THE CRUCIBLE
“A place ... in which concentrated forces interact to cause or
influence change or development”
Newsletter from the College of Allied Health Professions, University of South Alabama
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/
THE CRUCIBLE
Issue 4, Spring 2006
Special Points of Interest
Message from the Dean, Dr. Rick Talbott
• BMD Faculty attend
conference
It seems each year passes more quickly than the one before and that it was only a few months
ago that I was writing to you about graduation last year. We are, however, very excited about the
progress in the College over the past year. The quality of our graduates continues to be
outstanding as evidenced by their performance on national certifying/licensing examinations as I
reported in the last edition of the Crucible. One of our major goals for the College is obviously
the recruitment of outstanding students and based on both the quality and quantity of the
applicant pool for next year, the outlook is very bright for the future. The number of applicants
for next year is at an all time high for most of our clinical programs, and the quality of our
students is evidenced by the extraordinary number of Allied Health students in the Honors
program, selected for scholarship and Honor Societies, and who are tapped for student leadership roles at USA.
The College recently held its annual awards banquet and honored its second Hall of Fame recipient, Sidney
Scarborough, a 1994 graduate of the Physical Therapy department. College faculty were recognized for their
achievements in teaching, research and service with Dr. John Jefferson (Physical Therapy), Dr. Flint Boettcher
(Audiology), and Dr. Dennis Fell (Physical Therapy) respectively receiving awards. As Associate Dean Dr. Julio Turrens
pointed out in the presentation, over half of the faculty in the College were nominated for the teaching award which
highlights the overall quality of our faculty.
In addition to the awards, we were pleased that Dr. Pat Covey, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and the
founding Dean of the College could join us for a College celebration of her many years of dedicated service and
contributions to the College and the University. During the banquet, we also featured a “preview unveiling” of her
portrait that will be displayed in the College Dean’s Office until the completion of the new College of Allied Health and
Nursing building.
The faculty join me in wishing you a joyous and healthful summer and, as always, I urge you to keep in touch, and
please give us the opportunity to meet with you should your sojourns bring you to the campus.
• CLS student receives
scholarship
• OT faculty attend
conference
• PA graduate story
• PT Profs receive award
• RAD student with 42
siblings
• SPA 1st White Coat
Ceremony
Inside this issue:
Department of
Biomedical Sciences.........2
Richard E. Talbott, Dean
Department of
Cardiorespiratory Care ...3
Department of Clinical
Laboratory Sciences.........3
Department of
Occupational Therapy.....4
Department of Physician
Assistant Studies ...............5
Department of
Physical Therapy...............5
Department of
Radiological Sciences......6
Department of
Speech Pathology and
Audiology ..........................7
College News
"Top Prof" Honors
On March 3, 2006, the Golden Key Chapter of the Mortar
Board National College Senior Honor Society honored faculty
members for their exceptional contributions to the University
and for student service and support. Three principles of the
Motor Board Society are "Scholarship, Leadership, and
Service." Each Mortar Board member selected a faculty
member who has provided support and motivation in and out
of the classroom, and has had a significant impact on student
life. This year, one third of the awards went to faculty members
in the College of Allied Health, including:
Dr. Cindy Stanfield, Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Zarrintaj Aliabadi, Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Holly Hall, Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Ms. Tracy O'Connor, Occupational Therapy
Dr. Barry Dale, Physical Therapy
Dr. Julio Turrens, Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Charles Gray, Physical Therapy
Dr. Marjorie Scaffa, Occupational Therapy
Dr. Stephen Kayes, Cell Biology & Neuroscience
(BMD Instructor during fall semester)
New Building The University of South Alabama will erect a
new building on campus to house the Colleges of Allied Health
Professions and Nursing. The building will be located on the corner
of University Boulevard and USA North Drive. This building will
finally bring together the administration and all departments in the
college, which currently are housed miles apart between the
University Commons and Springhill Campus. Construction is
expected to start at the end of the year.
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College News (continued)
National Honor Society Omicron Delta Kappa Inductees
Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honor society that recognizes and
encourages scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character. Nine of the thirty
students inducted this year were from the College of Allied Health Professions.
The ceremony was held in the ballroom of the student center on February 5th.
The students inducted included:
Kathryn M. Brady, Occupational Therapy
David J. Greer, Physical Therapy
Beau D. Hagler, Biomedical Sciences
Cathy V. Ho, Biomedical Sciences
William B. Hundley, Biomedical Sciences
Rama D. Kastury, Biomedical Sciences
Leia R. Luther, Speech and Hearing Sciences
Samit A. Patrawala, Biomedical Sciences
Meghan L. Womble, Occupational Therapy & Psychology
The society also recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions
to the University of South Alabama. The awards this year went to Abraham and
Mayer Mitchell and to Dr. Julio F. Turrens, Associate Dean of the College of
Allied Health Professions.
