The Pulse Fall 2022

PULSE THE

A Publication of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions

Message from the Dean

Dear Hawks,

This fall semester has been marked with many achievements and highlights from the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. September was Falls Awareness Month where the physical therapy students screened seniors for potential falls risk at the MAC center. In October, we celebrated both American Pharmacists Month and National PA Week. Both the pharmacy and physician assistant students participated in many great initiatives to promote the professions including providing health screenings, vaccinations, and health education to the community.

Our students and alumni have proven to be leaders in their fields. Jessica Collins, a rehabilitation graduate student, was chosen as a Behavioral Health Ambassador of the HBCU C.A.R.E.S program. Autumn Smith and Patrick Luo, physical therapy students, received the Maryland American Physical Therapy Association Student Leadership Award. Alumni pharmacist Alyssa Reese was awarded the Next-Generation Pharmacist’s Future Pharmacist Award. A UMES education provided the foundation for these students to excel in their fields.

Our faculty have also had notable accomplishments in scholarship and service. Mrs. Rebecca Ospital was selected as the President Elect of the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants. Dr. Victor Hsia is the coprincipal investigator of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Driving Change award, making UMES the first HBCU to receive this prestigious award to increase diversity in STEM. An interdisciplinary team from the health professions school will also partner with the Propel Center and Apple to build an innovative mental health app for college students. These accomplishments allow us to push the scientific field forward with leadership, discovery, and innovation. This term also brought on the development of two articulation agreements in kinesiology between Harford Community College and Messiah University, as well as a pharmacy pipeline program with Sunyani Technical University in Ghana. Seven professors were awarded promotion and tenure and three successfully completed post-tenure review. With these accomplishments, we continue show our dedication to teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals, and with the completion of the new School of Pharmacy and Health Professions building, UMES’s commitment to transforming healthcare and empowering lives remains as steadfast as ever.

Continuing to soar above and beyond,

T. Sean

Vasaitis,

PhD., M.S. Acting Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions

Table of Contents

List of Administrators

DR. HEIDI M. ANDERSON

PRESIDENT

DR. RONDALL E. ALLEN

PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

DR. T. SEAN VASAITIS

ACTING DEAN, SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS

DR. TIMOTHY GLADWELL

ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND ASSESSMENT

DR. LANA SHERR

ASSISTANT DEAN FOR PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS

DR. KAWANDA WILLIAMS

ASSISTANT DEAN FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

DR. FREDERICK TEJADA

ACTING ASSISTANT DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

DR. TIFFANY MAXWELL

DEPARTMENT CHAIR, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

DR. MIKE RABEL

DEPARTMENT CHAIR, PHYSICAL THERAPY

DR. YEN DANG

ACTING DEPARTMENT CHAIR, KINESIOLOGY

DR. WILLIAM TALLEY

DEPARTMENT CHAIR, REHABILITATION SERVICES

DR. VICTOR HSIA

DEPARTMENT CHAIR, PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

DR. MIRIAM PURNELL

DEPARTMENT CHAIR, PHARMACY PRACTICE AND ADMINISTRATION

This magazine is a publication of the School of Pharmacy. To update your mailing information, send an email to pldouglas@umes.edu or call 410-651-8327.

For more information about the School, visit our website www.umes.edu/shp

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY & HEALTH PROFESSIONS KINESIOLOGY

PHARMACY PRACTICE & ADMINISTRATION

PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PHYSICAL THERAPY REHABILITATION

Exterior of the new building to house the School of Pharmacy.

The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions New Building in Final Phases of Completion

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Profession’s state-of-theart learning complex received substantial completion status in August 2022. The new facility will house the entirety of the Pharmacy program’s on-campus operations. Faculty and laboratory equipment are currently being moved to the new facilities in 2022. Classes will be relocated to the new site starting in January 2023. The Grand Opening celebration will be held on April 28th, 2023 at 11 AM.

Clinical simulation areas - Objective Structured Clinical Examination suite.

Clinical simulation areas - Intensive Care Unit to facilitate Interprofessional Education activities with other health professions programs.

PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

PHARMACY PRACTICE

THERAPY

REHABILITATION

Department of Kinesiology Partners in Articulation Agreements with Two Universities

This fall, the Department of Kinesiology partnered with two regional universities, Harford Community College (Maryland) and Messiah University (Pennsylvania), in articulation agreements for its exercise science major program.

The Exercise Science Associate Degree program at Harford Community College prepares students for transfer to a four-year institution in an exercise science or kinesiology program for careers in exercise science, physical therapy, strength and conditioning, or athletic training.

UMES Department of Kinesiology signed a 2 + 4 agreement for Harford Community College students to transfer their courses into the exercise science program in either the health fitness or clinical track. With this partnership, students are able to transfer 60 credits into UMES to obtain

a Bachelors of Science degree in Exercise Science.

