Month: January 2011

Four HLTH 440 students (Kristen Siegler, Taylor Hockman, Jenna Osseck, and Anna Grinter) are working with the NEMO Heart Health sub-committee to create and publicize a campaign to promote automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the community.  This two-pronged campaign exists: 1) for the general Kirksville community to understand the purpose of AEDs; and 2) for Kirksville employers to understand AEDs and to authorize sites where AEDs could be placed in businesses.  NEMO Heart Health wants to place 50 AEDs in Kirksville in 5 years.  The group is going to publicize this in February, heart health month, with a public relations event to continue to promote the implementation of AEDs.

There are numerous other projects taking place in the community with the help of Truman State Health Science students.  Examples of this come from the health science capstone class in which the following projects have been created.

The HLTH 195 Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) & Environmental Wellness project will work with Dr. Young and selected HLTH 195 instructors to create  PowerPoint lectures to be presented in the HLTH 195 classes.  The outline of the STI lecture will include definitions, types of infections, risk factors, transmission, signs and symptoms of each STI, how to protect oneself and partner(s), treatment, and possible complications.  The environmental wellness lesson will include the 4R’s + related information/stats, and how college students’ actions impact the environment.

The Drive Safe, Drive Smart (DSDS) campus intervention will include displays, educational activities, presentations,  and information tables about the Missouri DSDS campaign. This project will include planning, budgeting, preparation, review and implementation in cooperation with appropriate personnel in order to promote safe driving throughout Missouri.

The NEMO Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Public Health Careers Club Project will work with the NEMO AHEC executive director  to develop and pilot activities for Health Careers Clubs to educate high school students about and recruit them into public health careers.  Educational presentations and online sessions will be created and local public health speakers and career visits scheduled.

These are just a few examples of work from health science students.   These projects give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to practical, real-world settings.

Four Truman State Health Science students will present at the
American Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance National Convention and Exhibition in San Diego, California on March 29, 2011.  Katharyn Emery,  Sarah Folks, Grace McGaughey and Brenda Goodwin will present their project “Grabbing Red Bull by the Horns.” Congratulations and good luck to these students!

In an effort to stimulate  fun, learning and some good old-fashion competition, the Athletic Training Education Program has started the AT Megathon! The teams consist of both advanced and newer students who must work together to compete in one to two challenges each week that tests their athletic training knowledge and/or skills in fun and interesting ways. Challenges are created and refereed by the athletic training faculty and consist of such things as: Anatomical Landmark Simon Says, Water Cooler Races, Name That Bone or Muscle, or ATwister. Points are awarded to each team based on their performance in each challenge. Last week saw the first inaugural challenge in which teams had to tape an ankle together, but each member could only use one hand. Current standings are as follows:

1. Team Ossicular Chain (Michael Atkinson, Liz Rodell, & Courtney Meyer)

2. Team Chordae Tendineae (Danielle Zee- Cheng, Cade Arnold, & Allen Ward)

3. Ober’s Blebs (Mo Freeland, Kourtney Bowyer, & Mike Pagan)

4. The Piezoelectric Effects (Kelsey Lockyer & Shannon Smith)

5. The Oversized Medulla Oblongatas (Bryan Beachem, Mike, Chastain, & Megan Purk)

6. We’ll Kick Your Gluteus Maximus (Brittany Whittaker, Kim Raymond, and Henry Dodd)

Lindsay Dodge recently accepted  a full-time position with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) as a Tournament Coordinator.   She will be planning, administering, and directing AJGA junior golf events all over the country.  You can learn more about how to get involved with the AJGA at www.ajga.org.

Lindsay graduated from  Truman State University in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and an emphasis in Sport Management with a Business Administration Minor.  She was a member of the Truman Women’s Golf Team, Phi Epsilon Kappa, and Alpha Sigma Alpha while at Truman.  After graduation from Truman, Lindsay attended Wichita State University to start earning her Master’s Degree in Sport Management.