jefferson chronicle-spring/summer 2015

STORE HOURS: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.PHONE: (540) 985-8296

Have you visited the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Bookstore lately? Visit us for all your collegiate items. We even have gifts for Mom and Dad, alumni, faculty and staff. The Bookstore also carries novelty and seasonal products.

Located on the fourth floor of Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital on the Jefferson College campus at 101 Elm Avenue, SE, Roanoke, Virginia.

Drop by the bookstore today and see what’s waiting for you! Or visit us online at www.jchs.edu/jefferson-college-health-sciences-bookstore

What are these funny little icons in this issue of the Jefferson Chronicle? They are QR codes, and you can use a QR reader app on your smartphone to see online content just by scanning each code! Try this one out to learn more about the Jefferson College Bookstore.

College Board of DirectorsMr. Stephen A. Musselwhite

Chair

Ms. Ellen WadeViCe Chair

Mr. Joseph B. WrightSeCretary/treaSurer

Ms. Jeanne ArmentroutMs. Maryellen F. Goodlatte

Dr. David M. GringMs. Brenda Hale, R.N.

Mr. Keith F. HelmerDr. Maxine M. Lee

Mr. William R. ReidRev. Joy Sylvester-Johnson

The Honorable Philip TrompeterMr. G. Robert Vaughan, Jr.

Ms. Lori Viar, ’99Mr. Gary D. Walton

College AdministrationNathaniel L. Bishop, D.Min.

PreSident

Lisa Allison-Jones, Ph.D.dean for aCademiC affairS

Glen Mayhew, D.H.Sc.aSSoCiate dean for inStitutional

effeCtiVeneSS

Anna Millirons, M.B.A., C.P.A.dean for adminiStratiVe SerViCeS

Scott Hill, M.S.dean for Student affairS

Francis C. Dane, Ph.D.Chair, artS & SCienCeS

Sharon L. Hatfield, Ph.D.Chair, Community health SCienCeS

Ava G. Porter, D.N.P.Chair, nurSing

Connie Cook,. M.B.A.Senior direCtor of enrollment management

Margie VestdireCtor of online and Continuing eduCation

Erik W. Williams, C.F.R.E.direCtor of deVeloPment

Magazine EditorsMark A. LambertErik W. Williams

Connie CookMargie Vest

Jenny FergusonSuzanne Smith

WritersMark A. LambertErik W. Williams

Sarah CoxJudy Cusumano

Elliott Freeman

PhotographyMark A. LambertErik W. WilliamsDarryle Arnold

Sue CampbellSarah Cox

David HungateLaura White

Kevin Hurley PhotographyMuncy Fine Photography

Design & PrintingSource4

J E F F E R S O N C H RO N I C L E 1

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tSections SPRING/SUMMER 2015A Letter from the President ........................................................................................................... 2

Jefferson Matters

Jefferson Healthcare Administration, Healthcare Management and RN-to-BSN

Programs Nationally Recognized ..................................................................................... 3

Jefferson Leads Local Colleges and Universities in Screening

Selma at Grandin Theatre ................................................................................................. 4

Jefferson College, Radford University and Virginia Tech Carilion School of

Medicine Celebrate Opening of New Virginia Intercollegiate Anatomy Lab ............... 5

Jefferson Celebrates Winter Commencement 2014 ........................................................ 6

Jefferson Online: A New Way to BE Next ..................................................................................... 8

Jefferson College of Health Sciences Hosts Inaugural Education Foundation Luncheon .... 13

Jefferson Life

Jefferson Hosts 3rd Annual 5K Riverside Run and Wellness Walk .............................. 14

From The Suffolk News-Herald: LHS Student’s Rare Opportunity............................... 16

Jefferson’s New Cultural Awareness Series .................................................................... 17

Jefferson Supports Our Community .............................................................................. 18

Beyond Jefferson

Jefferson Physician Assistant Students and Bradley Free Clinic Partner on

Wellness Advocate Program ........................................................................................... 19

Jefferson’s Victoria Rodriguez Knits and Donates Items to

Carilion Clinic NICU Babies ........................................................................................... 20

2015 Interprofessional Education Simulation Day ....................................................... 21

Collaborating Across Borders International Conference Coming to Roanoke

in September 2015 ........................................................................................................... 22

Physician Assistant Class of 2016 Travels to Richmond for “White Coats on Call” .... 23

Master of Science in Nursing Students Visit Richmond for Legislative Day ............... 23

Jefferson College Nationally Recognized for “BE Next” Marketing Campaign .......... 24

First Place Medal in Virginia Blue Ridge Komen Race for the

Cure Given to Co-worker .......................................................................inside back cover

Carilion Clinic TV Spots Feature a Familiar Face.................................inside back cover

Save the Date: 4th Annual Jefferson College 5K Riverside Run & Wellness Walk ....back cover

College AccreditationJefferson College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate and masters degrees. Contact the SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA, 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4501 for questions about the accreditation of Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

2 VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.JCHS.EDU

Dear Alumni and Friends of Jefferson,

Be next.

By now, many of you are aware that this is Jefferson College’s marketing slogan. It has garnered us quite a bit of attention over the past year, including some national recognition for the campaign itself, which you can read more about on page 24. But, the meaning of “BE Next” goes beyond a simple slogan.

You see, Jefferson College of Health Sciences sits at a unique location—at the intersection of education and healthcare. While many colleges and universities simulate the fast-paced, ever-changing world of healthcare, we immerse our students in that world well before they receive their degrees. As they learn, our students have the opportunity to not only absorb the knowledge they will need to competently provide care, but they are being inspired by experiences that can only be found on our campus and in their clinical rotations. They are being challenged by our faculty to strive for excellence in everything they do. They are being prepared to drive their professions forward, benefitting the health and well-being of our families, friends and neighbors.

In short, the students and graduates of Jefferson College are what’s next. The future of healthcare. The innovators who will explore and discover new cures and inroads to recovery. The healthcare providers of generations to come—like those we recently honored with our Distinguished and Recent Alumni Achievement Awards. You can read more about Distinguished Alumni Award recipients David Hoback and E.W. Tibbs, as well as Recent Alumni Achievement Award recipients Dr. Albert Pavalonis and Cornelius Powell, on page 13 of this edition of the Jefferson Chronicle.

From the day students become part of the Jefferson College family and sign the commitment book at Convocation until the day they cross the stage to receive their diplomas, we remind them of their awesome responsibility to become “ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring healthcare professionals.”

In this edition of our college magazine, you’ll learn more about how we are preparing our students to be next.

For example, our academic programs are being recognized as some of the best in the country. As you can see on the next page, we were excited to learn that our Master’s in Healthcare Administration and Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management were ranked in the top 20 colleges and universities in the country that offer similar degrees. In addition, Jefferson College was named one of the “30 Great Small Colleges for an RN-BSN Degree.”

