allied med today - summer 2011

Allied MedTodayToday

InterdIscIplInary learnIng

alumnI mentorIng

A publication for Alumni and Friends

of the School of Allied Medical Professions

celebrating change

pAge 6

summer | 2011

pAge 16

192472_alliedmed.indd 1 6/20/11 10:16 AM

Atwell Hall turns 40 this year, and as we considered the aging of our building, we began to think of the many changes that have occurred over the last 40 years. In 1971, gas was 40 cents per gallon, a postage stamp was eight cents, and a movie ticket was $1.50; as we watch gas hovering around $4 this Spring and movie tickets around $10, it is interesting to also look at the many changes in the School and education of our students. In the 1970-1971 academic year, enrollment within the School was 306 baccalaureate and 50 graduate students. In 2010-2011, we enrolled 303 new students and brought our total enrollment to 645 baccalaureate and 265 graduate students, bringing us to almost triple (910) the enrollment of our first year in the building.

Although we are still in the same space, we have done many things to make our 40-year-old building better meet the needs of our expanding student numbers. First, the entire building is wireless; second, we renovated the auditorium last year, replacing desks and chairs, and installing electrical support to allow each student to plug in a computer. We were also able to replace our lobby furniture to create a study space for students and upgrade classrooms throughout the building with LCD projectors, SMART boards and other technology, as needed. These changes were financed, in part, through state-appropriated capital funds, student technology fees, and donations from alumni and friends for which we are extremely thankful.

Our changes didn’t stop with the building, however; we continue to implement innovative teaching methods to maximize the learning experience of each of our students. Some of these methods are technological, incorporating web-based, simulation and interactive teaching methods to bring the classroom or clinic to the students. Some involve our expert clinician partners, many of whom are alumni, who share their years of experience with students and create unique learning opportunities in the clinic and the classroom, while others create interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching activities that not only promote learning but also facilitate the development of teamwork and mutual respect across disciplines. As we made our plans for the transition from quarters to semesters—to begin just one short year from now—we looked for additional opportunities to expand on these innovations so that every student would reap the benefits of our creative teaching. Some of these innovative educational activities and our dedicated clinician partners are highlighted in this edition of Allied Med Today.

To all of our alumni and friends, thank you for your contributions to our educational and research innovations through your time and donations.

Deborah S. Larsen, pT, phD Director, School of Allied Medical Professions Associate Dean, The Ohio State University College of Medicine Associate VP for Health Sciences

From the Director

deborah s. larsen, pt, phd

2 Allied Med today | summer 2011


contents

4 DeveLopMenT newS

6 CeLebrATing ChAnge • Doctoral Education: Interdisciplinary Approach Advances Knowledge

• Cross-Campus Learning Collaboration Yields Innovative Teaching Initiatives

• Complexity and Collaboration Lead to Innovative Research

• Collaboration with Community Leads to Reciprocal Rewards

• Alumni Mentoring

16 FACuLTy reSeArCh

18 SChooL newS

20 DiviSion highLighTS

24 ALuMni newS

Allied MedTodayToday

On Our Cover

Story on page 14.

alumna sandra VanVranken (’03) mentors medical laboratory science student allison Jacob in the osu medical center critical care laboratory.

summer | 2011

A publication for Alumni and Friends of the School of Allied Medical Professions

executive Manager

Kathleen KempOSUMC Communications and Marketing

Managing editorBeth Bohlander

OSUMC Communications and Marketing

Contributing writersResearch and Copywriting:

Sarah Fries

Freelance writing:Jaron M. Terry, APR

Larry Di Giovanni

oSuMC DevelopmentJulie Conry, Director

SAMp Alumni Society Matt Ridley, President

DesignLori Zambito

OSUMC Communications and Marketing

photographyRalphoto Studio

OSU Photo Services

Allied Med Today is published annually for alumni and friends of The Ohio State University School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP). Correspondence should be sent to: Allied Med

Today, School of Allied Medical Professions, 127 Atwell Hall, 453 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210. Changes of address may be made

online at http://amp.osu.edu/alumni.

the ohio state university medical center 3


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Development News

For nearly a decade, the late Barbara Bostic poured her personal heart and professional energy into shaping the nationally ranked rehabilitation programs of The Ohio State University. As a physical therapist, she was tireless in her efforts to create exceptional patient care experiences at Dodd Hall, OSU East, and the Medical Center. As director of OSU’s Rehabilitation Services, her leadership, vision and commitment to teamwork inspired many who worked with her during her tenure.

To honor her dedication to excellence, her compassion and her lifelong commitment to adult rehabilitation, the Barbara Rose Bostic Endowed Scholarship in Physical Therapy was approved by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees in September. The scholarship will be used to support physical therapy (PT) students who seek to pursue a career in acute care or adult rehab and who exemplify dedication to excellence in patient care and advancing the practice of physical therapy.

Bostic, who graduated from Ohio State with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy in 1961, was a native of Hilliard, Ohio. Prior to joining Ohio State, she started her PT career at the Cincinnati Veterans Hospital and St. Anthony’s Hospital in Columbus. The scholarship fund, established by Helen Duffy of Columbus, is a fitting legacy for a leader who valued education, the student experience and the role of mentors in training other healthcare professionals.

“I think this is a way to recognize her work not just as a clinician, but as an entire person and the way she related to patients and staff,” Duffy stated.

For Susan Arnold, an occupational therapist at OSU East who worked with Bostic for many years, the scholarship is a fitting tribute to a unique leader. “Barb demonstrated so many qualities that made her a great leader,” Arnold says. “Her outstanding character earned the trust and respect of those who worked with and for her. She made people feel valued, respected and motivated to do their best.”

Bostic’s enthusiasm for all things “Buckeye” also carried over into the Medical Center. She was known for the famous pre-game football tailgate parties she hosted with Helen,

and in the early 90s she carried that passion to Dodd Hall by creating the annual “Beat Michigan” party for the patients and rehab staff. Shelley Graf, a PT Team leader for the Medical Center and former drum major for Ohio State’s marching band, continues to lead the Dodd Hall tailgate. “Every year we think of Barb when we are at the party. She was a great Buckeye supporter and friend.”

The PT Division of the School of Allied Medical Professions is profoundly grateful for the Bostic Scholarship, according to Deborah Givens, director of the Division. “It is a welcome addition to our efforts to build endowed scholarships for all of our students,” Givens notes.

The first Bostic Scholarship was awarded to DPT student Charles Starr, Class of 2012.

For information regarding this and other funds, contact Julie Conry, Medical Center Development at 614-366-0229, [email protected].

PT Endowment Honors Career and Service of Barbara Bostic

Helen duffy (l) stands with shelley graf, pt team leader at osumc, and Julie conry, director of development for samp, after being honored at the 2010 dodd Hall “Beat michigan” tailgate party.



Janet Kay Wilson Endowed Scholarship Established in Medical Laboratory ScienceAn endowed scholarship fund for undergraduates enrolled in the School’s Division of Medical Laboratory Science formerly Medical Technology has been established through a gift from the estate of the late Janet Kay Wilson, a 1968 graduate of the program. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved the endowment in February.

Creating a scholarship to “pay forward” was a legacy Janet Wilson felt passionate about, according to her sister Kathi Wilson. “Learning was her passion, and it was so important to her to find a way to keep this passion alive at Ohio State, a place she cared deeply about,” Wilson notes. During a one-year battle with cancer, Janet still focused on the future, her sister recalled, and it was her hope to provide a pathway that would inspire students the way she had been inspired at Ohio State. “She was always engaging in teaching and mentoring during her career in medical technology and this scholarship honors that commitment,” she added.

After graduating from Ohio State, Janet Wilson began her career at a community hospital in Iowa in 1968. She set her sights on moving west, and in 1972 she became the Blood Bank supervisor at St. John’s Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica, California. By 1978, she was recruited as the Blood Bank Education Coordinator for Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and this was where she focused her career for the next three decades.

“Jan loved this job, which played to her natural strengths in teaching and mentoring. She was a gift to all who participated in the program,” recalled her colleague Diane Thomas, executive director of pathology laboratories at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. “Many of her former students remained her dear friends.”

“To her management colleagues, Jan was uniquely gifted—bright, articulate and always seeking a better understanding. She brought amazing clarity to the complex issues at hand,” Thomas notes.

