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Finding the opportunity in disruption: Communication sciences and disorders professor attends national research meeting

By Kate Hunger

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to researchers trying to maintain the momentum of their work. Communication Sciences and Disorders Assistant Professor Rocío Norman, PhD, CCC-SLP, who researches mild traumatic brain injury, experienced this when the COVID-19 protocols meant her lab had to shut down for at least six months.

Communication Sciences and Disorders Assistant Professor Rocío Norman, PhD, CCC-SLP

Studying to be a PA in Laredo enables student to attend grad school and still enjoy family time in her hometown

By Kate Hunger

Going to graduate school in her hometown of Laredo has allowed first-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies student Annalee Aldape to expand her career options while staying connected to family.

PA studies student Annalee Aldape is among the first cohort of students at the UT Center at Laredo.

Patients always come first, PA Studies commencement speaker tells graduates

P. Eugene “Gene” Jones, PhD, PA-C, professor emeritus, delivered remarks as the distinguished commencement speaker at the Dec. 10 graduation of the Physician Assistant Class of 2021.

Dr. Jones, who was named a professor emeritus of physician assistant studies at UT Southwestern in 2017, delivered an inspirational address, with a focus on how graduates can be great PAs.


Why graduate students should engage in cultural experiences early

By Kate Hunger

Speech-language pathology students benefit from receiving intentional training to serve diverse populations early on in their graduate school careers, according to an article authored by Communication Sciences and Disorders Assistant Professor Casey Taliancich-Klinger, PhD, CCC-SLP, that published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

Assistant Professor Casey Taliancich-Klinger

OT student receives leadership award at annual state OT conference

By Kate Hunger

Third-year occupational therapy doctoral student Jennifer Sanchez received the 2021 Student Leadership Award at the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) annual conference, held Nov. 5-6.

Occupational therapy student Jennifer Sanchez holding her student leadership award from TOTA

Allied Health Week open house introduces high school students to health professions

By Kate Hunger

In an effort to increase awareness about health professions careers among high school students, the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions hosted a virtual open house to celebrate Allied Health Week 2021.

The Office of Recruitment and Science Outreach helped organize and promote the open house, held via Zoom on Nov. 5. About 160 high school students from around the San Antonio area attended the event, said School of Health Professions Director of Admissions and Special Programs Melina Dauto Benavidez.

School of Health Professions students who volunteered at the virtual open house for Allied Health Week 2021

Two ways to help others this holiday season

Looking for a way to make life a little brighter for others this holiday season? Here are two opportunities to do just that:

Nursing Home Clothing Drive: Drop off new sweatshirts, sweatpants, and non-slip socks to the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions and Special Programs, DTL 2.207R, through Dec. 10. To donate to the SHP Clothing Drive, please click here.

Image for Warm Hands, Healthy Hands glove drive hosted by Department of Occupational Therapy

MLS students compete in national “cell bowl”

By Kate Hunger

It turns out if you’ve seen one blood cell, you haven’t seen them all.

UT Health San Antonio MLS team members compete in national cell bowl

PT professor’s research featured in New York Times series on chronic pain

By Kate Hunger

Physical Therapy Associate Professor Wei Liu, PhD, studies the use of prescribed tai chi forms to treat knee osteoarthritis.

Dr. Liu’s research, which is funded by a K23 grant from the National Institutes of Health, is featured in “How to Exercise With Chronic Pain,” published Nov. 9 as part of a series on chronic pain by The New York Times.

Associate Professor Wei Liu

Dr. Giselle Carnaby is new director of PhD in Health Sciences program

An academic research career was not what PhD in Health Sciences Program Director Giselle Carnaby, MPH, PhD, envisioned for her future when she began practicing as a speech-language pathologist.

But several years into practice, she found herself frustrated by questions she could not find answers for in the literature.