Students from UMES will also be able to obtain a Master of Science in athletic training (MSAT) from Messiah University in a 4 + 2 program. This is a full-time, residential program designed to prepare students for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam and to practice in settings like youth, high school, collegiate and professional sports as well as physician practice settings. Messiah University has guaranteed seating for two UMES students each year.

“This is a great opportunity for the department as we are able to form the pipeline and help our students find post-graduate opportunities”, interim kinesiology chair Dr. Yen Dang reports. “We look forward to strengthening these partnerships so that the students can remain successful in their academic career.”

Student Research Day

A student research fair was held for students in the EXSC 445 (Health Aspects of Aging) class. Led by Dr. Sungjae Hwang, students in this class participated in a research project and presented their findings to the department at the end of the course.

The Bachelor of Science in Sport Management Program Begins

It is quickly becoming one of the top five programs at UMES

The Department of Kinesiology started offering a new degree program, a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, in 2022 along with its exercise science concentration. The goal of the Sport Management program is to prepare students to enter into the sport management industry as athletic administrators, coaches and scouts, and managers at the interscholastic and intercollegiate level for the state of Maryland.

This program will be offered as an undergraduate degree consisting of 120 credits, with 42 credits of general education, 33 credits of major core, 15 credits of major electives, 24 credits of support courses, and 6 credits of free electives. The curriculum includes major courses such as an introductory course, sport management, sport governance, marketing, finance and economics courses, and the practicum/ internship courses. There is a specific focus on interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic administration with courses titled “Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Athletic Administration” and a course practicum “Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Athletic Administration Practicum.”

Congratulations to Dr. Sungjae Hwang!

Dr. Hwang, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, received the 2022 teaching excellence award this year from UMES Centers for Teaching Excellence. This award is given for quality teaching methods and is student nominated.

UMES Partners with UMB to Deliver Mental Health Services

UMES in collaboration with University of Maryland Baltimore received $523,894 in funding from the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration for the “Expansion of First Episode Psychosis Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) Support Services” proposal. The goal of the project is to support the implementation of CSC programs across the state and be involved with the development of a CSC fidelity plan for young adults newly diagnosed with psychosis. Additionally, family psychoeducation training and consultation to CSC teams will be provided to reduce stigma for individuals seeking psychiatric services. Dr. Yen Dang will be the principal investigator of the project from UMES and serve as a consultant for the CSC teams for prescribing practices.

The $500k partnership provides psychiatric services to adolescents with psychosis

UMES President Dr. Heidi M. Anderson (center) poses with Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Rondall Allen (right), School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Interim Dean, Dr. T. Sean Vasaitis (far right), Sunyani Technical University (Ghana) Vice-Chancellor Professor Ing. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah (left), and STU registrar and COO Samuel Obour (far left) during an articulation agreement ceremony involving the two schools.

is a memorable day’

UMES, Sunyani Technical University signs articulation agreement to develop Pharmacy Sciences student pipeline

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Sunyani Technical University (STU) of Ghana recently signed an articulation agreement that would create a detailed plan to initiate specific activities necessary to develop a sustainable pipeline of STU students in its pharmaceutical sciences program as a feeder for UMES’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.

The documents were signed during a ceremony that included UMES President Heidi M. Anderson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Rondall Allen, Dr. T. Sean Vasaitis, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Interim Dean, and delegation members from STU including Vice-Chancellor Professor Ing. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, and Samuel Obour STU’s registrar and COO.

Adinkrah-Appiah said the pact will have a profound impact on both UMES and STU as it will deepen the relationship between the institutions.

“This articulation agreement is a fulfillment of a memorandum of understanding for our two institutions signed way back in 2017,” he said. “Madam President, we are very grateful for this opportunity. This is a dream come true.”

Allen said the agreement not only allows STU students to make an impact on the student community but to potentially play a role in solving a dilemma in the medical professional field locally.

“This agreement will allow us to continue to address the need for healthcare professionals and practitioners here on the Eastern Shore,” he said. “I am also looking forward to having these students come over and enliven the experience that currently exists here at UMES.”

“What you have done has been a big credit to the university, to Ghana, and the world,” Obour said. “Today is a memorable day.” The event concluded with a ceremonial exchange of gifts between the members of the two institutions as well as the offering of a formal invitation to Anderson and the UMES delegation to attend STU’s commencement ceremony in January 2023.

‘Today

October is National Pharmacists Month

By Taylor Martin, Class of 2024

In October, UMES pharmacy students joined thousands of pharmacists and student pharmacists across the United States in celebrating American Pharmacists Month. The students helped organize, raise awareness, and collaborated in multiple events to increase access and improve patients’ health in the university’s local communities.

American Pharmacists Month is an initiative to celebrate pharmacists’ contributions to healthcare and recognize their role in society to improve patients’ health. It began in October 1925, with National Pharmacy Week until the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) recognized all thirty-one days of October as American Pharmacist Month in 2004.

At the beginning of the month, the UMES Chapters of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) partnered to organize an immunization clinic to vaccinate the UMES SOP students, faculty, and staff.

