Faculty members present at UT Shine Academy Innovations in Health Science Education Conference
Three School of Health Professions faculty members shared research presentations at The University of Texas System Kenneth I. Shine Academy of Health Science Education 2024 Innovations in Health Science Education Conference held in Austin on Feb. 22–23.
Angela Benfield, PhD, OTR, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, and Gustavo Almeida, PT, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, along with Carol Zaricor, OTD, OTR, presented “Program outcomes — using item response theory to support measuring the hidden curriculum.” Benfield also presented the poster “Measuring core habits underlying competency in allied health professionals.”
Bobby Belarmino, PT, DPT, PhD, CCS, an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy student Cameron Koerner presented the poster “Confidence, Communications, and Teamwork of Allied Health and Nursing Students after Interprofessional Critical Care Simulation Experience: A Mixed-Method Study.” Belarmino’s co-authors, all from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, include Kevin Voelker, JD, MN, RN, CNE; Autumn Clegg, EdD, OTR; Isabell Stoltz, DNP, MN, RN, CCNS; Megan Llamas, MHA, RRT; Cameron Koerner, SPT; and Mei-Ling Lin, PhD, OTR.
This year’s conference theme was “The Many Dimensions of Mentorship: Education, Career, Scholarship, Well-being, and Beyond.” The Shine Academy’s membership comes from the health institutions of the UT system.
Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, professor and program chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, who served as the academy’s president-elect for 2023–2024, transitioned to the role of president during the academy’s 2024 spring business meeting. Piernik-Yoder is the second faculty member of UT Health Science Center San Antonio to serve as president of the academy since it was founded in 2005.
“The UT Shine Innovations Conference is a wonderful learning experience for health science educators from across The University of Texas System and the state,” Piernik-Yoder said. “The conference program highlights best practices and new ideas in health science education and provides fantastic networking opportunities with other educators with similar interests.”