HSRS News Archives Spring '08

Dilan Ramirez receives the Distinguished Graduate Student Award for HSRS

The youngest of five children, Dilan Ramirez was born in Ecuador and raised by his older brother Richard since the age of 7 when his parents left for the United States in search of a better future for their family. At 19, after completing High School Dilan was able to come here to live with his parents when they finally received legal status in the US.

He learned English and worked many jobs from dishwasher to Certified Nursing Assistant in the Emergency Room at Berkshire Medical Center while attending Berkshire Community College where he received an Associates Degree with a concentration in Biology. He was introduced to the Physician Assistant profession by a faculty member at Berkshire and then met a graduate from the Springfield College Physician Assistant Program who encouraged Dilan to apply. He was rejected at first but was determined to pursue his career choice, so he requested to meet with Dr. Jennifer Hixon to find out what he could do to be eligible for the program. His determination proved to be beneficial and he was ultimately accepted into the program. This was very important to Dilan for he was the first in his family to go to college, let alone attend graduate school.

Dilan achieved a 3.67 GPA in the rigorous and fast-paced PA curriculum and has always been available to the program and faculty for service activities. He spear-headed the department Fit Fest displays, and participated in a disaster drill at the Holyoke Mall. Dilan is also a Certified Medical Interpreter and a member of the Massachusetts Association of Physician Assistants. He has been offered an employment opportunity at each of his clinical sites, but he is most interested in Inpatient Medicine or Emergency Medicine.

“Complementary Care: Alternative Approaches in Health and Rehabilitation.”

On April 12th the School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies collaborated with the Office of Alumni Relations to hold this year’s annual Alumni College event, “Complementary Care: Alternative Approaches in Health and Rehabilitation.” This daylong conference featured a lecture from keynote speaker, Dr. Adam Perlman. His lecture was entitled “Complementary and Alternative Medicine: State of the Art - State of the Science.” Morning lectures included, “Chinese Medicine” presented by Bailing Li Kean and “Energy Medicine: Using Spiritual Energy as a Therapeutic Modality” from Jeanne Schubmehl, MS, OTR/L, G’04, an adjunct professor in Springfield College’s OT department. The luncheon panel, “CAM: Discussion of Health Care Policy, Reimbursement, and Patient Care Delivery.” The panel consisted of Baystate Regional Cancer Program and Cancer Services Medical Director, Dr. Wilson Mertens and Health New England Vice President James Kessler, JD. The panel was mediated by Dr. Perlman. Afternoon lectures were from Pam Liebro, BS, RPh, “Evaluating the Evidence for Complementary and Alternative Medications” and from SC alumni, Jay Kain (’78, G’84), “Integrative Manual Therapy.”

PASO holds 2nd Annual 5k run/walk to raise money for the ACC Research Foundation

Springfield College’s Physician Assistant Student Organization (PASO) held their 2nd Annual 5K run/walk to raise money for the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) Research Foundation. The run was held on Sunday, April 27th at Springfield’s Forest Park. PASO was able to raise almost $6,000 for ACC research. This rare form of cancer was brought to the student organization’s attention when a graduate from SC’s PA program was diagnosed with it in 2000. ACC is a serious form of cancer that originates in the salivary glands and can spread to the lungs, liver, and bone. Chemotherapy is ineffective against the illness and surgical resection is the typical form of treatment used when possible.

Mike Accordino published in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling

Mike Accordino, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies recently had an article published in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling. The article was co-authored by Abby Perham. Abby Perham received her undergraduate degree from Springfield College in 2001 in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies and her graduate degree in 2003 in Rehabilitation Counseling. Their article is entitled Exercise and functioning level of individuals with severe mental illness: A cross sectional survey

Bringing C.A.R.E.S. to Springfield

Senior EMSM major, Michael Stewart received an award for his descriptive research project at the 4th Annual Scholars In Action Day held in Blake Arena on April 15th. Stewart’s presentation was about his work with the Office of Emergency Preparedness in bringing the Cardiac Arrest Registry To Enhance Survival (C.A.R.E.S.) to Springfield. C.A.R.E.S. aim is to improve communities’ cardiac arrest survival rates through their research program. This national research program was started in Atlanta, Georgia and was successful in increasing their cardiac arrest citizen survival rate from three to fifteen percent. Other cities that are implementing this research program are Cincinnati, OH, Austin, TX, and San Francisco, CA. Springfield will be joining these cities, as C.A.R.E.S. begins on May 1, 2008. In Springfield, Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, American Medical Response, Baystate Health Ambulance, Am B Care, National Ambulance, and the city of Springfield have worked with the Office of Emergency Preparedness to bring this program to the city.

EMSM Accreditation Renewed

The Emergency Medical Services Management Department successfully completed the application review and site visit for reaccreditation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services. The EMSM program was the first to be accredited in Massachusetts and is the first to be renewed. This renewal is for 3 years.

Adrienne Sgammato is a recent recipient of the Spencer Foundation Fellowship

Adrienne Sgammato, Class of ‘00 and Class of ‘01, received her bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and disability studies and her master’s degree in rehabilitation and counseling services at Springfield College. Sgammato is a recent recipient of the Spencer Foundation Fellowship at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Sgammato is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Education; Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation and aspires to work at a standardized testing company upon completing her Ph.D.

Robert J. Hopkins promoted in January to the rank of Lieutenant

Robert J. Hopkins, assistant professor of EMSM was promoted in January to the rank of Lieutenant in the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Law Enforcement Division by Sheriff Michael Ashe, as Medical Training Officer.