We are opening state-of-the-art facilities that provide students with opportunities they can find nowhere else, like the Virginia Intercollegiate Anatomy Lab (VIAL). We celebrated the opening of VIAL in May 2015 with our collaborative partners in the project, Radford University and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. You can see more details on the opening event and the lab itself on page 5.

And now, we are expanding our program of online education, so a wider array of students can be next. On page 8, you can learn about “Jefferson Online,” our new hub on the college website that will allow students to earn their degrees in a variety of locations. Nine programs will initially be offered via online distance learning.

I want you to know how proud I am to lead Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Every day, I am impressed by the new ways our students, faculty and staff find to BE Next. It is with pride that I call myself a Blue Healer, and I know you feel the same way.

Sincerely,

Nathaniel L. Bishop, D.Min. President, Jefferson College of Health Sciences

A Letter from the President

The Jefferson College of Health Sciences Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (HCM) degree programs have been ranked as one of the top 20 programs in the nation by the website Healthcare Management Degree Guide (www.healthcare-management-degree.net/).

The two programs were paired and ranked #17 among all other colleges and universities in the country that offer similar types of degrees.

According to Healthcare Management Degree Guide’s website, the goal of this ranking list is to outline the top 20 undergraduate and graduate programs in Health Administration or Healthcare Management based on measures of Overall Quality. The major factors that were considered to gauge overall quality were acceptance rates, retention rates, overall cost of tuition, the rate of financial aid offered by the school and the rate of graduation.

You can find more information about Jefferson College’s recognition at www.healthcare-management-degree.net/best/programs-based-on-overall-quality-measures/.

In addition, the Jefferson College Post-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program (RN-BSN) has been ranked as one of the “30 Great Small Colleges for an RN-BSN Degree” by the website Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees (www.bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com/).

According to the Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees website, they examined accredited small colleges and universities—public, private non-profit, and 4-year schools—with an undergraduate population of 3,000 students or less that offer a BSN degree for those who have already earned their RN. Schools offering online degrees as well as those with traditional on-campus offerings were considered for inclusion in this list.

You can learn more at www.bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com/great-small-colleges-rn-bsn-degree/.

Jefferson Healthcare Administration,Healthcare Management and RN-to-BSN Programs

Nationally Recognized


Jefferson’s Recognition at a glance…

This recognition follows news that Jefferson College was named:

• One of the Top Health & Medicine Schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine in August 2014.

• Jefferson’s Physician Assistant and Occupational Therapy graduate programs were ranked as some of the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in spring 2015.

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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Jefferson

at a glance…

One of the ways Jefferson College honors the memory and lasting impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is through the sale of prints of Freedom’s Price (1963), a favorite painting by late local artist George Solonevich.

The sale of each print funds the Solonevich Scholarship at Jefferson, through which a qualified applicant to the Emergency Services Program can receive $3,000 for his or her education.

To learn more and how you can purchase a print, contact Erik Williams, Jefferson College Director of Development, at (540) 224-4644.

Students, faculty and staff from Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Ferrum College, Hollins University, Radford University’s DPT Program, Roanoke College and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine gathered at Roanoke’s Grandin Theatre on Tuesday evening, January 27, 2015, for a screening of Academy Award®-nominated Selma.

In addition to approximately 300 members of these senior higher education communities, including their Presidents, the screening was attended by leaders of the Roanoke Valley community, including Jefferson College’s Board Vice Chair, Ms. Ellen Wade, and Board member Brenda Hale, RN.

The event began with a prescreening discussion about current topics in the country in relation to those depicted in the film, giving the audience context for the time period in which it took place. Students from each of the institutions participating stood during the discussion and read the quotes inscribed inside the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, DC.

“It’s important that each of us take responsibility to achieve ‘the beloved community’ envisioned by Dr. King,” said Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, President of Jefferson College of Health Sciences, who led the organization of the event. “And by bringing all of these wonderful students and educators together tonight, we can begin anew, conversations that build upon the legacy of Dr. King in equality for all and constructing stronger communities.”

Following the film, the audience was invited to the Grandin CoLab on Grandin Road for conversation and reflection while enjoying pizza and soft drinks.

“We hope to continue to offer opportunities like this where academic communities can come together for conversation and discussion,” Dr. Bishop said after the screening. “It’s been a wonderful experience and serves as a good platform for continuing collaborations.”

Jefferson Leads Local Colleges and Universities in Screening Selma at Grandin Theatre

Students from the participating institutions stand to read quotes inscribed inside the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial.”

President Bishop’s wife Sylvia Bishop (left) with (left to right) Katie Winters, Scott Hill, Dr. Lisa Allison-Jones, Jefferson Board Vice Chair Ellen Wade, Dr. Francis Dane and Elizabeth Costa.

Dr. Bishop speaks with students attending the reception after the screening.

Jefferson College President Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop (left), joined by Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine President and Founding Dean Cynda Johnson; Hollins University President Nancy Gray; and Roanoke College President Michael Maxey. Not pictured: Ferrum College President Dr. Jennifer Braaten.


Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Radford University and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Virginia Intercollegiate Anatomy Lab (VIAL) on Friday, May 22, 2015, at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital (CRCH) in downtown Roanoke. VIAL is located on the eighth floor of the hospital.

The event commemorated the completion of a $2.5 million, yearlong collaboration among the three institutions that was notable for its unique private-public partnership.

“Our three academic institutions have a common goal of educating the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, President of Jefferson College of Health Sciences. “With that common goal in mind, we came together to create this shared space where all of our students can learn with the most innovative and progressive technology available in a cost-efficient manner.”

The finished VIAL space is approximately 8,000 square feet of laboratory, classroom and storage space, including a 2,816-square-foot laboratory that accommodates 15 separate stations, which can be used to teach large anatomy laboratory sections of up to 60 students (four students per cadaver) or multiple small sections. The space includes a cadaveric dissection laboratory, a state-of-the-art classroom/briefing room, and a cool-temperature storage facility.

“State-of-the-art laboratories like this one provide the students of all three institutions with unique opportunities to learn,” said Dr. Cynda Johnson, President and Founding Dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of

Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Radford University and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Celebrate Opening of the New Virginia Intercollegiate Anatomy Lab

Media Coverage of VIALat a glance…

• WDBJ ‘s three live morning show segments:- Anatomy lab to open to local students (with Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop), http://tinyurl.com/mm5d73m- Area institutions partner to open new,

state-of-the-art anatomy lab (with Dr. Cynda Johnson), http://tinyurl.com/lam6sbs

- New technology helps local anatomy students study (with Dr. Kristen Jagger and Dr. Carol Gilbert), http://tinyurl.com/m8zm9lq

• The Roanoke Times: Colleges Collaborate on New Roanoke Anatomy Lab, http://tinyurl.com/m6nwvyb

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VIAL ribbon-cutting ceremony with (left to right) Dr. Francis Dane, Jefferson College Chair of Arts & Sciences; Dr. Kristen Jagger, Director of Radford University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program; Dr. John Christodoulides, Director of Carilion Clinic Project Management; Stephen Musselwhite, Chair of the Jefferson

College Board of Directors; John Edwards, member of the Virginia Senate; Steve Arner, President of Carilion Medical Center; Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, President of Jefferson College; Joseph Yost, member of the Virginia House of Delegates; Penelope Kyle, President of Radford University; Dr. Cynda Johnson, President

and Founding Dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; and Dr. Carol Gilbert, Associate Professor of Surgery at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Carilion Clinic Trauma Surgeon.

