Quicklinks
School of Health Professions
Results: 525 news stories
Occupational therapy students and medical students participate in pilot project
By Kate Hunger
Second-year occupational therapy student Carlos Herrera’s idea for an innovative interprofessional education opportunity turned into a reality this September.
Թ holds Interprofessional Education Orientation
More than 70 students gathered last month to learn for a first-year student interprofessional orientation—the first of its kind for the University.
Anastacia Flores, a graduate student in the nurse practitioner program in the School of Nursing, said she understands the need to connect and collaborate with other health professionals. She valued the opportunity to meet students from other programs.
Respiratory Care division gains new faculty member
Megan Lynn Llamas, MA, BSRC, RRT, Respiratory Care Assistant Professor, always knew she wanted to teach.
Five years after graduating with a bachelor’s in respiratory care in 2013, Llamas is back at the School of Health Professions, sharing her passion with students. She joined the faculty on Aug. 20.
Llamas loves learning and helping others grow. Asked what inspires her, she didn’t hesitate.
Respiratory Care faculty and students to present at national conference
Faculty members and students from the Division of Respiratory Care will deliver research poster presentations at the AARC Congress 2018 in December.
Students connect through Interprofessional Leadership Scholars Program
One day in his future career as a medical laboratory scientist, Prit Desai hopes to collaborate with health professionals in other fields to exchange information and insights with the common goal of delivering excellent patient care.
School of Health Professions moves into a new space
The School of Health Professions moved into its new space in August, bringing the Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs into one building on the Long (Main) Campus.
The move was at least four years in the planning stages, said Dean David Shelledy, Ph.D., RRT, FAARC, FASAHP, Dean of the School of Health Professions. Each program had the opportunity to design teaching labs and facilities to best fit the needs of their profession, he said. Feedback has been favorable.
EHS trains more than 700 students on ACLS and CPR
More than 700 students from various health professions learned critical lifesaving skills over the summer through training delivered by the Department of Emergency Health Sciences.
Medical Laboratory Sciences welcomes new faculty member
Cordelia Kudika, MA, CHS (ABHI), discovered her passion for medical laboratory science by accident.
Kudika, assistant professor of medical laboratory sciences, major in biology as an undergraduate but encountered a tough job market upon graduation. So she decided to apply to a Physician Assistant Studies program. She signed up for an introductory medical laboratory science class and was hooked.
"I did a 180 on my path," said Kudika, who joined the Medical Laboratory Science faculty in August.
Respiratory Care professor discusses information about asthma and allergies in television interview
Ruben Restrepo, M.D., RRT, FAARC, respiratory care professor, was recently named a 2018 Distinguished CHEST Educator by the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST).
Respiratory Care professor to serve on interprofessional steering committee for CHEST
Kristina E. Ramirez, RRT, MPH, respiratory care assistant professor, will begin her first term as a vice-chair of the Interprofessional Team NetWork Steering Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST)
Ramirez, who also serves as director of clinical education in the Respiratory Care division, will serve as vice-chair until 2020 and then as chairperson until 2022.
Ramirez said she will work to increase the involvement of respiratory therapists in the international pulmonary organization.
Department of Health Sciences Chair gives keynote address to World Congress on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
George Kudolo, Ph.D., FAIC, FAACC, professor, and chair of the health sciences department hopes to broaden his study of the effect of Ginkgo biloba, a popular herbal supplement, on women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Kudolo gave a keynote speech at the 4th World Congress on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, held in London June 7-8. With the theme of “Diagnosis and Intervention of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome,” the meeting featured the research and techniques of educators, researchers, and practitioners from around the world.
Bone density was focus of Physical Therapy chair's presentation
Alexis Ortiz, PT, Ph.D., SCS, CSCS, FACSM, professor, and chair of the physical therapy department, recently presented a poster on bone density research at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Ortiz shared findings from a study that looked at body composition and the biomarker leptin in female long-distance runners.
New LibGuide on Conducting a Literature Review and More
By Karen Barton
Briscoe Library continuously strives to acquire or create resources that can contribute to the success of Թ students, faculty, and staff. The Conducting a Literature Review LibGuide is a new subject guide that can be found among many others at libguides.uthscsa.edu. The Hub LibGuide is also new and provides instructions for using the library’s virtual reality and other software. The library is always open to ideas from the campus community regarding new LibGuides and other resources.
PT student leads national student organization
Mike Nash knew he wanted to be a physical therapist after he helped his 4-year-old brother relearn how to walk after spending months in a cast healing a broken leg.
"My brother and I tried to decide to teach him how to walk again," recalled Nash, a third-year Physical Therapy student. "He did and he got stronger and was able to run and jump and keep up with us after a while."
PT students travel to the Dominican Republic to provide health care services
Volunteering at mobile health clinics near sugar cane fields in the Dominican Republic taught Dominic Rangel lessons that will serve him throughout his career.
One lesson is to be grateful for what he has. The other is to focus. "I think it's important to slow down and focus on one person at a time, because although you are going to have a bunch of patients throughout the day, there is only one patient you can help at that moment and that is the patient sitting right in front of you," he said.
OT student receive ASAHP scholarship
Third-year Occupational Therapy student Abby Morales is one of 12 students selected nationally to receive a scholarship from the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions.
When Morales learned she had received the $1,000 award, she immediately reflected on her faith.
"I try to look at things positively and know that God's going to take care of me with school and student loans," she said.
PA and Nursing students learn skills side by side
When Madison Ashley is a practicing physician assistant someday, she likely won't be regularly placing IVs or urinary catheters. But the second-year Physician Assistant Studies student said learning clinical skills in class alongside nursing students this summer will serve her well professionally.
"Knowing exactly what everyone's role is," will help, she said, adding that understanding more about what is involved in procedures is important. "It's good to know just exactly what are you going to be ordering."
Dr. Kudolo named chair of the Health Sciences department
On behalf of the Թ School of Health Professions, I am delighted to announce the appointment of George Kudolo, Ph.D., FAIC, FAACC as the Chair of the Department of Health Sciences. Dr. Kudolo currently serves as the Interim Chair of the Department of Health Sciences and as Professor with Tenure.
Involved in the education of health professionals since 1987 at Թ, Dr. Kudolo has been committed to promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning and has mentored and directed many students at the graduate and doctoral level.
Teaching was an unexpected calling for PA professor
Teaching was a calling Brent Shriver, Ph.D., physician assistant studies associate professor didn't see coming.
"Never say 'never," Shriver said. "When I got out of grad school, I was going to be a researcher."
Shriver, who once had even considered veterinary school, found himself leading lectures instead of working in a lab. More than 20 years later, he says he finds working with students in the challenging PA Studies program to be rewarding.
School of Nursing alumna establishes endowment at School of Health Professions
An alumna of the School of Nursing has established an endowment that will support leadership efforts by School of Health Professions faculty in the area of rehabilitation.
Debbie Oveland, BSN, MSN, and a board-certified family nurse practitioner, signed the agreement in June to establish the Oveland Family Leadership Endowment Fund in Rehabilitation and Research.
Subscribe to receive a monthly email newsletter with information on academic programs, events and campus news from the School of Health Professions.
First Name
Last Name
Email