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NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Spring 2022
Letter from the Dean Health professions educators are part of the bridge that ensures quality health care. I am thrilled to join SVSU as the new dean. As I embark on this new journey, I am eager to engage with all of you in meaningful ways. The shift to more patient-centered care requires more multidisciplinary training. Health care’s response to the pandemic has made it abundantly clear that employers need health care workers who are independent learners, have good problem-solving and decision-making skills, embrace collaboration, and are in tune with their own emotions and those around them. Furthermore, emerging technologies such as virtual reality learning, electroceutical therapies and precision medicine, and big data are reshaping health care provision and outcome in multiple ways. Advancements in digital technologies have accelerated health care innovation, making the environment increasingly difficult to keep pace with, but also opening the door to opportunities. The next five to seven years are likely to require a sustained upshift in SVSU’s investment to unlock the potential of these technological assets. What differentiates SVSU health professions education from other schools is the extensive clinical and practical opportunities available for our students, and the belief that you learn best by doing. These hands-on skills building opportunities that allow for more authentic learning, as well as the potential of emerging healthcare technologies, will meet the needs of modern health care. We believe that together we can be better! Regards,
Marcia Mastracci Ditmyer, PhD, MBA, MS Marcia Mastracci Ditmyer comes to SVSU after serving as the associate dean for education and professor in residence with emeritus at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Dental Medicine. In her 19 years at UNLV, she facilitated the establishment of an interprofessional academic health center including medicine, dental, mental health, nursing, public health, occupational therapy, physical therapy and nutrition sciences. A Michigan native, Ditmyer received an MBA from Central Michigan University, an MS from California College for Health Sciences, and a PhD from the University of Toledo. She also holds the Master Certified Health Education Specialist credential. Her formal training has allowed Ditmyer to work as an epidemiologist, researcher, and community health specialist.
Departments
Health Science o Kinesiology o Nursing o Occupational Therapy o Social Work
COLLEGE NEWS During the 2021 homecoming game, Dr. Kathleen Schachman, HR Wickes Endowed Professor of Nursing, was named this year’s Honorary Alumna and Homecoming Grand Marshal. Since joining SVSU in 2014, Schachman has been relentless in her pursuit of innovative programs and funding to expand medical, mental health and substance use resources to rural and small communities across northern and mid-Michigan. Dr. Schachman has raised over $7.3 million in grant monies, enabling SVSU to meet community need through initiatives like the Bay Community Health Clinic, “MI Babies,” “Project Echo” and the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate program. After a career spent as a primary care nurse practitioner across the U.S. and overseas, Schachman is particularly dedicated to providing front-line clinicians with the knowledge to manage patients with complex conditions. The MI Babies program is a clinician education as well as screening and treatment program to help infants struggling with neonatal abstinence syndrome following in utero exposure to drugs and alcohol. The Project Echo program consists of biweekly clinician teleconferences where providers gain specialized knowledge from experts. Finally, the mental health nurse practitioner program improves clinician responsiveness to difficult mental health issues, particularly where resources are limited. Dr. Schachman is also uniquely qualified to understand the value of multi-disciplinary collaboration, a central tenant of the education in the college and the foundation for the Bay Community Health Clinic. Dr. Schachman’s life work has been one of empowering others, whether they be an SVSU nursing student or a local health-care practitioner.
Points of Pride SVSU has the top-ranked nursing and social work programs in the Midwest Since 2018, HHS has graduated 659 RNs and advanced practice nurses, 417 social workers, 169 occupational therapists, 211 exercise physiologists, and 520 community and public health workers, medical lab scientists, researchers, and rehabilitation medicine students. Job placement for nursing graduates is nearly 100% 100% of occupational therapy students passed the National Board for Certification in OT exam in 2020. SVSU boasts one of only four accredited simulation centers in Michigan. Over 95% of Social Work students have achieved the 10 core competency standards of the Council on Social Work Education.
SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW CARDINALS Today’s Cardinals are carrying on the proud tradition of Red Pride! In the College of Health and Human Services, and throughout the university, SVSU students are tackling challenges and building skills to prepare for success after graduation. Opportunities for academic, civic and professional engagement enrich their learning and enhance their qualifications. Private support for scholarships, programs and college initiatives increases access to these opportunities. To make a secure online gift to student scholarships, the College of Health and Human Services or where support is needed most, visit svsu.edu/give_hhs or scan the QR code.
SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT “I may not have taken a direct path in life towards my degree, but my path developed me into the person I am today.” Mandy Geister is not your typical undergraduate social work student. She has life experience that most undergraduates won’t acquire for several years. She’s been through a major career change, works full time, is mom to a 16-year-old son and has successfully navigated substance abuse recovery. She personifies the grit, determination and persistence of so many SVSU students. Mandy’s path to SVSU was not direct. She worked as a CAD technician for an engineering firm until a layoff in 2012 forced a career change. That layoff prompted her to re-evaluate her life. In recovery at the time, Mandy decided she wanted to change her life and make a greater impact in her recovering community. A series of events opened Mandy's eyes to social work. To gain confidence and balance family responsibilities, she began commuting over an hour from the Thumb to Delta College. Two years ago, Mandy transferred to SVSU, having been impressed with the reputation of SVSU’s social work program. Without hesitation she recognizes that her professors’ availability, flexibility, creativity and real life experiences ― especially during a pandemic ― have been instrumental to her classroom learning. The scholarships she has received have also been a factor in Mandy’s success. Not only did the financial support help her make ends meet, but the affirmation that she was worthy of a scholarship was humbling and celebratory. Now she’s inspired to provide scholarship support to other students when she’s able. Mandy is preparing to graduate in May. Because of her own experience with substance abuse ― and the effect that had on her son ― she hopes to work with youth who are facing similar challenges.
“I want to hold hope for someone until they can hold hope for themselves.”
Scholarship Support For the 2021-2022 academic year, the College of HHS received over $165,000 in scholarships. The following are scholarships that provide support for SVSU students. We would like to thank those who supported scholarships that make a difference for our students. Maynard D. & Goldie Bartha Allyn Scholarship Fund Joyce Bangert Cook RN, MSHA Scholarship in Nursing Don and Iva Bellinger Scholarship Ruth (Zappa) Bridge, SVSU Endowment for Nursing Gregory and Helayne Brown Annual Scholarship Barbara Ann Divine Endowed Nursing Scholarship Amy L. Dore Annual Nursing Scholarship Field Neurosciences Institute for Neuro Nursing Grace Goetz Memorial Fund for Nursing Patricia A. Hansel Memorial Nursing Scholarship Frederick Douglas & Natalia Ruth Horak Memorial Scholarship • Robert Castro Jaime Endowment • Jurgens Nursing Scholarship • Leota M. Kowalski, RN Memorial Nursing Scholarship
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Ramesh Kumar Foundation Michigan Board of Nursing Scholarship Trisha Muladore & Covenant Nursing Endowment PRIDE Center Scholarship RN to BSN Scholarship (RN-BSN & ADN-BSN Students) David A. Roy Memorial Fund SVSU Endowment in Nursing SVSU Health Profession Alumni SVSU SNA Positive Impact Scholarship James F. and Elizabeth A. Stoddard Endowment Ronnie Scheall Memorial Scholarship Mary C. Walker Nursing Scholarship G. James & Lyla Williams Scholarship for Nursing and Teacher Education • Ann L. Wintermeyer Memorial Scholarship • Steve Yanca Memorial Scholarship Social Work
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BUILDING SKILLS Simulations build skills, self-confidence and interprofessional collaboration. Students in HHS participate in a variety of authentic, hands-on learning activities. Left: 1st year nursing student Laila Boggin works with a standardized patient
Right: Professor of Nursing Ava Lewis leads a “mega simulation”
Above: Students participate in a poverty simulation
Left: Student s in CPR training Above: Mega simulation team competition
7400 Bay Road University Center, MI 48710 989.964.4052 foundation@svsu.edu