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ICU simulation prepares PT, OT and nursing students for work as an interprofessional team

 

By Kate Hunger

An interprofessional intensive care unit simulation activity this spring was timed just right for the 118 physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing students who participated.

Held in April before doctoral PT and OT students began clinical rotations and the 4th-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students graduated, the activity gave students the opportunity to learn firsthand about the roles of other health professions in the ICU — and to practice their own skills.

Embracing an interprofessional approach

Students practice IPE ICU simulation activity

Helping people is a way of life for new PA Studies professor

 

By Kate Hunger

Growing up in Khartoum, Sudan, Assistant Professor/Clinical Micheal Habeab, MBBS, MS, witnessed the effects of widespread poverty. He decided to dedicate his life to helping others.

“My aim was to help poor people as much as I can,” said Dr. Habeab, who joined the School of Health Professions on June 1 as faculty for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at the Laredo campus, where he will begin working in July.

Micheal Habeab, assistant professor/clinical, PA Studies

Medical sciences professor brings COVID-19 lab experience to new role

By Kate Hunger

Assistant Professor/Clinical Guillermo Nunez, MLS (ASCP)CM, has experienced UT Health San Antonio as a master’s and PhD student, a member of the COVID-19 Rapid Response Team and most recently, as a faculty member in the new Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences program.

Assistant Professor/Clinical Guillermo Nunez

OT professor elected to RESNA board, co-presents workshop at European Seating Symposium

By Kate Hunger

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Ana Allegretti, PhD, OTR, ATP, has been elected to the board of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).

Dr. Allegretti, a long-time member of RESNA and is as an associate editor for its journal. Born and raised in Brazil, she said she will bring an international perspective to the board during her three-year term, which begins in August. One of her goals as a board member will be to increase access to the organization’s resources by clinicians around the world.

Dr. Ana Allegretti

Professor George Kudolo receives Spectrum Award

 

Department of Health Sciences Chair and Professor George Kudolo, PhD, CPC, FAIC, FAACC, received the 2022 School of Health Professions Spectrum Award.

The Spectrum Award recognizes faculty for all-around excellence and exceptional contributions in teaching, research and service.

“I am proud of the award because it takes into account all the missions of UT Health,” Dr. Kudolo said. “I’ve always tried to do my best in everything I do. There’s a saying if a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. It was a surprise, and I am very thankful for the recognition.”

Dr. George Kudolo, 2022 Spectrum Award winner

UT Health San Antonio holds second rehabilitation research day

Third-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy students Tina Bittle, Paige Beeney and Cristina Martinez developed their interest in research while working on a project with a local high school to provide modified ride-on toy cars to young children with physical disabilities.

The three presented “Partnering with community organizations to address early mobility,” one of 39 research posters at UT Health San Antonio’s second annual Rehabilitation Research Day, held May 13 on campus.

Third-year occupational therapy students present their research post at UT Health San Antonio’s Rehabilitation Research Day.

SHP students inducted into allied health professions honor society

Fifty School of Health Professions students were inducted May 5 into the campus chapter of the Alpha Eta Society, the national honor society of the allied health professions.

The induction ceremony was held virtually, said chapter president and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Martha M. Acosta, PhD, PT, GCS.

The Alpha ETA Society emblem

PT students perform health screenings at senior center

Third-year physical therapy students performed health screenings on April 27 during a health fair at the District 2 Senior Center in San Antonio.

The screenings were part of a Lifespan course PT students take in the final semester of their program, said Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Martha M. Acosta, PhD, PT, GCS.

Student helping an elderly patient at a senior center

PA students don white coats, take oath

The 61 students in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2024 donned their white coats and received their pins during a May 18 ceremony recognizing both their entrance into the profession and their new responsibilities.

“Physician Assistants are not physicians, but practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians, and necessarily our training program follows that of the medical model of education,” said Paul B. Allen, Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, associate professor, program director and chair of the PA Studies program.

