Wichita State News: College of Health Professions

WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship announces Coleman faculty fellows

The Center for Entrepreneurship in the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has announced the new Coleman Faculty Entrepreneurship Fellows awardees.

They are Steven Skinner from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Ngoyi Bukonda, Toni Pickard and Ron Stephen from the Department of Public Health Sciences.

The fellows program is sponsored by the Coleman Foundation. The purpose is to increase and build support for entrepreneurship education across the WSU campus.

The faculty fellows will engage in projects that foster self-employment education and strengthen the efforts to grow entrepreneurship education.

They were selected from a number of applicants because of their desire to enhance student learning in their areas as it relates to entrepreneurship. Enhancements may include:

Creating and teaching an entrepreneurship class within their discipline that leads to the course becoming an ongoing offering

Modifying an existing course by incorporating elements of self-employment education to the course, leading to it becoming an ongoing offering

Sponsoring, advising and supervising student-led entrepreneurship educational efforts such as new student businesses

Development of experiential entrepreneurship education programs within their department or college

In addition to the naming of the faculty fellows, Lyn Goldberg has been named the Center for Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow for 2009-2010. Goldberg is from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

How To Talk To: Your Children

By the time a child goes to school, some of the most important learning has already taken place.

Parents are a child's first teacher, starting when they are just days old.

It doesn't take money or special training to talk to a child.

Professor Kathy Coufal from Wichita State University explains how to do it.

"Talking about what we are doing all the time, giving labels to the actions and objects in their environment, talking to them about even what we're thinking."

Read full story.

CSD pathology program among top rankings in graduate programs

The graduate program in speech-language pathology at Wichita State University has been ranked 30th out of approximately 250 such programs nationwide, according to the America's Best Graduate Schools 2009 index published by US News and World Report.

Kathy Coufal

Kathy Coufal, professor and chair for WSU's Department of Communication Science and Disorders, said the ranking reflects well on the hard work of her colleagues.

"We are in great company," said Coufal. "We follow major research-intensive universities and are co-ranked with other prestigious universities with programs that are larger and more comprehensive."

Sharing the No. 30 ranking are Gallaudet University; Syracuse University; University of Massachusetts–Amherst; University of North Carolina–Greensboro; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; and the University of Tennessee–Knoxville.

"If you consider the number of programs grouped by 'tied' rank, we actually are in the group of 10th ranked programs," Coufal said. "Given the many factors taken into consideration for these rankings, we are very pleased to be at this level."

Coufal said the importance of such information in WSU's recruitment efforts cannot be underestimated. "It also motivates CSD faculty and clinical educators to continue to work to provide the highest quality programs for students as well as pursue research endeavors that advance the communication sciences."

Faculty/staff news update, summer 2009

Faculty/staff news update, summer 2009

As the academy of faculty and the staff at Wichita State University engage in externally supported research, training and service activities consistent with the university's mission and vital to its growth, this column will recognize grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications, new appointments, new faculty, sabbaticals, retirements and the deaths of our current and former colleagues.

AWARDS, HONORS AND WSU GRANTS

Les Anderson

Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, received the Kansas Press Association's Clyde M. Reed Jr. Master Editor Award. Anderson, former owner of The Ark Valley News in Valley Center, was recognized for a lifetime of contributions to the newspaper industry.

Ted Ayres, vice president and general counsel, attended the 56th Annual National Security Forum at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. During the week of May 18-22, about 130 civilian leaders in business, education and government met with senior military leaders to explore current and future national security issues facing the United States.

Albert Goldbarth, Adele Davis Distinguished Professor of Humanities, has been made an honorary member of Harvard's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa as part of providing this year's commencement poems for the chapter. Read the article and hear his speech at www.harvardmagazine.com.

Grady Landrum, director of disability services, qualified to play in the Wheelchair U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, Aug. 31-Sept. 6, in St. Louis.

Patricia McDonnell, director, Ulrich Museum of Art, has joined the board of directors for the College Arts Association, based in New York. The CAA boasts an international membership of 14,000 individuals and more than 2,000 institutions.

Cheryl Miller, assistant dean, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and David Kamerer, former visiting assistant professor, Elliott School of Communication, received first-place honors from the National Federation of Press Women 2009 Communications Contest. Sharon Iorio, dean of the College of Education, and Wilma Moore-Black, assistant director/curriculum coordinator, TRIO Communication Upward Bound, won third-place national awards, and Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, received an honorable mention. NFPW will hold its awards banquet at the national conference Sept. 10-12 in San Antonio.

Michael Palmiotto, professor, School of Community Affairs, was awarded a May/June Fulbright Specialist Award to Serbia, where he lectured to University of Belgrade Law and Security faculty, met with American Embassy officials, traveled to Kragujevac for three lectures at the University of Kragujevac, and attended and presented a paper at an international police conference in Macedonia.