The UMES Pharmacy Government Student Association (PSGA) developed the Pharmacy Student Spotlight, an initiative to highlight student pharmacists throughout October on LinkedIn. Students shared pharmacy-related and professional experiences to show why they are proud to wear their white coats.

“My goal with creating this initiative was to give my peers an opportunity to express what a pharmacist means to them while giving them a chance to build their professional platform to connect with other professionals on LinkedIn,” states Joelle Odigie, Class of 2024.

On October 10th, 2022, UMES partnered with Apple Discount Drugs to provide free flu vaccines to the UMES campus. Many employees and students took advantage of receiving a flu vaccine for this upcoming flu season. Students were able to participate in Princess Anne, a medically underserved community. Organizing immunization clinics will increase vaccination rates in this rural area.

The UMES Chapters of Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) joined in organizing a Health Fair at a local Christian Homeless Shelter to provide health care services at no cost to help a vulnerable population.

“The health fair held at the Christian Shelter gave UMES Pharmacy students the opportunity to connect with local community members. In addition to providing screenings for depression and diabetes, students performed assessments of BMI and took blood pressure readings. My research partner, Taylor Martin, and I administered a Spirituality Screening to determine public interest in having a pharmacist inquire about spiritual beliefs before offering medication therapies”, states Dana Adams, Class of 2024.

UMES School of Pharmacy continues to participate in community service projects throughout the year in the Delmarva area to reduce health disparities on the Shore.

UMES pharmacy students volunteer to administer flu vaccinations with SNPhA/IPhO Chapters.

Alumni Spotlight

By Brianna Carter, PharmD, Class of 2022

Ralphaelia Atelefack

Dr. Atelefack graduated in 2020 from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy. Post-graduation, she was selected to be a drug information specialist with IQVIA Pharmaceutical Company. In this role, she was responsible for collaborating with healthcare providers and community members seeking information about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Her dedication to serving the community led her to CVS Health. At the height of the COVID- 19 pandemic, she was amongst the many healthcare heroes who helped administer immunizations to Baltimore and Howard County nursing home patients. As the demand for immunization support decreased, she accepted a full-time staff pharmacist position where she collaborated with prescribers, helped alleviate patient pharmaceutical concerns, and managed a pharmacy team.

Dr. Atelefack recently accepted the offer for the Apple Discount Drugs/ UMES PGY- 1 residency. Her goal is to become a certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and she looks forward to further developing her patient care techniques and utilizing resources to aid lower socioeconomic populations. Reflecting back on her experience as a new practitioner, Dr. Atelefack highlights the importance of open mindedness, actively seeking challenging opportunities, and being a lifelong learner.

Student/Graduate Awards

SOCHIMA ORIAKU

STUDENT PHARMACIST, CLASS OF 2024

Sochima Oriaku received the SNPhA Dr. Rosalyn Cain King Endowed Scholarship, Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Americas - NAPPSA Student Pharmaceutical Scholarship Award, and AACP & CVS – Health Minority Scholarship.

JOELLE ODIGIE

STUDENT PHARMACIST, CLASS OF 2024

Joelle Odigie was elected to serve as the Student National Pharmaceutical Association’s (SNPhA) 2022-23 National Project Keepsake Initiative Chair. She was also selected as a 2022-23 scholar of the Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program (SMDP).

Tayler Jackson

Dr. Jackson graduated from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy with high honors and was the Class of 2020’s salutatorian. As a student, she was active in student organizations and held leadership positions in ASHP- SSHP, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, and APhA- ASP. She attributes much of her current success to her education and organizational experiences obtained at the School of Pharmacy.

Her interest in pursuing a PGY-1 residency was sparked after being select ed to complete 4 competitive hospital-based rotations at the John Hopkins Hospital where she matched for a PGY-1 residency. She was later selected for their PGY-2 position in Ambulatory Care.

Dr. Jackson has recently started her career as an Ambulatory Clinical Pharma cist Specialist at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia working in the pulmonary clinic. She is responsible for identifying and optimizing care for patients with uncontrolled asthma or allergies despite maximally dosed therapies. After evaluation, she determines which patients will be good candidates for bio logic immunomodulators such as Dupixent, Nucala, and Fasenra. Dr. Jackson serves as a resource to help patients find programs to alleviate some of the high costs associated with these medications. Overall, she continues to build a strong rapport with her patients and colleagues and looks forward to making an impact in her current practice.

Awards and Accomplishments

REBEKAH TORCHON

STUDENT PHARMACIST, CLASS OF 2023

Rebekah Torchon has been appointed as a Student Regional Director for the Christian Pharmacist Fellowship International (CPFI). In this role, Rebekah will serve on the Regional Executive Team for CPFI and have oversight for all chapters in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

ALYSSA B. REESE, PHARM.D., CLASS OF 2022 CENTRAL VIRGINIA VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PGY-1 RESIDENT

Dr. Reese won the 2022 Next-Generation Pharmacist’s Future Pharmacist Award. The Next-Generation Pharmacist Awards highlight the myriad contributions of the pharmacy leaders of today, who represent the standards of innovation and embody the future of the profession.

