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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.
Committed to the profession, OT students win Ellsworth scholarships
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.
Emergency Health Sciences faculty participate in summer EMS conferences
Faculty from the Department of Emergency Health Sciences participated in several leading EMS conferences this summer.
Respiratory care professor publishes children’s book
Assistant Professor Tabatha Dragonberry has published a book for children of mothers who are respiratory therapists.
“I did this because there was nothing of its kind,” said Dr. Dragonberry, DHSc, MBA, MEd, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, CPFT, C-NPT.
The self-published book features main character Regina Rabbit, a registered respiratory therapist who is also a mom, and aims to demystify the profession by taking the reader through a day in the life of a respiratory therapist.
New PT faculty member discovered the profession while in the military
Associate Professor Bradley Tragord, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT, was five years into his military career when he decided to become a physical therapist.
“I had more of an inclination to interact with patients, and when I learned I could still stay in the Army and do that, it was a slam dunk,” said Dr. Tragord, who recently joined the faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy after retiring from the Army with more than 22 years of active-duty service.
Building community: Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders hosts adult education program
High school math teacher Simone Bailey has primary progressive aphasia, a disorder that affects speaking and understanding language, as well as reading and writing.
This summer, Bailey attended an adult education program for improving communication skills that the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders hosted on campus. The program was designed for people whose ability to communicate has been affected by stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions, including primary progressive aphasia.
Northern exposure: OT student enjoys fieldwork experience in Alaska
Heading to Alaska for her clinical fieldwork experience was part of Jennifer Sanchez’s plan when she enrolled in the occupational therapy doctoral program in the School of Health Professions.
This summer, Sanchez’s long-awaited trip became a reality as she headed to Anchorage for 12 weeks of fieldwork in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
Students conduct pediatric speech, language, hearing and literacy screenings
Students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders have been performing pediatric speech, language, hearing and literacy screenings this summer.
Professional milestone: PA students receive white coats and pins
Students in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2023 received their white coats and pins in an annual ceremony signifying their entrance into the profession and the responsibility that comes with it.
How PAs discover — and choose— their profession
Physician assistants often do not learn about their future profession until they are already in college — or even afterwards, according to a pilot study led by Steven “Tony” Skaggs, PA-C, assistant professor and associate chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
Communication Sciences and Disorders professor named journal junior editor
Assistant Professor Rocío Norman, PhD, CCC-SLP of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has recently been selected as a junior editor for the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science.
Although Dr. Norman has served as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed medical journals, this is her first role as an editor. Her experience as both a clinician and a researcher have prepared her well for the opportunity, she said.
PT students gain experience in on-campus pro bono clinic
Physical therapy students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a new pro bono on-campus clinic.
The School of Health Professions hosts annual meeting of allied health deans
The School of Health Professions hosted the 2021 annual conference of the Southern Association of Allied Health Deans at Academic Health Centers.
Held June 16–18, the meeting had originally been scheduled for April 2020 but was postponed several times because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Respiratory care students take oath, don white coats
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.
Perfect score: Speech-language pathology graduate aces national exam
Mitzi Hardeman had been working in customer service for a decade when she decided she wanted a different career.
“I wanted to help people in a more meaningful way and to do something in the sciences,” Hardeman said.
A passion for the laboratory and leadership
Nemo Muñoz loves the opportunity microbiology provides to step into the role of detective.
“To me, it’s like solving a mystery: You start with a plate reading, and from there you can go as far as figuring out the species and genus of what the bug is,” Muñoz said.
OT pilot program helps adolescents and young adults with disabilities develop independent living skills
A new pilot project developed by a recent graduate of the occupational therapy program helps adolescents and young adults with disabilities develop independent life skills such as making meals and doing laundry.
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.
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.
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