Rosalind Scudder, professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders, has received the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association's "Honors of the Association" for 2009. The award recognizes members who have made distinguished contributions and service to the field and the association. Scudder's award will be presented during the KSHA convention at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, Oct. 1-3.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Mara Alagic, assistant dean, Graduate School, associate professor, curriculum and instruction, is the guest editor for the September special issue of Journal of Mathematics and Arts devoted to mathematics education. The journal is published by Taylor & Francis (UK).

Daniel Bergman, assistant professor and chair, secondary science education, had "Quality questions" published this summer in New Teacher Advocate.

Frankie Brown, director, Human Resources, presented "What do Employers Really Want?" in July at the Statewide Diversity Job Fair hosted by Wichita's Urban League.

Cindy Craig, social sciences librarian, University Libraries, and Curt Friehs, business librarian at Kansas City, Kansas Public Library (previously of University Libraries) presented original research at the American Libraries Association Annual Conference in July in Chicago. They also presented a research poster at the conference. Their research article "Assessing the Effectiveness of Online Library Instruction with Finance Students" was published last winter in the Journal of Web Librarianship.

Lynne Davis, Ann and Dennis Ross Endowed Faculty of Distinction in Organ, presented a performance on WSU's Marcussen organ of French composers for the June 18 closing concert of the American Guild of Organists region 6 convention in Wichita, and the June 28 opening concert of the AGOs region 5 convention in Detroit. In July, she performed at the Cathedral of St. Michel and St. Gudule in Brussells, Belgium.

Karen Hayes, assistant professor, and Alicia Huckstadt, professor and graduate program director, School of Nursing, presented their research, "Improving Clinical Care of Hypertensive Patients," at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Conference, Nashville, Tenn., on June 18.

Alicia Huckstadt, professor and graduate program director, nursing, had her chapter "Health promotion" published in Chronic Illness: Impact & Intervention.

C. Nicholas Johnson

C. Nicholas Johnson, director of dance, and Sabrina Vasquez, dance faculty, performed with the Alithea Mime Theatre dance company for the International Mime Festival in Warsaw, Poland, Aug. 22-31. Johnson is artistic director for Alithea, and Vasquez is co-director. Current and former WSU dance students joined the pair for the Warsaw festival.

Patricia McDonnell, director, Ulrich Museum of Art, contributed an essay on artist Marsden Hartley to the forthcoming exhibition publication for Cezanne and American Modernism, organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and Montclair Art Museum.

Martha J. Smith, associate professor, School of Community Affairs, co-edited two special issues of Security Journal with Bonnie Fisher, University of Cincinnati. The first issue is Insecurity in the Ivory Tower: Understanding and Responding to Students' Victimization and Fear. The second issue, Women's Security: Critical Perspectives on Assessment Techniques and Preventive Responses, also includes an article by Smith, "A Six-Step Model of Potential Victims' Decisions to Change Location."

Liorah Golomb, assistant professor and humanities librarian, was co-author of "Navigating the MLA Bibliography: Performance Across Vendor Platforms, published in the Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship. Her co-author was Aline Soules, California State University.

Virginia Kay Williams, assistant professor and acquisitions librarian, was co-author of "Graphic Novels in Libraries Supporting Teacher Education and Librarianship Programs," in the July Library Resources and Technical Services. Her co-author was Damen V. Peterson, Mississippi State University. Williams' review of the book "Analyzing Library Collection Use with Excel" by Tony Greiner and Bob Cooper was published in the same journal issue.

NEW FACULTY AND NEW POSITIONS

These faculty members recently achieved full professor status: Les Anderson, Elliott School of Communication, Wilson Baldridge, modern and classical languages, Alex Chaparro, psychology, David Eichhorn, chemistry, C. Nicholas Johnson, performing arts/dance, Rhonda Lewis-Moss, psychology, Chunsheng Ma, mathematics and statistics, Linda Mitchell, curriculum and instruction, Chinyere Okafor, English and women's studies, Keith Pickus, associate provost, history, Prakash Ramanan, computer science, Michael Rogers, Center for Physical Fitness and Aging, Jim Wolff, Barton School of Business, Charles Yang, engineering, and Robert Zettle, psychology.

Jean Brickell, associate professor, College of Health Professions, has been named chairperson of Medical Technology.

Mary Koehn, associate professor and associate dean, College of Health Professions, has been named acting chairperson of the School of Nursing.

Craig Owens, assistant professor, music education, has been appointed director of jazz studies for WSU.

Linda Starkey has been appointed director of the School of Performing Arts.

