Briana Bonner, senior Health Science major and McNair Scholar, presented her research, “Are You Satisfied? : An Evaluation of Participant Satisfaction of Adults with Developmental Disabilities Receiving Service from the People Achieving Connections Together (PACT) Center” at the 28th National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Lexington, KY, which was held from April 2-5, 2014.
Nicole Panis (Health Science) and Emma Phelps (Exercise Science) spent nine days in Belize with Truman’s AMSA during winter break (December 15-23, 2014) for an International Service Learning experience. While there, the students worked in a clinic pharmacy and assisted patients. Nicole stated “the students worked a total of around 56 clinic hours that included visiting villages and taking information on families that would be coming to our free clinic the following day. Then during clinics we would take vitals, do physical exams and present the case to the physicians we worked with where they would ask us questions to help us determine the diagnosis on our own.” Nicole said she was astonished at the lack of availability of basic over-the-counter medications. “People came to the doctor to get an aspirin or vitamins.” She also experienced the local population’s general lack of knowledge about personal health and hygiene. According to Nicole, “one young woman came to the clinic because she was experiencing cramps and the onset of her first menstruation and thought she had a serious disease.”
Nicole summarized her experiences this way: “This trip meant more to me than many of my shadowing experiences among doctors. I have never been so out of my comfort zone (by language and knowledge) and it was incredible to me how I emerged at the end of each day. I felt that every aspect of the trip gave me real-life experience that cannot be compared. The trip was worth every cent; in fact, it was priceless. I received advice from doctors, was able to practice Spanish on my own, and worked my way through a diagnosis with signs and symptoms I retrieved on my own. I truly know healthcare is the place for me!”
McKenzie Tate received the Outstanding Future Professional of the Year Award in Health Science at the MOAHPERD (Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) Banquet in Lake of the Ozarks, MO on November 16, 2013. The award honors future professionals in the state and focuses attention on the work they have accomplished. The award will provide an incentive for future professionals in our colleges and universities to continue to strive for excellence in their professional preparation. Each university selects one outstanding future professional from each degree program. Qualifications for this award include an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher, professional involvement, and evidence of leadership.
Chris Prewitt, a student in the Graduate Program for Exercise Science, was recently named All-District Coach of the year after successfully leading the Novinger softball team to a first place finish in Districts in his first year coaching the team. In addition to coaching softball, Chris has also coached the girl’s basketball team and the girl’s track team.
Congratulations, Chris!
Victoria Halfmann, senior Exercise Science major, received the McSwegin Student Research Award and the Outstanding Future Professional of the Year Award from MOAHPERD (Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) Banquet in Lake of the Ozarks, MO on November 16, 2013. The McSwegin Student Research Award is given to one student with the best presentation at the MOAHPERD convention. The chairman of the research division and two other qualified individuals are responsible for making the decision.
Victoria also received the Outstanding Future Professional of the Year Award in Exercise Science. This award honors future professionals in the state and focuses attention on the work they have accomplished. The award will provide an incentive for future professionals in our colleges and universities to continue to strive for excellence in their professional preparation. Each university selects one outstanding future professional from each degree program. Qualifications for this award include an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher, professional involvement, and evidence of leadership.
Congratulations, Victoria!
Health and Exercise Science students enrolled in a nutrition class have partnered with The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri for a food drive Sept. 30-Oct. 6.
Students will have tables set up on campus all week to collect money and non-perishable food. Tables will also be set up at Hy-Vee and Walmart from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 5 and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6.
The students are also hosting an event called “Pack the House,” named after the Buddy Pack Program, at 3 p.m. Oct. 5 in Pershing Arena. The Truman volleyball team will play Maryville and half of the money made on admission will benefit the food drive.
All money and food items raised throughout the week will stay in the Kirksville area.
For more information on The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri or Buddy Pack Program, visit sharefoodbringhope.org/adair-county. For more information on the food drive, contact Lauren Maag at llm1326@truman.edu.
Laura Heien (Exercise Science – Sport Management) moved straight to Delaware after graduating in May 2013. She is living in Newark, DE and working as the Director of Tournament Operations and Member Services for the Delaware State Golf Association, and the Director of Operations for the Delaware Women’s Golf Association. The DSGA and DWGA are housed in the same office which allows Laura to put on over 70 tournaments each year, while also maintaining the handicap system, course ratings database, and other programs for a membership of 55 golf courses and over 10,000 golfers in Delaware and the surrounding region. Laura is responsible for all aspects of the tournament program, communications, and marketing development for the DSGA and DWGA. Her next major projects are to become a certified USGA Rules Official, and to work with the Delaware High School Athletics Association to create Girl’s Golf as an official sport for the upcoming school year. Don’t worry – she still finds time to play 18 at least once a week!
The Health & Exercise Sciences Department hosted approximately 160 Freshmen interested in a degree in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, or Health Science on Tuesday, August 20th. Dr. Janet Gooch, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education welcomed the students. Jerry Wollmering, Athletic Director, reported on the new conference, a summary of the sports and students involved, and upcoming events for Athletics. Dr. Roberta Donahue, HES Department Chair talked about HES and then the individual HES Faculty members introduced themselves and shared their research interests. Breakout sessions were held so students could meet faculty members in small groups to learn a bit more about specific concentrations and student organizations within HES. WELCOME TO HEALTH AND EXERCISE SCIENCES!
NEMO Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is pleased to announce Anna Kaminski, MHA as their Health Careers & Health Education Coordinator. Kaminski will provide leadership in coordinating middle school and high school health career club and career exploration opportunities, while also supporting community outreach efforts in the NEMO AHEC 21-county service area.
Becky Dawson, Executive Director of NEMO AHEC, stated, “We are excited to have Anna on our team. Her enthusiasm and fresh ideas will play a key role in providing high quality service and support to students and community agencies in our area. We are very fortunate that we were able to find someone of Anna’s caliber to fulfill this role.”
Kaminski graduated from Truman State University in 2011 with her B.S. in Health Science and a Minor in Business Administration. At Truman State, she enjoyed being a member of the Varsity swimming team, and volunteering for local community organizations such as NEMO Heart Health. After college, Kaminski attended the University of Iowa and graduated with her Masters in Health Administration in May of 2013. “I am happy to return back to Kirksville, and look forward to becoming involved in the Northeast Missouri community once again,” Kaminski commented.
As the Health Careers & Health Education Coordinator, Kaminski will work with the NEMO AHEC staff to continue providing programs to encourage young people to enter the health care workforce and increase the number of health care professionals in medically underserved areas in Missouri.
In January, Truman HES grad Katie Stark (HLTH ’12) was named head of the Community Development Department at La Isla Foundation in Nicaragua, where she has been working for the past year. She has been working on pinpointing the exact cause of the Chronic Kidney Disease epidemic among sugarcane workers and aiding the victims. Other projects include working on an endless number of educational projects for our community, a legal framework investigation with our Human Rights Department, a health education/intervention project with a university coming down in August, and a huge project to bring potable water to the rural community by next January with Engineers Without Borders.
Katie said “It’s all been a huge amount of work, but a lot of learning opportunities for me as well. I came down to Nicaragua one year ago today, pretty amazed with how much I’ve learned and how much the foundation has changed since! We’re growing quickly, to the point where we can see the end of our goal finally, ready to publish studies and start the intervention phases. Pretty exciting actually!”