UMES named a recipient of Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award

School is the first HBCU to receive the honor; will receive $2.5 million in funding over the next five years

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was selected as the recipient of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Driving Change Initiative, becoming the first Historically Black College or University chosen for the grant.

The university will receive $2,500,000 in start-up funds over the next five years beginning Nov. 1, 2022.

UMES was one of six universities to receive an award from the funding competition, which included a self-study process involving assessments regarding the university’s dedication to “establishing a scientifically grounded culture to the institution,” according to the HHMI. UMES was one of 38 finalists for the honor.

The purpose of Driving Change, which was launched in 2019, is to “create inclusive environments, promote student success, and recognize the institutional practices and historical context that are barriers to inclusion,” according to the HHMI.

“Our undergraduate student population is 83% students of color, of which 50 percent are already enrolled in STEM majors,” said UMES President Heidi M. Anderson. “Through Driving Change, we will transform the infrastructure and vastly open up opportunities for these students contributing to a sciencedriven cultural change.”

As a result of the HHMI’s proposal, UMES will create a new program called STEM STARS (Students Achieving Results in Science), which will be a living-learning, cohort model where students immerse themselves into the university’s culture and activities that support collegiate goals.

The program will be a welcome addition to the institution,

which has awarded 60 percent of its degrees in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math in the last several years. UMES also has the most healthcare professions programs of any HBCU with eight, which also contributes to its STEM success.

Dr. Victor Hsia, the department head of the Pharmaceutical Sciences program, and Dr. Jonathan Cumming, who oversees the Natural Sciences program, will lead the university’s efforts in the STARS STEM program, beginning with the hiring of a new director, recruiting the first cohort, identifying a residence hall to serve as the living-learning community for the STARS, and creating an internship program.

HHMI hopes that the program can lead to a collaborative effort in changing the culture surrounding the lack of diversity in STEM fields.

“The first six Driving Change grants are being awarded to finalist applicants that made strong arguments for their readiness to embark on this change journey with experiments that held the best promise of helping the whole community,” the organization said in a statement. “Awarding the first six Driving Change grants is just one early step in a much longer journey, one that the Driving Change team hopes all 38 institutions in HHMI’s Learning Community will continue to travel.”

UMES awarded $200k grant for health innovation research

These awards, the second round of Industry Impact Grants, continue Propel’s mission to offer world-class research and innovation opportunities for HBCUs and its students.

UMES will receive $200,000 in funding and will also have the opportunity to work in collaboration with Propel Impact Industry Mentors, who are available to help develop curricula and provide ongoing mentorship, learning support, and internship opportunities.

Supported by Apple, the one-year awards will fund HBCU

student and faculty projects that help ensure HBCUs have access to vital virtual and in-person learning experiences in health-related research. Intended to provide new opportunities for the current and future workforce, the Health Innovation & Research Grants support work in STEM fields, data science, and machine learning-artificial intelligence.

UMES School of Pharmacy submitted an innovative proposal that leveraged digital technologies in mental health in an effort to improve health and wellness on campus.. Under the direction of principal investigators Drs. Sean Vasaitis, William Talley, and Yen Dang, the alliance will build a diverse pipeline of talent in health technology, undergraduate study and allied health professional programs. Drs. Malikia Johnson, Weiwei Zhu-Stone, and Jocelyn Reader will also assist with implementing the initiative.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is one of five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to share in $1 million in health innovation and research grants awarded by The Propel Center, the global HBCU technology and learning hub.

Welcome New Faculty

Jiabing Fan, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Jiabing Fan, MD, PhD joined UMES Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences as an Assistant Professor in the Summer of 2022. Prior to this position, Dr. Fan was an Assistant Adjunct Professor at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University.

Dr. Fan’s research focuses on translating the genetic and molecular findings to developing novel therapeutic approaches for craniofacial bone repair and regeneration, and age-related bone loss disease treatment. He obtained his Ph.D. in stem cells and tissue engineering at Sun Yat-sen University, China in 2010. While completing his Ph.D. study, he served as a visiting graduate scholar in bioengineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (2008-2009). He also received M.D. in clinical medicine at Anhui University of Science and Technology School of Medicine, China in 2005.

Dr. Fan has a broad research background in stem cells, tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, biomaterials and molecular pharmaceutics. He has received “Outstanding Mentorship Award” at UCLA and “the Peter Geistlich Research Award” from the Osteo Science Foundation. He has published over 39 peer-reviewed articles, and several published in high caliber journals (ACS Nano, Biomaterials, Science Advances, Advanced Functional Materials and Stem Cells Translational Medicine, etc.).

Ishraga S. Elsayed

Laboratory Coordinator, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Ishraga Elsayed obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in toxicology from the Pharmacology Department at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Khartoum, Sudan. Her research was on the anticestodal activity of plant extractions in avians. Prior to joining UMES, she was at the Department of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences at Taif University, Saudi Arabia.