College of Allied Health Faculty
Organize and Participate in Science Olympiad
On Saturday, February 25, 2006, the University of South Alabama hosted the
Regional Science Olympiad with the assistance of several College of Allied Health
Professions faculty and students. Dr. Cindy Stanfield, Biomedical Sciences, served
as the Tournament Director, and with the help of Dr. Mike Spector, Biomedical
Sciences, and Paula Medveal, Academic Affairs, organized a successful event.
Faculty in Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and the Dean’s
Office created and judged events. Dr. Brad Davis supervised the middle school
competition in Disease Detectives. Drs. Mike Spector and Bill Kenyon (postdoctoral fellow) supervised the high school competition in Disease Detectives.
Dr. Julio Turrens supervised the middle school Mission Possible competition.
Dr. George Harwell, Ms.Vicki Barrett, and Ms. Marie White conducted
and judged the Food Science Event. Senior CLS students Wade DeHart,
Leigh Hargrove, and Donna Heuermann also participated in this event.
Students in BMD judged competitions in Balloon Race, Don’t Bug Me,
Mystery Architecture, Storm the Castle, Wheeled Vehicle, Forensics,
Practical Problem Solving, and Scrambler. Also, our former dean, Dr. Dan Sellers,
judged the Sound of Music event.
Dr. Pat C. Covey, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and former Dean in the College of Allied Health Professions, was recently selected as an honor initiate to Mortar
Board Senior Honor Society for her support of the ideals of Mortar Board: Scholarship, Leadership and Service.
College of Allied Health Professions, Division of Health Consultation
Recently, the College established the Division of Health Consultation (DHC). The purpose of the DHC is to:
1. offer high quality consultation services designed to improve the health of individuals, families, and the community
2. enhance learning opportunities for students to apply knowledge in real-world environments
3. facilitate and support the research and scholarship efforts of faculty.
Consultation services can be provided to: businesses/worksites, individuals/families, community organizations, federal, state and local government agencies, professional
groups and associations, schools, health care providers and facilities, and faith-based organizations. This list describes a variety of services offered but is not all-inclusive.
We welcome inquiries regarding other consultation needs.
If you are interested in receiving consultation services, please do not hesitate to contact the Dean’s office at 251-380-2785. Fees for consultation services are negotiated ahead
of time. A detailed, written scope of work and costs will be provided and agreed upon by the consultant(s) and the recipient(s) of services. The participation of students as
service providers, under the supervision of faculty, enables students to gain real-world experience and decreases the cost of services to the consultee. The DHC welcomes
invitations to bid on contracts.
• Training parents to facilitate language development
• Vocal hygiene (using your voice well to prevent voice disorders- ideal for lecturers,
teachers, singers, pastors, public speakers)
• Hearing conservation, environmental assessment
• School-based consultation on swallowing/feeding
• Asthma management
• Smoking cessation
• Resources for the care of persons with cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD rehab
• Pulmonary Function Testing and industrial screening
• Exercise testing and conditioning programs
• Motion analysis
• Exercise guidelines for Arthritis/Osteoporosis, Low Back Pain, General Fitness
• Prevention of sports injuries
• Prenatal and postpartum exercise and fitness
• Occupational Health / Ergonomics for the workplace, prevention of work injuries
and back pain
• Low vision problems (children & adults)
• Falls prevention in the elderly
• Community and home accessibility for elderly and persons with disabilities
• Child development evaluation and recommendations
• Health promotion/prevention program design & evaluation
• Dysphagia (swallowing) management
• Dementia management
• Strategies for “Aging in Place”
• Sensory integration evaluation
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Greetings from the Biomedical Sciences Department!
With the aftermath of Katrina it has been an especially challenging year for all but the state of the program is strong. The 2006 Graduation will include 25 BMD
graduates. Also searches for new faculty are progressing well with at least one new faculty member expected to be on board Fall 2006. On behalf of all in the department,
best wishes for the Summer.
During March 9 – 12, several Biomedical Sciences students attended the National AED Conference in St. Louis, MO. A total of 48 students attended the conference,
accompanied by Drs. Cindy Stanfield, Biomedical Sciences, and T.G. Jackson in Chemistry. The majority of these students were Biomedical Science majors.
Students attended sessions on MCAT and interview preparations, how to prepare a personal statement, and how to finance medical school. Students also attended handson workshops on suturing, casting, acupuncture, public health, optometry, and more.
The convention ended with the banquet and awards. The University of South Alabama AED Chapter swept the awards winning Chapter of the Year as well as being
recognized for having the most attendees at the convention. T.G. Jackson was re-elected National President of AED.
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Dr. Stanfield replaces Dr. T.G. Jackson
BMD senior receives prestigious scholarship
Dr. Cindy Stanfield has been appointed Pre-Professional
Health Advisor for the University of South Alabama, replacing
Dr. T.G. Jackson, effective January 2007.