“We are deeply grateful to Janet Wilson and the Wilson family for their support to create our first endowed scholarship for Medical Technology,” notes interim division director Tammy Bannerman, Ph.D. “It is an honor to carry forward the passion for education that Janet demonstrated throughout her distinguished career,” she adds. “Her generosity and philanthropy will have a great impact for many students for years to come. We hope this gift will also inspire other alumni to consider supporting scholarships for our students.”

The first Wilson Scholarship will be awarded to Jacob Diaz, class of 2012.

OT Alumni Scholarship Fund

e x pA n D e D

An anonymous gift of $50,000 was designated for the Occupational

Therapy (OT) Alumni Scholarship Endowment in January. This donation brings the endowment past the $100,000 level to support OT graduate students with financial need enrolled in the Division.

For the 2010 academic year, a $2,500 scholarship from the endowment was awarded to OT student Abigail Blaker. The Division has approximately 120 students enrolled, and it is ranked among the nation’s top 25 OT programs, according to U.S.News & World Report rankings.

“This endowment is very important to our efforts to recruit the most capable students to the graduate program,” said Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR, director of the Division. “We truly appreciate additions to the endowment and invite all alumni of the OT Division to donate to this scholarship fund.”

the late Janet Kay Wilson

ot director, Jane case-smith, with ot scholarship recipient abigail Blaker.

To make an online gift, visit www.giveto.osu.edu

and click on make a Gift or call 614-366-0229

for more information on giving.



Doctoral Education: Interdisciplinary Approach Advances Knowledge“being able to understand how disciplines can work together opens exciting areas of new research,” says Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, who is professor and chair of the Occupational Therapy Division.

Candidates in SAMP’s interdisciplinary doctoral program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, which began six years ago, are encouraged to work collaboratively with a variety of disciplines—including many from outside the allied medical professions.

Kevin D. Evans, PhD, RT, (R) (M) (BD), RDMS, RVS, FSDMS, associate professor and chair of Radiologic Sciences and RespiratoryTherapy, agrees with Case-Smith, noting, “Our doctoral candidates are prepared not only to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in allied health disciplines, but also to understand how collaboration with other disciplines—such as Industrial and Systems Engineering—can make contributions as well.”

Evans and Case-Smith are among faculty members who teach and mentor students who enter the PhD program annually.

“Candidates achieve a deep understanding of research methodology, statistical techniques, and quantitative (and qualitative) analysis and obtain experience in developing and conducting research programs,” notes Case-Smith.

Evans adds, “We are so proud of these healthcare professionals, who will become the leaders, teachers, and scholars for the future of allied medicine.”

innovative protocol for injury prevention

Shawn Roll, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CWCE, among SAMP’s recent newly-minted PhD recipients, having earned his doctoral degree in June 2011, was co-mentored by Evans and Case-Smith.

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THE CHAnGInG nATURE OF HEALTH CARE EDUCATIOn

In the past decade, health care education has had to adapt to meet the changing needs of patients and to practice more effectively within changing health care systems in order to better prepare students for their roles as health care professionals. Small group instruction, case-based learning, interdisciplinary team work and the growing role of technology are helping students in the health professions to become broad-based thinkers and discerning decision-makers in addition to skilled practitioners. The following stories provide examples of some of the ways that today’s allied health students at Ohio State are gaining experiences that are forming their knowledge base and shaping their roles as future health care professionals.

Celebrating Change

recent phd recipient shawn roll combines his training in occupational therapy with ultrasonographic methods to evaluate carpal tunnel syndrome.



Already published in several peer-reviewed publications, including the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Roll also earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from SAMP, making him a true home-grown success story.

“The great thing about my doctoral program is that I was never ‘pigeon-holed’ into one discipline but was free to extend my interests in any direction,” says Roll, a licensed occupational therapist whose primary research interests center around developing new interventions and treatments in the workplace to prevent upper extremity injuries by identifying early physiological changes.

His doctoral dissertation, “Ultrasonographic methods for investigating factors related to carpal tunnel syndrome,” describes his collaborative research among the OSU College of Engineering and SAMP’s divisions of Occupational Therapy and Radiologic Sciences.

“We want to create a new protocol for identifying different stages of carpal tunnel syndrome by using a hand-held ultrasound device,” Roll explains. “If this syndrome can be identified before severe injury to the wrist takes place, we have the opportunity to intervene with preventive measures, such as rest or splinting, that may spare the patient invasive surgery or permanent disability,” he adds.

Roll plans to extend this area of research, which was partially funded by the national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as he begins his professional career as tenure-track assistant professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California.

unique Collaboration opens vistas for Children

SAMP’s DPT degree (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program represents one of four disciplines collaborating to allow children who use wheelchairs to experience outdoor recreation in “off-road” environments.

Students from Ohio State’s departments of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering teamed with students from SAMP’s Occupational Therapy and DPT programs to design and build an adaptive device so children in wheelchairs can safely move over uneven surfaces such as gravel and rough grass.

“It is so rewarding to see this dynamic, disparate group focus collaboratively on a specific patient need,” says Theresa

Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, Outpatient Rehabilitation Team Leader. Berner, who is a specialist in the Ohio State’s Assistive Technology Center, helped formulate a proposal for the project.

“I have a colleague who operates Flying Horse Farms, where children with serious illnesses—many of whom rely on wheelchairs—come to enjoy outdoor camp experiences,” she explains. Her friend expressed frustration because children in wheelchairs were having great difficulty accessing areas of the camp.

“It has been well established in the literature that outdoor recreation relates to human health and that many children’s health problems can be mitigated through outdoor play, sports and nature study,” she notes.

“It is so gratifying to see the level of cooperation, creativity and innovation these Ohio State students are putting into the project. To think that their collaborative efforts will not only further the breadth of assistive devices but will also put smiles on children’s faces, is really heart-warming,” she adds.

rehab team leader theresa Berner poses with members of the student interdisciplinary team that designed and built an adaptive device that allows a wheelchair to move over rough terrain.

recent phd recipient shawn roll combines his training in occupational therapy with ultrasonographic methods to evaluate carpal tunnel syndrome.



Cross-Campus Learning Collaboration Yields Innovative Teaching InitiativesSynchronous education is a fairly new concept and Ohio State is one of a handful of academic medical centers nationally bringing together historically disparate, although related, disciplines to learn together in a synchronous fashion.

“In the past, healthcare education often took place in ‘silos,’ where each single discipline learned in isolation from others,” says Deborah Larsen, PT, PhD, director of the School of Allied Medical Professions and associate dean of the OSU College of Medicine.

She explains that the shortcomings of the “silo” model become apparent when students become practicing professionals, suddenly working alongside other disciplines whose scope of expertise they had studied but not experienced first-hand.

Although the challenges of creating multidisciplinary learning opportunities are great—because of the sheer number of students who wish to come together in a common learning situation—Ohio State is taking a leadership role in changing healthcare education to meet the demands of a 21st Century healthcare professional workforce. Creating opportunities where students can become aware of the depth of specialized expertise they and their counterparts bring to the healthcare setting brings multiple benefits.

“Collaboration is such a worthwhile effort because the resulting interactions create mutual respect, foster understanding and enhance patient safety and outcomes,” Dr. Larsen points out.

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Celebrating Change

a team of students from samp’s division of respiratory therapy and ohio state’s college of nursing develop their bedside criti-cal thinking skills while working together to save the life of a mock trauma “patient.”



respiratory Therapy and nursing Collaborate effectively

“Among factors impacting patient safety is the quality of the bedside decision-making skills of clinicians,” says Georgianna Sergakis, PhD, RRT, assistant professor and program director in the Respiratory Therapy Division of SAMP.

“Taking a team approach to teaching, our division and Ohio State’s College of nursing pooled resources to provide students the opportunity for hands-on experience,” she explains. “The collaboration allows students to develop their bedside critical thinking skills as they work cooperatively with another discipline to meet patient needs in an emergent situation,” Dr. Sergakis says.

A high-fidelity patient simulator is at the center of the team of nursing and respiratory therapy students who bring to bear critical thinking and team decision-making to appropriately intubate and oxygenate their distressed “trauma patient.” In addition to respiratory therapy students receiving “real world” multidisciplinary experience in a safe environment, the course also incorporates alumni preceptors and serves as a research topic for senior-level students studying the benefits of teamwork in a patient care setting.