Medicine. “Our students will graduate with one-of-a-kind experiences that will ultimately help them provide superior care to their patients.”

The prime feature of the classroom is an Anatomage table, which will be connected to five large-screen monitors strategically located throughout the room. The classroom monitors can also display images from the laboratory camera and the laboratory digital storage server. Students will be able to connect their laptops or tablets to the monitors to form localized study groups within the classroom. This will allow images of interest at one station to be displayed to all the students in the room simultaneously.

Additional equipment includes all instruments used in dissection. Twenty iPads will be located permanently in the lab to enable required images to be viewed at each station during dissection.

The laboratory is kept cool—60 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 degrees at night—so the cadavers can remain in the laboratory. A storage facility, whose temperature is maintained at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, holds an additional 15 cadavers. All cadavers are on wheeled tables for easy transportation between the storage facility and the laboratory, which will help prevent damaging temperature changes.

VIAL supports the three institutions’ individual Interprofessional Education programs, which allow healthcare students to learn to work collaboratively in clinical settings before entering their professions.

“The Virginia Intercollegiate Anatomy Lab represents a collaborative advancement in

the way Radford University has partnered with other medical education programs to collectively enhance our students’ educational opportunities,” said Radford University President Penelope Kyle. “Achieving together what we likely would not have been able to accomplish as individual institutions, our three institutions have achieved an excellent example of the prudent use of our fiscal resources, while giving the next generation of clinicians and healthcare professionals an excellent, state-of-the-art facility that will help them serve, heal, strengthen and help so many others in our communities.”

Speaking at the ceremony were President Bishop, President Johnson, President Kyle, Carilion Clinic Vice President Steve Arner and Virginia Delegate Joseph Yost.

Students will begin using the laboratory this summer.


Jefferson Celebrates Winter Commencement 2014

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Dr. Bishop with a new graduate.

Jefferson College President Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop (center), with Stephen Musselwhite, Chair of the Jefferson College Board of Directors; Commencement Speaker and Carilion Clinic Chief Quality Officer Dr. Ralph Whatley; Ellen Wade, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors; Lori Viar, ’99, Board of Directors; and Jeanne Armentrout, Board of Directors.

Graduation speaker Ralph Whatley, M.D.

A winter graduate watches as the ceremony begins.

Jefferson College continues to build on our legacy of educating the best and brightest healthcare leaders of tomorrow. On Friday, December 12, 2014, we celebrated our Winter Commencement Ceremony in the Special Events Center at the Roanoke Civic Center. A total of 131 JCHS students on the master’s, bachelor’s and associate degree levels accepted their diplomas and became alumni of the College during the event. We welcomed Ralph Whatley, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Chief Quality Officer at Carilion Clinic, as our Commencement Speaker.

On these pages are photos from the ceremony as well as a full list of our winter graduates. Please join us in congratulating our 2014 graduates on their outstanding accomplishments!

To see a full event gallery from our Winter Commencement Ceremony, visit www.jchs.edu/event/winter-commencement-2014.

The graduates move their tassels in recognition of their matriculation.


Our stage party stands as the ceremony begins.

Ashton Elizabeth McNuttCasey Nicole Everhart Melvin

Lindsey MurrillHannah Michele NewhallChristine Nichol ParsonsWesley Gordon Patterson

Kyle Gilmore PelligraPaul Michael PfluegerHyatt Whitman Reed

Amanda Elise RichardsonJacob Ryan Sakiey

Lauren Michelle SmithGayson Hardy Tolmie

Caitlin Margaret TunkelLauren Rae Uzzell

Sarah Anne WagstaffTaja Erica Ashley Nicole Walker

Allison Stitsinger WelchErin L. Wilson

Brittany Nicole Young

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences

Melanie Lee MorrisPeter Isaac Podyma

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services

Jarrett Wilson ColemanScott William Davis

Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science

Dylan Edward JackAshley Nicole Ries

Courtney Lynn WatermanNicole Elizabeth Young

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Jessica Toms

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Jacqueline Ann AndruskyHeather Nycole AnthonyKathryn Anderson Baker

Linda BooneDavid Kevin Boyd

Lyndy Allison BroomfieldLindsey Katherine Burton

Master of Healthcare Administration

Tammy Annette CaldwellAdrielle Kristine Crigger

Robin Nicole DavisTrina Ann Epperly

Aaron Michael Harris-BoushCaren Napier Matthias

Gary L. MeadowsBelinda Heather Scott

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Maryscott Margaret BennettDeborah Gail Brown

Tonia Marie EllisRenee Loren Ferris

Alexandra Jaye FisherShafagh Ganjikia

Susan Leigh GansorSteven Preston Hammond

Cassandra Elain KellyRebekah Lynn Lunsford

Holly Hayes ParrottCorine Heather Pergament

Leigh Blakely ThomasCharles Paul Toney

Margaret McCoy Toney

Master of Science in Physician Assistant

Leah Miles AlexanderVictoria Ann Altizer

Lauren Kelley AmmarMeghan P. Armstrong

Cailtin Elizabeth AzzarelloMatthew Scott Barnes

Alexis Ann BergDavid Reese Clark

Kaitlin Scott DanielsDipal Devendra Desai

Monica Virginia DimickElina Rachael Druker

Kelsey Alexandra DuncanCourtney Harrington EureEmily Elizabeth Gardner

Stephen Allen HarrisKelsey Lynn Hayden

Kristopher A. HolmesEleanor Lee KoernerMelinda Lee Lackore

Graduate student speaker Aaron Harris-Boush.

Dr. David Haynes, Jefferson College Occupational Therapy Program, places a hood on a new graduate.

Dr. Lisa Allison-Jones greets a new graduate.

An Inspirational Message from a Winter Graduate

at a glance…One of our December 2014 graduates, Caren Napier Matthias, posted on her Facebook page: “A constant reminder that hard work pays off!” Congratulations to Caren and all of our winter grads!

Caren Matthias (third from right) celebrates with her fellow Master of Science in Healthcare Administration graduates.

