University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences
Connection Winter 2015
Inside ... HUMAN PERFORMANCE LABORATORIES see function maximized. Page 10
A magazine featuring news about our college, students, alumni and friends
Connection Winter 2015
Inside ... 17
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Connection is a publication of the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences. Editor & Graphic Designer Melanie J. Sparks Contributing Writers Sarah Geegan Mallory Powell Connect with Us
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Email the Editor mpjack0@uky.edu
Archives
Students
College News
Milestones.........................................2 News & Notes...................................4
Lephart Named Dean......................13 Faculty/Staff News...........................14
Outreach
Alumni
Shoulder to Shoulder Global..........6
Academic
PA Alumna Stefanie Brock.............17 Dinner with Kats.............................18 Class Notes.......................................19
Meet Our New Faculty....................8
Development
Research
6th Annual Golf Scramble..............20
HPL Grand Opening.....................10 New Grants.....................................12 On the cover: Doug Long (left), Research Coordinator and Exercise Physiology Tech, performs strength tests on a research participant in the Human Performance Laboratories.
UK College of Health Sciences
www.issuu.com/ukchs UK College of Health Sciences Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building 900 South Limestone, Room 123 Lexington, KY 40536-0200 (859) 323-1100 www.mc.uky.edu/healthsciences Copyright 2015, University of Kentucky. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the UK College of Health Sciences, (859) 323-1100.
Gaining Momentum Message from the Interim Dean Dear Friends, In the last issue of Connection, I shared with you our “wish list” for a new dean. In summary, we were looking for a strong, creative and caring leader to steer the College in the right direction and inspire us to work toward common goals. I also emphasized how important it will be for our new dean to build solid relationships with not only our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, but to reach out across the UK campus, UK HealthCare enterprise, and the larger community. We are thrilled to report that our wishes have been fulfilled with the selection of our fourth dean – Scott M. Lephart, Ph.D. In October, UK Provost Christine Riordan, Ph.D., announced that Dr. Lephart will join us in March 2015. He is currently at the University of Pittsburgh, where he serves as Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, as well as the Director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory and Warrior Human Performance Research Center. He brings to CHS his experience and success in building and developing strong relationships, academic programs, and a research enterprise. (To read more about Dr. Lephart, please see page 13.) On behalf of the College, I express a heartfelt thank you to Provost Riordan, the Dean Search Committee (led by Dr. Carl Mattacola), and the Witt/Kieffer search firm for their thoughtful and diligent work during this successful dean’s search. We also wish the best to Dr. Riordan who is leaving UK in July to become president of Adelphi University in New York. She has been a dedicated advocate for CHS during her time at UK, and we are confident that Adelphi will flourish under her leadership. With our new dean in place, we are gaining momentum. We anticipate a bright future under Dr. Lephart’s leadership. I look forward to continuing to serve the College in my role as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and to assisting Dr. Lephart during this transition. Please read this issue in that spirit of momentum. See the momentum created as our PA students go from the classroom to the clinic during the White Coat Ceremony, and our PT and MLS graduates move on to their health care careers (page 2). See the momentum created by the efforts of interprofessional health care teams who helped a six-year-old boy in Ecuador take his first steps (page 6). See the momentum created by the newly renovated Human Performance Labs, a shared research space, overseen by CHS and the College of Education, with equipment capable of assessing physical function, strength, motion, and gait (page 10). See the momentum created by the generosity of our donors as our 2014 Golf Scramble raised nearly $11,000 for student scholarships (page 20). As we move forward, let’s embrace change with open minds and ready hands and feet. We are ready and willing to work toward our future, and we hope you, our friends, will be right there beside us. Warmest regards, Sharon R. Stewart, Ed.D. Interim Dean Winter 2015 1
Students
Milestones Graduation, White Coat and Pinning
Above: The Medical Laboratory Science Program held its Pinning Ceremony at the UK Student Center in December 2014. Twenty-four students received pins during the ceremony, which is an opportunity for administrators and faculty members to recognize the MLS seniors for their commitment and dedication during the last 18 months. It is also an opportunity for families and friends to applaud the success of these graduates.
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Above: The Physician Assistant Studies Program held its White Coat Ceremony at the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital Pavilion A in February 2014. Fifty-four students from the College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Class of 2016 received white coats during the ceremony that marks the transition from the classroom to the clinic. Bottom: The Physical Therapy Program held its Graduation Ceremony in August 2014. Sixty-two students graduated, including 16 from the Hazard campus. Aaron Jones, John Wright Polk, Lauren Knabel and Chelsea Housh sang a beautiful rendition of “Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World” and followed with an impromptu version of “Rock Me Like a Wagon Wheel”. Aaron Jones gave an inspirational and humorous speech, reminding his classmates of their responsibility to the profession and UK as PT practitioners. After the ceremony, a lovely reception was held on the lawn in front of Memorial Hall.
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Students HHS Student Provides a Voice for African Students on Campus Q & A with Bill Aboagye, president of the UK African Student Association Why did you choose the UK College of Health Sciences? The College of Health Sciences is known for its close-knit community. As a student who wants to develop not only academically but also professionally, CHS was the best fit for me. By knowing my professors as real people and having a strong network of friends, who share the same passions of becoming front-liners in their chosen interprofessional health care fields, being a student at CHS has been one of the best decisions I have made in my undergraduate career yet.