Ms. Jamie Caudill, was recently awarded the Crampton Trust Medical Scholarship to attend the
USA College of Medicine. This four-year scholarship is for a high achieving student, a resident of
the State of Alabama and will begin his/her medical education at the University of South Alabama
College of Medicine.
BMD Seniors accepted to medical school
Sejal Amin (accepted to various institutions), Chris Bailey
(USA), Jamie Caudill (USA), Erin Harris (USA),
Daniel Robison (USA), Christina Stallworth (USA and UAB),
Jumin Sunde (UAB).
Recent Publications
Turrens, J.F. (2005) Teaching Research Integrity and Bioethics to Science Undergraduates.
Cell Biology Education, 4:330-334.
Alumni News
Turrens, J.F. and McCord, J.M. (2006) Commentary: The iron superoxide dismutases of
Trypanosomatidae, Free Rad. Biol. Med., 40:193-95.
Elizabeth Simpson, Class of 2005, was accepted to the
Physician Assistant Studies Program at the University of South
Alabama.
G. Rowley#, M.P. Spector#, J. Kormanec, and M. Roberts. 2006. Pushing the envelope:
Extracytoplasmic stress responses in bacterial pathogens. Nature Rev - Microbiol 4: 383-394.
[# contributed equally to the manuscript]
Department of Cardiorespiratory Care
Message from the Chair, Mr. William Wojciechowski
Well, here we are again, about to march down the aisles of the Mitchell Center to the tune of Edward
Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance for another graduation. On Saturday, May 6th, the Department of
Cardiorespiratory Care will graduate its 24th class. Next year’s (spring 2007) graduating class will mark this
Department’s 25th anniversary. Tempus fugit!
This year’s recipient of the Dean’s award was Heather Park who amassed a 3.41 overall GPA in the
professional component. Heather also received the Alabama Society for Respiratory Care (ASRC) Chairman’s
award for academic excellence. Hydie Anto received the ASRC Chairman’s award for clinical excellence by
achieving a 4.0 clinical GPA. Congratulations to these fine, young ladies.
Our recruitment efforts over the past three years has begun to bare fruit, as 27 applications were received for the fall semester of 2007.
That represents a record number of applicants for one year. We generally receive two to three applications in the summer. We may hit the
30-applicant mark.
Regarding our faculty, Bill Pruitt was invited to join the editorial board for the monthly publication, Nursing 2006. The editorial board
consists of 25 members, representing professionals from across America. Twenty-three (23) board members are nurses; only two are
respiratory therapists.
The faculty wish you, our distinguished alumni, continued success in your pursuits. Please keep us informed of your whereabouts, as
well as those of your former classmates.
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Message from Dr. George Harwell, Chair, Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Dr. Holly Hall retired in January after 29 years of service in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
She and her husband Bill recently went on a Caribbean cruise for some much deserved R & R. Dr. George
Harwell replaced Dr. Hall as Chair of the Department. Dr. Harwell has held CLS teaching and administrative
positions at the University of Southern Mississippi, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of
Texas at El Paso, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Harwell has over 30 years of experience in
clinical laboratory science education.
Faculty News
CLS Student News
Dr. Wesley Denny is conducting research on the role of the cystic fibrosis
transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in airway submucosal gland secretion.
This research is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Ballard in the College of
Medicine Physiology Department. This project entails the use of an adenoviral vector to
deliver CFTR-targeted short-hairpin interfering RNA to submucosal glands in explants of
porcine upper-airway epithelium. The goal of the project is to demonstrate that abrogation
of CFTR expression results in decreased submucosal gland secretion, a condition
hypothesized to underlie the pathology of human cystic fibrosis lung disease.
Donna Heuermann, CLS senior, is the recipient of a Dade
Behring-Emil von Behring Scholarship. Donna is one of four
students chosen nationwide from over 300 applicants. This
competitive scholarship is awarded by the American Society for
Clinical Pathology (ASCP) based on academic achievement,
leadership qualities, and an original essay. Congratulations
Donna!
Dr. Terry Ravine continues his investigation of cell surface proteins on free-living
amoebae as they relate to human pathogenic invasion. Dr. Ravine is collaborating with
(continued on page 4)
Dr. Jacek Polski at USA Medical Center Department of Pathology.
“competitive scholarship awarded by the
American Society for Clinical Pathology
(ASCP)”
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Faculty News
(continued from page 3)
Prof. Vicki Barrett is attending a meeting of the ASCP Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine Examination Committee in Chicago in April to develop test
items for national certification for MT/CLS and specialty SBB/transfusion medicine examinations. Prof. Barrett is also attending the Hummingbird Study
Group bird banding at Ft. Morgan in March to begin training to be a licensed bird bander. Prof. Barrett and Dr. Denny are beginning preliminary research on
familial relationships in migration patterns of Selasphorus rufus (Rufous hummingbirds).