Aleshia Dinesha CarrollBrittany Nicole Cash

Lois Maria CorazziDanielle Nicole CraftBethany Rose Crane

Tessa Rae DavisChristina Marie DiVittorioMadison O’Connor Elder

Lee Ann FixLauren Ashley Grantz

Erica Anne HarrisVirginia Hinton

Stephanie Wray HodgesRachael A. Humerickhouse

Hoa H. HuynhKatlyn June IrvineEmily J. Kendrick

Erica Ashley KesslerSarah Elizabeth Koss

Binita LamichaneSierra Downs Lowder

Katlen C. ManningLindsay M. McIntoshJamie Lynn McNew

Kimberly Rochelle MillsPhillip L. Mitchell

James Samuel Mitchner, IVSarah Denali Morgan

Marianna MoyeJoanna Michelle MurrayLaura Elizabeth Osborne

Leslie Ann ParkerBrooke Elizabeth Phillips

Carole Anne PutnamJessica Gee Redden

Dommetac RobertsonRoonie Kay Robinette

Jacinda Nicole RomeroMolly Lorraine Satterfield

Daniel David SawvelCarley Neale Shelton

Sara Gail StatonTravis Allen Talley

Alexander Edwin TamKaitlin Abigail TamPamela C. Thacker

Christine Elizabeth UrquhartBrooke Ware

Sarah Beth WhalenAllison M. WilhelmEric Chase Wilson

Angela Phelps Wolfe

WINTER 2014 GRADUATES


Distance learning started in 1890 as correspondence courses during the Industrial Revolution. The

next 125 years saw incredible advances in the way we communicate and learn as a society. Telephones,

computers and especially the Internet opened the world to us and changed our lives forever.

Today, technology is an essential tool in how students experience higher education. In 2014, over 5.5

million undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled in at least one online course.

Whether accessing classes via the web with a laptop, messaging a professor with a phone

or conducting research on a tablet, technology has become integral to how we learn. The

next step in this evolution, for many students, is learning without ever or rarely stepping

foot on a campus.

Jefferson College will take that next step with “Jefferson Online.”

A New Way to BE Next


Jefferson dove into the higher education technology pool in 2001 when Blackboard was implemented at the College. This web-based system allows faculty to add resources for students to access online. PowerPoint, video, audio, animation, and other content are created and added to Blackboard courses to enhance teaching and learning efforts for students.

Over the next few years, with Blackboard and other related online learning technologies in place, Jefferson worked to gain approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to begin offering selected programs online. In 2006, the Master of Science in Nursing Program at Jefferson began offering a version of the curriculum that blended classroom and online sessions. In 2007, Jefferson offered its first fully online program with the post-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN), and in 2009, the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management accepted students into the second completely online program.

In 2014, Jefferson College implemented a five-year strategic plan that included developing a vision for online learning, and today, several more degrees and certificates have been added to the online mix. To ensure our online students have all the resources they need, the college will begin

offering Jefferson Online—a hub on the college website that includes information and links relevant to students studying online.

What is Jefferson Online?

What programs are offered through Jefferson Online and can I take them from anywhere?

Through the Jefferson Online initiative, students can take classes in the following programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Post-Licensure BSN Track

• Master of Healthcare Administration

• Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner

• Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Administration

• Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration

• Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Informatics

• Certificate in Medical Practice Management

In 2015, Jefferson College of Health Sciences joined the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is a nationwide initiative that makes distance education courses more accessible to students across state lines and makes it easier for states to regulate as well as institutions to participate in interstate distance education. Jefferson’s acceptance into NC-SARA enhances the College’s ability to attract online education students from other participating states and assist with out-of-state clinical placements.

Currently, 27 states have joined NC-SARA, including Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Residents of any of these states can take online classes and earn a degree from Jefferson College.

Participating in SARA is entirely voluntary for institutions, as it is for states.

Jefferson’s Online Programsat a glance…

• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Post-Licensure BSN Track

• Master of Healthcare Administration

• Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner

• Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Administration

• Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration

• Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Informatics

• Certificate in Medical Practice Management


The Jefferson Online hub is completely contained within the Jefferson College of Health Sciences website. To visit Jefferson Online, type www.jchs.edu/jefferson-online into your web browser.

Or, visit the Jefferson College of Health Sciences homepage at www.jchs.edu and choose “Jefferson Online” from the light blue menu bar near the top of the page.

How is Jefferson Online available?

Why offer Jefferson Online now?

Recent student enrollment data indicated that 26% of college students nationwide were taking at least one course online, and 13% were earning their degrees fully online. Closer to home, 68% of Jefferson students were taking at least one course online, 16% were enrolled in totally online curriculums, and 48% of the college’s faculty taught at least one class online.

This flexibility and the convenience of taking classes online from anywhere has helped many students overcome limitations dictated by work schedules, family life and location. More and more colleges and universities are offering options for students to take classes this way.

In addition, technology offers these students access to their instructors, subject matter experts, industry leaders and resource materials they wouldn’t normally be able to routinely rely upon.

Jefferson’s NC-SARA Agreementat a glance…

In 2015, Jefferson College of Health Sciences joined the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This acceptance enhances Jefferson’s ability to attract online education students from other participating states and assist with out-of-state clinical placements. You can learn more about NC-SARA at http://nc-sara.org/.

When will Jefferson Online be available?

Jefferson Online is available via the Jefferson College website now at www.jchs.edu/jefferson-online and students can apply for the offered programs by contacting the Jefferson Office of Admissions at 1-888-985-8483 or via e-mail at [email protected].


Working across boundaries and business units to produce an excellent learning experience is common practice for Margie Vest and Jason Wright. Margie is the Director of Online Learning & Continuing Education for Jefferson College, and Jason manages the Academic Technology Team, which is part of Carilion Clinic’s Technology Services Group.

Together Margie and Jason have developed a team of instructional designers who work collaboratively to develop products and services to support Jefferson College faculty who teach online. This shared vision also addresses the holistic needs of the online students from application to graduation. The team’s goal is to develop and implement strategies to improve quality, consistency, and accessibility of online courses and support services. This team currently oversees Jefferson Online. You can learn more about our team members below:

Meet the Academic Technology Team

Margie Vest | Director of Online Learning & Continuing EducationMargie has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Averett College and a Master of Arts in Education Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. She has been with Carilion Clinic since November 2005 in a variety of roles. She began as an Education Consultant with Carilion Corporate University, and later became the Manager for the Academic Technology Team in 2010. Margie’s unique background in education, information technology and healthcare led her to Jefferson College in 2014 to lead the Online Learning & Continuing Education Department. One of Margie’s first tasks in her role at Jefferson was to develop and implement a vision for online learning based on the College’s five-year strategic plan. Margie previously worked for the Allstate Insurance Company.

Jason Wright | Technology Services Group Manager Jason holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master’s degree from Hollins University. He joined Carilion Clinic in 2006 as a Senior Programmer Analyst and was quickly promoted to Team Leader in late 2008. While in that role, Jason focused on mentoring team members, building strong client relationships and leveraging business technologies within the Business Enterprise Applications area to meet strategic organizational goals. Prior to joining Carilion Clinic, he implemented technical solutions for the Winston-Salem Journal newspaper; Sara Lee; Wachovia; the City of High Point, North Carolina; and Pasadena Independent School District in Houston, Texas. Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, helping coach his sons’ baseball teams, and travelling when possible.

