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Results: 165 news stories
Respiratory care students take oath, don white coats
By Kate Hunger
The coronavirus pandemic delayed the traditional white coat ceremony for the Division of Respiratory Care Class of 2022 by several months—but the wait was worth it, says master’s student Destiny Mayfield.
On May 28, Mayfield was one of 52 bachelor’s and master’s respiratory care students who slipped on their white coats in a rite of passage for those in the profession.
SHP co-hosts first UT Health SA Rehabilitation Research Day
The School of Health Professions and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine hosted the first UT Health San Antonio Rehabilitation Research Day.
SHP graduates participate in historic commencement ceremony
Students from the School of Health Professions’ Class of 2021 walked the stage at the Alamodome on May 22 in an historic commencement ceremony that included all five of UT Health San Antonio’s schools — a first in the institution’s 53-year history.
More than a degree: MLS graduate found support and encouragement
When Damilola Daniels decided to chart a fresh course in her career, she did her research.
A former industrial scientist in the oil and gas industry, Daniels wanted to find a specialty within health care. She shadowed health professionals in a hospital to learn more about the possibilities. She decided medical laboratory sciences was a good fit and applied to UT Health San Antonio.
Speech-language pathology graduate persisted despite two hurricanes
Robyn Hernandez didn’t let a couple of hurricanes derail her focus on finishing her master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Hernandez was living in Fort Polk, Louisiana, and taking classes online when Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta hit six weeks apart in 2020. The deadly hurricanes knocked out power and internet service throughout the state and caused billions in damages.
SHP dean coauthors second edition of respiratory care textbook
School of Health Professions Dean David C. Shelledy, PhD, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, FASAHP, coauthored the second edition of a respiratory care textbook published in February.
On site in Laredo: Professor excels at founding PA programs
Assistant Professor Rosalyn Rosas, MMS, PA-C, had planned to be a nurse, but a chance encounter with a physician assistant inspired her to pursue a new path.
The PA—who Rosas had initially mistaken for a surgeon—invited her to observe an open-heart surgery. Rosas accepted. In the OR, she was enthralled not only by the opportunity to hold the patient’s heart during the procedure, but also by the realization that she had just discovered her future profession.
Pursuing an online respiratory care master’s degree as a working professional
Carolyn Adams, RRT-NPS, is a full-time senior respiratory therapist, but one day, she hopes to teach.
In addition to working nights at a pediatric hospital, Adams serves a clinical instructor for one of the technical schools in Madison, Wisconsin, where she lives. She is also a student in the Division of Respiratory Care’s online degree advancement master’s program, which is designed to help working professionals reach their career goals.
Speech-language pathology professor selected for research mentoring program
A year-long research mentorship program will help Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Assistant Professor Casey Taliancich-Klinger, PhD, develop her research program on developmental language disorder among bilingual children.
Occupational therapy chair recognized for contributions to OT education
Department of Occupational Therapy Chair and Associate Professor Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR, has received a 2021 Roster of Fellows Award from the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Speech-language pathology professor elected to TSHA office
Angela Kennedy, SLP-D, CCC-SLP, assistant professor and director of clinical education for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, was elected vice president for education and scientific affairs of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
SHP students inducted into Alpha Eta Society
Thirty-eight School of Health Professions students were inducted this spring into the campus chapter of the Alpha Eta Society, the national honor society of the allied health professions.
School of Health Professions Dean David C. Shelledy, PhD, RRT, FAARC, FASAHP, congratulated the inductees for their accomplishment in the April 13 ceremony.
Occupational and physical therapy students help dental students in project geared toward reducing musculoskeletal injuries
Perching on stools and twisting into awkward positions for long stretches of time while treating patients can lead to musculoskeletal injuries for dentists. Those injuries are sometimes so problematic they lead dentists to retire from practice.
SHP students recognized for their leadership, clinical excellence, research and community service
Five School of Health Professions students have been selected to receive Student Life Awards from the UT Health San Antonio Student Government Association.
OT faculty member to receive Presidential Clinical Excellence Award
In 21 years of practice as an occupational therapist, Laura Novak, OTD, OTR, BCG, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, has become an expert in productive aging and in working with people with dementia and their caregivers.
COVID-19 panel discusses long-term patient recovery and need for rehabilitation
Patients recovering from COVID-19 often require rehabilitation involving a range of therapies, according to a panel discussion hosted by the School of Health Professions.
Presented on Feb. 23, the panel discussion was moderated by School of Health Professions Dean David Shelledy, Ph.D., RRT, RPFT, FAARC, FASAHP.
New occupational therapy professor wants to address outdoor play in pediatric population
When Mei-Ling Lin, Ph.D., OTR, was weighing her career options, her desire to help others drew her to occupational therapy.
“I like to work with people,” said Dr. Lin, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. “When I was in high school, I decided I wanted to pursue a profession where I could constantly interact with people and help them.”
New alumni council supports wide range of SHP efforts
The School of Health Professions Alumni Council held its inaugural meeting virtually in January.
The council represents the voice of health professions alumni and supports the mission and goals of the School of Health Professions while serving as an advisory council in conjunction with alumni initiatives at the school.
Health professions students assist COVID patient positioning teams in ICU
Research has shown that turning COVID-19 patients onto their stomachs for a number of hours can help improve lung function and decrease mortality — but the process requires a specially trained team and a significant amount of time.
Occupational therapy doctoral program gains full accreditation
The School of Health Professions’ occupational therapy doctoral program is the first accredited state-supported entry-level OTD program in Texas.
The program received news of its full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) in December.
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