Phil Bowers has been promoted to assistant director of TRIO Disability Support Services.

IN EMERITUS

The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research recently announced the 2009 emeritus faculty: Judith Johnson, associate professor (history); Susan Kovar, dean and professor (Graduate School and kinesiology and sports studies); Mahmoud Edwin Sawan, professor and chairperson (electrical and computer engineering); Ram Singhal, professor (chemistry); Juanita Tate, associate professor (nursing); and Phillip Thomas, dean and professor (LAS and history). In addition, Ron Kopita, vice president (campus life and university relations), has been granted emeritus status.

IN MEMORIAM

John Ballar Breazeale, 83, retired WSU administrator, died June 6 in Houston. Breazeale's career at WSU included serving as chairman of the physics department, dean of the Graduate School, vice president for Academic Affairs and director of the Institute for Aviation Research and Development. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Ruth. Survivors include daughters Susan (Stuart) Twemlow of Houston, Barbara Schaecher of Salt Lake City, and Rachel (Steve) Mackey of Topeka; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association or the American Diabetes Association.

Moya Diane Dickerson, 61, accounting, died Aug. 14 in Wichita. She is survived by her husband, Paul; son Kevin (Christine) of Colorado Springs; daughter Kristina (John) Andrews of Muvane; three grandchildren; sister Sandei (Alan) Fain; brothers Matthew (Hazel) of Enid and Randy (Patti Waibel). Services have been held.

Lois Amy (Howard) Gunter, 94, retired from the financial aid department, died June 7. Preceded in death by her husband, Preston,; sisters Dorthea Underwood and Lola Kreis; brother Bill Howard. Survivors include daughter Judy (Knute) Fraser of Wichita; sons Gary (Dianne) Gunter of Denver and Mike (Patti) Gunter of Austin; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister Audrey Collins of Hutchinson; brother Ben (Mary) Howard of Merced, Calif.; many nieces, nephews and dear friends. A memorial to benefit low-income children has been established at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita.

Jack Mitchell, 85, former University of Wichita football coach, died July 6 in Arizona.

Wendell Peete, 62, system administrator in the Media Resources Center, died Sept. 5 in Wichita. He was preceded in death by daughters Demetra Lynn and Melody Ann, granddaughter Taylor and father J.B Peete. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughter Winona; son Wendell Jr. (Georgia); grandsons Ocean and Austin; mother Helen Culton; sisters Philomene (Sherman Keeling), Tonette Crowley, Margaret Culton-Davidson (Mathis); brothers Thomas, Michael, George and Ricky Culton; and stepmother Nellie Peete and family. Services have been held.

Joshua Locke Yearout, 33, archivist, Special Collections, University Libraries, died July 7 in Wichita. He is survived by his wife, Amy; daughter, Grace; parents Charlene and Phil Yearout of Andover; sister Jessie Horning of Andover; grandmother Yvonne Critchfield of Hill City. Memorials may be made to the Grace H. Yearout Memorial Fund c/o Emprise Bank, 257 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202.

IN OTHER NEWS

Albert Goldbarth

Albert Goldbarth, Adele M. Davis Distinguished Professor of Humanities, was interviewed for an Aug. 17 television broadcast, "Junk Man: Poet and Professor Albert Goldbarth," on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" (in the NewsHour Poetry Series) on PBS. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=761

Dotty Harpool, director of graduate studies, lecturer, marketing, Barton School, was interviewed for a July 23 Wichita Eagle article, "Dillons branches out with gas." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/cnews/?cnid=817

Dean Headley, associate professor, was quoted in a June 18 Wichita Eagle article, "marketing and entrepreneurship, contributed to the article, "Fighting for every sale." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=713

Doug Hensler, dean, and Kate Kung-McIntyre, assistant dean, Barton School of Business, contributed to a July 6 Wichita Eagle article, "WSU students go abroad to acquire global business skills." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=722

Jeremy Hill

Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, was quoted in a July 13 Wichita Business Journal story, "Sedgwick County approves AirTran subsidy." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=726

Jeremy Hill also was interviewed for a June 25 KAKE Channel 10 story, "Kansas bankruptcy levels lower than national average." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=718

Stanley Longhofer, director of the Center for Real Estate, was quoted in a July 28 Christian Monitor article, "US home prices rise. Is it time to buy?," about the Case Shiller index. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/newsrelease/?nid=739

Gary L. Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs and research, was interviewed for an Aug. 16 Wichita Eagle article, "WSU lab building stellar reputation," about WSU's Advanced Networking Research Center. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=759

Michael E. Rogers, research director of the Center for Physical Activity and Aging, was quoted in an Aug. 3 Boston Globe column, "Sweat equity," on fitness for aging women. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=744

Victoria Shaffer, assistant professor of psychology, was interviewed for an Aug. 26 Incentive Insights Podcast from Incentive magazine about her research comparing the cash and noncash awards in corporate incentive programs. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=774

Levente Sulyok, assistant professor, and Robert Bubp, associate professor, foundations, drawing and painting, were interviewed for a July Mercury-Register (Chico, Texas) article, "Two artists portray their interpretations of place," about their summer exhibition at the 1078 Gallery.