Jenny Ferguson | Instructional Designer Jenny received a Bachelor’s degree from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia in Elementary and Middle School Education. She holds a Master’s Degree from Virginia Tech in Instructional Technology. Before joining Carilion in early 2013, Jenny taught middle school for seven years. Her passion for developing instructional materials to enhance learning, as well as using technology to aid instruction, led her to a career as an Instructional Designer. In addition to her work with the Academic Technology Team, Jenny enjoys quality time with her husband Chase, son Nolan, and two dogs.

David Halpin | Instructional Designer David earned a Bachelor’s degree in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. He currently assists faculty at Jefferson College and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine with employing research-based learning principles and best practices related to technology and instructional design. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at Jefferson College and Virginia Tech. He has over 25 years of experience in instructional design and media production.

Suzanne Smith | Instructional Designer Suzanne has a Bachelor’s degree from Ferrum College in Marketing/Management and a Master’s degree from Hollins University concentrating in studio arts. Her diverse educational background and experience teaching online brought her into the field of Instructional Design. Her design career began at Clemson University and brought her to Carilion Clinic in August of 2013. Suzanne is a Blackboard Admin and specializes in assisting faculty with educational technologies online and in the classroom.

The Academic Technology Team at Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Carilion Clinic (left to right) David Halpin, Jenny Ferguson, Jason Wright, Margie Vest and Suzanne Smith.


The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare ManagementOne of the Programs Offered through Jefferson Online

The Healthcare Management (HCM) program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences educates a diverse community of students who have varying levels of work experience. The four-year curriculum provides a broad base of knowledge and skills to prepare students with the needed general analytical, communication and management competencies for professional jobs in the field of healthcare management.

To meet the diverse needs of Jefferson’s student body, the HCM program offers a 100% online curriculum. Online courses are taught using technology that supports both synchronous and asynchronous course instruction. This methodology provides for

meaningful interaction among students and the instructor while eliminating the need to attend class on campus. Synchronous instruction is usually scheduled

during the evening hours to facilitate student availability. HCM faculty continue to remain available for on campus student support as needed.

Labor statistics indicate the job outlook and salaries for healthcare management positions are growing faster than the national average and that means more high-paying job opportunities for our graduates. Alternatively, for those interested in graduate studies, this program will successfully prepare students for advanced studies in management and health-related disciplines.

Healthcare Management students at Jefferson have the opportunity to choose between two specialty tracks:

The Long Term Care track has an internship component that places students at a center for 400 hours. Once the degree and internship hours are complete, students can sit for licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator.

This licensure allows for both Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administration.

The Medical Practice Management track offers a 120-hour internship in a Medical Practice. Once the degree and internship are complete, the graduate will need two years of experience in a Medical Practice to sit for certification as a Certified Medical Practice Executive.

Healthcare Management also offers a Certificate in Medical Practice Management. This is designed for those who already have an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in another area. The certificate consists of 6 classes and gives core knowledge to be eligible to sit for the certification exam. These six courses can also be applied toward the Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management.

You can learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management at Jefferson College by visiting www.jchs.edu/degree/bachelor-science-healthcare-management.


The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare ManagementOne of the Programs Offered through Jefferson Online

On May 12, 2015, Jefferson College of Health Sciences held its inaugural Education Foundation Luncheon with world-renowned poet, author, and Virginia Tech Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni.

Approximately 150 friends and supporters of Jefferson College filled the Ballroom at The Patrick Henry to celebrate the College and the recipients of the College’s first alumni awards. Professor Giovanni wowed the crowd with her speech that incuded a reading from her recent book, Chasing Utopia.

The Jefferson College Alumni Awards Program was created this year to honor outstanding graduates with two awards, the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Recent Alumni Achievement Award.

The most prestigious award given by the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Alumni Association, the Distinguished Alumni Award is given to a member of Jefferson College’s alumni body who has achieved national, regional, statewide, or local prominence either in their professional fields or through their involvement in civic, cultural, or charitable activities. Mr. David Hoback, Chief of the City of Roanoke Fire/EMS Department, and Mr. E.W. Tibbs, President and CEO of Centra Health, were named the 2015 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Chief Hoback is a graduate of the College’s Emergency Services program, and Mr. Tibbs is a two-time graduate of the College’s Nursing program.

The Recent Alumni Achievement Award honors Jefferson College of Health Sciences graduates who, at the early stages of their career, have distinguished themselves and demonstrate promise of even greater achievement. These awards are given annually to graduates of the last ten years who have attained notable achievements in their field or endeavor. An alumnus/a may receive this award only once and remains eligible for the Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Albert Pavalonis, a four-time Jefferson College graduate and current Surgical Resident at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, NY, and Mr. Cornelius Powell, a third-year medical student at East Tennessee State University, were named the 2015 recipients of the Recent Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Pavalonis graduated from the College’s Emergency Services, Nursing, and Biomedical Sciences programs, and Mr. Powell is a graduate of the College’s Biomedical Sciences program.

For more information on these recipients and the Alumni Awards Program, visit www.jchs.edu/alumni.

Jefferson College of Health Sciences Hosts Inaugural Education

Foundation Luncheon

Jefferson College President Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop with (left to right) Distinguished Alumni Award recipient E.W. Tibbs; event guest speaker Nikki Giovanni; Distinguished Alumni Award recipient David Hoback; Recent Alumni I Achievement Award recipients Cornelius Powell and Dr. Albert G. Pavalonis;

and Carilion Clinic President and CEO Nancy Howell Agee.


Jefferson College of Health Sciences hosted the 3rd Annual “Jefferson College 5K Riverside Run & Wellness Walk” on November 8, 2014, presented by Medical Facilities of America, an exclusive provider of LifeWorks Rehab.

This year’s run benefitted the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Education Foundation Extra Mile Fund. This fund is designed to assist students with the costs of co-curricular activities to build upon their experiences in the classroom and clinical settings.

In addition to our traditional two-legged runners, we welcomed some new fuzzy four-legged friends this year when dogs were invited to participate. We had several canine runners trot along with us.

Jefferson would like to thank everyone who came out for the event, including their pups, and hope to see you at this year’s event on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. Visit www.jchs5k.com for updates!

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Jefferson Hosts 3rd Annual 5K Riverside Run and Wellness Walk


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We would like to thank all of our generous sponsors for their contributions to the 2014 5K Riverside Run & Wellness Walk: Medical Facilities of America, an Exclusive Provider of LifeWorks Rehab; Catawba Capital Management; Dixon, Hubard, Feinour & Brown, Inc. Investment Counsel; Carilion Clinic; Carilion Clinic Velocity Care;

Fleet Feet Sports; Kroger; Adventures in Advertising; DePaul Community Resources; Western Virginia Water Authority; and Domino’s Pizza.


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This article by writer Matthew Ward appeared in the December 4, 2014 edition of the Suffolk News-Herald.

It is reprinted here verbatim with the permission of the Suffolk News-Herald.

The video of Samantha “Sami” Gizara opening the acceptance letter from Jefferson College of Health Sciences tells the story pretty well.

