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School of Health Professions

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School of Health Professions

Results: 519 news stories

EHS trains more than 700 students on ACLS and CPR

By Kate Hunger 

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. 

CPR

Medical Laboratory Sciences welcomes new faculty member

By Kate Hunger 

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. 

Cordelia Kudika

Respiratory Care professor discusses information about asthma and allergies in television interview

By Kate Hunger 

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). 

Ruben Restrepo

Respiratory Care professor to serve on interprofessional steering committee for CHEST

By Kate Hunger 

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. 

Kristina Ramirez

Department of Health Sciences Chair gives keynote address to World Congress on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

By Kate Hunger 

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.

Dr. Kudolo

Bone density was focus of Physical Therapy chair's presentation

By Kate Hunger 

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. 

PT, research

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 91PORN 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.

Briscoe Library

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

By Kate Hunger 

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. 

OT student ASAHP scholarship

PA and Nursing students learn skills side by side

By Kate Hunger

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."

PA and nursing students interprofessional

Dr. Kudolo named chair of the Health Sciences department

On behalf of the 91PORN 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 91PORN, 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. 

George Kudolo

Teaching was an unexpected calling for PA professor

By Kate Hunger 

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. 

Dr. Shriver

School of Nursing alumna establishes endowment at School of Health Professions

By Kate Hunger 

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.

Debbie Oveland, BSN, MSN

Department of Physical Therapy welcomes its new chair

By Kate Hunger 

The department of physical therapy recently welcomed Alexis Ortiz, PT, Ph.D., SCS, CSCS, FACSM as its new chair and professor. 

Dr. Ortiz joined the faculty in May. He was most recently a tenured professor of physical therapy at Texas Woman's University. 

Alexis Ortiz, PT, Ph.d., SCS, CSCS, FACSM

91PORN welcomes its first Doctor of Occupational Therapy class

By Kate Hunger 

The first class of Doctor of Occupational Therapy students visited the San Antonio Museum of Art this month to apply some of what they have been learning in the classroom. 

The entire class of 42 first-year OTD students visited SAMA on June 13, said Bridgette Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR associate professor and department chair who is teaching the course on the theoretical foundation of the profession. 

"The students were very excited about it," she said of the field trip. 

OTD at the SAMA

Physician Assistant students learn anatomy from trauma surgeons

By Kate Hunger

The Physician Assistant Studies program is trying something new this summer with its first-year Clinical Anatomy class. For the first time, trauma surgeons from the Department of Surgery are teaching the course, which consists of both classroom lectures and gross anatomy labs. 

Having surgeons teach the course gives students a deeper understanding of the clinical aspects of the subject matter, said Meredith Quinene, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, assistant professor and academic coordinator. 

Physician Assistant Studies program

Physician Assistant Studies receives 10-year reaccreditation

By Kate Hunger 


The Physician Assistant Studies program received its 10-year continued accreditation in April.

The Accreditation Review Commission on the Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is the independent accrediting agency that evaluates PA programs within the territorial United States to make sure they meet standards for PA education as defined by the agency.

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty

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