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Adult aphasia program provides opportunity to improve communication skills — and build community
By Kate Hunger
A sense of isolation can be a familiar feeling among people with aphasia, a condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Yet this summer, 28 people with aphasia and their family members came together for a program designed to strengthen their communication skills — and their sense of community.
Occupational therapy professor Kimatha Grice to retire
Associate Professor Kimatha Grice, OTD, OTR, CHT, found her future profession in the library stacks at Texas A&M University.
“I was researching schools for physical therapy, and I came across occupational therapy,” she said. “I started reading up on it, and I thought, ‘That sounds really interesting — it sounds more like me.’ That’s how I ended up in OT school, and I never looked back.”
Speech-language pathology program offered two pediatric summer programs
Two community-based pediatric speech and language programs offered this summer by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders helped children get ready for the new school year and gave graduate speech-language pathology students valuable clinical experience.
Reeve Foundation awards impact grant to PT professor for her spinal cord injury rehabilitation research
, has received an impact grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation that will help support her research and rehabilitation work with patients with spinal cord injury.
ICU simulation prepares PT, OT and nursing students for work as an interprofessional team
An interprofessional intensive care unit simulation activity this spring was timed just right for the 118 physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing students who participated.
Held in April before doctoral PT and OT students began clinical rotations and the 4th-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students graduated, the activity gave students the opportunity to learn firsthand about the roles of other health professions in the ICU — and to practice their own skills.
Embracing an interprofessional approach
Helping people is a way of life for new PA Studies professor
Growing up in Khartoum, Sudan, , witnessed the effects of widespread poverty. He decided to dedicate his life to helping others.
“My aim was to help poor people as much as I can,” said Dr. Habeab, who joined the School of Health Professions on June 1 as faculty for the , where he will begin working in July.
Medical sciences professor brings COVID-19 lab experience to new role
Assistant Professor/Clinical , MLS (ASCP)CM, has experienced as a master’s and PhD student, a member of the COVID-19 Rapid Response Team and most recently, as a faculty member in the new Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences program.
OT professor elected to RESNA board, co-presents workshop at European Seating Symposium
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Ana Allegretti, PhD, OTR, ATP, has been elected to the board of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).
Dr. Allegretti, a long-time member of RESNA and is as an associate editor for its journal. Born and raised in Brazil, she said she will bring an international perspective to the board during her three-year term, which begins in August. One of her goals as a board member will be to increase access to the organization’s resources by clinicians around the world.
Professor George Kudolo receives Spectrum Award
Department of Health Sciences Chair and Professor George Kudolo, PhD, CPC, FAIC, FAACC, received the 2022 School of Health Professions Spectrum Award.
The Spectrum Award recognizes faculty for all-around excellence and exceptional contributions in teaching, research and service.
holds second rehabilitation research day
Third-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy students Tina Bittle, Paige Beeney and Cristina Martinez developed their interest in research while working on a project with a local high school to provide modified ride-on toy cars to young children with physical disabilities.
The three presented “Partnering with community organizations to address early mobility,” one of 39 research posters at ’s second annual Rehabilitation Research Day, held May 13 on campus.
SHP students inducted into allied health professions honor society
Fifty School of Health Professions students were inducted May 5 into the campus chapter of the Alpha Eta Society, the national honor society of the allied health professions.
The induction ceremony was held virtually, said chapter president and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Martha M. Acosta, PhD, PT, GCS.
PT students perform health screenings at senior center
Third-year physical therapy students performed health screenings on April 27 during a health fair at the District 2 Senior Center in San Antonio.
The screenings were part of a Lifespan course PT students take in the final semester of their program, said Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Martha M. Acosta, PhD, PT, GCS.
PA students don white coats, take oath
The 61 students in the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2024 donned their white coats and received their pins during a May 18 ceremony recognizing both their entrance into the profession and their new responsibilities.
“Physician Assistants are not physicians, but practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians, and necessarily our training program follows that of the medical model of education,” said Paul B. Allen, Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, associate professor, program director and chair of the PA Studies program.
At all-school commencement, graduates walk across stage and into health care workforce
Doctor of Physical Therapy students receive white coats and pins
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2023 received its white coats and pins in a ceremony marking the transition from classroom learning to caring for patients.
“The students are deemed ready to start seeing patients during their full time clinical rotations,” said Department of Physical Therapy Chair and Associate Professor Greg Ernst, PhD, ECS. “They will complete a total of 34 weeks of full time rotations in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, neurologic rehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation and others.”
Physician Assistant Studies department chair receives Presidential Award
Thirty years ago, Paul B. Allen, Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, FSAPA, associate professor, chair and program director of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at , would not have guessed his future included leading an effort to increase the number of health care providers in the Laredo area.
In fact, Dr. Allen wasn’t expecting to work in health care at all. When he joined the U.S. Army, he was selected for training as a Special Forces medical sergeant, not as a Special Forces weapons sergeant, as he had hoped.
National occupational therapy conference held in San Antonio
The American Occupational Therapy Association held its annual conference in San Antonio March 31–April 3, the first time the annual gathering has included an in-person option in three years.
PA Studies Class of 2021 posts 100% first-time pass rate on national exam
Every student in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2021 passed the profession’s national certifying exam on the first try.
The 100% first-time time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) is well above the national average of 93%, said Associate Professor Paul Allen, Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, program director and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at . “Our personal benchmark is that we want to score at or better than the national average,” Dr. Allen said.
Study shows COVID-19 patients in ICU improved functional mobility after PT intervention
Physical therapy Assistant Professor Bobby Belarmino, PT, DPT, PhD, CCS, co-authored a recently published paper outlining a new clinical decision-making algorithm to help clinicians identify COVID-19 patients for whom physical therapy intervention in the ICU is appropriate.
PA Studies student named Presidential Ambassador Scholar for School of Health Professions
Physician Assistant Studies student Caitlyn Swopes is the School of Health Professions’ 2022 Presidential Ambassador Scholar.
Swopes has devoted a substantial number of hours to leadership and volunteer efforts, said Steven “Tony” Skaggs, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, assistant professor, associate chair and associate program director of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
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