College of Medicine Creates innovative Learning environment

“Healthy attitudes about the value of teamwork should be fostered early in a student’s formation,” says Carol Hasbrouck, MA, assistant dean, Clinical Skills and Medical Education at Ohio State’s College of Medicine. “When multidisciplinary team members understand one another’s roles, inter-professional conflict—which may lead to medical errors—can be avoided,” she adds.

To this end, Ohio State developed a unique course—Interdisciplinary Approach to Patient Care—that is offered in a co-learning environment once a year to students from the colleges of Pharmacy, nursing and Medicine and the School of Allied Medicine. A problem-based learning approach to patient care is the centerpiece of this innovative, collaborative course.

“Future healthcare providers learn to identify how consulting with other professionals is beneficial to the patient and understand how the dynamics of effectively functioning teams positively impact patient care,” Hasbrouck explains.

Among the key goals of the course are enhanced communication skills, as increasing national attention is focused on the importance of appropriate communication in the “hand-off” phase of patient care from one discipline to another.

Crew Management is Key

Dr. Larsen notes that collaborative learning situations such as these are hallmarks of how healthcare education will be taught in the future.

“Professionals who learn in interdisciplinary environments are more confident in their own roles when they know others understand and value their contributions. In turn, they understand and value the input of other professionals, are more likely to call in a colleague to ask for input on a patient and are more likely to work well in a team when those opportunities come up in any setting,” she explains.

One of the goals of synchronous education is empowering professionals to speak up, regardless of their role, if they see a potential for something to go wrong, and thus prevent a mistake from being made. Dr. Larsen explains that such outspokenness is a change from long-standing tradition, where one discipline never questioned another.

“In fact, we are modeling what is taking place in the hospital setting here at Ohio State, where the Crew Resource Management model, developed by the aviation industry to facilitate communication and decision-making in dynamic environments, is applied to the healthcare setting. We are all very excited about the outcomes we observe among our students in response to interdisciplinary learning,” Dr. Larsen adds.

“THE COLLABORATIOn ALLOWS STUDEnTS

TO DEVELOP THEIR BEDSIDE CRITICAL THInKInG

SKILLS AS THEY WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH

AnOTHER DISCIPLInE TO MEET PATIEnT

nEEDS In An EMERGEnT SITUATIOn.”

georgianna sergakis, phd, rrt

georgianna sergakis, phd, rrt



“The depth and breadth of research is becoming increasingly complex,” says professor D. Michele Basso, EdD, PT, who is associate director of SAMP and the school’s Director of Research. “In order to make large, meaningful advances in scientific knowledge, we have to look at our field or topic from multiple perspectives. This demands that researchers find opportunities to partner with other disciplines,” she explains.

Basso, who also has appointments in Ohio State’s Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair and the Department of neuroscience, as well as in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, notes that in the past, a single investigator may have had sufficient expertise to study a disease mechanism or intervention.

“Today, with our new knowledge about the inter-relationship of genetics, physiology and biology, we are

called upon to form multidisciplinary research teams wherein team members bring individual expertise, and by interfacing with one another, can formulate an innovative, rich research design that contributes to the advancement of knowledge that may not otherwise occur,” she says.

She notes there are multiple examples of the unique contributions Allied Medicine professionals are making

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Celebrating Change

Complexity and Collaboration Lead to Innovative Research

colleen spees, med, rd, ld, registered dietitian and ccts doctoral Fellow, studies p53 mutations and chemoprevention in the lab of steven clinton, md, phd, at the osu comprehensive cancer center.

colleen spees, med, rd, ld, and steven clinton, md, phd



at all levels—basic science, clinical and translational research—given their strong clinical experience, as well as their foundational knowledge about the mechanisms that impact conditions and diseases.

Link established between nutrition and prostate Cancer prognosis

Colleen Spees, MEd, RD, LD, registered dietitian and doctoral fellow, is making an entre into the emerging field of nutritional genomics by studying TP53 gene mutations, which are believed to be correlated with a poorer prognosis in prostate cancer. It is well established that p53, known as “guardian of the genome,” is a key regulator for the cell cycle, functioning as a tumor suppressor. Spees is seeking to elucidate the role of dysregulated p53 in relation to the carcinogenic cascade.

Collaboratively mentored by Steven Clinton, MD, PhD, OSU Division of Medical Oncology, and Kay Wolf, PhD, RD, LD, director and associate professor, Medical Dietetics and Health Sciences, SAMP, Spees studies human prostate cancer samples collected from Harvard University’s Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. It is expected that her highly collaborative work, which is funded by nIH grants to Ohio State’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC), will provide data to support future studies of nutrition, gene and epigenetic interactions that may be critical to understanding, preventing, and treating human prostate cancer.

bionutrition—beyond Diet and Feeding Trials

“Of the more than 100 active research protocols underway at Ohio State’s Clinical Research Center (OSU-CRC), at least one-third involve a bionutrition collaboration,” says Diane L. Habash, PhD, RD, LD, who is manager of Bionutrition Clinical Research at the OSU-CRC and clinical associate professor of Medical Dietetics and Health Sciences. “This is remarkable when one realizes that less than 20 years ago, many clinical research scientists thought that nutrition involved in research meant only assessing diet and feeding of patients.”

The term “bionutrition” better illustrates the pervasive role that nutrition plays in health-related research. In addition to feeding trials, this new paradigm of translational science, instituted through Ohio State’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), provides multidisciplinary collaborative opportunities for clinical scientists not only within SAMP, but also with other scientists all across campus. In the greater view of translation of results, these collaborations represent a greater array of capabilities to study, evaluate and explain health and wellness as these relate to research and for research participants.

Collaborating for better Autism Diagnoses

“Clinically, occupational therapists have long been interested in the behaviors we see in children who seem to have unique responses to sensory input that are different from the norm,” says Alison Lane PhD, OTR/L, assistant professor, Occupational Therapy Division. Such differences are commonly observed in children with autism but are not among the diagnostic criteria.

Lane is collaborating with cognitive psychologist Simon Dennis, PhD, associate professor, OSU Department of Psychology, along with otolaryngologist Tony Shahin, PhD, and Gail Whitelaw, PhD, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Speech and Hearing Sciences, in a seminal study to link observed sensory input responses to neurophysiological differences with the goal of better understanding brain function in autism.

“The team is using ERP (Event Related Potentials) to measure electrical activity of the brain in response to auditory sensory input. We are seeking to link patterns of brain wave activity and of behavior to improve our understanding of the basis of the disorder and potentially provide a more robust, reliable diagnosis of autism,” Lane explains.

alison lane, phd, otr/l, works with a subject in her lab to test responses to movement sensation.

an erp is used to measure brain responses to speech sounds.



“when opportunities to further our mission to improve the lives of people can be coupled with opportunities for our students to gain real-world experience, a ‘win-win’ situation is created for all involved,” says Mark Merrick, PhD, ATC, associate professor and director of SAMP’s Athletic Training Division.

“A great deal of intellectual sharing is invaluable—from what takes place in the hospital to what takes place on athletic fields and in other settings—between students and professionals, between professionals and the public and most importantly between students and the public,” he adds.

The community benefits from such interactions by having access to education about a host of topics, including sports injury, proper nutrition and on-the-job injury prevention. Students benefit by gaining hands-on experience with a wide spectrum of individuals and by having access to focused populations for gathering research data.

“In addition, students who grew up in small-town or rural areas are able to enjoy cross-cultural encounters with persons from ethnic groups and walks of life that may be very different from their own life experience,” Dr. Merrick notes. “More importantly, by modeling a life of service to others, we are engendering in our students a life-long appreciation for giving back to their communities,” he adds.

Discerning need in Direct way

“It’s important to ask the right questions in order to generate responses that will produce actionable information,” says Medical Dietetics graduate student, Jenna Kuhls.

Kuhls and other students are conducting a study for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank by surveying pantry clients from seven different food pantries across the non-profit’s service area.

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Celebrating Change

Collaboration with Community Leads to Reciprocal Rewards

medical dietetics intern Jenna Kuhls poses in the dublin Food pantry where she is studying the food needs and preferences of rural and urban pantry users in a grant with the mid-ohio Food Bank from cardinal Health.