Student News

Welcome New Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Students

Mercy Amofa is a transfer student from Montgomery College, who graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Mercy grew up in a society that had few doctors and pharmacists and so much attention was given to them as it relates to the upkeep of sick and ailing individuals. She developed an interest to get into the pharmaceutical industry to contribute her quota to the society where she hails from. As an undergraduate, Mercy got some professional experience working parttime as a Patient Home Care Assistant where she assisted her clients with personal tasks. She also scheduled and accompanied clients to medical appointments, and remained alert to health challenges exhibited by her clients. This experience at Home Care further inspired her to pursue a graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Currently, Mercy is a Doctoral Student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program. She is interested in drug design and discovery (DDD) and intends to focus on stem cell therapy for cancer treatment and cancer health disparities. Outside of academics, her hobbies include watching Korean/ Chinese dramas, listening to music, and creating art. She also enjoys outside activities including skiing, sightseeing, and biking.

Iram was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, but she considers Sudan as her home country. She graduated with an MD in Egypt and worked there for three years before permanently moving to the US. During her medical training, she became greatly interested in Pharmacology. She is particularly interested in finding an effective but also a safe drug for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

After visiting UMES in 2020, Iram was amazed at how enthusiastic the PSGP graduate students were as they explicitly explained their research work. Iram believes that with the new building opening soon, she will be exposed to a variety of top-notch equipment to further broaden the scope of her research.

In her free time, Iram loves playing sports and traveling. She has visited various countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. In the future, she hopes one day to get a chance to travel to all 50 states.

She also enjoys reading. She likes to challenge herself by trying new things; she is currently a volunteer on an application, where she gets to test their app and bots for bugs. She finds it quite interesting because it’s outside of her comfort zone so she gets to learn new things daily. In her own words: “I’m a curious soul!”

MERCY AMOFA

IRAM ELAMIN

Angela Hatton is from Beltsville, Maryland, and she graduated from Salisbury University in May 2022 with a B.S. in Biology. Angela was first introduced to medicines from her mom, who worked as a pharmacy technician in one of the local hospitals. While in her junior year of college, Angela began working for CVS Pharmacy, where she was able to get her pharmacy technician certification from the Maryland Board of Pharmacy. Angela is currently a pursuing a Master degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Drug Delivery and Clinical Pharmacology (DDCP) tract. Angela has always been interested in understanding how drugs can be effective for one target location and not the whole system. Her research interest is on how to increase drug effectiveness while decreasing drug toxicity. Some of Angela’s hobbies include traveling, playing and watching sports, listening and playing music, and spending time with her family and friends.

Alyssa Lucero was born in the Philippines but immigrated to the United States, specifically Maryland, at the age of three. She was raised in Easton, MD, a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In May 2021, Alyssa received her B.S. degree in Biology with a double major in Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Currently, Alissa is a first-year pharmaceutical science PhD student in the Drug Delivery and Clinical Pharmacology track.

After completing a higher degree in pharmaceutical sciences, Alyssa intends to pursue a career in research at a government run organization or a private pharmaceutical company. Her research interests are in medicinal chemistry, cancer research, and health equality. In the future, she hopes to look at why there is such a disparity in health outcomes between different races, even when controlling for socio-economic factors, and to learn how to address that disparity. Her hobbies include playing Pokémon Go, drinking coffee, and watching auteur driven films. In the future, she would love to go to a film festival such as Telluride or TIFF, which would allow her to travel and watch the newest exciting films out this year.

Meghna Srinivasa Rao is an International student from Bangalore, India. She moved to the United States of America in August 2022. Her educational background includes a M.S. in Zoology, with a specialization in Mammalian Reproductive Physiology from the Institute of Science in Nagpur, India. She also has a B.S in Chemistry, Zoology and Biotechnology (CZBT) and a Certificate course in Bioinformatics from Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College in Bangalore, India. She is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Drug Design and Discovery (DDD) track. Her research interest lies in Stem cell biology and Regenerative Medicine, which can potentially provide solutions to cure acute and severe injuries, chronic diseases, and genetic disorders. She decided to join the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program at UMES because it offers a multi-disciplinary training that aligns well with her research interest and can provide an interdisciplinary experience in Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Some of her hobbies are cooking, traveling, watching Korean dramas, nature & wildlife photography. She also likes to participate in various extreme sports and adventure activities.

ANGELA HATTON

MEGHNA SRINIVASA RAO

ALYSSA LUCERO

UMES Celebrates National PA Week

Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions.

The Physician Assistant Program at UMES is a Master of Medical Science degree granting program. The program, committed to providing equal opportunity, promotes health and wellness through the provision of quality primary health care education. Our diverse environment values the discovery of knowledge, the development and dissemination, and practical application of that knowledge through community outreach and service.

