Quicklinks
School of Health Professions
Results: 500 news stories
Medical Laboratory Sciences students gain insights into what their future careers hold
Dozens of medical laboratory sciences students attended a recent professional development seminar featuring a graduate of the School of Health Professions’ Medical Laboratory Sciences program.
Occupational therapy professor joins Leadership Women Texas
Department of Occupational Therapy Professor and Chair Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, is a member of the Leadership Women Texas 2023 cohort.
The leadership program includes women leaders across a variety of industries and aligns with her professional and personal priorities, Piernik-Yoder said.
Respiratory Care Class of 2024 receives white coats
Fifty bachelor’s and master’s respiratory care students received their white coats this month in ceremony symbolizing the transition from classroom to clinical rotations.
“The white coat ceremony is always a special event on our academic calendar as it marks the point at which our students enter clinical practice and begin changing patients’ lives for the better,” said Division of Respiratory Care Program Director and Associate Professor Richard Wettstein, MMEd, RRT, FAARC, FCCP.
PT student chosen as an American Physical Therapy Association Leadership Scholar
Third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student Kaliea Green has been selected as one of 25 APTA Association Leadership Scholars from across the country.
APTA Association Leadership Scholars include PTs, PTAs and students, each of whom is paired up with a mentor and sponsored by the national APTA. The goal of the program, which runs from January through December, is to help build a diverse pool of future leaders.
Learn more about Green, vice president of the Class of 2023, in the Q&A below:
Concussion can affect communication and cognition long after injury, study finds
Concussions can cause long-term deficits in communication, according to findings from a study conducted by Assistant Professor Rocío Norman, PhD, CCC-SLP.
An SLP student shares her journey to the profession
Carmela Delacruz was teaching English to preschoolers in Seoul, South Korea, when she realized she wanted to be a speech-language pathologist.
Teaching was already a second act of sorts for Delacruz, who had taken a job with a startup company curating corporate snack programs following her graduation with a bachelor’s in telecommunications studies with a minor in business from Texas A&M University. Her original dream had been to create broadcast programming, a goal inspired by her older sister, who has Down syndrome.
Gift supports specialized equipment for patients with paralysis
The Department of Physical Therapy has received a $10,000 gift from Helping Empower a Life: Spinal Cord Injury (HEAL SCI) toward the purchase of a specialized piece of equipment for rehabilitation therapy for patients with spinal cord injury.
New Respiratory Care faculty member brings pediatric and neonatal expertise
The newest faculty member in the Division of Respiratory Care encourages her students to learn as much as possible about their patients’ overall condition.
Teaching award winner: “They motivate me more than anything”
Assistant Professor Selina Morgan, PT, DPT, NCS, is the 2022 winner of the School of Health Professions’ Shirlyn McKenzie Teaching Excellence Award — but to hear her tell it, a big part of the honor goes to her students.
“I love my students because they are the cream of the crop,” Morgan said. "They are so motivated to learn and that makes it all so rewarding."
Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences program: a student’s perspective
Grecia Almanza Castaneda wants to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, and she enrolled in the new Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences program at UT Health San Antonio as one step toward that goal.
The BS in Medical Sciences program, which welcomed its first class in August 2022, is designed to prepare students for competitive application to professional graduate school programs including medicine, nursing, dental, pharmacy and allied health professions.
Professor hosts podcast for — and about — Texas PAs
Physician assistants in Texas — and all who want to learn more about the PA profession — can now listen to a monthly podcast series hosted by a UT Health San Antonio professor and created with them in mind.
Launched in November, TAPA Talks is produced by the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) and hosted by Assistant Professor Steven “Tony” Skaggs, PhD, MPAS, PA-C.
Speech-language pathology and dental students learn from each other in IPE pilot project
Speech-language pathology and dental students participating in a recent interprofessional pilot project explored how their professions complement each other and how they can better care for patients with special needs.
Jessi O’Brien, a second-year Master of Speech-Language Pathology student, said she has already used strategies she learned during the pilot program.
Two pilot studies will gauge impact of interventions on neuroplasticity and hip-fracture surgery outcomes in older adults
UT Health San Antonio researchers will be launching two pilot studies to learn whether specific interventions help older adults build stronger neural pathways and recover better from hip fracture surgery.
The two separate pilot studies each received a $50,000 grant from the San Antonio Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center.
Does blood-flow restriction exercise boost neuroplasticity?
PT professor reelected president of Texas Physical Therapy Association
Associate Professor Michael Geelhoed, DPT, OCS, MTC, was reelected to a second term as president of the Texas Physical Therapy Association at the group’s annual conference, held in Irving, Texas, in October.
Geelhoed, who also is director of clinical education for the Department of Physical Therapy, has a range of goals for his three-year term.
Homeward bound: PA student plans to practice in Laredo after graduation
When she graduates from the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program in December, Carolina Gomez-Salinas will head home to give back to the community she loves.
Respiratory Care program well represented at national and international meetings
Faculty from the Division of Respiratory Care were well represented at the 68th American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) International Congress in New Orleans in November.
Students take 2nd place in MLS Bowl
One of two student teams fields by the Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences placed second in a medical laboratory science bowl competition at the Texas Association of Clinical Laboratory Science Conference.
Meet OT department’s two newest faculty members
The Department of Occupational Therapy recently welcomed two new faculty members.
Associate Professor Chinyu Wu, PhD, OTR, and Assistant Professor Angela Benfield, PhD, OTR, joined the department in August. Each brings research interests that will add to the department, said Department of Occupational Therapy Chair and Professor Bridgette Piernik-Yoder, PhD, OTR, FAOTA.
UT Health San Antonio, associate dean receive awards at ASAHP conference
School of Health Professions Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs David Henzi, EdD, was inducted as a Fellow of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) at its annual conference in October.
PA Studies program celebrates 20th anniversary
The Physician Assistant Studies program at UT Health San Antonio celebrated its 20th anniversary this month at a dinner attended by alumni and special guests.
Subscribe to recieve a monthly email newsletter with information on academic programs, events and campus news from the School of Health Professions.
First Name
Last Name
Email