The goal of the study, which is funded by a grant from Cardinal Health, to the Mid-Ohio Food bank, is to determine the needs and preferences of food pantry users so pantry operators can reduce waste and better serve their clients by keeping preferred hours, carrying most-requested or needed items, and where appropriate, developing the favored style of service.

“This has been a great experience,” says Kuhls, who is participating in the Medical Dietetics Division’s Coordinated Graduate Program, which allows her to complete a clinical internship and master’s degree at the same time.

“In talking with clients of both rural and urban pantries, we are finding that their preferences differ,” she notes. Kuhls has found that urban clients seem to have a greater need for fresh fruits and vegetables, which apparently are more readily available in the community to rural clients. She also notes that many who utilize traditional pantries were unaware that “choice” pantries allow them to “shop” for their own groceries, resulting in less wasted food.

“By asking open-ended questions and surveying 20 to 30 clients at each location, we were able to gather qualitative information that the pantry managers say is very useful,” she says.

Tackling Concussion head-on

“In the past, if an athlete got hurt during play, but nothing was visibly bleeding, he or she was usually sent back in the game,” says Tamerah Hunt, PhD, AT, assistant professor in the Athletic Training Division.

nowadays, athletes, athletic trainers and team physicians are well aware of the dangers of playing with concussion. However, many high school or middle school teams have no one on the sidelines trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion.

Hunt has set out to change that. Through collaboration between Columbus City Schools’ Traumatic Brain Injury Team and the OSU Sports Medicine Division, where she is director of Research for the Concussion Program, she and Columbus city Athletic Trainers are developing “return to play paradigms” that will give coaches and other school officials clear-cut guidelines about when an athlete may or may not go back in the game.

“As the medical provider for Columbus City Schools, OSU Sports Medicine has worked hard the past three years educating coaches of adolescent players about concussion, but coaches need more support in order to make an informed decision that is in the best interest of the young person,” Hunt asserts.

A key element in the management of concussion is establishing a baseline for each player using a computerized neuropsychological test, IMPACT, developed at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Factors such as information processing speed, reaction time and attention—brain functions typically affected following concussion—are measured.“

in it to win it –scI patIents race For

cHrIstopHer and dana reeVe FoundatIon

This spring, several current and former Ohio State SCI patients and their

physical therapists participated in the 2011 Derby Festival Marathon/miniMarathon in Louisville, Kentucky. Their goal was to race without a wheelchair and to raise funds for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF), which is dedicated to developing cures for SCI by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis.

Among the projects funded by the Foundation is Ohio State’s neuroRecovery network (nRn), directed by D. Michele Basso, EdD, PT. Ohio State is one of only seven sites nationally that forms the nRn and offers Locomotor Training, an innovative and evidence-based rehabilitation strategy developed by the Foundation using a body weight supported treadmill to help patients with certain types of neurologic dysfunction enhance their locomotor skills.

tamerah Hunt, phd, at, is leading an initiative to improve safety after concussion.

physical therapists at ohio state’s neurorecovery network help a patient improve movement using a locomotor training device.



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Alumni Mentors: Partnering to Enhance Student Clinical Field Experience

alumna sandra VanVranken (‘03) demonstrates how to troubleshoot the Beckman coulter hematology analyzer while working with medical laboratory science student allison Jacob.

“There is nothing academically that can take the place of the real-life experience our graduate students realize through field work opportunities,” says Dennis Cleary, OTD-OTR/L, academic fieldwork coordinator for SAMP.

“With each student required to perform five fieldwork experiences during their two-year graduate curriculum, I don’t know how we would be able to accomplish this remarkable feat without the collaboration of our dedicated alumni; they make up more than half of all clinical mentors, preceptors, clinical instructors and fieldwork educators who partner with us,” Cleary explains.

Because all SAMP students study the applied sciences, their education needs go beyond the rigorous academic preparation they receive in the classroom setting. As future therapists, technicians, dietitians, and administrators they require hands-on learning in clinical practice settings.

“A century ago, students learned at the feet of a master,” says Cleary. “It’s really not that different today, in that internships or field experiences are, in the end, apprenticeships,” he notes.

Alumni who provide clinical experiences for students are making a tremendous investment, not only in a particular student, but also in the future of their respective disciplines.

“It takes a great deal of time and focus to take on one student for 40-50 hours a week over a two-to-three month period,” Cleary explains. “But I am told over and over by those who collaborate with us in this unique way that the rewards for the mentor are tremendous.”

Mentors not only earn hours toward their own relicensure/recertification and are provided with focused training opportunities but, more importantly, develop unique, often life-long relationships with the next generation, as well have the opportunity to leave a legacy in a unique way.



“Educating physicians, nurses and other allied medical professionals has been an important mission of our hospital for many, many years. The students benefit by being prepared to work in just about any clinical laboratory. Future employers benefit by having a new graduate ready to step into the workplace, well prepared and highly skilled. In fact, we have hired many upon graduation.”

– EDWARD FIRGAU II. MT (ASCP) 1986-BS-Allied Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science supervisor, Quality Assurance, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, nationwide Children’s Hospital,

Columbus, Ohio

“All my students work as a real technologist in the field, gaining valuable experience in a laboratory, as well as getting their foot in the door for possible future employment. In my role as the training and educational technical coordinator, I have worked with many students over the years, helping to develop them into well-prepared technologists. I firmly believe in the value of education for my staff-from our student level to the retirees. I started as a student in this laboratory, so I value the experience I have received and work to improve the training we provide to students and new employees.”

– SAnDRA VAnVRAnKEn, MT(ASCP) 2003-B.S.-Allied Health Professions, Medical Laboratory Science Training and Education

technical coordinator, Critical Care Laboratory, The Ohio State University Medical Center

“We provide numerous clinical experiences for all the respiratory therapy students. Several members of our staff act as clinical instructors, and occasionally as classroom instructors. Mentorship provides a great opportunity for our staff to be involved in education, and it motivates them to stay up-to-date on current trends in the field. Perhaps most important, I personally feel you can’t overemphasize the positive impact of working with so many young, bright, and very enthusiastic practitioners-in-the-making.”

– MARC K. MAYS, MS RCP RRT 1978, BS–Allied Health Professions, director; chair, SAMP Respiratory Therapy Advisory

Committee; director, Respiratory Therapy, The Ohio State University Medical Center

“Educating the HIMS profession through clinical practice is imperative. The clinical affiliation is an added value by providing the student the ability to grow through application of the course knowledge and the opportunity to observe HIM and other professionals on a daily basis. Students need the opportunity to put “book” knowledge to work. not only is it essential the students have the experience, the students should have a variety of clinical opportunities to complete this experience. Students gain distinct views on how to operate with different personalities and real-life situations. By participating in clinical management affiliations, the student and the preceptor benefit.”

– LAUREE HAnDLOn, MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC-H (2000 BS-Health Information Management and Systems and 2008-MS, Allied Health Management) president, Board, SAMP Alumni Society; director, Data Quality & Reimbursement Organization, Cleverley + Associates, Worthington, Ohio

Current Mentors Share Their Experiences

edward Firgau II (’86) poses with medical laboratory science student deena Khamees in the special Hematology laboratory

sandra VanVranken (’03) works with medical laboratory science student allison Jacob in osumc’s critical care laboratory

respiratory therapy students grace leisen-heimer and Kathleen stark practice measuring oxygen flow with mentor marc mays.

lauree Handlon, ms, rHIa (bot, mid) poses with past student interns (l to r) dana (Fitzenreiter) adams, mBa, rHIa (’04), elizabeth delacy, rHIa (’08) and laura young (’12).



Considering the Human Factor “A wonderful new world of collaboration opened when I joined the SAMP faculty last year,” says Emily Patterson, PhD, who was named assistant professor, Health Information Management and Systems Division in 2010, following nearly a decade at Ohio State as a research specialist and research scientist.

Specializing in applying human factors research, which guides the design of systems to support human performance in complex settings, Dr. Patterson is an industrial and systems engineer who is teaching an evidence-based practice course for SAMP students.

“In collaboration with Metin Gurcan, PhD, we are working on the next generation of technological innovations to advance the use of digital slides among pathologists,” she explains. Dr. Gurcan, an associate professor of Biomedical Informatics at OSU, is an expert in computer-assisted image analysis systems.

Digital imaging is now the industry standard for radiologists, allowing greater specificity in diagnosis, ease of storage, accessibility and transmission.