After learning of her acceptance into the bachelor’s in emergency services program, the Lakeland High School honor student drops the letter onto the kitchen table and covers her mouth to stifle a scream.

“She lost her mind,” said mom Angie Gizara, who shot the video on her smart phone. “This is her Yale.”

Samantha Gizara has been volunteering for the Holland Volunteer Fire Department for a little more than a year. She has obtained her EMT certification and passed her Firefighter 1 and Hazmat certifications.

“I have always been an adrenaline junkie and always liked helping people, and the fire department gives me the best of both worlds,” Samantha Gizara said, explaining what attracts her to volunteering as a firefighter.

Angie Gizara is especially proud of her daughter because the Jefferson College program is the only one of its kind in America, and the school accepts only 30 students each year for the program.

John Cook, who directs the program at Jefferson College, said that while 13 other emergency services programs exist across the nation, his is the only one that incorporates initial paramedic certification and a dual track where students can specialize in fire or critical care.

Samantha Gizara said she wants to become a flight paramedic while continuing to volunteer as a firefighter. She said she’s “pretty nervous” about moving to Roanoke for the four-year program. “But I think I’m ready for it,” she added.

While maintaining high grades and volunteer firefighting, Gizara has also played travel softball with the Southampton Storm.

Chief Mark Ellis said Holland VFD doesn’t get a lot of female volunteers. Most drop out because of the strenuous training involved, he added.

“Sam is unique,” Ellis said. “She’s been hit in the head with a live hose. She’s stressed herself out several times, but she’s so determined. To the point that she will not give up.”

From The Suffolk News-Herald: LHS Student’s Rare Opportunity

Samantha “Sami” Gizara, courtesy of the Suffolk News-Herald

The Moment of Sami’s Acceptanceat a glance…

Want to see the precise moment that Sami Gizara found out she was accepted into the Emergency Services Program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences? Her family posted a great video of Sami opening her acceptance letter on YouTube. You can see the video now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-idO8Y1Ub0E.


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Jefferson College is working to educate our community about how diverse we are. During the spring 2015 semester, the Jefferson Cultural Awareness and Service Excellence (CASE) Committee debuted the Cultural Awareness Interview Series on the college website.

The series features interviews with faculty, students and staff at Jefferson, along with Carilion employees working on our campus at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital who are from different parts of our country and the world.

Below are samples from recent interviews in the series, with a link to the full interview at the end of each section. You can visit the Cultural Awareness Interview Series homepage at www.jchs.edu/jeffersons-cultural-awareness-interview-series.

We hope you enjoy meeting these wonderful members of the Jefferson family!

Fancy Rop, M.S.N.Fancy Chelang’at Rop, an Assistant Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Jefferson College, came to the United States to attend Liberty University in 2004. She had never been outside of her native country, Kenya, nor on an airplane. Her mother was an “untrained” nurse at a Kenyan mission hospital, and her father a high school math and physics teacher. Rop explained that at that time, there were only six public universities in Kenya, and even though there are more colleges, higher education is a lofty goal, and she had the opportunity to attend Liberty via a family friend whose daughters attended. To learn more about Fancy, visit www.jchs.edu/fancy-rop-msn.

Joshua Kpokorloe BrimaJoshua Kpokorloe Brima came to the United States a skinny 17-year-old who had missed most of his senior high school year in Sierra Leone due to illness. He is now 21 with an Associate’s Degree from Virginia Western Community College behind him and in his second year in the Biomedical Sciences program at Jefferson College. To learn more about Joshua, visit www.jchs.edu/joshua-kpokorloe-brima.

Jayasimha Rao, Ph.D.Jayasimha Rao, Associate Professor in the department of Internal Medicine, the section of Infectious Diseases, at Carilion Medical Center (CMC)/Biomedical Sciences department at Jefferson College, and an Assistant Professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, comes from a family of intellectuals. His wife’s father and brother are both doctors in India. On his side of the family were lawyers, but his father was the village accountant. Uneducated formally, both his parents had a major impact on the village of Karnataka state, where his father was in charge of the agricultural land records and keeping revenue accounts and his mother provided food for as many as 25 people every day. You can read more about Dr. Rao at www.jchs.edu/jayasimha-rao-phd.

Tram Chu, M.S.N.When Tram Chu was 20 years old, she moved to the United States from her home in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, South Vietnam. Her simple explanation was that she wanted to know more about the world. Her mother, an accountant, and her father, a kidney transplant specialist, had raised her and her younger sister with care and the expectation that education was important. The United States had its appeal. Tram earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Jefferson College and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Nursing Administration. You can read more about Tram at www.jchs.edu/tram-chu.

Jefferson’s New Cultural Awareness Series

Profiles written by Sarah Cox, Coordinator of the Jefferson College Learning &

Writing Center and Assistant Professor in Humanities and Social Sciences


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Jefferson Supports Our Community

The Jefferson College family is dedicated not only to higher education in the health sciences, but to being a responsible, caring and vital part of the community in which we live and work. Our students, faculty and staff all participate in clubs, organizations and committees supporting those in need. Below are just a few of the activities that have taken place over the last year.

Emergency Services Students Raise Awareness about Breast CancerIn October 2014, the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Emergency Services Program purchased shirts for their students, faculty and staff in an effort to raise awareness about breast cancer. They wore the shirts around campus, to clinicals and to their internships throughout the month of October to show support for research and those battling the disease. In the upper right corner of the picture, you can see the special logo created for the shirts. Thanks to all of our Emergency Services folks for participating in this great cause!

Student Nurses Association “De-Stresses with Some Furry Friends”In November 2014, the Jefferson College Student Nurses Association (SNA) teamed up with the Franklin County Humane Society to help our community “de-stress” with the help of some fuzzy little puppies and kittens. Any donation got a student, or faculty/staff member, five minutes with our new furry friends. All donations went to the no-kill Franklin County Humane Society for medical services and supplies. SNA Board and Faculty Advisors Tracy Hudgins and Dee Pennington shared these results: The Jefferson College community donated $737.51 for the Franklin County Humane Society’s medical supplies. The Student Nurses Association has committed to match this donation up to $500, and a private donor agreed to match the total amount up to $1,000. The Jefferson SNA sent our new friends a check for $2,237.51.

Student Affairs Donates Items to Veterans in NeedAt the College’s annual Veterans Day luncheon, the Department of Student Affairs presented items collected by the College and Carilion community to the VA Hospital in Salem, Virginia. Jefferson Student Affairs Department Secretary Debbie Stinnett created the idea of doing “Wish Fish,” in which members of the Jefferson community could pick vets from a bulletin board and buy the items they needed. Jefferson’s Educational Testing Center Coordinator Sonya Franklin, along with many of our work-study students, made the fish and spread the word. We collected several boxes of items from the wish list.