National Physician Assistant Week is celebrated every year from October 6-12. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Physician Assistant Program Shore celebrated awareness of this exceptional healthcare profession national week in a multitude of ways. To start the week, faculty and students decided to show their appreciation to the local Physician Assistants on the Eastern Shore by dropping off gifts in-person and expressing sincerest gratitude for all of their hard work to the profession and to our students. Throughout the week PA-C faculty and students participated in a Campus Walk, Community Health and Wellness event, Community Health Fair and lastly a luncheon provided by the Department. Physician Assistants are unsung heroes and deserve their moment in the limelight, so this week is to celebrate them and be thankful for their efforts.

PA Week Pride

Current MdAPA President visits with second year student on their clinical rotations along with the Clinical Education Director for National PA Week

Current MdAPA President visits with Dr. Maxwell, Department Chair and Program Director for National PA Week

Students and Faculty Participated in Campus Walk for National PA Week

Faculty News

Welcome New Faculty

NICOLE WOOTEN, PA-C ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Ms. Wooten attended Drexel University’s Physician Assistant Program and graduated in 2010. She initially began working as an Internal Medicine Consultant for patients on a Psychiatric unit. Continuing her love for hospital medicine, Ms. Wooten became a Hospitalist PA for 3 years and then an Emergency Medicine PA for 5 years. Ms. Wooten transitioned to academia in 2019 to help the next generation become successful Physician Assistants. Her focus is helping students learn the foundations of being a Physician Assistant such as taking a history and performing a physical examination as well as helping students with case based learning to medicine.

In addition to her love for medicine and teaching, Ms. Wooten loves being a mom to her 4 year old son and traveling the world.

FELICIA C. ELVIS, MPAS, PA-C ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND CLINICAL COORDINATOR

Felicia C. Elvis MPAS, PA-C is a board-certified Physician Assistant with over 20 years of experience. Felicia Elvis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Howard University and her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies, with a focus in education, from A.T Still University. Ms. Elvis later completed a fellowship with the Physician Assistant Leadership and Learning Academy at the University of Maryland Graduate School. Prior to joining the UMES Physician Assistant Program as the Clinical Coordinator, Felicia Elvis was a visiting Assistant Professor with the University of Maryland Graduate School. In addition to her local work and scholarship, Felicia Elvis has worked internationally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a member of a medical missions team. While in Addis Ababa, Felicia Elvis served as an integral part of the medical mission team that provided post op care to patients following open heart surgery, as well as educating other medical providers regarding best practices in the open-heart patient population.

Faculty Accomplishments

REBECCA OSPITAL, PA-C ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND DIDACTIC EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Ms. Ospital has been a practicing Dermatology PA for the past 20 years, and currently serves as the Didactic Education Director at the UMES PA Program. Rebecca is very active in the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistant (MdAPA) and is the President Elect of MdAPA.

KHALED HASAN, PhD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Dr. Hasan published a manuscript, “Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Awareness Toward Marijuana Use” in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice in 2022.

REBECCA OSPITAL, PA-C

KHALED HASAN, PhD

FELICIA C. ELVIS, MPAS, PA-C

NICOLE WOOTEN, PA-C

PA Students Participate in the Restore the Shore Community Service Project

Department Happenings

Welcome New Staff

Ms. Catherine Krize is the newest full-time Administrative Assistant in the Department of Physical Therapy. She started March 2022 and has an associate degree in Computer Programming & Operations, along with a certificate in Web Design.

The past academic year has been very productive for the UMES Physical Therapy Department. On September 9, 2022, the program graduated 29 students with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. It is so rewarding to see students make the transition to entry-level clinicians.

Over the most recent two-year average assessment period (20202021), the UMES Doctor of Physical Therapy Program continues to deliver excellent outcomes that include a graduation rate of 92%, an employment rate of 100%, and a first-time licensure pass rate of 94%. Our curriculum provides students with diverse learning opportunities that include community service, interprofessional education, and research. Our exceptional students along with our dedicated and talented faculty and staff make the UMES DPT program a rewarding and community-oriented experience.

Focus On Research

Mrs. Jeannie Jump is the newest Part-time Administrative Assistant in the Department of Physical Therapy. She started in June 2022 and has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Faculty & Graduates Receive UMROI Innovations Grant

UMES graduates Mandy Leonard, PT, DscPT, NCS, Nick Espinosa, DPT, and faculty Professor Dennis Klima, PT, MS, PhD, DPT, GCS, NCS received an Innovations Grant from the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. The grant will target Interventions for patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury for patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the Virtualis system immersive virtual environment. The system can create virtual settings such as a grocery store to better prepare patients’ return to community participation.

MS. CATHERINE KRIZE

MRS. JEANNIE JUMP

Interprofessional Education

Focusing on the Health Care Team

UMES DPT Welcomes Guest Lecturers

The UMES Department of Physical Therapy is grateful to have Dr. Sedonna Brown, MSN, RN, EdD join us this year to co-instruct our 1st year students on lines, leads and tubes in our Acute Care Course. Drs. Sanfilippo, Klima and Brown felt an interdisciplinary approach between Nursing and Physical Therapy would optimize the learning experience for students.

