Today Show” host Matt Lauer (1997), former Democratic National Committee Chair David Wilhelm (2002), and Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson (2012). But we have also hosted prominent surgeon, author, and New Yorker columnist Atul Gawande, a self-proclaimed “townie” from Athens (2011) and the first female Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (1997). CHSP’s own faculty member Jenny Chabot addressed graduates at the fall 2016 commencement.
TASSEL
Tassels have adorned graduation caps for the past 40 to 50 years and were originally designed only to decorate the graduate’s cap during the ceremony. In more recent times, moving the tassel from one side of the cap to the other has come to symbolize the transition from candidate to graduate. Prior to the ceremony, the tassel is expected to be worn on the right. During the ceremony it is moved to the left side after students receive their diplomas. The color of the tassel is linked to degree type. All master’s and doctoral students’ tassels are black, but CHSP undergrads wear one of five colors depending on major: apricot, ivory/green, light blue, maroon or sage.
UNIVERSITY MACE
Look carefully during the procession and you will see the University Mace, symbol of authority, whose design in the 1990s by late artist and OHIO art professor David Klahn is modeled after one of the balustrades of an original stairway in Cutler Hall. It is wise to note that in the early days of Cambridge and Oxford, religious and/or educational officials used maces to shepherd unruly students. Hopefully all CHSP alumni were “ruly” during their graduation ceremonies!
Spring 2017 | connect
The trads behind the grads
UNIVERSITY RING
Junior-status students and above are eligible to wear the university ring, which features the university seal. According to university sources, “Prior to graduation, the ring is worn with the rising sun pointing away from the wearer, representing a guiding light on the path to graduation. After graduation, the ring is worn with the rising sun pointing toward the wearer, warming the heart and illuminating the accomplishment of graduating from Ohio University.”
ACADEMIC HOOD
Since the 1200s, hoods have been worn for head coverings and protection against the elements. It wasn’t until the fifteenth century that they became a symbol for graduates. Depending on type of degree, hoods were made of silk or cloth and were either unlined or lined with fur. Hoods were typically black, scarlet or blue. Today, those graduating from CHSP with master’s or doctoral degrees will wear hoods in salmon, maroon, white, golden yellow, sage, apricot, teal or blue depending on field of study.
first graduating classes for each CHSP school/department
LOCATION Before the Convocation Center was completed in 1968, Commencement was held on the College Green under the McGuffey elms, which meant that graduates were often exposed to the elements. And before that, in the early 1840s, Commencement was moved from September to August. No doubt, graduates after 1968 appreciated the indoor setting and the Convo’s air-conditioning; temperatures are brought down to 50-54 degrees on the day of Commencement to counter the body heat of nearly 14,000 attendees.
Spring 2017 | connect
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Nutrition School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness
1940
Communication Sciences and Disorders School of Rehabilitation and Communication Studies
1966
Child and Family Studies Department of Social and Public Health
1970
Associate in Nursing School of Nursing
2016
Integrated Healthcare Studies Department of Interdisciplinary Health Studies
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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID ATHENS, OH PERMIT NO. 100
College of Health Sciences and Professions Grover Center, W379 1 Ohio University Athens, OH 45701
Saturday October 7 2017 Mark your calendar to join us for our second annual homecoming breakfast! 8:15-9:45 a.m. | Grover Center parade starts at 10 a.m.