What is your background? I’m originally from Accra, Ghana, in West Africa. I’m the last of six children of Hon. Johnson C. Aboagye, a politician, businessman and Evangelist, and Mrs. Minnie Aboagye, a businesswoman. I graduated from Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, Ghana, in 2011. After graduation, I took a gap year to volunteer at the EducationUSA office of the U.S. Embassy, and the Osu Children’s Home (an orphanage in Accra), shadowed a family medicine physician, and taught English and math in a nearby Islamic community. Growing up in Ghana gave me a real-life view of a society with very limited access to quality health care, but significant health care needs. I remember seeing the members of my community flock the local dispensary with their children for check-ups, immunizations, etc. More than twice in the year, this local dispensary will shut down due to inadequate funding and poor management. That led the townsmen to adhere to primitive modes of disease prevention and cure, most of which weren’t successful in saving lives. The need I grew up witnessing in my town sparked an interest in me: to build a career in a field where I can take care of adults and children with complex health needs. That was my motivation to pursue medicine and clinical research. I’m eagerly looking forward to applying myself, as well as a strong medical education and a preceptor-oriented, problem-solving approach, to achieve my aim.
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Why did you choose Human Health Sciences (HHS) as your major? What are your career plans? I chose HHS as my major because of the holistic curriculum the program offers future health care professionals. The HHS program offers a well-rounded curriculum to students interested in health care, and it is very unique in its course offerings. As a future physician-scientist, having a strong knowledge base in issues relating to the U.S. health care system, such as health policy, health law and ethics, will make me a better rounded professional, as I will better understand the impacts these issues will have on my practice. I look forward to a fulfilling career because of the added edge this program is offering me. What is the misison of the UK African Student Association? How do you serve the campus in this role? As president of the UK African Student Association, I basically run all business related to our organization, which serves to promote cultural, social, and political awareness about the African continent to the UK community, the city of Lexington and beyond. Every year, the UK African Student Association works on a particular project, as part of the Taste of Africa event (our biggest event of the year). This year, we are partnering with a student-run organization called Students for a Healthy Africa. We chose this group specifically because of their goals: To improve health care in Africa through student-led initiatives and to foster peace among youth of Africa. We are specifically working with the Hope In Dreams Foundation to partner with Ghana’s Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Health, and orphanages to provide HIV/ AIDS orphans, as well as children in foster care, with health insurance coverage. This project is themed the “Ten Per Kid” Project. With $10, an orphan/foster child can get access to quality health care for a whole year through the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme. We are looking forward to a successful year of leadership, service, and giving back to humanity.
Student Highlights Olufunmilola Akinola, Clinical Nutrition Received first-place prize in the Three Minute Thesis competition sponsored by the Graduate School Congress. Also received the people’s choice award. Topic: “Reducing Symptom Severity and Burden in Advanced Heart Failure.” Andy Duclos, Physician Assistant Studies • Received the inaugural Health Colleges Student Diversity Services (HCSDS) Exceptional Student Service Award. • Selected as a speaker at the Future Health Careers Club at Spencer County Middle School. Virginia Lobach, Physician Assistant Studies Awarded a prestigious one-year surgical residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Natalie L. Myers, Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program Awarded the Patty & Chuck Kimmel Scholarship, sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Foundation. Emily Merritt, Physician Assistant Studies Selected to serve a term on the Northeast Area Health Education Center Advisory Board. Enrique Smith-Forbes, MOT, OTR, CHT, MAJ, SP, USA, Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program • Awarded Best Scientific Paper Award and 1st Time Scientific Session Presenter Awards from the American Society of Hand Therapists, during its conference in Boston. • Presented at the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) conference. His presentation was well-received and was titled “Experiences of Individuals in
Upper Extremity Rehabilitation with Incongruence between their QuickDASH and GROC Scores.” Sara K. Ehrensberger, Physician Assistant Studies Received a Love of Learning award from Phi Kappa Phi. The awards help fund post-baccalaureate studies and/or career development for active Phi Kappa Phi members. Caitlin Whale, MS, ATC, Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program Awarded a Center for Clinical and Translational Science seed grant to support the investigation of “Post-Surgical Isometric Quadriceps Strength Outcome after a 12-week Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Treatment in Articular Cartilage Repair Patients”. Mentors include: Carl G. Mattacola, PhD, ATC, FNATA, Professor, Division of Athletic Training, College of Health Sciences, and Christian Lattermann, MD, Associate Professor, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, College of Medicine. Conrad Gabler, MS, ATC, Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program Awarded a Center for Clinical and Translational Science seed grant to support the investigation of “Effectiveness of Homebased Electrical Stimulation on Restoring Neuromuscular Quadriceps Function in Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”. Mentors include: Carl G. Mattacola, PhD, ATC, FNATA, Professor, Division of Athletic Training, College of Health Sciences, and Brian Pietrosimone, PhD, ATC, Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina.
News Briefs Allied Health Week Allied Health Professions Week is recognized annually in the first week of November. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of allied health careers and to recognize and celebrate the many allied health professionals making valuable contributions to patient care, research, education, and service. CHS celebrated with a week of student-focused events, including Donuts and Coffee, an Ebola discussion panel, a Morning of Service at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, and a hand washing demonstration using black light (above).