John Tomblin

John Tomblin, executive director of the National Institute for Aviation Research, was quoted in an Aug. 23 Wichita Eagle article, "Stimulus could pay for CIBOR site." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=768

Consultant for Oprah Winfrey show to speak at WSU

Cynthia Heiss, professor in the department of health professions at Metropolitan State College of Denver and consultant for the Oprah Winfrey show, will speak about nutrition and hydration issues in older people, with an emphasis on the needs of adults who have swallowing difficulties, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, in 208 Ahlberg Hall. Admission is free.

The presentation is part of the Second Annual Seminar in Aging and Swallowing Issues, and is supported by the WSU department of communication sciences and disorders in the College of Health Professions and WSU's Regional Institute on Aging.

Heiss' work is well-published in academic journals and in magazines for the lay public. She is the editor of a book on healthy restaurant options with Bob Greene, exercise physiologist and Oprah's personal trainer.

MEDIA NOTE: Heiss will be available for media interviews Friday morning, Sept. 25. Call (316) 978-6115 to schedule an interview.

WSU audiology clinic to offer free screenings

The Audiology Clinic at Wichita State's Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic will offer free hearing screenings for all ages during the week of Oct. 19-23.

The clinic is located at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, entrance T, at 5015 E. 29th St. N.

Call (316) 978-3289 to schedule an appointment. Limited space is available.

PODCAST: H1N1 virus overshadows seriousness of seasonal flu

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

With the world facing its first pandemic in 41 years, it's easy to get caught up in all the clamor that's circulating about the H1N1 virus or swine flu. Marilyn Yourdon, director of Student Health Services at Wichita State University, puts the H1N1 virus in perspective and says we shouldn't dismiss the potential severity of the seasonal flu.

Yourdon: "I think we need to remember that the seasonal flu actually has caused more deaths in the last year than the swine flu, so we need to remember that and continue to have appropriate protection for yourself against the seasonal flu."

The H1N1 virus continues to grab the headlines, but Yourdon says no one can say with certainty how severe the H1N1 virus will be.

Yourdon: "We really don't know how severe the virus is going to be at this point. Right now, we are seeing, clinically we are seeing mild cases of the H1N1, but we don't know whether the wave that will really come in the fall, or if there will be a wave in the fall, whether it will be more severe and have more of an impact."

As odd as it may sound, those who have already had a mild case of the H1N1 virus may be at an advantage, as Yourdon explains.

Yourdon: "Those who tested positive for the H1N1, or swine flu, that recovered from it actually could be considered lucky because they now have built up immunity against the virus."

It won't be too long until the public has an opportunity to take a flu shot for the H1N1 virus, but it remains to be seen how effective the vaccine will be.

Yourdon: "The effectiveness of the vaccine really remains to be seen. We haven't really begun to use it in full mode yet, and so it will take some time to give the vaccine and see what happens."

Yourdon says many of the flu prevention techniques apply to both the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu.

Yourdon: "Some prevention tips that I think are very important that would reflect either seasonal or swine flu, and that would be good hand washing, always good hand washing is very important; keeping your hands away from your face. If you cough or you sneeze, use the upper part of your sleeve to cough or sneeze into, or a tissue, and throw it away."

If you experience flu-like symptoms, Yourdon says it's a good idea to talk with your doctor.

Yourdon: "If you develop flu-like symptoms now, such as fever of 101 or greater, or you're having a sore throat or cough along with that fever, you certainly would want to call your health care provider to let them know what's going on, and they will advise you at that point in time. You may be able to get treatment, but certainly if you have fever, you want to stay away from other folks."

Health officials are greatly concerned, in part because the H1N1 virus is so contagious.

Yourdon: "There are various differences between the seasonal flu and the H1N1. The swine flu is very highly contagious, so we have to be on our guard about that. It will also pop up here and there. It doesn't have a particular course that it follows. You may see it in one place and then again in another place. And a lot of time it starts in the fall."

While both the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu should be taken seriously, Yourdon says there are some notable differences.

Yourdon: "Those that are susceptible or more at risk with the swine flu are those that are pregnant, those that are younger, like 24 years of age and younger, those that have respiratory illnesses like asthma, or those that have diabetes or immune compromise condition; they would be much more susceptible with the swine flu. The seasonal flu usually affects more the elderly and the very young."