Dr. Rick Carliss is continuing his research in the role of the NMDA receptor in pain transmission. This research is evaluating the way pain thresholds differ
between males and females. In order to pursue this, Dr. Carliss is developing a cell-based assay system modeled from previous behavioral studies demonstrating
that both the mu opioid receptor and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor play critical roles in mediating sex-related differences in the central transmission of
pain messages.
Department of Occupational Therapy
Message from the Chair,
Dr. Marjorie Scaffa
Faculty in the Department of Occupational
Therapy have been very involved in a variety
of areas. Some highlights of faculty
accomplishments are listed below. In addition,
there are more in-depth articles by Donna
Wooster on the Focus First program and by
Kathy Lemcool about student involvement in
activities of the Arthritis Foundation.
American Occupational Therapy Association Conference
Several faculty are presenting at this year’s annual conference to be held in
late April in Charlotte, North Carolina. A number of students also plan to
attend, since the conference is within reasonable driving distance from
Mobile. Faculty presentations include a poster session by Donna Wooster
and Tracy O’Connor entitled Web Site Resource for Occupational Therapy
Fieldwork Supervisors, and a short course by Dr. Marjorie Scaffa on Disaster
Mental Health Interventions and Traumatic Stress.
Arthritis Walk and Wellness Fair: Kathy G. Lemcool
In Alabama, over 1.1 million men and women suffer with one of the many
forms of arthritis. Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the
nation. On April 1, 2006, the third annual Mobile Bay Area Arthritis Walk
was held at Hank Aaron Stadium. The South Alabama Student Occupational
Therapy Association members
teamed up to participate in the
arthritis fundraiser/awareness
campaign. The student therapists
walked alongside persons affected
by arthritis to demonstrate the
importance of health care
professionals partnering with
their clients to promote health
and wellness. Following the walk,
a Wellness Fair was held to promote public awareness of services available to
persons affected by arthritis. The students had a booth at the Wellness Fair as
well to demonstrate home safety, adaptive devices available, and provide
public information on the occupational therapy’s role in helping people with
arthritis to achieve full participation in all their daily activities. Additionally,
the students celebrated Occupational Therapy Month by giving away
adaptive devices such as pencil grips and jar openers to attendees.
The Gulf Coast WB television station aired a segment on March 11 and
March 25 of the “Speak Out” program to promote arthritis awareness and
the walk. U.S.A. rheumatologist Dr. Joseph Michalski and Kathy Lemcool,
MA, OTR/L, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy participated in a
panel discussion during the show. The focus of the program was to increase
public participation in the walk/wellness fair and to discuss the importance of
early diagnosis, new medications, and rehabilitation therapy services for
arthritis. These measures, when combined, can often help people experience
less pain and fewer deformities often associated with arthritis and reduce their
dependence on others for care.
Texas Woman’s University Celebration of Scholarship
Dr. Marjorie Scaffa was invited to present the keynote address for the
Celebration of Scholarship sponsored by the TWU chapter of the national
occupational therapy honorary Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE). She will be speaking
about Nurturing the Scholar Within to OT students, faculty, and
practitioners. The presentation will discuss the variety of types of scholarship
in the profession, and provide helpful suggestions for those desiring to initiate
or enhance their scholarly pursuits.
Mayor’s Task Force
Dr. Marjorie Scaffa was invited to participate in Mayor Sam Jones’s
Transition Task Force. She served as a faculty advisor on the
Prevention/Health Promotion subcommittee of the Health Care Committee.
The subcommittee was charged to complete a SWOT analysis of the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to prevention and
health promotion needs of the citizens of the City of Mobile. Based on
epidemiological data, the subcommittee decided to focus on diabetes and
hypertension, developing recommendations related to early detection,
promotion of healthy diets, and physical activity. Public awareness,
promoting healthy lifestyles, screening for diabetes and hypertension, and
resources for dietary changes and physical activity were emphasized. The
Mayor’s Transition Task Force Final Report was published on January 31, 2006,
and was titled “Too Busy to be Divided.”
Focus First Update: Donna Wooster, Advisor
The Department of Occupational Therapy is pleased to announce the
successful first semester of Focus First. The mission of Focus First is to
provide cost- effective vision screening for pre-school aged children and
follow up vision assessment as needed. This program addresses the need to
identify and remediate the visual problems of underprivileged children, who
live in urban and rural poverty, and who without this program may
experience difficulty in learning and reading.
Adults know when they experience a change in their vision; however,
children who are born with vision problems do not always know that they are
not seeing what others are capable of seeing. Also, many children are not able
to communicate this vision problem to adults.
The Fall of 2005 was the official kick off for this new vision screening
program aimed at preschoolers. Ms. Wooster arranged for USA to become a
site to deliver the vision screenings. Currently five student volunteers serve as
leaders- Kim Courchesne, Kellyn Moore, Sarah Norris, Brittany Williams and
Meghan Womble. One of these students is present at each screening session.