PAS Poster Displayed During NAHQ Week During National Healthcare Quality Week in October, UK HealthCare showcased its efforts to improve the quality, safety and accessibility to health care services for all patients. Poster displays were by invitation-only. The PAS Program ED Throughput QA Project was selected as one of the posters on display at the event. Run for the Health of It 5K a Success The 7th annual Run for the Health of It 5K was held October 25 at Coldstream Park. The run was a huge success with 110 runners. It was hosted by the PAS Class of 2016, and a portion of the proceeds was donated to Surgery on Sunday.
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Outreach
Interprofessional Shoulder to Shoulder Global Team Helps child take his first steps at age six by Melanie J. Sparks
F
inding out that your child is seriously ill would be heartrending for any parent. But what if your child became gravely ill at just 15 days old, and medical professionals gave you little hope that he would survive? What if those first few years passed, and your child never took his first steps? What if you had limited or no access to medical care? This scenario was reality for Telmo and Rita Aquavil, parents of Arlyn (pictured at left). The family lives in Congama, a rural Tsáchilas village, near Santo Domingo, Ecuador. Arlyn developed medical problems 15 days after his birth, and doctors told his parents that he would not live. The Aquavils took their baby home, and, against all odds, Arlyn survived. He did not receive any further medical assessment or care during his first six years of life. In May 2014, a health brigade from Shoulder to Shoulder Global (STSG) visited Santo Domingo. Through STSG, interprofessional teams of University of Kentucky students, faculty, staff and community members provide care in impoverished communities in areas such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, communication disorders and public health. It was on this trip that Audrey Johnson, UK College of Health Sciences Physical Therapy alumna, met Arlyn, who at six-years-old was unable to walk. “From a physical therapy perspective, he had low tone and developmental delays,” said Johnson, who has been traveling with international medical brigades since 2008 and is currently a doctoral student in the Health Sciences Rehabilitation Sciences Ph.D. Program. “He was unable to walk or crawl, and had poor trunk and head control. He also had contractures [tightening or shortening of a body part] in his feet that impaired his movement and mobility.” During the physical therapy assessment, Johnson showed Arlyn’s father how to stretch his son’s feet, and how to help him crawl and stand. The family was given a yoga mat, so that Arlyn could practice the prescribed exercises and movements on their home’s uneven dirt floor. He was also given a modified walker to use as a standing frame. In addition to receiving physical therapy, Arlyn was evaluated by a pediatric neurologist in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Arlyn was diagnosed with an intellectual disability and a seizure disorder. After receiving medication to control his seizures, Arlyn made miraculous progress. Within two weeks, Arlyn was walking. “All the stars aligned for STSG to help this boy walk for the first time: our Brigade in his village, physical therapy, pediatrics, Peace Corps volunteer, linkage to a pediatric neurologist, and follow-up at our STSG Health Center in Santo Domingo,” said Dr. Thomas Young, the Jim and Suzanne Elliott & Family Professor of Pediatrics at the UK College of 6 UK College of Health Sciences
Medicine, who led the first medical brigade to Ecuador in 2002 with a small group of six committed participants. Arlyn’s story is one example of the profound effect Shoulder to Shoulder Global has on the lives of those it serves. Since 2002, STSG has grown, serving more than 1,500 patients, with more than 100 volunteers participating in its three annual health brigades to Ecuador. Additionally, STSG was instrumental in establishing the Centro Médico Hombro a Hombro in Ecuador, a health center opened in 2007, which provides medical care, prevention services, oral health, and school-based services in the community. The center helps to ensure access to continuous health care services year-round. Johnson is grateful for her experiences with STSG, which gave her the opportunity to engage with and mentor students interested in service learning. She believes STSG is focused on meeting the long-term health care needs of the community, and it is a worthy cause to support. “Financial support for Shoulder to Shoulder Global goes directly to impacting the health and wellness of the local community,” Johnson said. “By giving, you are supporting a sustainable organization that is committed to its people.” For more information, please visit the website at bit.ly/UK_STSG.
Your Health Experts Health columns bring valuable information to the community
As part of our service to the community, our faculty are regular contributors to the “Your Health” section in the Lexington Herald-Leader. Here are some of the most recent topics: • Make Tummy Time Fun for Infants, by Susan Effgen, PT, PhD • How to Make the Most of Your Doctor’s Appointment, by Suzanne Fiscella, MSPH, PA-C • There Is Help for Aphasia, by Robert C. Marshall, PhD, FASHA, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS • Knee Pain Should Be Checked by Physical Therapist, Brian Noehren, PT, PhD, FACSM • Plugging Into iPods: Putting Your Hearing at Risk, by Anne D. Olson, PhD, CCC/A • Small Changes vs. Diet Overhaul, by Travis Thomas, PhD, RD, CSSD Read the columns on the website at bit.ly/CHS_Health
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Academic
Meet Our New Faculty Five faculty recently joined CHS
Somu Chatterjee, MD, MPH Assistant Professor Division of Physician Assistant Studies Morehead and Lexington Campuses Dr. Chatterjee was previously an infectious disease epidemiologist for the Northern Panhandle region of West Virginia. He is trained in CDC/CSTE (Council of State Territorial Epidemiologists) applied epidemiology competencies. He is adjunct faculty at West Liberty University and West Virginia University. Dr. Chatterjee is experienced in clinical medicine, investigative field epidemiology, environmental health, infection control, and threat preparedness and global health. He is competent in statistical software and has clinical and administrative experiences in a medical field military unit for five years.
Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA Associate Professor Division of Athletic Training Before coming to UK, Dr. Gribble served as the Director of the CAATE-accredited PostProfessional Graduate Athletic Training Education Program for 10 years at the University of Toledo. His research interests have focused on understanding the neuromuscular consequences of ankle and knee injuries and developing intervention strategies to alleviate the health care burden from these injuries. Dr. Gribble has established an international reputation as an expert in the area of ankle instability and was recently asked to assume the role of Co-Director of the International Ankle Consortium. In his career, Dr. Gribble has over 50 published and/or in-press peer-reviewed manuscripts in scientific journals and has presented over 150 abstracts at international, national and regional scientific meetings.
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Nathan Johnson, PT, DPT, PhD Assistant Professor Division of Physical Therapy Dr. Johnson received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Bellarmine University in 2004. After practicing as a staff physical therapist at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, he returned to school and completed his Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Kentucky in 2012. His research and scholarly interests include cardiorespiratory fitness and brain health; successful aging through lifestyle modification; magnetic resonance imaging; diffusion tensor imaging; arterial spin labeling; and preventive medicine through lifestyle modification.
Mary K. Proffitt, PT, DPT, OCS Lecturer Division of Physical Therapy Dr. Proffitt received her Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in 2007 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2009. She has a clinical background in the outpatient orthopedic setting and is board certified in orthopedics by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Dr. Proffitt also provides PT services to patients with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) as part of a multidisciplinary care team at the University of Kentucky Neuroscience Center.
Debra Suiter, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S Associate Professor Division of Communication and Sciences Disorders Director, UK Voice & Swallow Clinic Dr. Suiter received a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science in 2001, both from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She has worked in a number of clinical service settings, including acute care, acute rehabilitation, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Dr. Suiter has extensive experience in working with adults with swallowing disorders. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and currently serves on the Boards of the American Board for Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and the Dysphagia Research Society. Additionally, she is the current Chair of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Board of Special Interest Group Coordinators.
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Research
New Human Performance Laboratories Enhance research infrastructure and collaborations by Mallory Powell (UK Public Relations)
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n 1987, the UK Colleges of Health Sciences (then called Allied Health) and Education, and the Center for Biomedical Engineering formed a collaborative Biodynamics Lab to study sports injuries and rehabilitation. Building upon this rich history of helping athletes prevent injury and increase performance, today the lab has a new location, extensive new equipment and capacities, and a new name: the Human Performance Laboratories (HPL). The new HPL provides a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility not only for assessment of form during movements such as running and throwing, but other kinds of functional assessments as well, including strength, endurance, gait and balance. These types of assessments are critical to better understand functional movement and conduct more sophisticated movement and exercise studies in fields beyond athletics and injury, such as healthy aging and neurological disorders. Charlotte Peterson, PhD, associate dean for research in the College of Health Sciences, serves as co-director of the HPL with Robert Shapiro, PhD, associate dean for research and innovation in the College of Education. “The new space and equipment of the lab lets us expand beyond the athletic population, to include, for example, Parkinson’s patients, ‘pre’-habilitation, and aging issues,” said Peterson. “The sorts of research projects that we want to highlight are those related to some of Kentucky’s biggest health challenges — obesity, diabetes, and functional status in the elderly. We’re interested in new ways to help people improve quality of life and maintain functional independence.” The dedicated space for exercise studies, including separate exam rooms, is also a benefit to research participants. “Exercise and physical activity studies don’t always need participants to come to the hospital, and the lab creates a non-clinical environment that’s a little more like going to the gym instead of going to the hospital,” said Dr. Philip Kern, director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. The expanded capacity and resources of the lab not only support current research but also serve as a catalyst for new multidisciplinary collaborations and translational research. For example, the College of Health Sciences, the Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine, the Sanders Brown
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Center on Aging, and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science jointly purchased a GAITRite, which analyzes how a person walks, for the Human Performance Lab and will be used for pre- and post-testing of Parkinson’s patients following deep brain stimulation surgery. The lab also provides unique research opportunities for undergraduate students. There are currently around 1,000 undergraduate students majoring in exercise science at UK, all of whom will take a course that involves working in the lab. Peterson hopes that in addition to expanding current research opportunities and involving students in research, the Human Performance Lab will prompt increased consideration of functional assessments across the spectrum of health research. “Ideally, this facility and expertise will encourage researchers to think more about incorporating functional assessments and physical activity interventions into their research programs,” she said. To learn more about participating in research and to stay up-to-date about health research opportunities at UK, please visit www.ukclinicalresearch.com.