“Pathologists stand to realize similar benefits by adopting digitized images of glass slides,” she explains. “However, the shift to this emerging technology, which has the potential to radically transform how pathology is practiced, is taking place at a much slower rate,” she notes.

Drs. Patterson and Gurcan set out to determine explanations for the different speeds and levels of willingness to switch to digital technology between radiologists and pathologists.

“The biggest difference our collaboration uncovered is that in anatomic pathology, unlike radiology, having the ability to make fine-tuned focusing adjustment to compensate for folded or uneven areas of tissue—as one could with a microscope—is critical to diagnostic accuracy for complex cases,” she explains.

Because glass slides and microscopes are already being replaced by digital images in both traditional and online pathology classes, the team believes it is only a matter of time before the interpretation of digital images becomes the industry standard in pathology. In fact, telepathology, where specialists are provided remote access to digitized images for purposes of consultation or research, has already taken off.

Drs. Patterson and Gurcan plan to extend their findings to explore how bar coding can reduce the risk of “wrong patient” errors, which can lead to delays in needed treatment or, in the case of healthy patients, unnecessary treatments. Because digital images are more easily bar coded than glass slides, such devastating errors can be avoided.

“To this end, we are collaborating with Dr. Kathy Waller, who is a faculty member in SAMP’s Medical Laboratory Science Division, to conduct research among medical laboratory scientists, whom we have identified as prospective early adopters of digital pathology,” Dr. Patterson says. A survey of these professionals will explore how frequently identified barriers and facilitators to adoption of digital pathology are experienced across different organizations.

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emily patterson, phd, and colleague metin gurcan, phd, associate professor of Biomedical Informatics at osu, are studying the use of digital imaging in diagnosing cancer in patients.

DR. PATTERSOn IS LEAD AUTHOR OF “BARRIERS

AnD FACILITATORS TO ADOPTIOn OF SOFT COPY

InTERPRETATIOn FROM THE USER PERSPECTIVE:

LESSOnS LEARnED FROM FILMLESS RADIOLOGY

FOR SLIDELESS PATHOLOGY,” RECEnTLY PUBLISHED

In THE JoURNAl oF PAThology INFoRMATICS.

emily patterson, phd



Two SAMP faculty members are collaborating to create an injury prediction, prevention and rehabilitation program to keep young athletes healthy and active.

James onate, ATC, PhD, associate professor, Athletic Training Division, and Laura C. Schmitt, PT, MPT, PhD, assistant professor, Physical Therapy Division, are two of the co-directors of the OSU Sports Medicine Movement Analysis & Performance Research Program.

They are combining forces to look at injury prevention and recovery in general, with a specific focus on ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries. According to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, approximately 150,000 ACL injuries occur in the United States each year.

With expertise in athletic training, rehabilitation and biomechanics, respectively, Onate and Schmitt arrived at SAMP at about the same time last year with similar research experience and interests.

“Dr. Schmitt’s and my interests begin at opposite ends of the spectrum—while I am most concerned with injury prevention, she is focused on rehabilitation following injury. Because we overlap in the middle, we have an opportunity to address the continuum of an athlete’s participation,” Onate explains.

Together they are seeking to develop simple and functional clinical tools to evaluate an athlete’s movement pattern and technique. Onate is specifically interested in incorporating clinical tools into a functional pre-participation

evaluation that may identify risk for injury, namely ACL and ankle sprain injuries. Schmitt’s focus, using the same tools, is to evaluate movement and performance following an injury. Their collaborative research is funded by national Institutes of Health, national Football League Charities Foundation, Department of Defense and U.S. Special Operations Command.

“Following an injury, there can be subjectivity about when an athlete can resume play with minimal risk of further injury,” says Schmitt. “My focus is to evaluate objective measures of function to develop clear criteria that may indicate when a player has progressed back to full function.”

Measures of functional performance are accomplished through clinical tests that mimic athletic maneuvers, such as “hop tests,” whereby an athlete is observed performing various hopping maneuvers on one leg. A clinical observation of asymmetric technique may indicate an unresolved impairment, such as decreased strength, balance or control. Other tests are used to specifically measure unresolved impairments, like decreased muscle strength. A device called an isokinetic dynamometer measures strength by recording the force with which an athlete can push objects up and down with the leg muscles.

“We know that there are a combination of factors, including balance and strength, that are predictive of injury risk; our very preliminary results show that asymmetry may be a good indicator,” notes Onate.

Staying Off the Sidelines

laura schmitt, pt, mpt, phd, measures the functional performance of an athlete subject in a single-leg Hop for distance test, while co-researcher James onate, atc, phd, records results.

onate and schmitt demonstrate using an isokinetic dynamometer to measure muscle strength.



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The Ohio State University will be converting to a semester system beginning with the 2012 school year, along with the other quarter-system colleges and schools across Ohio.

The changeover will provide greater ease of transfer between institutions and academic exchange programs, making the calendar consistent with the majority of colleges and universities in Ohio, the U.S. and abroad.

The new academic year, consisting of only two semesters—an Autumn and a Spring semester (plus a summer session)—will begin in mid-August and run until the beginning of May.

Deborah S. Larsen, PT, PhD, director of the School of Allied Medical Professions and associate dean of the OSU College of Medicine, has been leading the School’s conversion, along with that of the OSU College of Medicine.

“Across the College, we converted 10 baccalaureate programs, three certificates, two minors, six master’s degrees, and five doctorates along with almost 700 courses. It has been an arduous process, but I’m proud of how hard each faculty member has worked to contribute to the transition,” remarked Larsen.

Larsen Leads Semester Conversion Process

AHEC Faculty Community Engagement Grants AwardedThree SAMP faculty members are among the recipients of $5,000 Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Faculty Community Engagement Grants.

Georgianna Sergakis, PhD, RRT, and Sarah Varekojis, PhD, in SAMP’s Respiratory Therapy Division and Crystal Dunlevy, EdD, saw the need to address the issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, and created a program, “Health Promotion and Disease Management for COPD at the Hilltop YMCA.” COPD is the fourth leading

cause of death in the U.S. and the only major disease increasing in prevalence and mortality.

Margaret Teaford, PhD, a faculty member in SAMP’s Occupational Therapy Division, recognized the need

for arthritis care in rural areas and created the program, “Using Healthcare Students in Arthritis Prevention and Management Program for Farmers.” She and Sharon Flinn, PhD, OTR/L, another occupational therapy division faculty member, identified farmers as being one of the most high-risk populations in developing arthritis due to the physical nature of their work.(top, l to r) margaret teaford, georgianna sergakis and

crystal dunlevy; (bottom, l to r) sarah Varekojis and sharon Flinn



Basso Receives APTA AwardThe American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has awarded D. Michele Basso, EdD, PT, the Helen J. Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature. The award recognizes physical therapists who have made a significant contribution to health care by writing in the areas

of theory, practice, basic or clinical research, education or administration. For nearly 20 years and with more than 30 publications, Dr. Basso has studied the factors that mediate or inhibit recovery of locomotion following spinal cord injury, and her research has had a significant impact on the profession. She will receive her award at the association’s annual conference in June, 2011. Dr. Basso is currently professor, director of research and associate director of the School of Allied Medical Professions.

SAMP Student Quality on the RiseEach year, SAMP receives hundreds of applications from students interested in pursuing degrees in the allied medical professions. Of the 660 students who applied for admittance to the 2010-11 academic year, 356 had an

average grade point average (GPA) of 3.43—a steady rise from 3.23 from five years ago. “We are fortunate to have high quality applicants to each of our programs, not just in GPA, but in their professionalism and commitment to

service and practice,” commented SAMP director Deborah Larsen. “Our students are doing great things while at OSU and as they continue their commitment into their professional careers.”

Medical Technology Gets a name ChangeSAMP’s Division of Medical Technology has changed its name to the Division of Medical Laboratory Science. Medical Laboratory Science incorporates both education tracts offered by the Division: Clinical Laboratory Science and Medical Science. In addition, it reflects changes made by the national certifying board, American Society for Clinical Pathology. The new name will allow students, professionals, and others to better understand the profession and areas of study provided by the Division.

michele Basso, edd, pt

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Applications 728 621 608 662 660Admitted 340 368 319 319 356enrolled 299 298 297 255 307Average gpA (Admitted) 3.23 3.30 3.34 3.40 3.43

SAMP Application and Enrollment | Five-Year ComparisoN

Remembering Pierson and Starks

The Ohio State community has lost two esteemed leaders in physical therapy with the recent deaths of Frank McAdam Pierson and John Starks. Pierson directed the School’s Physical Therapy Division from 1977 until 1991, after joining the faculty in 1966. Starks directed the Dodd Hall physical therapy department from 1959 until 1989 and established the John P. and narcissia V. Starks Scholarship in 1999.