It remains to be seen whether the H1N1 will be more deadly than seasonal flu. What worries health officials is that it's a strain of the flu that has never been seen before.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

WSU welcomes dental residents to new AEGD program

Wichita State University welcomed seven residents on Aug. 3 to its inaugural Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency class. They began orientation and classes immediately and will see their first patients by Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The dentists-in-residence are chief resident Homaira Avendano, Stacey Beard and Amy Rodriguez, from the University of Illinois-Chicago; Yvette L. Chastanet, Sidney Lenox and Jeanette Young, from the Howard University College of Dentistry; and Justin Wu, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Both Wu and Young have local connections already. Wu is a Wichita native; Young earned her Bachelor of Science in chemistry from WSU.

The residents will do the full spectrum of dental work at Wichita's GraceMed Health Clinic, a community health center that is an outreach of the United Methodist Health Ministry and supported by Via Christi Health System.

The residents also will do rotations at the Dole Veterans Administration Medical Center, said Charles Fox, associate dean of the College of Health Professions.

"We are excited to begin the program with a full complement of highly qualified residents; we turned away so many who were not quite perfect matches to the program," said Fox, who worked with Peter Cohen, dean of health professions, to create the program and search for a strong director.

Dexter Woods, director of AEGD, has done a fantastic job of recruiting, Fox said.

Woods, who earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University, joined WSU's College of Health Professions in 2007 to develop the program, and recruit faculty and residents. A distinguished dental educator and consultant, Woods served as director of Howard University's AEGD program prior to coming to WSU.

Woods is also a major in the U.S. Air Force Medical Core, serving as chief of dentistry for the 459th Aerospace Medical Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He is a national consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation, which accredits all dental and dental residency programs.

"This is exciting for Wichita State University but, more importantly, it is exciting for the state of Kansas," said Woods. "It is our hope that this dental residency program is part of the conversation addressing access to care and increasing the number of dental health providers in the state. Ultimately, the WSU-AEGD program will provide concentrated efforts to relieve the access and work force issues plaguing rural Kansas."

Plans for the program are to increase both the number of residents trained each year and the scope of their training, said Fox. As the only dental education program in Kansas, its purpose is two-fold: to increase access to oral health care and to create a potential pool of new dentists to help fill a statewide need.

Once the program is fully implemented, residents will be able to choose a one-year or two-year residency. The one-year residency will provide services for about 2,000 visits per resident in that year. With seven residents, that's about 14,000 visits. A second-year residency option would place participating residents in underserved rural areas of the state.

The AEGD program will move into its own building when the capital campaign for a new facility is complete. However, it will still maintain a strong community presence through rotations at GraceMed and the VA Medical Center, and through continuing education opportunities for the Wichita dental community.

WSU is already two-thirds of the way into a $6.6 million fundraising effort for a location on north Oliver Street, just south of the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

That includes cash, pledges and a recent grant for $476,000 secured from the federal Department of Education through a partnership with Sedgwick County, according to Lynette Murphy, the WSU Foundation director of development for the College of Health Professions.

Major donors to the campaign include Delta Dental of Kansas, Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation, W.S. and E.C. Jones Testamentary Trust, Wichita Community Foundation, Fidelity Bank, Wichita Clinic, Foulston Siefken and various individuals.

Murphy said the foundation is looking for support outside the dental and medical community, too. A nine-member volunteer campaign cabinet composed of community leaders is assisting in the fund-raising effort.

"We really are marketing this as a community program, not just a dental program," said Murphy, "because oral health is important to overall health."

For more information about AEGD, go to www.wichita.edu/aegd.

For information on how to contribute, go to www.wichita.edu/givetoaegd.

Health science degree ready to go for fall 2009

Richard Muma

Students will officially begin coursework in fall 2009 for the new Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree at Wichita State University, according to Richard Muma, chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences in WSU's College of Health Professions.

The degree in health science was approved by the Kansas Board of Regents in January 2009. Other degrees and programs under the auspices of public health include the college's current bachelor's degree program in Health Services Management & Community Development, a graduate Certificate in Public Health and an administrator-in-training program for senior services.

The field of health sciences is full of career opportunities, with job growth of 27 percent predicted in the next decade for all health services professions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Muma, former longtime chair of the Department of Physician Assistant, is glad to lead the college's new emphasis in health sciences and public health. His own educational background includes an undergraduate major in physician assistant studies, a master's in public health with a focus in community health, and a Ph.D. in education.

The college, he said, continues to work hard to meet student needs and public demands for health science professions.