Check out a brief video about the Human Performance Laboratories at bit.ly/hpl_vid
Save the Date: March 25 Please save the date for our 2nd Annual College of Health Sciences Research Day on Wednesday, March 25. The Research Day will be held, once again, in conjunction with the CCTS Spring Conference in the Lexington Convention Center. There is no fee to attend. It’s going to be a fun day filled with exciting talks and conversations around physical activity across the lifespan. More information coming soon. Winter 2015 11
Research
New Grants Brian Noehren PT, PhD Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Noehren received an award of $50,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his project, entitled “Assessment of the feasibility of commercialization of a 3D markerless motion capture system with application to physical therapy”. It is supported by the NSF Innovation Corps Team Program, a program designed to help scientists develop skills that will allow them to apply knowledge gained from NSF supported projects to the commercial world, broadening impact. Travis Thomas, PhD, RD, CSSD Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Clinical Nutrition Thomas received a grant award of $400,000 from the NIH National Institute on Aging. He will collaborate with co-investigator Guoqiang Yu (Biomedical Engineering) on a two-year (R21) project, entitled, “Vitamin D contribution to muscle metabolic function in the elderly”.
Charlotte Peterson, PhD Joseph Hamburg Endowed Professor and Associate Dean for Research Peterson will serve as a P.I. on new grant funding of $3 million, effective 9/30/145/31/19. The title of the project is “Novel actions of Metformin to augment resistance training adaptation in older adults”. It is funded jointly by two NIH institutes: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and National Institute on Aging (NIA). The PI’s are Charlotte A. Peterson, PhD, Philip A. Kern (UK College of Mecidine), and Marcas Bamman (University of Alabama, Birmingham).
Peterson and Colleagues Co-Author Paper in Nature Medicine Charlotte Peterson, PhD, and colleagues co-authored an article published in Nature Medicine. The article “Inducible depletion of satellite cells in adult, sedentary mice impairs muscle regenerative capacity without affecting sarcopenia” appeared online in December and was published in the print publication in January. Co-authors include Christopher Fry, Jonah Lee, Jyothi Mula, Janna Jackson and Esther Dupont-Versteegden (CHS); Tyler Kirby and John McCarthy (UK College of Medicine); Fujun Liu and Lin Yang (UK College of Public Health); and Christopher Mendias (University of Michigan). “You will see that the results are basically negative, going against dogma in the field,” Peterson said. “Our work argues against the utility of stem cell therapy for treatment of muscle wasting with age. There are entire institutes dedicated to that approach, which may need to be re-focused.” Abstract: A key determinant of geriatric frailty is sarcopenia, the age-associated loss of skeletal muscle 12 UK College of Health Sciences
mass and strength. Although the etiology of sarcopenia is unknown, the correlation between the loss of satellite cell activity and impaired regenerative capacity in aged muscle has led to the hypothesis that diminished activity of satellite cells, or skeletal muscle stem cells, with age is a cause of sarcopenia. We tested this hypothesis using a mouse model to deplete young adult muscle of satellite cells to a level sufficient to impair regeneration throughout the life of the animal. A detailed analysis of multiple muscles in sedentary male mice revealed that, despite reduced regenerative capacity, the life-long reduction of satellite cells did not accelerate nor exacerbate sarcopenia. These data argue against satellite cell contribution to the maintenance of muscle size or fiber type composition during aging; however, an increase in extracellular matrix suggests that loss of satellite cells may contribute to fibrosis with age. Find the article online at www.nature.com/nm.
College News
Scott M. Lephart, PhD, Named Dean Nationally respected sports medicine, military human performance scholar by Sarah Geegan (UK Public Relations)
U
K Provost Christine Riordan named Scott M. Lephart, PhD, dean of the College of Health Sciences. He is a nationally recognized scholar in sports medicine and the physical performance of military personnel. Scott Lephart is currently a Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. He will take over as dean at UK on March 1, 2015, pending approval from the Board of Trustees. Having served on the University of Pittsburgh faculty for 27 years, Lephart is widely published and recognized as a leader in sports medicine, particularly with regard to neuromuscular and biomechanical analysis of human movement associated with musculoskeletal injury, prevention, surgery and rehabilitation. Lephart also has secured multiple research grants as the principal investigator leading the Department of Defense Human Performance Research initiative. Lephart is the founding director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. In this role and as chair, he has been successful in building a flourishing research enterprise with extraordinary growth in academic programs, personnel and facilities. “Scott has demonstrated impressive leadership in developing partnerships between academic units in allied health and an academic medical center, and has cultivated meaningful relationships with federal funding agencies, private and public foundations, and the industry,” Riordan said in making the appointment. “President Capilouto and I are excited that he will bring a national reputation as a scholar in some critically important areas to a college that has had a growing research presence and impact in recent years.” “Research that impacts communities today is most often found between and at the intersection of disciplines,” said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK’s executive vice president for health affairs. “In Scott Lephart, we have someone who not only understands that fact, but that has taken a leadership position in working across disciplines in a collaborative way to advance research in this growing area of human performance.” “The College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky is a place where outstanding teaching and research are taking place,” Lephart said. “I am excited to join a faculty and an institution with a deep commitment to developing and
growing interdisciplinary partnerships that directly address the challenges and needs of the Commonwealth.” Riordan said Lephart received a strong recommendation from both the search committee and the groups within the college that he met with during his visits to UK. “Dr. Lephart has demonstrated success fostering growth in personnel and facilities, and he is an expert and scholar in the area of sports medicine, specifically neuromuscular research and optimization of human function,” said Carl Mattacola, chair of the dean search committee and director of the CHS Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Sciences Ph.D. programs. “He brings to the College experience in cross-disciplinary research and educational programs, participation in a Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) budget model, and has had success with philanthropic giving. He has been successful in stimulating a thriving research enterprise with innovative Department of Defense partnerships, and he is a proven and creative leader.” “Scott Lephart is a game changer for UK and UK HealthCare,” said Dr. Darren Johnson, chair of the UK Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. “His leadership will enhance opportunities for innovative collaboration across multiple colleges and departments and his impressive research background and reputation in musculoskeletal sports and military injury prevention will elevate and provide even more opportunities for the college’s already emergent and successful programs.” Lephart will replace Sharon Stewart, who has been serving as interim dean of the college since August 2011. “I often say that people make the place. Dean Stewart embodies that credo, as she has ably led the college for more than three years, all the while further strengthening its commitment to preparing the clinical, educational and research leaders of tomorrow,” Riordan said. “Dr. Lephart brings with him an exciting research portfolio and a breadth and depth of administrative experience that will serve our college well,” said Stewart, who will return to her role as the associate dean of Academic Affairs in the college. “We are excited that he will be joining us at the College of Health Sciences, and we look forward to his arrival.”