PA student receiving her white coat on stage

At all-school commencement, graduates walk across stage and into health care workforce

National occupational therapy conference held in San Antonio

By Kate Hunger

The American Occupational Therapy Association held its annual conference in San Antonio March 31–April 3, the first time the annual gathering has included an in-person option in three years.

Attendees of the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference held in San Antonio in spring 2022.

PA Studies Class of 2021 posts 100% first-time pass rate on national exam

By Kate Hunger

Every student in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2021 passed the profession’s national certifying exam on the first try.

The 100% first-time time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) is well above the national average of 93%, said Associate Professor Paul Allen, Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, program director and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at UT Health San Antonio. “Our personal benchmark is that we want to score at or better than the national average,” Dr. Allen said.

PA student practices clinical skills

Doctor of Physical Therapy students receive white coats and pins

By Kate Hunger

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2023 received its white coats and pins in a ceremony marking the transition from classroom learning to caring for patients.

“The students are deemed ready to start seeing patients during their full time clinical rotations,” said Department of Physical Therapy Chair and Associate Professor Greg Ernst, PhD, ECS. “They will complete a total of 34 weeks of full time rotations in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, neurologic rehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation and others.”

Doctor of Physical Therapy students wear their white coats at ceremony

Physician Assistant Studies department chair receives Presidential Award

By Kate Hunger

Thirty years ago, Paul B. Allen, Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, FSAPA, associate professor, chair and program director of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at UT Health San Antonio, would not have guessed his future included leading an effort to increase the number of health care providers in the Laredo area.

In fact, Dr. Allen wasn’t expecting to work in health care at all. When he joined the U.S. Army, he was selected for training as a Special Forces medical sergeant, not as a Special Forces weapons sergeant, as he had hoped.

Paul B. Allen, Sr., associate professor, chair and program director of the Department of PA Studies

EMT–Basic program application is open through May 1

Applicants to the new Emergency Medical Technology (EMT)–Basic program have until May 1 to apply for the Summer 2022 session.

EMTs are trained to provide emergency medical care to the critically ill and injured and to work in the EMS system, but some students complete the program to gain immediate, relevant health care experience, said Lance Villers, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Health Sciences in the School of Health Professions.

Emergency medical technicians in background with IV in foreground

Students win bowl competition, faculty honored at state speech-hearing conference

By Kate Hunger

 

A trio of speech-language pathology students won first place in an academic bowl during the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association (TSHA) annual convention in Fort Worth.

Second-year master’s students Madelynn Patzer, Jadea Hill and Hannah Jackson competed in a multi-round Praxis Bowl competition among Texas universities. Teams answered timed practice questions for the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, the standardized exam required for certification.

Speech-language pathology students win Praxis bowl

PA Studies professor elected to Texas delegation of national PA academy’s house of delegates

By Kate Hunger

Meredith Quinene, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, has been elected by the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) as a delegate to the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) House of Delegates.The AAPA House of Delegates is the national legislative body for the PA profession and has voting delegates from 58 chapters representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and five federal services.

PA Studies Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator Meredith Quinene

Study shows COVID-19 patients in ICU improved functional mobility after PT intervention

Physical therapy Assistant Professor Bobby Belarmino, PT, DPT, PhD, CCS, co-authored a recently published paper outlining a new clinical decision-making algorithm to help clinicians identify COVID-19 patients for whom physical therapy intervention in the ICU is appropriate.

Assistant Professor Bobby Belarmino

PA Studies student named Presidential Ambassador Scholar for School of Health Professions

By Kate Hunger

 

Physician Assistant Studies student Caitlyn Swopes is the School of Health Professions’ 2022 Presidential Ambassador Scholar.

Swopes has devoted a substantial number of hours to leadership and volunteer efforts, said Steven “Tony” Skaggs, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, assistant professor, associate chair and associate program director of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Presidential Ambassador Scholar Caitlyn Swopes

MLS student earns spot in public health program at the University of Michigan

By Kate Hunger

 

Three days after Alana Rubio graduates this May with her bachelor’s in medical laboratory sciences, she will begin a 10-week program at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.

Medical laboratory sciences bachelor's student Alana Rubio

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