Students, in return, respond rapidly to new degree programs. Muma said there are already 19 students enrolled in the health science degree coursework for the fall 2009 semester.

Typically, health science graduates go on to work in the health care sector as pharmaceutical and hospital sales representatives, specialists in insurance companies, science technicians (or research assistants), and the like. The degree may also be used for those who wish to progress to supervisory or instructional positions requiring a baccalaureate degree (e.g., radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists).

Others opt to extend their employability even further by pursuing a graduate or professional education. Graduate-level education can lead to careers in health administration, medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant or public health.

Salaries vary widely among occupations, but generally reflect an unprecedented demand for qualified health sciences professionals. Health science majors are introduced to the full array of health career opportunities, Muma said, and can begin to focus their interests during the last two years of the four-year program.

WSU's physical therapy department moving downtown

Wichita State University's Department of Physical Therapy is heading downtown to settle into the building that houses WSU's Center for Community Support and Research (CCSR).

The move to the three-story building at 335 N. Main is a positive one for the physical therapy program, the college that oversees it and the university, said Associate Provost Keith Pickus.

Moving downtown frees the program from space constraints in the crowded College of Health Professions, housed in Ahlberg Hall. The college gets about half of the third floor back in space for other uses.

More important, moving the program downtown fills a prominent building leased by the university four years ago for CCSR, which only occupies the first and third floors.

Keith Pickus

"It fits what President Beggs is committed to – a downtown presence," said Pickus.

Housing an entire doctoral degree program at Third and Main can only increase that presence, he said, and present new opportunities.

"We're really excited," said Camilla Wilson, chair of physical therapy. "It will take awhile to get everything set, but it's a wonderful opportunity. We're grateful that we're being allowed to do this."

She knows they'll all miss being on campus, but the American Physical Therapy Association has developed a new brand that reflects the department's progress and process: "Move Forward: Physical therapy brings motion to life."

Pickus, who oversees WSU's satellite campuses, said physical therapy will have the entire second floor for faculty and staff offices, classrooms, labs and meeting areas. Students will complete almost all of their coursework on site, with the exception of gross anatomy and its attendant lab work with cadavers.

Down the road, he said, the popular program will be able to grow and accept more students.

The students are excited, too, Wilson said. Besides gaining space, they are gaining new and renovated treatment tables. That's the result of about a year's worth of fundraising through generous alumni of the program, she said. In addition, one of the two new lecture rooms has computer tables and all classrooms have wireless access.

"The upgrade in facilities and equipment makes us more competitive in the education market, too, when students come in to visit," said Wilson, who also hopes eventually to grow the program to meet growing needs in the community.

Peter Cohen

Peter Cohen, dean of the College of Health Professions, sees a lot of opportunities ahead with the move, while acknowledging that the distance provides challenges.

But the college and Cohen are deeply involved with leadership training at the Kansas Leadership Center, two blocks from physical therapy's new home. And its cohabitant, CCSR, has a lot of interest in leadership, Cohen said.

In fact, the college is already using CCSR as facilitation for its reshaping efforts, as administrators look at ways to increase collaboration between the various departments and programs that come under health professions at WSU.

"We try to work collaboratively in the college," said Cohen, "and we're casting off one of our departments. It will be a challenge to maintain that spirit of collaboration."

The college will have an office within the new space, and Cohen plans to spend one day a week there. Charles Fox, associate dean, will also spend a day a week downtown, as will other faculty as appropriate.

In addition, Cohen said, each month the college will hold one of its weekly executive council meetings downtown, and he will host at least one quarterly advisory council meeting a year downtown.

Two physical therapy faculty will remain on campus – John Carter, who directs the anatomy lab and coursework, and Ken Pitetti, whose research in endurance training and exercise options for people with disabilities tie him to the Heskett Center.

Deciding how to fill physical therapy's former space will be part of the college's reshaping efforts.

"A lot of this we'll have to see how we evolve," said Cohen. "We'll consider what supports our mission."

$20 million grant will support medical devices research in Wichita

Three years of effort by Via Christi Health System and Wichita State University researchers resulted Tuesday in the award of a one-year, $4 million grant that should extend to a five-year, $20 million grant to support the Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Research (CIBOR) in Wichita.

The grant from the Kansas Bioscience Authority to Via Christi and its partners will fund the development and commercialization of medical devices using the kinds of advanced composite materials already used by Wichita aviation manufacturers.

The grant is based on composites research developed by Via Christi Regional Medical Center through its Orthopaedic Research Institute and WSU through its National Institute for Aviation Research.

CIBOR's goals include:

Rapid job creation to help the local and Kansas economies.

Development of medical devices that can be quickly brought to market, such as surgical instruments, stretchers and operating tables that do not require a long FDA-approval process.