All of the occupational therapy students received training and have
voluntarily traveled to communities such as Citronelle, McIntosh, Mount
Vernon, Atmore, Prichard, Irvington, and Mobile to conduct vision screenings
using state-of-the-art photoscreening technology.
In one semester, 14 day care centers and head start programs were visited.
Seven hundred sixty-six children received vision screenings. The screening
process identified 52 children who will need further vision evaluation from
Sight Savers. We will continue to provide screening each semester in 2006.
We hope to visit more programs and eventually expand into Baldwin County
as well. We are very proud of all of our student volunteers who have dedicated
their time and efforts to be trained and to continue to visit sites and conduct
screenings. We welcome other student groups to volunteer to assist us in the
future. If you are interested, contact Ms. Wooster at 434-3923.
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Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Message from the Chair, Mr. Rich Nenstiel
The 2006 Admissions process was recently completed and we have accepted another excellent class of 36 individuals from an applicant pool of nearly 300. We appreciate
the assistance of so many graduates in making our interview process such a success! The faculty and staff of the program continue to work hard to provide the best possible
educational experience for our students. The efforts of the faculty and students culminated in a 100% first-time passing rate on the PANCE for class the graduating in
July 2005. As has been our tradition since the first issue of The Crucible, we have asked one of our graduates to write an article about her experiences since graduation.
Alyson Ames, PA-C, graduated in 2001 and promptly headed northeast to Boston to take a position at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Here is her story:
USA to BWH
Bright lights, big city, and the medical Mecca of Boston were all factors that influenced me to pick up and leave all that was familiar to me. Shortly after I graduated
from the USA Physician Assistant program, I packed up my belongings, crossed the Mobile Bay and headed northbound to establish my newfound career. I accepted my
very first job as a physician assistant at the Harvard affiliated Brigham & Women’s Hospital, a large tertiary care center and a world leader in advanced patient care,
medical education, and research.
I was starting my career with the cardiac arrhythmia service, a sub-specialty of cardiology specifically studying heart rhythm problems. Patients that are diagnosed with
slow heart rhythms often have pacemakers implanted; whereas, patients with fast heart rhythms may opt for an outpatient treatment such as radio frequency ablation.
Those patients with life threatening heart rhythms not curable by ablation or preventive treatments may receive internal cardiac defibrillators (ICD).
This was a daunting service to embark on right out of PA School. Yes, I recalled an EKG course; however sitting in morning report on my first day, I realized this was a
whole different language! Behind all of the new and different faces, I saw the person, Dr. Laurence Epstein, who offered me the opportunity to work at such a remarkable
institution and the vision of how PAs could impact this rapidly expanding service.
Dr. Laurence Epstein, the Director of Electrophysiology and Pacing Laboratory as well as Chief of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, had a vision of incorporating PAs
into the service. This PA position would provide the necessary continuity of care, as well as, maintaining the quality of care. He could see
the long-term value and benefit which mid-level practitioners provide. A solid fellowship program had historically been the clinical
backbone of the arrhythmia service; however, every July new, unaccustomed fellows would arrive. The PAs were envisioned to provide a
stable cadre of clinicians, in this highly specialized area. Their scope of practice would encompass all aspects of patient care from
outpatient management to invasive highly technical procedures.
Four years later what started out as a vision has become a successful reality, well beyond pre-conceived expectations. I have become the
Chief Cardiac Arrhythmia PA. The arrhythmia service utilizes five, full time PAs who are involved in all aspects of the patient care. We
participate in the implantation of the devices, as well as catheter placement and radio frequency ablations. We have also implemented an
independently run, non-house staff PA service that follows all post procedure patients from admission to discharge. Patient education has
been a large focus of the PA service.
Given the opportunity to work with world-renowned cardiologists has been an extraordinary experience. The research projects and
complex cases I have been involved with have allowed me to become published in medical journals as well as speak at national
conferences. The chance I took four years ago has been well worth the exciting and rewarding career I now enjoy. Also not bad living
among the three time Super Bowl and World Series champions!
Department of Physical Therapy
Message from the Chair, Dr. Dennis Fell
Hello! As a faculty, department chair, and an alumnus of the program, I send greetings to all the PT Department alumni! It is always such an
encouragement for us to hear from you and get updates on your professional and personal lives. I hope that many of you will be able to join us for
the Alumni Beach Reception planned on the Friday of the state APTA conference in Orange Beach. We are planning the event for late afternoon on
Friday 5/5, after the courses finish, so friends and classmates can go out to eat together after visiting on the beach a while.
I also want to add my personal congratulations to each alumnus with distinguished professional development and professional advancement as
outlined below. You are all great examples for the profession! I want to encourage each of you to advance yourself professionally: seek specialist
certification in your area of expertise, become involved in your profession and professional association (I hope you are a member and active
participant in APTA!!) We need each other, and together let’s serve individuals across our country and beyond!
