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Occupational therapy chair recognized for contributions to OT education
By Kate Hunger
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.
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.
Medical laboratory sciences student is passionate about her profession
When Alana Rubio was growing up in Uvalde, Texas, she knew she wanted to find a career she could pursue with passion.
She took a wide range of classes at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, hoping to find the field that would inspire her and give her the direction she craved. That spark came in her chemistry class, taught by a professor whose enthusiasm for the subject was contagious.
That moment was when Rubio realized she wanted to find a profession she loved.
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.
Department of Physical Therapy faculty seek collaborators in rehabilitation research
The faculty in the Department of Physical Therapy is seeking to collaborate with other researchers in various areas of rehabilitation research.
PT faculty members have excellent training and experience in diverse fields including cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurologic rehabilitation, motor control/motor learning and orthopedics, said Department Chair and Associate Professor Greg Ernst, PT, PhD, ECS.
The biomechanics of tai chi: New faculty member brings an engineering perspective to rehabilitation research
For years, Wei Liu, Ph.D., has researched tai chi as a rehabilitation intervention and exercise treatment option for people with knee osteoarthritis and other disabilities such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and low back pain. Still, he admits there is much to learn about the benefits offered by the ancient practice of continuous, controlled movements.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Online degree advancement program helps working respiratory therapists take their careers to the next level
Corey Caballero, CPhT, RRT, is a husband and father, a student in the School of Health Professions, and a full-time respiratory therapist at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Register: Respiratory Care Symposium and Virtual Student Conference
The Division of Respiratory Care will host two virtual events in March: the 26th Annual Respiratory Care Symposium and the first-ever Respiratory Therapy Student Virtual Conference. Find program details and registration information for each event below.
26th Annual Respiratory Care Symposium Webinar
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.
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.
Teaching is a lifelong passion for Presidential Award winner
As a high school science teacher, Meredith Quinene, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, assistant professor and academic coordinator for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, learned to begin with the end in mind.
When she decided to leave the classroom to become a physician assistant, for instance, she did so knowing that her ultimate goal was to one day join the faculty of UT Health San Antonio, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies in 2003.
Professor coauthors textbook on respiratory critical care
A textbook coauthored by Respiratory Care Professor Ruben Restrepo, MD RRT, FAARC, FCCP, is geared toward preparing respiratory therapists for the Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) exam while also providing essential information for all members of critical care teams.
Respiratory care student embraces profession that enables him to help others
After Anthony Mendoza Jr., graduated from high school in his hometown of Carrizo Springs, he worked for four years in the oil field, where he often put in 14-hour days. He decided he wanted a different career, one that would enable him to help others. He started taking college classes and researched health professions.
Neuroplasticity is the focus of new PT faculty member’s research
Department of Physical Therapy Assistant Professor Anjali Sivaramakrishnan, PT, Ph.D., wants to learn more about the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation on improving mobility for patients experiencing problems with movement due to neurological disorders.
Dr. Sivaramakrishnan, who joined the faculty in December, is establishing her neuroplasticity research program. In particular, she is hoping her research will address gaps in the translation of the potential benefits of non-invasive brain stimulation from lab to clinic.
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