I n M e M o r I a M

John starks (l) and Frank pierson (r) with shelly graf (‘83)



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Division HighlightsATHLETIC TRAInInG

The Athletic Training Division graduates its ninth class in 2011. Among those graduating this June is allison Karhoff, president of the OSU Athletic Training Club and recipient of the 2011 Ohio Athletic Training Association Student Scholarship as well as the 2010 GLATA Pinky newell Memorial Scholarship. Faculty member Jimmy onate, PhD, ATC, recently presented a talk on developing large-scale core stability screening programs for injury prevention at the International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport in Monte Carlo, Monaco. tamerah Hunt, PhD, ATC, was accepted into the 2011-2012 American College of Sports Medicine’s prestigious Leadership and Diversity Training Program. Dr. Hunt and laura Harris, PhD, ATC, also received research funding for their work on concussion. mark merrick, PhD, ATC, was funded for his work on the temperature effects

of Gebauer vapocoolant products. Dr. Merrick was also invited to speak at the South Padre Athletic Training Symposium in Texas in June 2011. Doctoral student Kim martin, MS, ATC, will present a workshop on cryotherapy at the nATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium in new Orleans in June 2011.

HEALTH InFORMATIOn MAnAGEMEnT AnD SYSTEMS

The HIMS division enrolled 62 students in 2010-11. Twenty-four graduated in June 2010 and 25 in June 2011. Class size continues to grow with 32 current juniors and 34 newly admitted students for autumn 2011. Over a third of this year’s seniors have been hired before graduating. ciera crawford and allison spara were honored as part of President Gee’s 2011 Salute to Undergraduate Achievement, along with mary secor Biers who also received the 2011 SAMP Student Award of Merit and Ohio Health Information Management Association’s new Graduate Award,

allison spara and mary secor Biers are AHIMA scholarship recipients. Indika ekanayake and maria miller were the first HIMS students to be offered summer internships with McKesson Provider Technologies, a worldwide company specializing in healthcare technology. Four juniors, meagan ashley, allura Fernandez, morgan Hogue and meredith mooney are the 2011 Heron Family Scholarship award recipients.

HEALTH SCIEnCES

In 2011, Ohio State’s Health Sciences undergraduate curriculum was changed to include more flexibility and a required minor. Students are graduating and attending multiple graduate programs, including Ohio State, Stanford, Xavier and the University of Michigan, in varying programs, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse practitioner, dietetics and healthcare administration. The students are noted leaders on campus, including

Medical Dietetics: Celebrates 50th Anniversary

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of Ohio State’s Medical Dietetics program as the first coordinated dietetics program in the nation. Developed by Martha nelson Lewis in1961, the Med Diet curriculum in Medical Dietetics has served as a prototype for coordinated dietetics programs throughout the world. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supported Ohio State’s coordinated program proposal for “professional hospital dietitians to be trained in shorter time and in greater numbers.” A grant of nearly $268,000 by Kellogg underwrote a six-year program to test the plan. Three years later, the first nine students graduated. Fifty years later, 974 students have graduated from the program.

The School will celebrate 50 years of scholarship and beyond on August 29, 2011, at the Martha nelson Lewis Symposium in a 5 p.m. reception at the Ohio Union. Contact Key Wolf at 614-292-8131 or [email protected] for more information. All alumni are welcome to attend.



lauren ray, president of the SAMP Student Council; and Courtney Jenkins, winner of the 2010 Elite 88 Award at College Cup for highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the nCAA soccer finals. Among the students volunteering to serve in the community, susanna Kuppich led students to new Orleans to provide services to many needy families. Others have volunteered their services to the American Red Cross, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, and many more. Among the faculty, Jill clutter PhD, was elected to the Certified Health Education Specialist Accreditation Board.

MEDICAL DIETETICS

This year, all Ohio State Medical Dietetics graduates passed the national registration exam. The Ohio Dietetic Association recognized Dr. marcia nahikian-nelms, PhD as the Outstanding Coordinated Program Dietetic Educator in Ohio and ashlea Braun as the Outstanding Coordinated Program Student in Ohio. Kay Wolf, PhD, was elected to the Commission on Dietetic Education as the Coordinated Program representative. christopher taylor, PhD, was elected Chair of the Research Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association.

MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIEnCE

Medical Laboratory Science graduated 42 students in 2010, including the first graduate of the Coordinated Master’s Program, megan auker. Two students graduated summa cum laude, four graduated magna cum laude, and four graduated cum laude. Four students graduated with Honors in Allied Medical Professions. The Class

of 2011 includes 42 students and the Class of 2012 comprises 53 students. Graduates of the certification track continue to score above the national mean on the certification exams, and 96 percent of those taking the national examination in 2010-2011 received a passing score. The Class of 2010 selected chlondra Whipple as the 2010 Beth Bowman Award recipient (named in honor of Medical Technology alumnus Beth Bowman, the award recognizes professionalism, responsibility, selflessness, cooperation and enthusiasm).

OCCUPATIOnAL THERAPY

The class of 2011 will graduate 39 students in June; eight are completing research specializations. Three (robin Johnson, lindsay daniels, and Kelly Bresler) received a LEnD traineeship and are working in the nisonger Center preschool or transition program. melissa morrison won the Hite Scholarship, emma Browne the Smith Scholarship, and abby Blaker the new OT Alumni Award. Forty-one members of the class of

HIMS Faculty Recognition and ScholarshipMelanie brodnik, PhD, RHIA: Elected to a four-year term on the Board of Directors of the national Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education

emily patterson, phD: Appointed to the advisory board for Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety

Laurie rinehart-Thompson, JD, RHIA, CHP: Developed instructional materials for Documentation for Medical Practicesa and authored the legal chapter in health Information Management Technology: An Applied Approach, both published by the American Health Information Management Association

Susan white, PhD: Authored chapter on pricing in the Chargemaster Description Management handbook published by the American Health Information Management Association

Melanie brodnik, PhD; Laurie rinehart-Thompson, JD: Received the AHIMA 2010 Literary Legacy Award for their landmark publication Fundamentals of law in health Informatics and Information Management

OT Grants ReceivedAmy Darragh, PhD, informal caregiver injury (Center for Clinical and Translational Science) Alison Lane, PhD, CCTS sensory processing and ERP responses in children with autism (OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Science)

Meg Teaford, PhD, and Sharon Flinn, PhD, farming with arthritis (three internal grants)

Sharon Flinn, PhD, and Christine griffin, clinical trial to investigate the effects of spasticity splint for persons post stroke

Jane Case-Smith, EdP, and Alison Lane, PhD, Institution of Educational Sciences Handwriting grant in the Dublin Schools

Dennis Cleary, OTD, co-investigator in the TOPS grant (postsecondary programming for youth with intellectual disabilities)

emma Browne abigail Blaker

Health and Wellness instructor maryanna Klatt conducts yoga with osumc nurses.



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Division Highlights2012 entered in Summer 2010. tessa yoder won the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship award, which will fund a year-long service project with Goodwill Industries. Three past graduates will have completed their PhDs in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Kim szucs was the first graduate of the School’s PhD program. shawn roll and Karen Harpster will receive their PhD degrees by summer 2011.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Thirty-six students graduated inAugust 2010 with the DPT degree; all 36 passed the national board exam on the first attempt. laura stebbins received the 2010 Patrick Mahoney Award for Clinical Excellence; susan lipidi received the 2010 Lynn Colby Award for Leadership and Service; and nora Fritz received the 2010 SAMP Physical Therapy Graduate Student Award. Fritz was the first OSU student to matriculate from the DPT degree into the PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. debra nickoli (DPT 2010) was the first OSU PT graduate with three graduate specializations: Early

intervention, Global Health andResearch. The five PTs admitted tothe residency program hail from Ohio, Montana, California, Missouri and new York. To date, residents have achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the specialty boards.