Recent Publications
Recent Faculty Presentations
Irion GL, Stone S, Fischer T, Finch VP, Phillips LR, Frederickson C. Accelerated
Closure of Biopsy-Type Wounds by Mechanical Stimulation. Adv Skin Wound Care
2006;19(2): 97-102.
Dr. Jean Irion was invited to present the session “Incorporating Aquatic
Programming within Women’s Health Services” Combined Section’s Meeting (CSM)
of the APTA, February 3, 2006, San Diego, CA.
Fell attends International Stroke Rehab Congress
Dr. Dennis Fell attended the International Stroke Rehabilitation Congress,
Collaborative Evaluation of Rehabilitation in Stroke across Europe (cerise) at
Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven Belgium in early February of this year.
Registrants from 17 different countries participated.
Prof John Jefferson presented his work “Pain, Resistance to Stretch and Hamstrings
EMG Activity During the Slump Test,” co-authored by Jefferson JR, Brown L,
Cox B, Foley J Held L at the Combined Section’s Meeting (CSM) of the APTA,
February 3, 2006, San Diego, CA.
USA Alumni Awarded Clinical Specialist Certification
At the recent APTA Combined Sections meeting in San Diego, five USA Alumni were awarded their Clinical Specialist Certification by the APTA American Board of
Physical Therapist Specialties. The department extends sincere congratulations to each recipient:
Claire Sweatt MacAdam, PT, NCS (USAPT 1982) Neurologic Clinical Specialist
Sarah DeWit Lusk, PT, MPT, OCS (USAPT 2002) Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Wendy Sewell Byrd, PT, OCS (USAPT 1995) Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Debra L. Powell, PT, OCS (USAPT 1979) Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Mark R. Langenbach, PT, MBA, OCS (USAPT 1981) Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Other alumni who are known to be clinical specialists include Barry Dale, PT, PhD, SCS, and Howie Tapley, PT, MS, OCS.
Please let us know if you have achieved specialist certification so we can include your name in future issues.
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Alumni Updates
Condolences
Jocelyn A. Mayfield, MPT, OTR/L was an OT before coming back to get her
MPT degree. She is now a certified SI Therapist in her own outpatient physical and
occupational therapy clinic in Ocean Springs, MS, Gulf Coast Rehabilitation. She
specializes in sensory integration therapy for pediatrics with a strong emphasis in the
Autism Spectrum community as well as adult neuro patients. Jocelyn is engaged to
be married. She moved back to Mississippi three months before Hurricane Katrina
but her condominium was lost to the 22 feet of water.
The Department expresses its condolences to Anne Harrison Petty, retired
ACCE, upon the recent death of her son Gregg. The obituary reads:
Sid Scarborough, PT (USAPT 1988) has been selected as the College’s
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient.
Greg Nichols, PT (USAPT 1994) has been promoted to regional
Administrator for HealthSouth, serving Alabama, and surrounding states.
Jeff Boyles, PT (USAPT 1991) is in the midst of his second term as the
President of the State Chapter (Alabama) of the American Physical Therapy
Association. Jeff has been a moving force in the legislative issues and promoting
professionalism and professional development around the state. Jeff distinguished
himself with his service to the Alabama Chapter that started in significant ways even
before he graduated from the PT program.
Harrison, Donald Gregg - a native of Meridian, MS, and a resident of
Jesup, GA, died in Hillsboro, KY, on December 19, 2005. He is survived
by his wife Debbie C. Harrison and two sons, John Rex Harrison and
Travis Ray Harrison, all of Jesup; his mother Anne Harrison Petty of
Atmore, AL, and his father Don R. Harrison of Fairhope, AL. Private
services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that
memorial contributions be made to the Anne Harrison Petty Scholarship Fund.
Since the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Anne
Harrison Petty PT Scholarship Fund, we wanted to remind you all that donations
to the fund from USA alumni are automatically matched to double the
contribution. Please mail contributions with a letter documenting your graduation
year to:
USA Physical Therapy
1504 Springhill Ave.
Rm 1214
Mobile, AL 36604
Contact the department (251) 434-3575 or ptdept@jaguar1.usouthal.edu with
update information on yourself for the next issue.
USAPT Offers a Web-based DPT Program for Licensed Physical Therapists
The Department of Physical Therapy at USA recently began offering a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for licensed physical therapists with the first group of students
matriculating during the spring of 06 semester. The APTA refers to this type of program as a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) program. Physical Therapists can
now advance their degree to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in a completely web-based (fully on-line) curriculum under the guidance of experienced and encouraging
faculty at South. Application to this program is reserved only for individuals who already possess a license to practice physical therapy in the US and want to advance their
entry-level physical therapy degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) to the Doctor of Physical Therapy in a process that will update knowledge in the field and advance their clinical
decision making abilities. The web-based program consists of 20-29 semester credits of online courses, completed at your own pace. Proof of completion of an entry-level
physical therapy degree, current licensure in the US, and submission of an application and portfolio are also required. Portfolio analysis is used to grant credit for professional
life-experience, clinical expertise, and graduate coursework beyond your PT degree.
