Dean Cites Unprecedented Growth

The School of Allied Health Sciences is undergoing a period of unprecedented growth and opportunity, according to Dean Shelley Mishoe.

“Our enrollment has grown 20 percent since 2002, and we continue to have the largest number of MCG graduates each year,” said Dr. Mishoe during her State of the School Address July 13. “This is truly a remarkable feat when you consider that allied health faculty are approximately 8 percent of  MCG faculty.”

New degree programs include a master of public health program in health informatics, a doctorate in physical therapy and an Internet-based program in medical technology. Master’s degree programs are in development for the physician assistant, biomedical technology, dental hygiene and respiratory therapy departments.

Also proposed are doctoral programs in rehabilitation sciences and occupational therapy.

Dr. Mishoe discussed the school’s strategic plan to recruit and retain faculty, staff and students; enhance faculty and staff development; expand research; generate revenue and achieve a national reputation. She lauded the success of two recent projectsschool’s first  magazine and video, which received a Silver Telly Award.

She praised the teamwork of faculty and staff in managing accreditation processes for more than 15 programs while continuing their dedication to meeting students’ needs. The school’s consistently high graduation rates and 100 percent pass rates on certification exams are testaments to their efforts, she said.

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Class Raises Money for Challenge

The physical therapy class of 2005 recently raised $2,000 for the Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge, a student-led grassroots fundraising program coordinated by physical therapy students.

“We raised the money by organizing raffle drawings for the past couple of years and included prizes from businesses around the Augusta area,” said class member Carson Pass, who coordinated the fundraisers. “We also recently had a purse party where a portion of the sales went toward the challenge, and we hosted an event with classmate Tim Miller singing and playing the guitar, then donating the money collected at the door.”

Challenge donations fund a grant for physical therapists to conduct a one-year scientific and clinical research project to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions.

“This is the first year that MCG has participated in the challenge,” said Ms. Pass, who will graduate in December and plans to pursue a career in physical therapy specializing in pediatrics.

“We’re very proud of the initiative of this class,” said Dr. Douglas Keskula, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in the MCG School of Allied Health Sciences. “These students are obviously deeply committed to advancing their discipline.”

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Dr. Guion Named Fellow

Dr. W. Kent Guion, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Allied Health Sciences, has been named an inaugural fellow in a program designed to optimize educators’ cultural competency.

The Health Research and Education Trust Cultural Competence Leadership Fellowship was created by the Health Research and Education Trust and Health Forum in partnership with the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, the National Center for Healthcare Leadership and the American Hospital Association.

Fellows will participate in online computer conferences, attend leadership meetings in conjunction with the Health Forum Leadership Summit and implement a cultural competency project. Dr. Guion’s proposed project is a cultural competency Web-based toolbox. He also received a scholarship to help defray the costs associated with participation.

“What a great opportunity to be selected as one of the inaugural fellows in what should be a transformative and intellectually stimulating experience,” said Dr. Guion. “I’m sure I will benefit greatly from the interaction with other fellows and the learning experiences.”

“The goal of the fellowship fit with our strategic vision and parallels the type of activities our school encourages,” said Dr. Shelley Mishoe, dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences. “I believe this opportunity is timely not only for our school but for society as a whole.”

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School Announces New Appointments 

Melissa Walker, an accounting project coordinator in the School of Allied Health Sciences, has been named director of the school’s business operations and Allied Health Practice Group, Inc. An MCG employee for 19 years, Ms. Walker has overseen the school’s annual budget for the past five years. In her new role, Ms. Walker will assist Dean Shelley Mishoe with additional budget and operational needs including the new practice plan and the Center for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation.

Amanda Carroll-Barefield, assistant professor of health informatics, has been named program director for the undergraduate and certificate programs in the Department of Health Informatics. The department offers an applied informatics degree in health information administration. This degree prepares graduates for informatics-related roles in health care. These programs include a bachelor of science degree and a post-baccalaureate certificate in health information administration. Both programs are offered on campus and online. Ms. Carroll-Barefield’s responsibilities will include oversight of accreditation standards and curricular updates. Ms. Carroll-Barefield earned a bachelor’s degree in health information management from MCG and a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan State University.  She is completing doctoral work in instructional technology and distance education from Nova Southeastern University. 

Pamela B. Witter, formerly executive director for the Walton Foundation for Independence Inc., has been named director of development for the School of Allied Health Sciences. She succeeds Gia Johnson, who has been named MCG’s associate director of alumni affairs. Ms. Witter earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Winthrop University. She earned paralegal certification from Augusta State University and a certificate of excellence in nonprofit leadership and management from the University of Wisconsin and the Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations through the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

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Graduate Helps Train Olympians

Andy Eberheart, a 2005 graduate of the Department of Physician Assistant, spent part of his summer helping Olympic athletes train.

Mr. Eberheart, who worked as an athletic trainer before earning his MCG degree, volunteered in the Division of Sports Medicine at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I spent two weeks providing medical care to the U.S. National Teams in residence at that time,” said Mr. Eberheart.

He worked with teams in weightlifting, gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, volleyball, speed-skating, pentathlon, triathlon, shooting, wrestling, cycling and fencing.

“It’s a huge accomplishment that he was selected,” said Sara Reffett, an instructor in the Department of Physician Assistant. “Hundreds, if not thousands, of athletic trainers compete for these positions.”

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Ship-Shape

Lt. David Bachand (Department of Physician Assistant Class of 1994, left) and Lt. Junior Grade Jon Randall (Department of Physician Assistant Class of 2001) are serving our country abroad in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Enterprise.

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Sports Guidelines Stress Prevention

Progressively increasing practice time and intensity and ensuring that football players are replacing lost fluids during training are two ways to significantly reduce the risk of heat stress and injury during preseason practice, a recent expert panel convened by the American College of Sports Medicine found.

Coaches also should allow enough recovery between practices and gradually introduce parts of the uniform, experts say.

Most high school and younger players are already fighting a losing battle when they show up to practice, says Dr. Michael F. Bergeron, panel co-chair and assistant professor of physical therapy at the Medical College of Georgia. The panel’s full statement and recommendations are published in the August issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

“What we’ve found is that most players typically begin practice dehydrated - pretty significantly dehydrated,” Dr. Bergeron says. “Young players generally just don’t drink enough, especially following extensive exercise or training in the heat.”

Surprisingly, though, hydration isn’t the most important aspect of preventing heat-related injuries. Players are often simply not acclimated to the environment, the intensity of practice and the uniform, he says.

“What coaches and staff need to recognize and appreciate is that the athletes are not coming into the preseason as well-conditioned as they might hope,” Dr. Bergeron says. “High school kids are going to be less fit and not only are they not accustomed to the physical exertion that workouts require, they’re not really acclimatized to the heat and working out in that environment, especially while wearing a uniform and protective gear.”

To help protect ill-prepared players, coaches should introduce a training schedule that progresses slowly and eliminate heavy uniforms during hot weather. Other suggestions include requiring a preseason exam to determine what medications and dietary supplements athletes are using and to rule out undiagnosed heart problems and other genetic risk factors.

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