School of Health Professions hosts conference on innovations in health professions education

Allied health educators from across Texas gathered at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio on September 24-25 for the 38th annual Texas Society of Allied Health Professionals (TSAHP) Conference hosted by the School of Health Professions. The theme of the conference was “Innovations and Best Practices in Health Professions Education.”

“The School of Health Professions was delighted to host this year’s conference,” said David Shelledy, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Professions. “It was wonderful to collaborate with educators from all over the state on new and innovative ways we can advance allied health education and practice.”

The keynote address, titled “Interprofessional Education/Interprofessional Practice” discussed a collaborative approach to health care education and the benefits of streamlined patient care delivered by a team of health care professionals. The keynote presenters were David Henzi, Ed.D., associate dean of academic and student affairs in the School of Health Professions, Alan Sakaguchi, Ph.D., associate professor and laboratory instructor in gross anatomy at UT Health Science Center San Antonio and Jessica Pfister, M.S., CCC-SLP, lead speech pathologist at Baptist Health System.   

The conference agenda also included poster presentations and breakout sessions on trending topics in allied health education such technology, research, student-centered learning, flipped classrooms, teaching innovations, interprofessional education and more.

TSAHP also recognized allied health professionals and students who have made significant contributions in research and service:

• 2015 Student Awards: Danielle Debowsky, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Kaley Medsger, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Heather (Carley) Smith, Midwestern State University, Samantha Ferguson, Midwestern State University
• 2015 Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Robin Satterwhite, Vice President for Academic Affairs at South Plains College
• 2015 Research Award: Tiffany Billmeier Kindratt, UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas

TSAHP is a multidisciplinary society and is one of the primary organizations in Texas dedicated to enhancing and promoting education, research, and clinical practice in allied health education.