Who should pursue this web-based DPT degree for licensed physical therapists?
The DPT, while not currently required for PT licensure in the United States, is becoming the preferred professional degree for practicing physical therapists according to the
APTA’s “Vision 2020.” The DPT is a clinical doctoral degree, like MD, OD, PharmD, or DPM and is not a doctoral research degree and does not signify advanced preparation
or specialization. On its own, it is not the ideal degree for a physical therapist pursuing a career in academics where research is an expectation. However, completion of the
degree will signify completion of coursework to update knowledge in the major areas of PT practice and advance clinical decision making skills commensurate with Vision
2020.
The following information is detailed on the Online DPT webpage:
• Academic Policies
• Admissions Requirements for PTs with Master’s or
• Admission Process and Portfolio guidelines
• Costs
Bachelor’s entry-level degree
• Web-based DPT courses
• Technology Requirements
You can access the most important information, frequently asked question, the application,and portfolio information at the following website address:
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pt/onlinedpt.html. The application deadlines are listed on the website. The deadline to begin the program in the fall of 2006 is
June 15th. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jean Irion, the Web-Based DPT Program Coordinator at: jirion@jaguar1.usouthal.edu or (251)434-3577. Allow us
to assist you in achieving your personal career goals.
Department of Radiological Sciences
Message from the Chair, Dr. Charles Newell
The spring semester is winding down, and we are in the early process of student selection for the 2006-2007 academic year.
Our pool of qualified applicants continues to be strong, and our program information is now available on our web site at
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/radiologicsciences. You are cordially invited to visit our web site.
The University recently announced the start of the 2006 Annual Scholarship Fund campaign. I am pleased to announce that
Dr. Jessie T. Littleton, M.D. recently donated $20,000 to establish a scholarship in the name of his wife. Dr. Littleton’s wife is the
former Mary Lou Durizch, and I know many of you knew Mary Lou through your clinical rotations at USAMC. Dr. Littleton’s
donation will be matched by the University, which will create an annual scholarship offering of $2,000 based on a total endowment
of $40,000 via matching funds. While this is great news for radiography students, please remember that it is has taken twenty-plus years to accumulate $21,000 in our
own departmental scholarship fund, with the vast majority of donations coming from folks just like you and me. While the current departmental scholarship fund yields
up to $800 for annual scholarships, your support is still needed if we are to sustain our efforts realized over the years. So, please consider donating to the Department of
Radiologic Sciences Scholarship Fund. Arrangements to make donations to the Department of Radiologic Sciences Scholarship Fund can be made by contacting Ms. Ginny
Turner, Associate Director of Development, at (251) 460-7032. As you know, tuition and book expenses continue to rise. Regardless of your donation, your support will be
sincerely appreciated.
THE CRUCIBLE
Student Spotlight
How many brothers and sisters do you have? Well, Justin McDowell, who is
one of our first-year students, has 42 brothers and sisters! This story begins when
Justin’s parents decided to adopt a child following several years of marriage
without children of their own. Not long after the eleventh child was adopted,
Mrs. McDowell discovered she was expecting a baby who was later named Justin.
As it turns out, Justin is the McDowell’s only biological child. For reasons many
of us may never understand, the McDowell’s continued to adopt children until
they reached what may be referred to as the magical number of 42. Justin has
shared many of his memories with us including the family’s participation in a
television commercial for a national shoe company, and his thoughts regarding
what must be going on in the minds of employees at the local restaurant when the
entire family arrives for Sunday lunch. While many of Justin’s brothers and sisters
have grown up and moved away, the family still occupies a home with seventeen
bedrooms, which contains two refrigerators, two washers and dryers, and just
about two of everything else. Even though Justin describes the weekday morning
activities as something approaching bedlam, he has truly enjoyed his experience
growing up in a household literally filled with children. In fact, all of the stories
he has shared with us are filled with love and joy. What a family!
Page 7
“Class of 1988, Anthony Mosley, returned to
Mobile…..”
The Graduate Corner
The Class of 1988 will be pleased to learn that Anthony Mosley, MBA,
R.T.(R), has returned to Mobile, and will serve as the Administrative Director,
Department of Radiology, at Mobile Infirmary. Anthony was a former
administrative director in Tuscaloosa, and has experience in radiographic sales
with Seimens X-ray Corp. We are proud of Anthony’s accomplishments, and we
wish him the best in his new position.
In Remembrance
We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Paul Robinson on February
15, 2006. Paul was a member of the graduating Class of 1980. As you may know,
Paul was a long-term employee in the CT section of the Department of Radiology
at USAMC where he often worked with many students during their CT
rotations.