On September 30th, our third year DPT students mastered advanced mobility maneuvers for patients with spinal cord injury from guest faculty Karin Seeley, PT and Haily Emrick, DPT of the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute. Physical therapists must teach patients key skills such as floor transfers, wheelies, and curb negotiation.

Welcome Back to the UMES (Mini) Health & Wellness Festival

After a 2-year COVID-driven hiatus, UMES hosted its annual Health & Wellness Festival in March 2022. The Department of Physical Therapy was glad to once again have attendees from the UMES community participate with the 2nd year DPT students as they presented 8 topics, coupled with presentations on the same topics by the 2nd year Pharmacy students.

For the Festival, students research their topic and set their attendee-focused goals. Then, they design and create a handout and an interactive activity for the attendees. Each activity helps attendees understand how a health

condition can impact people, how it can be helped through PT, or both. This year, attendees were challenged to navigate an obstacle course graded to their abilities to understand their balance and fall risk, they breathed with constraints to feel some asthma-like effects, they learned the major signs of a stroke and the importance of a timely response, they practiced lifting items in ways that protect their lower back, they guessed the sugar and calcium content of foods, and they created microwaveable hot packs to ease the pain of osteoarthritis (or other conditions). And yes, they did push-ups and planks.

As a special treat this year, presenters and attendees could take a break with a mini yoga session, led by a DPT student. We look forward to future Festivals and are hopeful for a full UMES Health & Wellness Festival this spring with attendees from the broader community. We thank Dr. Layshock for all her efforts with this endeavor.

Dr. Gill, the Gross Anatomy Laboratory Director, has established relationships with undergraduate faculty of pre-health professional students and faculty of Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) programs. These students are provided opportunities to experience the Gross Anatomy Laboratory with the UMES DPT students as anatomical guides. The UMES DPT program hosts approximately 6 groups each year. Pictured here are students from a PTA program in Virginia. The PT and PTA students interact with each other in the Gross Lab discussing anatomy and associated clinical conditions.

Students spent time observing patient care management at Tidal Health in October as part of their Integrated Clinical Experience Course.

Student Achievements

Students Receive Maryland APTA Student Leadership Award

The Department of Physical Therapy is proud to recognize two students, Autumn Smith and Patrick Luo, who received the 2022 Maryland APTA Student Leadership Award. The Student Leadership Award is presented to students who demonstrate superior scholastic ability and potential for future professional contribution.

Autumn Smith is a recent graduate (2022) of the program. Autumn served as a teaching assistant (TA) as a second-year student in the program. She was responsible for coordinating ongoing tutorial and review sessions with first year students to help assure student success. This was particularly challenging during the pandemic period given the in-person time constraints and virtual instruction schedules. On top of all of her clinical experiences, Autumn demonstrated superior devotion to her patients’ interests.

As an official ambassador for the APTA PT Moves Me program, Autumn worked to launch a recruitment campaign and ambassador program in the Department of Physical Therapy to make it easier to reach the next generation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. This initiative would ultimately raise awareness of the physical therapy profession and increase diversity within the program’s applicant pool and profession. Autumn participated in fall risk screening and student coaching activities in the Stepping On Fall Prevention Program on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She was a strong proponent of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants encouraging patients to engage in community-based wellness programs. As a part of her student research project, she and her group members published a peer-reviewed narrative review detailing the evidence that supports eight key community programs.

Patrick Luo is a current second year student in the Department of Physical Therapy. He is currently serving as the UMES Liaison of APTA-Maryland (APTA-MD) Student Special Interest Group. He is also the Maryland Core Ambassador for the APTA, Student Delegate of APTA-MD, Special Assistant to the Vice Speaker of the APTA House of Delegates, Student Physical Therapist (SPT) Volunteer for Special Olympics Maryland, Live & Grow Mentorship SPT Mentor, and the SPT Volunteer for the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy Annual Conference and Scientific Meeting. He has also been selected as a SPT Volunteer for the Combined Sections Meeting at San Diego in February.

On September 23, third-year students screened forty older adults at the MAC Center in Salisbury, MD for potential falls risk. September is Falls Awareness Month and, under the direction of faculty leaders Dr. Dennis Klima and Dr. Stephanie McCallister, they provided insight into ways older adults can prevent falls, including participating in exercise & fall prevention classes.

UMES DPT graduates Gaby Go, Autumn Smith, Abby Mandelblatt, Tim Putman, Kevin Zeger, and Jesse Zeger received 1st Place in a promotional video made for Brain Injury Awareness Month in March. The content was sponsored by the Brain Injury Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association. The students focused on concussion management by physical therapists.

On June 24 and 25, seven UMES second year students volunteered at a Wheelchair Basketball Clinic held in Baltimore, MD. The clinic was held to assist athletes learn effective wheelchair basketball play maneuvers. Students assisted with set-up activities and learned how to effectively adapt the sport of basketball for athletes in wheelchairs.

