The College is pleased to share the following updates from our four academic departments.

Biomedical and Health Sciences

  • Notice of Application for Public Health Accreditation
  • Faculty Publications and Projects
  • Student Publications and Projects
  • Faculty/Staff Updates

-------------------

Further Details

Notice of Application for Public Health Accreditation

The University of Vermont undergraduate Health Sciences program is currently an applicant for accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Our accreditation review is scheduled for February 3rd and 4th, 2022. CEPH is accepting written comments until 30 days before the site visit; if you would like to offer any comments regarding our program, we would encourage you to submit them directly no later than Monday, January 3rd, 2022: By e-mail: Olivia Luzzi, MPH, CPH, Senior Accreditation Specialist, Council on Education for Public Health, oluzzi@ceph.org OR In writing: The Council on Education for Public Health, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Deborah Hinchey, MPH (she, her), Senior Lecturer, Program Director, Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Deborah.Hinchey@med.uvm.edu.

Faculty Publications and Projects

Paula Deming, Ph.D., MT (ASCP), associate professor, associate dean for faculty affairs and research, endowed professor of health sciences, published the following:

  • Liam L Donnelly, Tyler C Hogan, Sean M Lenahan, Gopika Nandagopal, Jenna G Eaton, Meagan A Lebeau, Cai L McCann, Hailey M Sarausky, Kenneth J Hampel, Jordan D Armstrong, Margaret P Cameron, Nikoletta Sidiropoulos, Paula Deming, David J Seward. Functional assessment of somatic STK11 variants identified in primary human non-small cell lung cancers. Carcinogenesis, 2021; https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgab104

The Krementsov Lab published the following:

  • This paper led by CMB Ph.D. student Theresa Montgomery in Krementsov lab solved a diagnostic mystery where several people in BHSC labs tested positive without any symptoms or known contacts. It turned out to be caused false positives caused by non-infectious DNA that was being used for COVID research in the lab - which we confirmed by serology and molecular testing.
  • This comprehensive literature review paper on probiotics in multiple sclerosis was the result of a capstone project by Master in MLS student Lorrie Blais, with help from the Krementsov lab, and additional mentorship from Paula Deming and Eyal Amiel.
  • This research paper, a collaboration between the Krementsov and Frietze labs, co-led by technician Mahalia McGill and CMB Ph.D. student Alyssa Richman. In this paper, we investigated whether microglia, the mysterious immune cells of the brain, could contribute to differences between women and men in multiple sclerosis.

Student Publications

Marie Agan, M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science candidate, published the following:

  • Marie Little Fawn Agan, Reni Joseph, Armando Rivera-Figueroa, Benny C. Chan, Abby R. O’Connor, Mary Jo Ondrechen, Wayne E. Jones, Peter K. Dorhout, and Ann C. Kimble-Hill. Best Practices to Diversify Chemistry Faculty. Journal of Chemical Education. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00508

Faculty/Staff Updates

Eyal Amiel, Ph.D., associate professor, was appointed interim Chair of the Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences.

Paula Deming, Ph.D., MT (ASCP), associate professor, endowed professor of health sciences, and former chair of the Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, was named Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

  • Speech-Language Research Investigates Communication Gestures in Autistic Adults
  • Addressing Disability Microaggressions in the Classroom
  • Faculty Publications and Projects

-------------------

Further Details

Speech-Language Research Investigates Communication Gestures in Autistic Adults

Claudia Abbiati ’13, G ’15 explores how people on the autism spectrum emphasize words in a sentence, and how the movements of their lips during a conversation impact their social expression. Full story >>

Addressing Disability Microaggressions in the Classroom

Dean Noma Anderson, an expert in speech-language pathology and a leader in inclusive education, shared the importance of addressing microaggressions at school in a presentation to the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Full story >>

Faculty Publications and Projects

Noma Anderson, Ph.D., dean and professor, presented the workshop “Microaggression and Implicit Bias in Academia and Clinical Practice” to the CNHS community on behalf of the Committee on Inclusive Excellence.

Dean's Office

  • Staff Updates

-------------------

Further Details

Staff Updates

Paula Deming, Ph.D., MT (ASCP), associate professor, endowed professor of health sciences and former chair of the Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, was appointed Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs.

Derek Lewis, M.Ed., has accepted the role of interim Director of Student Services for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Nursing

  • SMART Strategies Reduce Stress for Nursing Students
  • Recipe for Health
  • New Professor Brings Unusual Course and “Compassionate Communities” to Vermont
  • Nursing Welcomes Incoming Class
  • Nursing Faculty and Students Practice 'Age-Friendly Health Care' at Appletree Bay
  • What's It Really Like to Be a Nurse During a Pandemic?
  • Faculty Honors
  • Faculty Research and Projects

-------------------

Further Details

SMART Strategies Reduce Stress for Nursing Students

Nursing Professor Lili Martin’s research revealed a national trend: stress, anxiety, and depression are regular accompaniments to the academic rigors of studying nursing. Full story >>

Recipe for Health

With support from the Frymoyer Scholars Program, Rebecca Nagle, D.N.P., PNP, RN, clinical instructor and nurse practitioner at Timberlane Pediatrics, has outlined a culinary medicine curriculum for UVM's graduate nursing program that will enhance students’ ability to incorporate nutrition counseling into patient care. Full story >>