Staff Senate Collects “Soup for Seniors”In January and February 2015, the Jefferson Staff Senate hosted “Soup for Seniors,” a collaborative effort with the Local Office on Aging (LOA) and the AARP. The purpose of the drive was to collect non-perishable food items that could help feed over 3,000 seniors in the Roanoke and surrounding areas during the coldest months of the year when seniors are often homebound due to bad weather. The event was a great success, with over 330 food items collected and donated to the LOA.

Emergency Services students support breast cancer awareness and research in Fall 2014.

The Jefferson community recognizes veterans at a 2014 luncheon in their honor.


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Jefferson Supports Our Community

In 2013, then Jefferson College Physician Assistant (PA) students Denise Quattlebaum and Caroline Pilgrim approached the Bradley Free Clinic with the idea of helping patients make healthy lifestyle changes. Taking the information they had learned in their Behavioral Medicine class in the PA Program, as well as from their backgrounds in exercise and nutrition, they developed the Wellness Advocate Program (WAP). Working with Carla Santos, the Chief Operations Officer at BFC, they created a 12-week program that partners PA students with Bradley patients to help individuals make meaningful weekly goals and daily behavior changes regarding weight loss and exercise. Students use motivational interviewing and education to help patients develop reasonable and personal goals to take ownership of their health. Students consulted with Judy Cusumano, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the PA Program, who teaches the Behavioral Medicine course.

Fast forward to 2015. The Wellness Advocate Program is now in its fifth cycle. So far, 40 patients have enrolled in the program, and patients who have completed the program have lost between 5 and 21 pounds in 12 weeks. Each cycle, first- and second-year PA students pair with the patients, and as each class of PA students graduates, other “seasoned” PA students take leadership of the program. Dr. Cusumano continues to train advocates and both she and Ms. Santos consult with students on the progress of their patients throughout the program. Dr. Cusumano, Ms. Santos and current PA students Brian Bixler, Kelsey Shirk and Brittany Krantz are currently working on a research protocol to review BMI and health changes as a result of the program.

The PA students appreciate the chance to put skills they learned in the classroom into practice at the Bradley Free Clinic. As the prevalence of chronic illness fueled by lifestyle choices continues to rise, helping patients make healthy lifestyle changes is not easy. For the students, the chance to develop motivational interviewing and behavior change skills as a part of their clinical training is both valuable and necessary.

To learn more about the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program, visit www.jchs.edu/degree/master-science-physician-assistant.

Written by Judy Cusumano, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Jefferson College Physician Assistant Program

Jefferson Physician Assistant Students and Bradley Free Clinic Partner on

Wellness Advocate Program

Jefferson Physician Assistant students and faculty with representatives from the Bradley Free Clinic on Third Street in Roanoke.


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Jefferson’s Victoria Rodriguez Knits and Donates Items to Carilion Clinic NICU Babies

Victoria Rodriguez, a secretary in the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Financial Aid Department, knits

and crochets one-of-a-kind hats for infants. Most are created for her daughter-in-law, who is a photographer

near Winchester, Virginia.

But during the College’s winter break in late December 2014 and early January 2015, Victoria set and accomplished a goal to make 25 infant hats to donate to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH). In fact, she exceeded that goal, making 29 hats for the babies.

On January 21, 2015, Victoria handed her creations off to the NICU nursing staff at CRMH.

The average weight for a baby in the NICU is 3 to 6 pounds, and occasionally 7 to 11 pounds. Victoria’s infant hats’ circumferences were 32-36 cm or 38-39 cm and they were made of washable yarn.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Kara Dickinson, R.N., B.S.N., NICU Parent Education, at (540) 981-7554 for more information.

Victoria Rodriguez (far right) with CRMH NICU staff members (left to right) Karen Wheeler, R.N.; Dee Hubbard, R.N.; and Martha Camper, R.N., NICU Unit Director.


2015 Interprofessional Education Simulation DayJefferson College of Health Sciences, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Carilion Clinic hosted the seventh annual Interprofessional Education Simulation Day on April 17, 2015, on the Jefferson College of Health Sciences campus at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital.

The event allows students and other healthcare professionals to experience what it’s like to work as a team during a simulated emergency situation involving many patients with a variety of injuries.

During the event, students from a variety of Jefferson academic programs and classes—including Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Physician Assistant, Health Sciences, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Emergency Services, Surgical Technician and Masters in Occupational Therapy—are grouped together and assigned a mock patient involved in the situation. The students caring for patients are not informed of the nature of the event until the activity begins. They then have to assess the situation and treat their patients as a team on the spot. Goals of this simulation

activity are to improve leadership skills and encourage interprofessional collaboration. The goals are not related to disaster preparedness.

This year’s scenario was an explosion at a VA Rehabilitation Center and involved the following simulated areas: • The explosion site, where Emergency Services students cared for the injured; • An Emergency Department where medical, physician assistant, nursing, respiratory therapy and chaplain services students received victims of the blast; • Operating rooms, where medical, physician assistant and surgical technology students performed a

mock amputation; • Rehabilitation units, where medical, physician assistant, occupational therapy, occupational therapy

assistant, physical therapist assistant and chaplain services worked together to develop rehabilitation plans for victims of the explosion; and

• An area where health sciences students developed a public health plan for an infectious disease case involved in the explosion.

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Jefferson and VTC students participate in a mock amputation using a simulated leg.

Jefferson College President Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop observes a mock surgery.

Jefferson students and a medical student from VTC discuss the injuries of a mock patient.


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In a highly competitive site-selection process, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute (VTC), in collaboration with Jefferson College of Health Sciences, has won a bid to host the fifth Collaborating Across Borders (CAB V) conference in Roanoke in September 2015.

The event, sponsored every two years by the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative, is the premier international conference on educating and implementing effective healthcare teams.

“We are honored to have been selected to host CAB V,” said Dr. Cynda Johnson, Dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “Our robust curriculum in interprofessional education makes us a natural choice to offer a forum for thought leaders and clinicians engaged in improving patient care through effective teamwork. Even though our medical school is young, our innovative model for patient-centered care is already putting us on the map.”

The conference theme is, “The Interprofessional Journey: Collaborating to Transform Healthcare.” Interprofessional education—when students in a range of healthcare programs learn together with the goal of fostering a collaborative team approach—has been shown to

Collaborating Across Borders International Conference Coming to Roanoke in September 2015

promote more effective, patient-centered care. The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine has interprofessionalism as a core educational strategy threaded throughout its four-year curriculum.

“Our interprofessional approach aims to nurture our students as thought leaders both in their careers and in their communities,” Johnson said. “By studying alongside students in other health professions, they learn how to be key members of effective healthcare teams.”

“Health systems are facing immense pressure to provide better care for patients while improving population health and reducing costs, and our care delivery system is entering a period of unprecedented, transformative change,” said Barbara Brandt, Board Chair of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative and Director of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. “Now more than ever, we have to focus on creating a genuine, sustainable collaboration between the practice and education communities that truly prepares our health professions students to work in this rapidly changing marketplace. CAB has become the leading venue, internationally, for practitioners, scholars, educators, health system leaders, and students to gather and advance that transformative thinking.”