Robert J. Hopkins attended Educational Training Summit in Nashville

In March Robert J. Hopkins attended the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Educational Training Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. The training summit featured five days of seminars tailored for explosive and biological incidents, the National Response Framework, and supporting team response. He also attended the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee seminar on Law Enforcement Response to Public Health Emergencies at the Western Massachusetts Police Academy on April 5th.

Physical Therapy Class of 2008 research projects

The Physical Therapy Class of 2008 presented their research projects on April 7th through the 10th in the Allied Health Sciences Center. The students’ research posters were also on display in the Allied Health Lobby the week of the presentations. Please click here for more information. Research projects included:

“The Prevalence of Exercise Induced Asthma Symptoms Among Springfield College Athletes” Elizabeth E. Jones, Russell M. Kowalinski, Andrew S. Millett, Faculty Advisor: Angela A. Campbell, PT, DPT, CCS

“The Relationship Between Parent-child Interactions and Child Body Mass Index” Andrew M. McLlarky, Christie R. Plummer, Grover O. Price, Faculty Advisor: Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, MPH, OCS

“The Effectiveness of the Weight Bearing Indicator in Teaching Partial Weight Bearing Status” Ryan A. Mahoney, Michael T. Piercey, Michael A. Shaw, Faculty Advisor: Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, MPH, OCS

“Forty-six Month Follow-up of a Patient with West Nile Virus Paralysis” Rebecca S. Gawron, Paul E. McCloskey, Nathaniel J. McMahan

“A Comparison of Hamstring to Quadriceps Ratio in Offensive vs. Defensive Football Players” Ryan M. Boyd, Michelle A. Marquis, Ashley A. Yoder, Faculty Advisor: Robert C. Welles, PT, MA

“The Experience of Stroke Group on the Lives of its Participants” Arun Y. Masih, Kristen M. Klisiewicz, Laura G. Kepler, Faculty Advisor: Regina Kaufman, PT, NCS, EdD

“Functional Outcomes in People with Chronic Stroke after Group Exercise” Ashley H. Burns, Mallory A. Franklin, Rachel E. Lampros, Faculty Adviosr: Regina Kaufman, PT, NCS, EdD

“An Association Study Between Personality Dominance and Field of Sub-Speciality within Physical Therapy” Maureen P. Ashe, Patrick M. Gerrish, Sara A. Hulseberg, Faculty Advisor: Deborah Pelletier, PT, MS

“The Effect of Learning Style on Academic Success” Caitlyn A. Cuthbertson, Kara M. Garney, Debra A. Polansky, Faculty Advisor: Kathleen M. Pappas, PT, DPT

Springfield College EMSM team placed second at National Collegiate EMS conference

A team of four EMSM students from Springfield College placed second in the Advanced Life Support skills competition at the National Collegiate EMS conference. The conference was February 29th-March 2nd in Philadelphia. The team was made up of Zack Klomberg, Justin Quinlan, Mike Very, and Mike Stewart.

Charles Milch Presented "Evaluation of the Acute Abdomen"

Charles Milch, assistant professor of physician assistant studies presented “Evaluation of the Acute Abdomen” at the Massachusetts Association of Physician Assistants Annual Primary Care Conference in Hyannis, Mass on March 28. The conference is attended by practicing Physician Assistants and students both regionally and nationally.

Announcing the 2008 Greene Memorial Lecture in Physical Therapy

The Department of Physical Therapy at Springfield College is pleased to announce the 2008 Greene Memorial Lecture in Physical Therapy. It will be held on Friday, April 4, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in the Allied Health Sciences Center, Room 224. This year’s speaker is Daniel L. Riddle, PT, PhD, FAPTA and the title of Dr. Riddle’s lecture is: “Links and Chains: Critical Collaborations in a Professional Life”. Dr. Riddle is the Otto D. Payton Professor and Assistant Department Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Riddle has served as the Deputy Editor of the journal Physical Therapy since 2006. His primary research interests, and the areas in which he has published, include low-back pain, musculoskeletal assessment and outcomes of musculoskeletal disorders. He has received numerous research grants including a recent grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to evaluate diagnostic decisions for deep vein thrombosis. At VCU, Dr. Riddle teaches courses on musculoskeletal assessment and the disablement process.

Alumni College Event

The School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies and Alumni Relations Present an Alumni College Event Saturday, April 12, 2008 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Click here for more information.

Julia Chevan to be published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

In March, Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, OCS, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy will have her paper, Demographic determinants of participation in strength training activities among U.S. adults, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Julia Chevan traveling to Liberia with Project Hope

In March Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, Julia Chevan, PT, PhD, OCS, will be traveling as a volunteer to Liberia on a Humanitarian Aid Operation with Project Hope. She will be joining a team of medical personnel including nurses, physicians and educators that is conducting Project Hope operations in West Africa. The team will be delivering $3 million of health care goods supplied by the U.S. government and providing training to health personnel with the goal of initiating and sustaining long term health programs in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.

Dr. Kathy Post will be published in TSIS Quarterly Newsletter

Dr. Kathy Post, the Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department will be published in the March 2008 edition of the American Occupational Therapy Association Technology Special Interest Section (TSIS) Quarterly Newsletter. Dr. Post’s article is co-authored with Kimberly Hartmann of Quinnipiac University, Lynn Gitlow of Husson College, and Douglas Rakoski of Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, all members of the TSIS standing committee. The article is entitled AOTA’s Centennial Vision for the Future: How Can Technology Help?

Dr. Kathy Post presenting at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference

Dr. Kathy Post, Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department will be presenting on April 11th at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference held this year in Long Beach, CA. The presentation is entitled Getting students hooked early: connecting prerequisites with professional-level courses through peer-led case discussions, and is based on her work funded by the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement.

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Click here for the Winter '06 archives.

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Page updated on: 06/20/2008