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College News New Staff No photo available
Sherry Grace, MSPAS-PA-C Clinical Support Services Director Adjunct Assistant Professor Division of Physician Assistant Studies
No photo available
Maria Harris Staff Support Associate II Division of Physician Assistant Studies
Ruth Lawlor Financial Analyst Business Office
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Kara Lee, PT, DPT Associate Director of Clinical Education Division of Physical Therapy
Katie Lopez Financial Analyst Business Office
Melissa S. Miller Staff Associate Division of Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program
Brendan O’Farrell Director of the Interprofessional Healthcare Residential College Office of Student Affairs
Julie Poole Assistant Business Officer Business Office
Becky Unites Data Analyst Assessmemt Office
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Marc Wolfe Data Management Specialist Rehabilitation Sciences
See new faculty on pages 8-9.
Recent Awards and Achievements Vrushali Angadi, MS, CCC-SLP Speech Pathologist, Voice and Swallow Clinic Article titled “Raising Awareness of the Cancer Burden in Appalachia” published in KSHA Communicator.
Timothy Butterfield, PhD, ATC Associate Professor, Athletic Training Esther Dupont-Versteegden, PhD Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy Article titled “Of Mice and Men” published in NATA News, featuring their research into the effectiveness of rehabilitative massage.
Meredith Houlihan Staff Support Associate II, Communication Sciences & Disorders Received a UK Outstanding Staff Award.
continued next page 14 UK College of Health Sciences
Lindsey Lepley, PhD, ATC Post-Doctoral Fellow, Rehabilitation Sciences Co-authored “Cross-Education Strength and Activation After Eccentric Exercise” recently published in the NATA Journal of Athletic Training. Tim Uhl, PhD, ATC, PT Professor, Athletic Training Recipient of a 2015 Great Teacher Award. This student-nominated award is the oldest, continuously presented award to recognize teaching at UK, and the winners are slected by the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. Charlotte A. Peterson, Ph.D. Joseph Hamburg Endowed Professor and Associate Dean for Research Invited to serve as a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Institute on Aging.
Kristie M. Law Promoted to Administrative Support Associate I Rehabilitation Sciences
Karen O. Skaff, RDH, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences Chaired the Preventive Care and Oral Hygiene Session at BIT’s 5th World Gene Convention in Haikou, China. Virginia Valentin, MCMS, PA-C Assistant Professor, Division of Physician Assistant Studies Co-authored article titled “Salary Differences of Male and Female Physician Assistant Educators” published in the Journal of Physician Assistant Education.
Highlights and Announcements The outpatient Speech-Language Pathology Clinic was recognized by UK HealthCare with the Patient Experience Award for April-June 2014 (pictured at left). The Patient Experience Award recognizes quality service across UK HealthCare clinics and departments. The winners hit the 75th percentile or above for every domain measured, including access to care, the quality of provider and office staff communication, and ease of scheduling appointments. CHS Staff Council held another successful Harvest Breakfast and Silent Auction for faculty and staff. The auction raised $1,673 to benefit UK’s Big Blue Pantry, which serves UK students who are experiencing food insecurity or hunger. The UK College of Health Sciences accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from the College of Medicine. CHS edged out the competition by raising $580 for the UK ALS Clinic. The “winning” team, representing PAS, raised the most money and received a dousing with an especially large bucket of ice water.
Emery Wilson Named Interim PAS Program Director On January 1, Emery Wilson, MD, joined the CHS Department of Clinical Sciences in the Division of Physician Assistant Studies as the Interim Division and Program Director. The position was formerly held by Bradford Schwarz, M.S., PA-C, who joined the Lexington Veterans Administration Hospital as a hospitalist. Wilson served as Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine for 17 years, where he serves as Emeritus Dean. After completing a residency in obstetrics and gynecology and serving in the U.S. Air Force, he held a faculty position and completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Harvard Medical School. He returned to the UK College of Medicine faculty in 1976, where he served as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology in addition to his administrative duties. He earned a national reputation for his work as a reproductive endocrinologist. In 1985, one of his patients had Kentucky’s first successful pregnancy by in-vitro fertilization.