FALLS AWARENESS MONTH BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS CONTEST WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CLINIC

Student News

Tackling Post-COVID 19 Mental Health at It Takes a Village

By Andre Hampton and Jessica Collins, Rehabilitation Graduate Students

It takes a Village is a nonprofit that provides after school care for at-risk youth in Crisfield, MD. Their mission is “to engage the ‘village’ (community) to help build a better future for our children by providing activities designed to promote their spiritual, social, and educational well-being so they can reach their fullest potential.”

On April 25, 2022, Andre Hampton and Jessica Collins, Rehabilitation Counseling graduate students, went to “It Takes a Village” to do a workshop with middle school students. The intent was to provide counseling to students to increase social and emotional support to improve issues surrounding mental health and COVID-19. Students learned how to cope with COVID-19 and mechanisms to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition, they were provided with suicide awareness information and resources.

Andre Hampton said, “educating kids about the effects COVID-19 had on the world is important. The state of everyone’s mental health and day-to-day living drastically changed in a short period. Going to this program gave us the privilege of educating the next generation of leaders in a fun way.”

The graduate students participated in fun and interactive games including COVID Bingo with the middle school students. The games’ goal was to pick out students who showed signs of depression and anxiety or went through trauma. Students explored coping skills if they spoke to people about their feelings and developed new ways to deal with the stressors. Participating in this game allowed

students to talk about their experiences without feeling under pressure.

Jessica stated, “It was eye-opening to see how the students dealt with Covid and how traumatic it was for some. One of the biggest takeaways was how difficult it was to go back to in-person classes after being online for many participants. They no longer liked school or wanted to be there. Overall, we had fun with students while diving into some deep topics, including grief, depression, behavioral issues, and everything to do with school. It is crucial for teachers, parents, and healthcare providers to be aware of the prolonged impact of the pandemic on youth and be mindful of resources to support them in moving forward.”

Grad Student Selected as Behavioral Health Ambassador

By Jessica Collins, Rehabilitation Graduate Student

The HBCU Center for Excellence and Behavioral is funded by SAMSHA, the federal Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Services Administration. My cohort was 25 graduate students from HBCU’s all over the country during the 2021-22 academic year. By 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts shortages of behavioral health professionals. The HBCU center aims to promote awareness of and support students pursuing degrees in Behavioral Health at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. While pursuing a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, the HBCU Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health selected me as a Behavioral Health Ambassador. It was a true privilege to be chosen for this ambassador program. This opportunity challenged me to consider my role as a rehabilitation counselor and how I could advocate and inspire minority students in behavioral health while continuing to complete my graduate degree. I believe I impacted a younger generation who have gone through some challenging times and may feel lost in regaining focus.

As a behavioral health ambassador, I developed workshops and presentations exposing undergraduates to careers and issues in behavioral health and engaged in conversations with students considering careers in the behavioral health field. I had the privilege of attending Delaware State University and at my alma mater UMES to present to undergraduate students on Alcohol and Drug Counseling. My goal is to work in mental health/ substance use disorders programs for adults to provide effective treatments, quality, and individualized care to clients with choice and dignity. I want to become an administrator who develops programming that would impact a more extensive system.

The HBCU CARES program still recruits students from HBCU’s all over the country to help recruit students into behavioral health fields. As an alumnus of the program, I can still participate in activities and recruit students to become HBCU Behavioral Ambassadors for years to come. I was honored to serve as a UMES rehabilitation graduate student for this program.

Faculty Highlights

Goodbye, Dr. Rahimi!

Departmental Publications

Hector Velazquez-Gonzalez, PhD, MSSc, CRC, B-CTP-II Vera-Rodríguez, H, Castellanos-Barreto, J, VelázquezGonzález, H, Pietri-Gómez, L., Rosario-Hernández, E., Velázquez-Lugo, A., & González-Valles, R. (2022). The situation of workers in Puerto Rico during the pandemic caused by COVID-19: precariousness, work loneliness and intention to leave the job. Extreme Graphics.

Bryan Gere, PhD, MBA, CRC, LPGC

• Salimi, N., Gere, B.0., Dallas, N (2022). State Vocational Rehabilitation Service Patterns and Employment Outcomes Predictors Among Native American Vocational Rehabilitation Clients. Journal of Rehabilitation

• Gere, B.O., Psychological distress, Quality of life and Resilience among Undergraduate students During the COVID 19 Pandemic. Journal of American College Health

• Gere, B. O., Salimi, N., Chen, R. K., & Okori, U. (2022). Disability, Spirituality and Counseling Interventions. In Marini, Graf, & Millington, (Eds). Psychosocial aspects of disability: Insider perspectives and strategies for counselors. Springer Publishing Company

Maryam Rahimi, Ph.D., CRC, LCPC, Professor of the Department of Kinesiology, retired after 25 years of service in September 2022. We wish her the best of luck in retirement!