Dr. Giselle Carnaby, director of PhD in Health Sciences program

OT collaboration with local high school results in custom rides for children with mobility challenges

By Kate Hunger

On a recent afternoon, 2-year-old Daniella patiently waited for adjustments to be made to her harness and other elements of her brand-new ride-on toy car. When all was ready, the cluster of students and adults who had been waiting for this moment encouraged her to press the red saucer-sized button on top of the car’s steering wheel. The car whizzed forward, and Daniella smiled.

2-year-old girl drives modified ride-on toy car

MLS professor makes the case for more research on frequency of blood antigens among Hispanics

By Kate Hunger

Assistant Professor Tiffany Roerich Wafford, MSTM, MLS, SBB (ASCP), analyzed 3,455 blood donor records to confirm the prevalence of red blood cell antigens among Hispanic blood donors in South Texas.

Assistant Professor Tiffany R. Wafford

Respiratory Care Week Alumni Profile: Luzolo Tapir Dienda

By Kate Hunger

Luzolo Tapir Dienda, MSRC, RRT-ACCS, RCP, had been a practicing respiratory therapist for 15 years when he decided to earn a master’s degree to expand his career options.

“I wanted to be an expert in what I do,” he said. “I wanted to open myself to new opportunities and be the best practitioner I can be.”

Luzolo Tapir Dienda

PT faculty present their work at annual TPTA conference

By Kate Hunger

Physical therapists can help people with acute decompensated heart failure avoid going back into the hospital, according to one of several presentations delivered by faculty from the Department of Physical Therapy at the 2021 Texas Physical Therapy Association annual conference.

PT faculty, Dr. Michael Geelhoed, Dr. Martha M. Acosta, Dr. Gustavo Almeida and Dr. Bobby Belarmino

PA student glad to be studying in — and giving back to — Laredo, her hometown

By Kate Hunger

When Samantha Gonzalez thinks about her future profession as a physician assistant, she is reminded of her past.

 “You are getting advice from your supervising physician, you are working with the nurses, respiratory therapists, with the lab,” Gonzalez said of a typical day as a PA. “I played volleyball — I’ve always been a part of a team. It’s nice that I’m going to have that again.”

PA Studies student Samantha Gonzalez

PT student excels in second act, earns scholarship

By Kate Hunger

 

Kevin Hamilton was just 4 years old when he started taking dance classes in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. He accepted his first professional job with the Milwaukee Ballet after high school graduation and went on to dance with the Cincinnati Ballet and the Dayton Ballet. But along the way, injuries prompted him to consider making a career switch that allowed him to focus on movement from an entirely different perspective: physical therapy.

PT student Kevin Hamilton

SHP faculty present at American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine

Faculty from across the School of Health Professions participated in the 2021 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) conference held virtually Sept. 24–29.

“ACRM is the premier interdisciplinary rehabilitation organization that brings together national and international clinicians, researchers, administrators and policy makers,” said Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Occupational Therapy Timothy Reistetter, PhD, OTR, FAOTA. “ACRM facilitates networking opportunities, scholarly discourse and collaboration to guide the rehabilitation field.”

Computer generated graphic of running person on a screen

Interprofessional wellness activity promotes hydration, nutrition and mindfulness

By Kate Hunger

An interprofessional cooking and wellness program offered by the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine and the San Antonio Food Bank inspired Lora George, a physician assistant studies student, to whip up a refreshing change to her daily hydration routine.

Student holding glass of water

New Bachelor of Science in medical sciences to prepare students for health professions graduate programs

By Kate Hunger

 

The School of Health Professions has opened applications for its new Bachelor of Science in medical sciences degree, with the first cohort to begin in Fall 2022.

Students in a classroom

Committed to the profession, OT students win Ellsworth scholarships

By Kate Hunger

A passion for helping people participate more fully in their daily activities drew third-year occupational therapy (OT) students Nestor Gonzalez and Erin Hobbs to the profession.

The daughter of two nurses, Hobbs discovered OT halfway through her undergraduate study as she sought a health care profession that matched her values.

“It’s a profession that really cares about health and quality of life for our clients and patients,” Hobbs said.

OT student and Ellsworth scholarship winner Erin Hobbs

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