Longer-term development of advanced implantable devices, such as artificial hips and knees.

"We are extremely excited about receiving funding for this unprecedented partnership among health care, aviation and research," said Michalene D. Maringer, president and CEO of the Via Christi Wichita Health Network. "It involves health care, as orthopaedic surgeons will be implanting the devices; aviation, as the composite materials that have worked so well in that industry will be used to make the implants; and the scientists from both industries, as they will be developing the techniques needed to grow new bone cells in the composite structures.

"Working with WSU and others," Maringer said, "we have the opportunity to revolutionize the quality of life for patients worldwide who need orthopaedic implants and at the same time provide an economic development platform that will serve our community here in Wichita for years to come."

Don Beggs

Wichita State President Don Beggs said: "This achievement is a product of extraordinary teamwork between WSU and Via Christi and our partners at Kansas State, Pittsburg State, the Greater Wichita Economic Development Council and in the medical device industry. We believe that this will have a very significant positive impact on the Kansas economy."

Gary L. Miller, WSU provost and vice president for academic affairs and research, said: "The CIBOR is a clear win for Kansas and a national model for how university-industry partnerships can leverage translational and applied research for significant economic impact. We are extremely proud to be a part of this unique collaboration for Kansas."

Vicki Pratt Gerbino, president of GWEDC, said, "This is exactly the sort of transformative business development initiative we've been promoting for this region. CIBOR's efforts combine medical research with the composites expertise in this community and our skilled work force to introduce an entirely new product line – an absolute necessity for the long-term economic growth of this region."

The Kansas Bioscience Authority's decision to fund the grant was made unanimously by its board of directors, who were meeting in Atlanta in conjunction with the 2009 Bio International Conference.

The KBA meeting was attended by J. David McDonald, associate provost for research; Dr. Paul Wooley, research director of the Via Christi Orthopaedic Research Institute; and Michael Good, Via Christi director of research business operations.

Wooley, who is also a WSU professor, will lead CIBOR's research efforts.

"KBA's grant recognizes the value of composites in new medical devices and should lead to a significant new industry for Kansas," Wooley said. "The detailed and stringent KBA review process helped us create a plan to position Wichita as a world center of innovative medical device research and manufacturing."

McDonald said, "KBA board members were enthusiastic about the potential of this effort for job creation and product development. Our CIBOR team is very excited about this support from KBA and we're eager to turn our attention to implementation."

Wichita State gets $6.6 million grant for fertility research

Wichita State University has been awarded a $6.6 million federal grant for research that could help older women improve their chances of a healthy pregnancy.

The research could lead to home fertility tests as accurate, simple to administer and widely available as home pregnancy tests.

The five-year research project, developed and led by WSU professor George R. Bousfield, is being funded by the National Institutes of Health, the nation's leading medical research agency.

The research in reproductive endocrinology centers on the potential of a novel form of FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone, to serve as a new and more accurate indicator of fertility in women 35 years and older. These are women beyond their prime biological childbearing years, but who may still want children.

J. David McDonald

The NIH grant is the largest and most important medical research grant ever awarded to Wichita State, according to J. David McDonald, associate provost for research.

McDonald said the grant recognizes both Bousfield's research expertise and his determination to pursue scientific questions of importance to women and families.

"Throughout the United States and the developed world," said McDonald, "women have decided to delay childbearing to later ages. When they've sought medical help, they and their physicians haven't had reliable fertility tests. Dr. Bousfield and his colleagues have produced promising research that has the potential to help millions of women."

Bousfield, as director of the Protein Core Laboratory at WSU, will lead a collaborative effort that includes researchers in laboratories here and at the University of Kansas Medical School in Kansas City, Kan., and at the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha, Neb., plus biological informatics support from KU in Lawrence.

William J. Hendry, WSU chairperson of biological sciences, said NIH-designated "program project" grants, like the one obtained by Bousfield, more commonly go to major medical school complexes.

McDonald called the grant "important national confirmation of WSU's research leadership in the sciences."

He said the grant would fund purchase and support of sophisticated laboratory equipment, extensive testing, and research positions for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as technicians.

Bousfield said he is collaborating with Wichita physicians on his research, including Drs. David Grainger and Bruce Tjaden, at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, and Dr. Edmond Feuille, at Preferred Medical Associates-Wichita OB/GYN Associates.

"The translation of Dr. Bousfield's extraordinary bench research into clinical medicine promises to shed light on the reproductive aging process," said Grainger, "and in so doing bring hope for women who have delayed childbearing. We are extremely excited to be participating in these novel studies."

