Dear CNHS Faculty and Staff,

Welcome to campus! As we gear up for a new beginning this autumn, I am inspired by the many ways in which our faculty, staff, and students have collaborated to achieve excellence in healthcare education, research, and community service, both within our state and beyond, throughout the previous year.

In May, we celebrated the graduation of 222 undergraduates, with majors in Communication Sciences and Disorders (11), Exercise Science (36), Health Sciences (27), Public Health Sciences (19), Medical Laboratory Science (9), Medical Radiation Sciences (7), and Professional Nursing (113). Notably, 32% of these graduates also completed a minor or certificate alongside their degree, and nine students met the Patrick Leahy Honors College requirements. We also acknowledged the achievements of our faculty, staff, and students at our annual spring honors events. These accomplishments reflect our dedication to the college's strategic objectives in student success, health and wellness, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), as well as teaching and research, development, and equity of voice. Much of this work happens behind the scenes—in our labs, medical centers, clinics, and in the community. Below are some highlights from the last year.

Student Success

The Fall 2024 enrollment data shows an increase in undergraduate admissions, particularly in Exercise Science and Nursing, with 279 new students bringing the total undergraduate count to 1,129. Graduate enrollment has held steady with 97 new students, totaling 306. The college has one- and two-year retention rates of 90% and 88%, respectively, and a four-year graduation rate of 81%, which exceeds the UVM average by 10%. These figures suggest that our early academic achievement and community engagement strategies are successful.

Between 2020 and 2022, 62% of CNHS graduates secured employment and 36% pursued further education, resulting in a 98% success rate. Additionally, more graduates are choosing to remain in Vermont. From 2020 to 2022, of the 98% of surveyed graduates working or continuing their education, 51% of Vermonters and 41% of non-Vermonters remained in the state.

Health and Wellness

This spring, Ken Allen, Ed.D., M.B.A., partnered with Clemmons Family Farm to present "Beneath Our Skin," an exhibition displaying the artistic reactions of Black Vermonters to their initial COVID-19 vaccinations, hosted at the Rowell Building in April and May. Additionally, the College introduced two new courses aimed at sexual violence prevention: one theoretical, the other practical, training peer mentors to support victimized students. This effort received backing from the Offices of the Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs. Our communication and primary care clinics serve the local community and offer invaluable training to students. The Eleanor M. Luse Center for Communication, an academic initiative within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, provided audiology services to 693 individuals and speech-language services to 149 in the 2024 academic year. Appletree Bay Primary Care, managed by our nurse practitioner faculty, serves over 3,000 registered patients in Burlington's New North End.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This fall, Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie, Ph.D., will assume the role of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at CNHS and serve as a lecturer in Public Health Sciences. Her advocacy for disability rights globally, shaped by her own experiences as a woman of color with a physical disability, drives her dedication to marginalized communities, especially those with disabilities. The College has introduced new minors in Global Public Health and Public Health Equity and Advocacy, and launched a course on Disability and Ableism, along with a summer occupational therapy cultural immersion program in Belize. A new affinity and mentorship group for BIPOC students has been established in partnership with the Larner College of Medicine (LCOM), along with a BIPOC Advisory Group specifically for CNHS students. The 'New American Youth on the Rise' mentorship program, funded by an R25 SEPA grant from the National Institutes of Health, was developed by LCOM and CNHS faculty. Paula Deming, Ph.D., MT (ASCP), is the multi-PI and science director of the program. DEI efforts have been further supported by co-curricular activities, such as faculty participation in the Protocol for Advancing Inclusive Teaching Efforts, Dr. Rae Walker's keynote at the Zeigler event on equity, health technology, and justice, a film and discussion session on "Your Fat Friend" addressing fat bias, a wellness workshop for New Americans led by Susan Kasser, Ph.D., and collaboration on the 2023 Health Equity Summit with Larner College of Medicine and the UVM Health Network. Additionally, Bikki Tran Smith, Ph.D., M.A., has been awarded a Faculty Research Grant to investigate healthcare accessibility for Afghan refugees.

Teaching and Research

CNHS experienced a significant increase in research grant applications. The total funding sought in FY23 was $2,899,587. CNHS requested or submitted greater than $15M of proposals for research funding in FY24.

The College has provided summer and fall service and civic learning courses to 367 students. The Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences also offered a Summer Academy course titled 'Introduction to Forensic Diagnostics' for high school students. The new Direct Entry Master's program in Nursing will begin this fall. Construction is in progress for new teaching labs for the occupational therapy and physical therapy programs, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Additionally, two accelerated programs have been developed: Communication Sciences (3+2) and Occupational Therapy (3+3), with the Occupational Therapy program already approved and the Communication Sciences program anticipated to be approved this fall. CNHS has partnered with the Osher Center to welcome Christine Vatovek, Ph.D., as a faculty member in Planetary Health, fostering new collaborative opportunities with the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Our faculty and staff have achieved notable distinctions: Theodore Angelopoulos, Ph.D., was honored with an Honorary Doctorate in Exercise from the University of Thessaly for his contributions to metabolic health research. Sara Benham, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, now serves as the faculty advisor for the UVM chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Jennifer Demers, Ph.D., received the Edith Hendley Award, recognizing her exceptional research, scholarship, teaching, and service to women. Reuben Escorpizo, PT, M.Sc., D.P.T., was awarded the Visiting Scholar Fellowship from the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries at the University of British Columbia and The Rick Hansen Foundation for his metabolic health research. Additionally, he was appointed to the Standing Committee of Medical and Vocational Experts for the Social Security Administration's Disability Programs by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Kelsey Gleason, Sc.D., M.S., was the recipient of the CNHS Research Incentive Grant Award. Seth Gordon received the Dean’s Outstanding Staff Award. Patrick Malone, Ed.D., was honored with the EMS Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive service in Vermont's EMS system. Tyler Moeller, M.S.N., RN, was named Vermont EMS Educator of the Year. Victoria Priganc, Ph.D., was named the 2024 Distinguished Fellow of National Academics of Practice in Occupational Therapy. Holly Whitcomb, D.N.P., FNP, will spearhead Interprofessional Education, and Susan Whitman, M.S., PA-C, NBC-HWC, earned the 2024 Raising the Bar Award for her leadership in health and wellness coaching.

Development

Cultivation visits and proposals are in progress with outcomes pending, and new prospects have been identified to fulfill scholarship and research funding goals. As of May 29, $1,544,201 was raised toward our $2,000,000 total goal.

Equity of Voice

In line with the directives of the new CNHS Strategic Plan, we have formed five Advisory Councils composed of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and BIPOC students to ensure an equitable voice within our college. These councils have initiated remarkable projects, including the inaugural staff award and luncheon, Brown Bag virtual sessions highlighting faculty research, a survey assessing student culture, and a social event to celebrate the conclusion of the spring semester.

In Closing

Collaborating with the administrative leaders, faculty, staff, and Advisory Board of this college is an honor. I express my sincere gratitude to each of you for your dedication to our shared objectives and look forward to another year of delivering outstanding education in the health professions together.

Warm regards,

Noma Anderson, Dean