Winter 2015 15
College News
Dean Currier Donates Antique Devices Former Physical Therapy program director has been a collector for years
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ean Currier, PT, PhD, Professor Emeritus, and former Physical Therapy Program Director, recently donated a unique collection of antique stimulation units to CHS. His area of expertise was electrophysiologic testing and therapy, and he has authored books on electrotherapy and research. Currier retired in 1993, and has since traveled the country with his wife, collecting antique electrical stimulation units. These units range from the late 1800s through the 1970s. “As a student I liked electro, as a caregiver I used the modality a lot in practice and taught the subject in three different programs,” Currier said. “So when my wife spotted a unit at a flea market, it was bought. From that point in the 1980s, we traveled and visited (I think) every antique place from Maine to California. After retirement, we traveled the country in our 5th wheeler and truck.” “Dr. Currier’s expertise in the area of electrophysiologic testing and electrical stimulation is extensive, and we are honored to have many pieces of his collection of antique electrical stimulation devices for display,” said Tony English, PT, PhD, Director of the CHS Division of Physical Therapy. “The collection represents the historical journey through the technological advances that have led to the safe and effective units currently used in practice. On behalf of the college and the Physical Therapy program, I would like to thank Dr. Currier for his generous gift.” Some of the units are on display in the walkway between Kentucky Clinic and the Wethington Building on the second floor. Other items are on display in the PT Division office suite in an antique cabinet that Currier also donated. The hope is to have Currier on campus to discuss the items soon.
The device at left is a Faradic Current device from 1928 (with dry-cell batteries that date to a more recent time). Did you know? Faradic technology is a form of electrical stimulation that uses a high frequency current for activating innervated muscles. When these older units were used, Faradic current was a form of direct current as seen by the use of batteries. Faradic current now is delivered through electrically conductive pads that are positioned over specific muscle groups and is now an alternating current that is more effective and comfortable than the older type of Faradic current. In the 1980s, Dr. Currier was a significant contributor in the effort to make the terminology used in electrical stimulation more accurate and standardized throughout the field of electrotherapy.
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Alumni
Dedicated to Her Profession and to Service Stefanie Brock, PAS, ’12 by Melanie J. Sparks
E
ach year during the white coat ceremony, which marks the transition from the classroom to clinical studies, future physician assistants recite a professional oath that includes the line: I will hold as my primary responsibility the health, safety, welfare and dignity of all human beings. Stefanie Brock, Physician Assistant Studies, ’12, is committed to fulfilling that promise not only on a local level, but on a global level as well. Her education and experiences while at the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Studies program prepared her well for both her profession and for service-oriented activities. Brock works as a physician assistant (PA) in small, rural emergency departments in Kentucky, and spends time each year devoted to medical missions in Haiti, where she assists a Haitian physician at a clinic. “As a medical provider, I believe service is a responsibility we carry throughout the rest of our lives,” Brock said. “Education is the primary form of service we are dedicated to. It is through education that patients are informed, medical management is encouraged, and self-accountability can exist among our patients.” Brock’s desire to provide service to underserved populations has its roots in her post-undergraduate experiences. After graduating from Transylvania University with bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish, Brock planned to earn a Ph.D. in Spanish language and literature and go into teaching. However, her experiences as a medical interpreter and clinical assistant working with underserved Hispanic populations in Lexington changed the course of her career and established her lifelong commitment to service. Brock decided to pursue a career in health care and enrolled in the UK Physician Assistant Studies program. Her outreach experience expanded exponentially during her time at UK with
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service as an interpreter for the physical therapy team working with Shoulder to Shoulder Global in Ecuador, as well as acting as an interpreter during the Hispanic Health Fair. In addition, Brock spent a month teaching public health and English literacy at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. She also shadowed a medical caravan in Morelia, Mexico, while on spring break. The second year of a PA’s education consists of rigorous clinical rotation across different specialties, such as pediatrics, surgery, and women’s health. Brock is quick to say that this year was the toughest. “It’s difficult to prepare anyone for a professional career without them diving right in,” Brock said. “The hardest year of PA school was the year when I was working (on clinical rotations). However, I had an excellent support network at UK. The faculty did a good job of being real and saying ‘This is what to expect. We’re not going to sugarcoat it. It’s going to be difficult.’ And that prepared me for a real work environment.” Brock completed the majority of her clinical rotations in rural and underserved communities in the Commonwealth. Additionally, she completed three months of clinical rotations in Africa and Peru. To further augment her international experiences, she earned the Global Public Health graduate certificate. Brock’s dedication to service and outreach is a testament to the values and ideals of the PA profession. However, she believes the call to serve extends beyond health care providers. “Frankly, I believe that service is a lifelong goal and responsibility for humans,” Brock said. “We are not created to exist in isolation or in silos. We are created to live in community. We live in a world that is getting more difficult with each day. But we can find so much hope in the support, assistance and love we can provide to each other in seemingly endless ways.”