"This affirms what the Wichita community has long known about the quality of research going on at Wichita State University. Our state needs more collaborative efforts like this to begin to develop Kansas into a true biomedical research region," said Peggy Johnson, CEO of the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation.

Gary L. Miller

Gary L. Miller, WSU provost and vice president for academic affairs and research, sees the work as appropriate to WSU's mission.

"This is an excellent example of Wichita State's growing role as the urban serving research university of Kansas," said Miller. "As the medical center and population center of the state, it makes sense to base more medical research here."

Bousfield said the most commonly used fertility test measures FSH in blood samples, in which quantity is highly variable over a short time span, leading to unreliable results. About 10 years ago, he began focusing on a novel form of this hormone that is also secreted by pre-menopausal women.

He believes the research, by focusing on hormones not fully understood, has the potential to improve both the accuracy of measuring fertility and the use of hormones to increase fertility in women who have had difficulty becoming pregnant.

He said that because fertility proceeds at a different pace than age, more accurate means of measuring it and understanding the contribution of hormones may lead to more effective treatments.

WSU announces spring commencement schedule, speakers

About 2,100 students are eligible to participate in the 111th spring commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, at Wichita State University.

Ceremonies will be held in Charles Koch Arena.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred in individual college ceremonies.

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

About 840 liberal arts and sciences students are eligible to participate in commencement exercises at 3 p.m. Friday, May 15.

Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Anita Cochran, former TV news anchor.

College of Health Professions

About 285 health professions students are eligible to participate in commencement at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15.

Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher will represent the Kansas Board of Regents.The commencement speaker will be Pamela Clancy Ammar, member of the Wichita State University Foundation board of directors and chair of the College of Health Professions Dean's Advisory Committee.

W. Frank Barton School of Business

Almost 400 business students are expected to complete their degrees this spring or summer. The commencement ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Collin G. Stieben, senior vice president of commercial banking at Commerce Bank in Wichita.

College of Education

About 315 education students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jill Docking will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The speaker will be Nick Taylor, two-time Paralympics gold medalist in tennis, director of a women's professional tennis tournament and part of the USTA pro circuit.

College of Engineering

About 200 engineering students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jill Docking will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Wolter Fabrycky, Lawrence professor emeritus of industrial and systems engineering, and chairman of Academic Applications International at Virginia Tech University.

College of Fine Arts

Approximately 100 fine arts students are eligible to graduate in this ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jill Docking will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The speaker will be Denny Senseney, a public school music educator, former retail school-music business owner, arts advocate and professional trade association leader.

Professor named Educator of the Year in national peer group

Elaine Steinke

Elaine Steinke, professor of nursing in the Wichita State University College of Health Professions, has received the 2009 Educator of the Year award conferred annually by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS).

The award was bestowed at the NACNS annual conference, held in St. Louis in March.

"NACNS saluted one extraordinary example in the nation relating to the advancement of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) education and the impact of that education on the CNS profession," said Christine Carson Filipovich, CEO of NACNS.

Steinke has taught in the Adult Health and Illness CNS option for 18 years in WSU's School of Nursing and has been the program's coordinator for 12 years.

She has been credited with making significant revisions of all clinical specializations at the graduate level, as well as her contribution to initiating the Doctor of Nurse Practice program at WSU during the past year.

Steinke's scholarly research, teaching, curriculum development and mentoring activities have resulted in improved standards for evidence-based nursing practice in the region and beyond.

She has been instrumental in the success of the university's preceptor program, which affords students a real world experience by showing them the unique contribution that advanced practice nurses – and particularly clinical nurse specialists – bring to the bedside.

Steinke is widely recognized for guiding others in the process of research, professional presentation and publication.

One example is a three-year partnership with CNS graduates in a clinical-based research project during which Steinke provided oversight for the grant application, design of the study, data collection and analysis, and the process of presenting and publishing.

As her nomination noted, "Not only have the CNS's perspectives changed in regard to research, but also how evidence moves practice forward."

Founded in 1995, the NACNS represents more than 69,000 clinical nurse specialists across the United States.

Governor's Public Health Conference to be held in Wichita

About 200 public health administrators and nurses from across Kansas are expected to attend the Fourth Annual Governor's Public Health Conference Monday through Wednesday, April 20-22, at the Wichita Marriott Hotel.

The conference title is "Kansas: A Great Environment for Growing Healthy Families."

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby will give the welcome address and state Sen. Jim Barnett will give the opening keynote.

Marilyn Yourdon, director of Student Health Services at Wichita State University, and Nancy Powers, assistant professor and Janice R. Riordan Distinguished Professor in the WSU School of Nursing, will be among those presenting.

Major sponsors of the conference are Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Family Health, Maternal and Child Health Program, Kansas Public Health Association and Wichita State University.