CAB V is expected to draw 1,200 participants to the Roanoke Valley for the four-day event. The proposal to bring the conference to Roanoke was the effort of leaders from VTC, Jefferson College, Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, the City of

Roanoke, the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Hotel Roanoke, where the conference will be held.

“Collaboration is nothing new to Roanoke, Virginia Tech, or Carilion Clinic,” said Dr. David Trinkle, conference chair and associate dean for community and culture at VTC. “Our leadership in interprofessional practice and education—combined with our success rate in offering high-quality, engaging conferences—makes us a natural choice to host such a large high-profile event.”

The conference host team has a long history of collaboration and interprofessional practices. Jefferson College, for example, recognized the importance of interprofessional education two decades ago, when it implemented interprofessional courses in its undergraduate core curriculum. A decade later, the College integrated interprofessional education into its graduate courses. In addition, the College has been part of a collaborative learning partnership with VTC since the school opened in 2010.

“We believe holding the CAB V conference in Roanoke will provide more than a beautiful setting for conference attendees,” said Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, President of Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Chair of Interprofessionalism at VTC. “We’ll also be able to share meaningful lessons in incorporating interprofessionalism and teamwork across academic and clinical settings.”

You can learn more about the CAB V conference at www.cabvroanoke.org/.


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On February 4, 2015, the entire Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2016 traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to participate in White Coats on Call. This is a day organized by the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants (VAPA) for Physician Assistants and Physician Assistant students from across the state to come and meet with state officials to lobby for upcoming legislation that will impact the PA profession and medical field. This year specifically, the group discussed three bills: to mandate childproof caps on liquid nicotine to prevent pediatric exposures, to streamline the process of preauthorization of prescriptions, and to improve the state workman’s compensation program.

Physician Assistant Class of 2016 Travels to Richmond for “White Coats on Call”

Nursing Administration and Family Nurse Practitioner students from the MSN Healthcare Systems and Policy graduate course attended Virginia Nurses Association (VNA) Legislative Day in Richmond on February 3, 2015, along with faculty members Dr. Patty Vari and Dr. Rhoda Murray. Students discussed their prepared testimonial letters related to current bills being debated in the General Assembly with their legislator or aide and attended a House Committee meeting. Students also listened to a variety of speakers who provided valuable information on the details and nuances of the legislative and advocacy processes. Students and faculty agreed that the trip provided the opportunity for a transformative learning experience.

Master of Science in Nursing Students Visit Richmond for Legislative Day

Jefferson Master of Science in Nursing students in Richmond, Virginia.

Jefferson Physician Assistant students in Richmond, Virginia.


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Jefferson College of Health Sciences has been recognized with three awards for our “BE Next” branding and marketing campaign.

The Collegiate Advertising Awards (CAA) named Jefferson College of Health Sciences the Gold Award recipient in two national categories. CAA is an elite program recognizing higher education organizations for excellence in communications, marketing, advertising and promotions of their schools. The 2014-2015 CAA program had more than 900 entries from across the United States, representing educational facilities from small community colleges to very large schools and universities.

Jefferson College is being recognized for its current television commercial, produced in partnership with Abandon Films, and its student recruitment brochure, designed by Mark Lambert, Jefferson College of Health Sciences Coordinator for Communications & College Relations.

Jefferson competed in the category of colleges and universities across the country whose student body numbers between 1,001 and 2,000 students. To receive the Gold Awards in these categories, Jefferson’s materials had to score between 95 and 99, which puts them in the top 5% of collegiate advertising in the nation.

Awards were issued for entries that received top marks from judges, whose criteria included creativity, layout and design, functionality, message effectiveness, production quality and overall appeal.

Representing all areas of communications, media, marketing, advertising and promotions, the 2014-2015 Collegiate Advertising Awards program contained some of the best advertising projects arguably in the world.

All winners are posted on the Collegiate Advertising Awards website at www.collegiateadawards.com.

Additionally, Jefferson College received a Special Merit Award from the CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Region III awards competition in the Branding/Identity Program or Campaign category. Our “BE Next” campaign was found to be the third best in Region III, which encompasses the southeast region of the country.

Jefferson College Nationally Recognized for “BE Next” Marketing Campaign

There’s a special new piece of jewelry in Jefferson Administrative Services Coordinator Kathy York’s office—a medallion ringed with three circles of eye-catching pink rhinestones. Dr. Ally Bowersock, Director of Jefferson’s Health & Exercise Science Program, ran in the Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge Race for the Cure on April 25, 2015 as a tribute to Kathy and won first place of all female runners, achieving a time of 20 minutes and 47 seconds.

First Place Medal in Virginia Blue Ridge Komen Race for the Cure Given to Co-worker

J E F F E R S O N C H RO N I C L E 25Glen Mayhew, D.H.Sc., Jefferson College Associate Dean for Institutional Effectiveness and Associate Professor.

If you watched the Super Bowl this year, you may have seen a familiar face in the new Carilion Clinic TV commercial.

Dr. Glen Mayhew, Jefferson College of Health Sciences Associate Dean for Institutional Effectiveness and an Associate Professor, is among the Carilion Clinic employees featured. The spot, entitled, “Doing Our Homework,” highlights the

ways we educate the healthcare leaders of tomorrow, our community and each other in better health.

Several of the shots in the commercial were filmed right here on the Jefferson College campus at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. You can watch the commercial online now at http://youtu.be/USNqMqaIkgA.

We would like to thank Dr. Mayhew for the time he dedicated to being in the TV spot and for being the face of Jefferson College!

Carilion Clinic TV Spots Feature a Familiar Face

On April 27, Ally presented Kathy with both the medal and her bib number from the race.

“My very first thought was—I’m going to wear that right into surgery,” Kathy said, all smiles. Kathy had surgery just two days later and came through with flying colors. When asked about the support she’s seen, Kathy can’t settle on just one adjective: “Awesome, amazing, overwhelming. There’s no way for me to let Ally and so many others know just how grateful my family and I are—their support has been amazing.”

The medal is the most recent token among many that decorate Kathy’s office, visible signs of the outpouring of goodwill from the Jefferson College community during her battle with cancer.

“Ally asked my permission to put my name on her shirt for the race,” Kathy said, “but I didn’t know what that really meant. I’m just overwhelmed at this wonderfully supportive gesture!”

Dr. Ally Bowersock (center) with (left to right) Carilion Clinic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrice Weiss; Jefferson College President Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop; Administrative Services Coordinator

Kathy York; and Carilion Clinic President and CEO Nancy Howell Agee.

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101 Elm Ave., SERoanoke, VA 24013-2222

NON-PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #78

ROANOKE, VA

Save the Date! Fourth Annual

Jefferson College of Health Sciences5K Riverside Run & Wellness WalkSaturday, November 14, 2015Visit www.jchs5k.com for updates!

jefferson chronicle-spring/summer 2015

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