RADIOLOGIC SCIEnCES AnD THERAPY

This year, the Division graduated one of the largest combined classes of students, with 41 traditional undergraduates (Radiography, Radiation Therapy and Diagnostic Medical Sonography) as well as two degree completion candidates.

Jessica ladd (junior in radiography)

was one of 62 students selected to attend the ASRT Educational Symposium and Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting and to serve as student intern on the Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists’ (OSRT) Board of Directors. samantha Burton (junior RTT) won first place and shoshanah snowman (senior RTR) won third place in the essay competition at the 71st annual OSRT meeting; candace Hughes won second place in the research poster competition; Jessica schlatter received second place in the clinical applications poster competition.

MS degree student Jonathan mazal, BSRT(R) (MR), has won first place in the ASRT-ERF’s virtual poster competition, first place at the OSRT poster session, and third place at the OSU Medical Center’s MRI conference. Kevin Volz (senior, sonography) has been accepted to, the SAMP-MS program and won first place for his lecture presented at the Ohio Medical Ultrasound meeting in April. molly pontinus, AS, RT(R) is the 2010 winner of the Professional Advancement Scholarship from the ASRT-ERF.

2011 apta awardees nancy cicerello (2nd from left) and dale deubler 4th from left) at the association’s annual meeting

Physical Therapy RecognitionTonya Apke, PT, DPT, OSC, OPTA Meritorious Service Award

Matt briggs, PT, DPT, OSC, APTA Sports Section, new Horizon Award

Dale Deubler, PT, MS, Josephine Sitterle Failer and the APTA Pediatrics Section, Anniversary Award

Anne Kloos, PT, PhD, nCS, APTA neurology Section, Educator of the Year

Laura Schmitt, PT, PhD, American Journal of Sports Medicine Systematic Review Award.

nancy Cicirello, PT, MPH, (’71), APTA Pediatrics Section Jeanne Fischer Distinguished Mentoring

Physical Therapy ScholarshipMeredith Lane (DPT 2011), first recipient of the Lynn Allen Wallace PT Scholarship

Charles Starr (DPT 2011), first recipient of the Barbara Rose Bostic (PT 1961) Endowed Scholarship in Physical Therapy

Thanks to PT alumni who made generous donations to the scholarship and development funds in honor of Frank Pierson, director of the Physical Therapy Division from 1975 to 1991, who passed away on June 8, 2010.



RESPIRATORY THERAPY

The Respiratory Therapy Division graduated 20 seniors in 2010, the third class in a row to achieve 100% RRT distinction. Two seniors received the Respiratory Therapy Endowed Scholarship, which is made possible largely through the dedicated effort of alumnus Robert Hawk (’86) and continued donations of alumni. Five seniors were inducted into the Lambda Beta Society, and one student received the SAMP Alumni Scholarship. Courtney Seibert received the SAMP Award of Merit and the President’s Salute for Undergraduate Achievement.

georgianna sergakis (’98) was a state caption for the AARC national Drive4COPD campaign; and Sarah Varekojis served as secretary of the OSRC. A generous donation by al toth, CRnA (MS ‘85) allowed the division to purchase two portable spirometry units for classroom use and community outreach. The faculty continues to develop a degree proposal for the Master’s of Respiratory Therapy.

Radiologic Sciences and TherapyKevin evans, PhD, two-year R21 federal grant (nIH) to study carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of repetitive stress injury; funding from Lantheus Medical and the American Society of Radiologic Technology’s Education and Research Foundation (ASRT-ERF) to study the effect of perineural blood flow to the median nerve as it relates to carpal tunnel syndrome.

nina Kowalczyk, PhD, funded by Radiologic Society of north America to complete a systematic review of best teaching practices that involve problem based learning; funded by ASRT-ERF to explore the technology adoption model and how this may influence radiographers’ ability to cope with the many innovations in their clinical practice.

Respiratory TherapyThe Ohio Society for Respiratory Care (OSRC) recognized regular and clinical faculty with the following awards and recognitions:

herb Douce, Associate Professor Emeritus, innaugural Outstanding Contributor Award

Sarah varekojis (’96), 2009 Education Practitioner

Andrea yagodich (’00), 2010 Education

Tim Dunlea (’86), 2010 Adult Critical Care.

lynn and rick colby with colby scholarship awardee nora Fritz (dpt)

melanie Brodnik and tim Heron with HIms Heron Family scholarship awardees mary secor Biers, manjusri nguyen, John cali and ciera crawford

ot student and Judy smith scholar-ship winner emma Browne (center) with Kelly tuttle and richard smith

deb larsen (l) with ot students tierney Bumgardner and Jesse cook

teresa Hite-gueth and robert gueth with ot student melissa morrison (cen-ter), the Hite Family scholarship awardee

pt student awardees rose Kramer, christine durrough, sarah Buty, susan Wilson, cara Whalen and charles starr

SAMp Scholarship Donors and recipientsCelebrate 2010 Awards



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Alumni News

From the President...

SAMP and the education it provides have opened doors leading to success for many alumni. If you feel as strongly as I do about the numerous opportunities allowed to you by the School, I am sure you want to express your gratitude in some way. SAMP offers multiple avenues for you to give back.

A new way for alumni to give back is through the “SAMP Connect” program. This program connects alumni with current students in an effort to learn about the workplace, practice networking skills and swap stories about life at The Ohio State University then and now. For alumni and friends of the College of Medicine, it is a fun and informative way to have a positive impact on the lives of current students and give back to their Alma Mater in a unique way. Students gain valuable insight from alumni that cannot be found in a textbook. Having that opportunity to interact with alumni who have successfully made the journey from college to career can also be a great encouragement to our students.

Other ways to give back include getting involved in the Alumni Board and/or various committees. The SAMP Alumni Board is currently going through an exciting period as we undergo a strategic planning process. This experience will surely add value and direction to our society for years to come, but the process will be one that will require the feedback and support of many. In addition to board involvement there exist opportunities on our Golf Planning Committee, Mentoring Committee, and the Bucks Brew and Barbecue Planning Committee.

As board members we all value and appreciate that each alum is not always able to donate as much time as they would like. On our board alone, we have members who work multiple jobs, are full time graduate students, and still manage to run a family. With that being said, simply participating in alumni events or activities throughout the year is a simple, fun and easy way to give back to a School that has provided so much to you as a person and a professional.

In closing, I’d like to thank our alumni who have continued to support our great School over the years, and encourage all alumni to find at least one way to get involved during the 2011-2012 year. SAMP alumni have a lot of exciting things awaiting you!

Thank you for your support,

Matthew J. RidleyPresident, School of Allied Medical Professions Alumni Society



As a rising star in Health Information Management and Systems (HIMS), Lauree Handlon, MS, RHIA, CCS,

CPC-H is dedicated to providing the best possible financial analyses for hospitals and other clients. Consulting with more than 150 hospitals each year, determining solutions, and educating are her professional passions.

Handlon also commits substantial time mentoring some of Ohio State’s most promising HIMS professionals as a clinical site preceptor. She is the Director of Data Quality and Reimbursements with Cleverley and Associates of Worthington, and her interns—two each spring quarter—assist in the firm’s daily operations while completing such projects as database creation, market analysis, and pharmacy mark-up comparisons.

Her mentorship has benefited close to 20 HIMS interns to date. Handlon is also an Ohio State HIMS instructor, teaching courses in healthcare reimbursement systems and ambulatory clinical coding.

“It’s a joy for me to see it in my students’ faces when they catch on to a topic, and then use their knowledge by contributing to the health information management field, applying what they’ve learned by putting it to work,” says Handlon, who balances her profession with being a full-time mother to daughter Lexi, 5, and son Theren, 9.

Sharing knowledge for the good of her profession is another priority. Handlon complemented her Bachelor of Science in Allied Medical Professions and Master of Science in Allied Health Management (’00 and ’08) with certifications as a Registered Health Information Administrator, Certified Coding Specialist, and Certified Professional Coder-Hospital.

During the past five years, she has achieved status as a local, regional and national speaker on clinical coding and billing,

her presentations spanning the nation from new Hampshire to San Diego. The latest reimbursement changes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are of keen interest to audiences. “It’s really exciting to tell people what we’re discovering so they too can become more efficient. Many of the coding changes can be made quickly,” she said.