Winter 2015 17
Alumni
Dinner with Kats Alumni and students connect
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n an effort to unite students with alumni, faculty and board members, CHS hosts Dinner with Kats, an annual networking event, which offers students the opportunity to meet alumni and professors in the health care fields. The event was held November 6, 2014, at the Hilary J. Boone Center. This year the college expanded our efforts to include Dentistry and Pharmacy in support of students in our HHS program. This is the third year of this event. We are always interested in securing additional alumni for this event. If you are interested, please email Keturah Taylor at Keturah.Taylor@uky.edu.
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MLS Tailgate Medical Laboratory Science alumni, students, and faculty gather for a luau
The MLS Tailgate was held September 27, 2014 before the UK vs. Vanderbilt football game. Alumni, students and faculty had a blast.
Class Notes News and updates from alumni Lauren Foster Clinical Leadership and Management ‘98 Lauren completed her Master of Science in Health Informatics at Northern Kentucky University in August 2014. Leyna Hebert Athletic Training ‘09 After completing a volunteer rotation in the summer of 2014 at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center, Leyna was offered and accepted a full-time position there. In a note to Dr. Tim Uhl (AT), Leyna said, “I would like to thank you for centering everything around evidencebased medicine at UK and helping to make me a better clinician. During my rotation, they were impressed with my knowledge and skills, and especially noted that I often cited and made decisions based on evidence-based medicine.”
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Send us your news and updates. Email to Keturah.Taylor@uky.edu
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ch 2 Mar
In memoriam Tracy Kent Briscoe Physical Therapy ‘93 Tracy Kent Briscoe, 48, of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, passed away Friday, August 29, 2014, at the home of his sister, Alison, in Lexington. He is the son of Davis Wayne and Mary Jane Cox Briscoe of Lawrenceburg. Born January 10, 1966, in Frankfort, KY, Tracy was the owner of the Lawrenceburg Physical Therapy and co-owner of Fitness Firm in Lawrenceburg. He was a 1993 graduate of UK with an Advanced Degree in Physical Therapy. “Tracy was president of his class and showed great leadership skills while in the program,” said Tony English, PT, PhD, Director of the Division of Physical Therapy. “He eventually used those skills providing physical therapy care to the people of Anderson county, his home county.”
Save the Date: Alumni Hall of Fame & Student Recognition Dinner Thursday, March 26, 2014, 6:00 p.m., Baptist Health, Education Center By invitation only
Winter 2015 19
Development
6th Annual Scholarship Scramble Golf tournament raises $10,800 for student scholarships
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eventeen teams teed off during the 6th Annual CHS Scholarship Scramble, which was held on a beautiful, blustery fall day at the University Club of Kentucky. The event netted an impressive $10,800 for CHS student scholarships. This event is made possible by our major sponsors: The Committee 101, Norton Healthcare and Rockcastle Regional Hospital. We extend our gratitude to Chuy’s of Lexington, all of our donors, players and volunteers for making the Scholarship Scramble such a success each and every year. Thank you to the 2014 Golf committee: Tony English, Terry Malone, Kevin Schuer, Joe Stemple, and Tim Uhl. Mark your calendar for the 7th Annual Scholarship Scramble: Friday, September 11, 2015, at the University Club. (Pictured at left) Congratulations to the winning foursome, the CHS Athletic Training Team: Tim Uhl, Mark Turner, Carl Mattacola, and Phillip Gribble.
2014 GOLF SCRAMBLE SPONSORS HOLE SPONSORS
CART SPONSORS
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
The Committee 101 Norton Healthcare Premier Physical Therapy PT Pros, Inc. Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center Drs. David and Karen O. Skaff Staggs & Fisher Consulting Engineers, Inc. UK Federal Credit Union
Chuy’s of Lexington CHS Communication Sciences and Disorders CHS Physical Therapy Harrison Memorial Hospital KORT Physical Therapy Lexington Clinic Foundation Meadors PA Educational Fund Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Drs. Gary and Sharon Stewart
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Major Sponsors
The Committee 101
With your help... I can find answers. Amari Henderson
Medical Laboratory Science graduate
Your gift... my dream My dream is to pursue a career where I have the chance to use my love for science to help people attain a better quality of life. If it were not for scholarships, I would not have been able to afford to gain knowledge from the Medical Laboratory Science program. I am now considered a Medical Lab Scientist, and I can say that because of all the love, support, and scholarships that I have received.
For more information or to make a gift, please contact Loralyn Cecil: How your gift helps Few people understand the capacity they have to do good through personal philanthropy. Even fewer imagine how their giving can make a significant difference at the UK College of Health Sciences. But through carefully planned giving, you can impact future generations of students pursuing an education in the UK College of Health Sciences. A bequest in your will is perhaps the easiest way to help ensure that a quality education in health sciences is accessible and available for future students.
CHS Office of Advancement 900 S. Limestone St., Room 123 Lexington, KY 40536 859.218.0563 laceci2@uky.edu Winter 2015 21
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Lexington, KY Permit #51
Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building 900 South Limestone, Room 123 Lexington, KY 40536-0200
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CHS students represented their professions to Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) students in July at Morehead State University. GSP is a summer residential program for outstanding high school students in Kentucky who are rising seniors.