New Professor Brings Unusual Course and “Compassionate Communities” to Vermont

A medical sociologist who’s an expert in end-of-life and palliative care, Allan Kellehear has worked and taught around the world, from his native Australia to the UK and Japan. And he’s bringing more to Vermont than just a thought-provoking class. Full story >>

Nursing Welcomes Incoming Class

Future nurses received white coats from the Department of Nursing on October 1, part of an annual tradition of recognizing nursing students for their commitment to the field. Full story >>

Nursing Faculty and Students Practice 'Age-Friendly Health Care' at Appletree Bay

Providing “age friendly” exams for older people earned Appletree Bay status as a Level 2: Age Friendly Health System-Committed to Care Excellence from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The practice is the first health care system in Vermont to achieve this designation. Full story >>

What's It Really Like to Be a Nurse During a Pandemic?

Two qualitative studies led by nursing professor Marcia Bosek with nurse leaders from UVM Medical Center shed light on the true, lived experiences of Vermont-based nurses working during the pandemic. Full story >>

Faculty Honors

Mary Val Palumbo D.N.P., APRN, GNP-BC, professor of nursing and director of interprofessional education, received a grant from the Vermont Department of Aging and Independent Living – “Hub and Spoke for Alzheimer's/Map for Diagnosis and Referral – Educational Plan for Primary Care” and has launched 3 initiatives to improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care management in primary care setting throughout Vermont.: A monthly ECHO series on Dementia Diagnosis and Management, an online continuing education offering - Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Dementia, and the Corner Consult for primary care providers regarding dementia diagnosis.

Faculty Publications and Projects

Laura Foran Lewis, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor, and colleague Emily Glassman had an article about a digital storytelling class project published in Nursing Education Perspectives.

Rehabilitation and Movement Science

  • Research Shows Nutrition is Key to Reducing Fall Risk Among Older Vermonters
  • New Occupational Therapy Degree Accepting Applications
  • Making Work Rehabilitation Work
  • Faculty Honors and Projects
  • Faculty Publications
  • Student Publications and Projects

-------------------

Further Details

Research Shows Nutrition is Key to Reducing Fall Risk Among Older Vermonters

Nancy Gell and Emily Tarleton's research is helping to determine the role nutrition plays in reducing the threat of fall rink for older adults. The rapidly aging population in the state and the desire of Vermonters to age in place make the research even more urgent. Full story >>

New Occupational Therapy Degree Accepting Applications

The new entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree program, the first in the State of Vermont, is accepting applications. The 8-semester, full-time, year-round program will accept its first cohort of students beginning in August 2022, contingent upon a successful candidacy application. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Doctorate degree in occupational therapy. Full story >>

Making Work Rehabilitation Work

Clinical practice guidelines developed by Professor Reuben Escorpizo with national collaborators, offer tools and guidance to clinicians who provide physical rehabilitation for people returning to work following injury or illness. Full story >>

Faculty Honors and Projects

Susan Whitman, M.S., lecturer, received the 2021 Prelock Online Teaching Award for her course Introduction to Integrative Health. Susan’s course was selected from over 30 nominations which were reviewed by UVM faculty, PACE non-credit instructors, and UVM online students. The award recognizes and rewards superior online asynchronous teaching. Full story >>

Justine Dee, PT, M.S., OCS, clinical associate professor, presented the workshop “Working with individuals with Limited English Proficiency” to the CNHS community on behalf of the Committee on Inclusive Excellence.

Faculty Publications

Victoria Priganc, Ph.D., OTR, CHT, CLT, occupational therapy program director, published the following:

  • Ivy CC, Doerrer S, Naughton N, Priganc V. The impact of COVID-19 on hand therapy practice. J Hand Ther. 2021 Feb 1:S0894-1130(21)00026-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2021.01.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33820708; PMCID: PMC7849501.
  • Priganc V, Naughton N, Doerrer S, Ivy CC. A follow up survey on the impact of COVID-19 on hand therapy practice. J Hand Ther. 2021 Jul 9:S0894-1130(21)00109-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2021.07.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34392999.

Student Publications and Projects

Doctor of Physical Therapy students Sadie Thompson, Carolyn Snell, Daniel Barry, and Astrida Griswold, under the mentorship of Professor Nancy Gell, PT, Ph.D., M.P.H., and alumni Lee Karlsson, PT, D.P.T., M.Sc.P.H., G '18, published an article on work conducted in their Health Promotion class in Gerinotes, a clinical magazine for physical therapists specializing in geriatrics.

Student Services

  • Staff Update

-------------------

Further Details

Staff Updates

Derek Lewis, M.Ed., has been named interim Director of Student Services for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Kristen Cella has accepted the role of Assistant Director for Graduate Admissions.

Alice Russell joined the Office of Student Services as a student services specialist.

Tammy Bender, former interim director of student services, has accepted a new position at UVM.

Erica Caloiero, former assistant dean for student affairs in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has been appointed Vice Provost for Student Affairs for UVM.