Still another way Handlon “pays forward” is through volunteer service to professional associations. Just two are the American Health Information Management Association and the Ohio Health Information Management Association, of which she serves as President-elect. Handlon has planned OHIMA professional development and continuing education programs since joining its executive board in 2009.

“Lauree exemplifies the best of our Ohio State alumni by continually showing energy, passion, and leadership as a professional HIMS consultant, educator and preceptor, and professional association member,” said Melanie Brodnik, PhD, RHIA, and HIMS Program Director.

A SAMP Alumni Society board member since 2005, Handlon served as board President in 2007-08 and ‘08-09, and Treasurer in ’09 through today. Her efforts to elevate the SAMP Golf Outing with a new level of sponsorship and overall participation were instrumental in generating the SAMP Alumni Society Scholarship.

“For me, it’s not worth taking on a project if you’re not going to give your best. I don’t ‘half-do’ things; I’m always going to do them to the fullest of my potential,” she said.

Lauree has also been chosen to receive one of two William Oxley Thompson Alumni Awards from The Ohio State University Alumni Association, which honors outstanding career achievements accomplished by young alumni under the age of 36.

With energy and enthusiasm, HIms specialist Handles educator’s role

By larry Di giovanni

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Alumni News

Bucks, Brew and BarbequeThe 2010 Bucks, Brew and Barbeque saw the return of more than 100 SAMP alumni, family and friends to the lobby of Atwell Hall to participate in a silent auction, fun food, rejuvenating old relationships and building new ones with SAMP alumni. The event was a great time to be had by all and was topped off by a thrilling victory over the Hurricanes of Miami.

2010 SAMP Alumni Society Golf OutingThe 2010 SAMP Alumni Golf Outing to benefit the scholarship fund once again was held on one of the nicest days of the year. The event was located at Bent Tree Golf Course in Sunbury, Ohio and college football’s only two-time Heisman Trophy Winner, Archie Griffin, hosted the event.

Many thanks to the following 2010 SAMp golf outing sponsors:

event sponsors ($500+) • Immke northwest Honda• nationwide Children’s Hospital • Ohio State’s Comprehensive

Cancer Center – The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

• Physical Therapy Consultative Services – Pat Mahoney

• SAMP Alumni Society• The Ohio State University

Medical Center

contest sponsors ($100)• Cleverley + Associates - Closest to Pin• Liberty Mutual – hole-in-one• LIQUIDDESIGn – longest Drive• OhioHealth - longest Putt

Hole sponsors ($50)• In Memory of Frank M. Pierson• Elite Detailing Services • OHIMA• Ohio Medical Physics Consulting, LLC• Paradise Island Tan

door prize donations• Arena Grand Theater• Buckeye Corner• Cold Stone Creamery • Columbus Crew• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium• J. Morgenstern• LIQUIDDESIGn• OSU Medical Center• Olentangy Indian Caverns• Prime Outlets - Jeffersonville• P.E. Ring, MAJ USA RET – national

Guard Assistant Recruiter• SAMP Alumni Society• Scarlet Ribbon Gift Shop• Westerville Golf Center

raffle prize donations• Allvera• Avon Basket – Regina Robinson-Easter• Deer Creek Lodge• Hartstone Pottery• J. Liu Restaurant and Bar• Magic Mountain, Polaris• Tri-Village Photo Studios• Wine Basket - K. Liggett

other supporters:• Village Trophy – Champion trophies• Liberty Mutual – golf tees• LIQUIDDESIGn – golf balls• LIQUIDDESIGn – Krispy Kreme Donuts• Zales – Women’s longest Drive prize• Bent Tree Golf Club – “Bent Tree Gives

Back Program”– donating $5 for every player to the Scholarship Fund!

Alumni Association | 2011 Football Ticket LotteryThe SAMP Alumni Society is raffling the opportunity for a lucky football fan to purchase a pair of single-game OSU football tickets at face value. Tickets will be available for all home games and three away games in the 2011 season. Raffle tickets are $5 each. Seat location will not be known until tickets are mailed in August. The winner will be notified by telephone or email and should make arrangements with the Society to pay and take possession of the tickets. Proceeds will benefit the SAMP Alumni Society and Scholarship Fund.

Find out more at http://sampalumni.clubexpress.com.

Special thanks to our host, two-time heisman Trophy Award winner, Archie griffin, and to our volunteers (in addition to the golf

Committee members) who made this day possible: Brad locke, Tim Clouse, lindsay

heil, Jen Morgenstern, Katrina Dailey, Matt Ridley, Mary Secor, Punam Dev, Kynthia Droesch, Candace Dark and Julie Conry.

2010 alumni golfers pose for the camera before teeing off with hosts archie griffin and deb larsen.

2010 Bucks, Brew and Barbecue tailgaters (bottom row, l to r) Jennifer morgenstern, Kristin liggett and Katrina tabor; (top row, l to r) curt shondell, lauree Handlon, Brad locke, matt ridley and tim clouse

2 0 1 0 Y e a r i n r e v i e w



2011 SAMP Alumni Scholarship Golf OutingSaturday, August 6, 2011 Bent Tree Golf Club 350 Bent Tree Road Sunbury, Ohio Start Time: 8:15 am

• Cost: $100 (Includes green fees, cart fee, cookout buffet and beverage tickets)

• Door prizes and tournament prizes provided

• Sponsorships are available. Please contact Lauree Handlon at [email protected] if you are interested in providing financial support or in donating items for door prizes.

• Special guest speaker: Buckeye football historian Jack Park

registration materials available on SAMp Alumni Society website: www.sampalumni.clubexpress.com

2011 SAMP AlumniSociety Board

2011 buCKS, brew AnD bArbeque Saturday, September 10, 2011

• OSU vs. Toledo – Game time TBA• Catering by City Barbeque• Silent auction of OSU merchandise

and memorabilia• Limited tickets available.

Contact SAMp Alumni Society at [email protected].

2011 SAMp ConneCT Fall 2011 Date and time TBA

STuDenT–ALuMni bASebALL Spring 2012 Date and game TBA

Upcoming Events

Matt ridleyPresident

Health Sciences 2005Director of Customer Service

Memorial Hospital of Union County

brad LockePresident-Elect

Respiratory Therapy 2001Clinical Informatics Consultant

Ohio Health

Lauree (ring) handlon, MS, rhiA, CCS, CpC-hTreasurer

HIMS 2000Director, Data Quality and Reimbursement

Cleverley & Associates

Lindsay heil, rhiASecretary

HIMS 2006Charge Master Analyst

The Ohio State University Medical Center

Curt ShondellPhysical Therapy 2004

Physical TherapistOhio Orthopedic Center of Excellence

Mary (Secor) biersHIMS 2011

SAMP Student Council President

Kristin Liggett, rhiAHIMS 2003

Assistant Director, Health Information ManagementThe Ohio State University Medical Center, East

Katrina TaborHIMS, 2008

Resource Planning AnalystThe Ohio State University Medical Center

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Deborah S. Larsen, pT, phDDirector, School of Allied Medicine Professions

Associate Dean, College of Medicine

Kynthia DroeschDirector of Student Affairs

School of Allied Medical ProfessionsCARL

Julie ConryDirector, OSUMC Development

Special RecognitionsRespiratory Therapy student tina glade and Physical Therapy student sara Jones have each been awarded a $1500 scholarship thanks to generous contributions from alumni to the SAMP Alumni Society Scholarship Fund. This is the second year awards have been made from this fund.

dale deubler, BS Physical Therapy (’72), MS Allied Medical Professions (‘80) is one of three OSU alumni faculty to receive the 2010 Failer Award from the OSU Alumni Association presented to those whose voluntary personal involvement has enhanced the quality of student life at the University.

samp alumni society scholarship recipients tina glade (l) and sara Jones

osu Failer award winner dale deubler with alumni association president and ceo archie griffin



The Ohio State UniversitySchool of Allied Medical ProfessionsAlumni Society127 Atwell Hall453 W. 10th AvenueColumbus, OH 43210

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Alumni on the WebDon’t have a Facebook account? You don’t have to be left out. Be sure to stop by our website and stay in touch: http://sampalumni.clubexpress.com/

Alumni on Facebook More than 250 alumni have joined the OSU SAMP Alumni group on Facebook. The site contains postings of past, current and future event information and photos.

Like us on FacebookJust visit us at “oSu SAMp Alumni.”

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