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Message from the Chair, Dr. Paul Dagenais
As the school year ends, our first group of students in the Doctor of Audiology will be heading out to start their fourth year
internships. If their performance on-campus and at local sites are any indication, this will be a well received group. We will
also have a group of 10 Speech-Language Pathology students graduate with their Masters degrees in May. This group has been
particularly strong with all students successfully passing the Praxis examination on their first attempt and with impressive
scores. Finally, we will have 15 students who will complete their B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science before the academic year
is finished. We wish them all well. Some of these students were honored at the NSSHLA Banquet which was held in February.
Outstanding student awards were presented to Kim Brown, a third year Au.D. student, Melissa Bailey, a second year SLP
student, and Ashley Gaal, a senior in the Speech and Hearing Science undergraduate program.
In March, the Department organized the first meeting towards forming a Speech Pathology and Audiology Alumni
Association. It was quite a pleasure to greet those alums who attended. For those who missed it, a second gathering will occur
on May 18th. This gathering will be held at the Banana Docks Restaurant from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. We hope many of you
will be able to attend. If anyone wishes to have further information, please call our secretary, Byna Stiehr at 380-2605. We
hope a group of alumni will step forward to act as an advisory committee for the Department and organize shadowing
activities at their work place for potential speech and hearing students. We suspect many may be interested in organizing continuing education (CEU) opportunities
through the Department.
Finally, we are all excited about our new building. We have been fortunate to be accorded input into our new space. We will have 16 therapy rooms, 8 research
labs, and 3 classrooms. Student space has been increased to allow for more computer stations and a larger break area. Also, the dimensions of the materials rooms has
increased to accommodate our ever growing supply of testing and therapy materials. There will be a separate entrance for patients and clients coming to the clinic,
and outside space is available for a playground (which we hope will be a project for our alumni - hint, hint!).
NSSLHA News
Jennifer Stevens, NSSLHA Chapter President
This past year has been exciting and eventful for the University of South Alabama’s
National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter. The
chapter has been very active this year with fundraising, service projects, and
volunteering at events within the community. During the summer, NSSLHA
members volunteered at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Graduation
ceremony. At the beginning of the school year, NSSLHA held a school-supply drive
for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to all the NSSLHA members, we were able
to supply bookbags filled with school items for all the children within the Waveland
school district. The following month, members donated items to make goody treats
for all the clients in the clinic. Additionally, members volunteered with the annual
carnival sponsored by the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. In November,
NSSLHA officers created a cookbook with recipes donated by faculty members,
clinical staff, and students. December was another eventful month where members
participated in the Salvation Army with their annual Angel Tree event.
The spring semester opened with the annual banquet for the Department of
Speech Pathology and Audiology, followed by the Speech and Hearing Association of
Alabama’s Convention in which many NSSLHA members volunteered. Currently,
officers are conducting a raffle and organizing an open table discussion with local
speech and hearing professionals as a way to say thanks for all the hard work and
dedication put forth by our members.
National Stuttering Association
The Speech Pathology and Audiology Department continues to host monthly
National Stuttering Association (NSA) support group meetings for people who
stutter. Speech Pathology & Audiology faculty member Dr. Mandy Williams and
NSA chapter leader Billy McLean work together to coordinate these monthly
meetings where various topics related to stuttering are discussed. These meetings
provide a forum for people who stutter and their loved ones to get together and talk
about experiences associated with stuttering. These meetings are open to all who
have an interest in stuttering including adults and teenagers who stutter, speech
language pathologists, and family and friends of those who stutter. Many of the
chapter members get the maximum benefit from professional speech therapy and
meetings are an ideal place to practice speaking techniques and learn about the
latest developments in stuttering research and treatment.
The NSA also sponsors a national conference, regional workshops, and
publications for adults, children, and parents. The Mobile NSA chapter meets the
first Monday of every month at 7:00 P.M. in the Conference Room at the USA
Speech and Hearing Center, 2000 University Commons. For further information
contact William McLean, chapter leader, at (251) 604-7854 or Dr. Mandy Williams,
chapter consultant, at (251) 380-2600.
THE CRUCIBLE
Page 8
NAFDA News, Susan Gordon Hickey, Chapter President
We’re very proud to announce the formation of the local chapter of the National
Association of Future Doctors of Audiology (NAFDA). The field of Audiology has
moved to a clinical doctorate degree and the University of South Alabama began
admitting graduate students Fall 2003. The local chapter of NAFDA was founded by
the first two classes of Au.D. students at USA. NAFDA is a professional student
organization dedicated to the advancement of education and technological training in
the profession of Audiology. Our Chapter aims to provide service to the Mobile
Community and USA Speech and Hearing Clinic.
The USA NAFDA Chapter recently held their first annual White Coat Ceremony
honoring the third year Au.D. students; Elizabeth Marble, Lauri Starek, Kim Brown, Danielle Druyor, and Amy Kennedy
(picture at right). The white coat symbolizes professionalism
THE CRUCIBLE
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