This fall the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) advanced our mission to work together, educate an interprofessional workforce, create new knowledge and contribute to the wellness of society with a gift to support interprofessional collaboration among our colleagues in the health and related professions. Several faculty had notable research accomplishments; and our students were provided new opportunities for distinctive learning experiences that were academically rigorous and created meaningful engagement on campus, in the community and in the world.
The College received a generous donation from UVM alumna and former nursing faculty member Aline Demers that will support our mission to improve health care delivery through initiatives in inter-professional education and collaborative practice.
Research by rehabilitation and movement science Professor and Department Chair Jeremy Sibold on the role of exercise in reducing suicide attempts in bullied teens made headlines; and Clinical Nursing Instructor Jason Garbarino’s service-learning class at Shelburne Bay is fostering relationships among students and senior citizens in the community. Shelley Velleman, professor and chair of the department of communication sciences and disorders, published Speech Sound Disorders, a resource for patient assessment and treatment; and rehabilitation and movement science Professor Sue Kasser’s program for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis was featured in UVM Today. Finally, the body of research and lifetime work of communication sciences and disorders Professor Barry Guitar was recognized with an Honors of the Association Award—the highest honor given to association members—at the 2015 Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Denver, CO.
Faculty and students facilitated UVM’s designation as an American College of Sports Medicine 'Exercise is Medicine' campus. We offered first-year students the option to be part of a residence hall-based health sciences interest group. Our annual open house featured a series of well-attended faculty presentations on concussions, cell signaling, autism, and the nursing profession. First-year nursing students marked their commitment to patient-centered care in the Department of Nursing's second annual white coat ceremony. And together with the College of Medicine, The University of Vermont Medical Center, our community partner the Laura Mann Center, and interested students, CNHS hosted Integrative Health Week.
Seven new full-time faculty members joined the College this fall, including: Tara Burnham, clinical assistant professor of nursing; Wade Carson, clinical assistant professor and radiation therapy program director; Seth Frietze, assistant professor of medical laboratory science; Michelle Kunsman, clinical assistant professor of rehabilitation and movement science; Tim Tourville, assistant professor of rehabilitation and movement science; Paula Smith, clinical assistant professor of rehabilitation and movement science; and Barbara Tschoepe, visiting professor and interim director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
We are excited to have an excellent fall enrollment of new students including 246 first-year students and 66 graduate students. In total, 900 undergraduate and 217 graduate students are currently preparing for their futures with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a new year filled with good health, new learning opportunities and the chance to make a difference!
Patricia A. Prelock, Ph.D., CCC-SLP