UAB School of Health Professions Current News
Demark-Wahnefried named chair-elect for Obesity Society cancer section
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- Created on August 22, 2014
Story written by Bob Shepard, UAB Media Relations
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., R.D., professor in the University of Alabama at BirminghamDepartment of Nutrition Sciences and the associate director for cancer prevention and control in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been named the chair-elect of the Obesity and Cancer Section of the Obesity Society. Her term as chair-elect began Nov. 6, 2014, and she will assume the chair in November of 2015.
The purpose of the Obesity and Cancer Section is to promote research, education and advocacy related to cancer, including: understanding how obesity affects etiology, prevention and management of cancer; the development of effective strategies, interventions and educational efforts that may reduce the impact of obesity on cancer risk and progression; and promote the dissemination of knowledge of the obesity-cancer relationship to the scientific community, clinicians and the public.
SHP takes on #icebucketchallenge
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- Created on August 22, 2014
MSHA Class 50 #icebucketchallengeMembers of the Master of Science in Health Administration class at the University of Alabama at Birmingham were challenged by Christy Lemak, Ph.D., the new chair of the Department of Health Services Administration, to take the #icebucketchallenge for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on Wednesday, August 20, 2014.
WATCH: MSHA class takes #icebucketchallenge
Class 50 of the nationally ranked MSHA program in turn gave the ALS #icebucketchallenge to their colleagues in the Masters of Health Services Administration at the University of Michigan School of Public Health; their former department chair and current president and CEO of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) Gerald Glandon, Ph.D.; and the president of the UAB MSHA alumni board and VP of Oncology at Kentucky’s Baptist Health, Amanda Henson.
External Relations #icebucketchallengeThat same day, Harold Jones, Ph.D., dean of the UAB School of Health Professions challenged Amanda Sherman, Melody Stewart and Kevin Storr in his Office of External Relations to take the #icebucketchallenge. On Thursday, August 21, 2014, the trio took the #icebucketchallenge and extended the challenge to their counterparts at the UAB School of Nursing – Emily Craig, Eve Rhea and Jennifer Lollar.
WATCH: SHP External Relations takes #icebucketchallenge
We all want to take a moment to highlight the ALS research of Peter H. King, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Neurology. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and he is searching for biomarkers for ALS with the hope of finding ways to better diagnose ALS and track progression of the disease.
Jennifer Dingle named AUPHA Boyd Scholar
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- Created on August 19, 2014
Jennifer Dingle, SHP flag-bearer at 2014 UAB graduationJennifer Dingle, a 2014 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health Care Management Program, wins a $40,000 scholarship from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). She is one of only two students in the U.S. to earn the HCA Corris Boyd Scholarship for 2014.
“This scholarship will allow me to work toward my goal of becoming an administrator in a pediatric healthcare facility and providing all patients, regardless of socioeconomic background, especially children, high-quality, evidence-based healthcare,” said Dingle.
The HCA Corris Boyd Scholars program, established in 2006, provides scholarships to two deserving minority students each year. The award is named for Mr. Corris Boyd who “dedicated himself to diversity and excellence in leadership – especially among people of color.”
“I believe she will make a tremendous contribution to the healthcare industry,” said Pam Paustian, Ph.D., RHIA, associate professor and HCM program director. “Jennifer was an outstanding student who was actively engaged in HCM program activities, as well as, research activities. She held student leadership positions at both the University and School level, and participated in the SHP Honors Program.”
#HigherEducation – UAB instructor Live Tweets classroom intensive
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- Created on August 11, 2014
Kristopher Maday with Tweet WallApproximately 6,000 Tweets are sent out every second of every day. That means more than half a million Tweets will be shared in the time it takes you to read, and then Tweet, this story.The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers numerous online courses and many include live Twitter chats to engage students who live around the world.
However, one instructor is bringing the online model of learning to the physical classroom.
Erik Qualman, the author of Socialnomics, said, “We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.”
And that is where Kristopher Maday, PA-C, CNSC, an assistant professor in the UAB School of Health Professions Physician Assistant Program, enters the higher education social media scene.
Mehta chosen Named New Investigator for UAB NORC
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- Created on August 07, 2014
Tapan Mehta. Ph.D., NORC's Named New InvestigatorTapan Mehta, Ph.D., assistant professor of biostatistics in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Therapy, has been selected as the 2014 Named New Investigator for the UAB Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC). Each year since 2001, the center leadership selects among the Funded Pilot / Feasibility recipients and then receives approval from the UAB NORC External Advisory Committee prior to making the formal appointment.Mehta joined the UAB School of Health Professions faculty in 2013 after transferring from his graduate program in Biostatistics at the UAB School of Public Health. According to Mehta's webpage, his research program is focused on aggregating and integrating silos of genomic, epidemiological, and administrative data, to investigate interesting scientific questions, through novel applications of statistical methods, and computing platforms. He is especially interested in pursuing scientific inquiry in topics related to obesity, longevity, disability, and health policy and interventions.
Laken is 1st from UAB appointed to state respiratory therapy board
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- Created on August 07, 2014
Debra Laken, MAEd, AE-C, RRT, CTTS, named to ASBRTDebra Eddins Laken, MAEd, AE-C, RRT, CTTS, associate professor in the Respiratory Therapy Program in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions, has been appointed to the Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.Laken is the first UAB faculty member to be appointed to the ASBRT board. She is one of five members on the current board, three of which are respiratory therapists. Her four year term began August 5, 2014.
“It is a great honor and privilege to have been appointed to the Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy,” said Laken. “I plan to be a good steward of the taxpayer’s money.”
Laken’s role with the board includes setting licensure fees, approving or denying licenses, conducting hearings on revoking licenses as well as attending legislative hearings and board meetings.
The ASBRT’s mission is to protect Alabamians against “unauthorized, unqualified and improper administration of respiratory therapy and from unprofessional or unethical conduct by persons licensed to practice respiratory therapy.”
The UAB Respiratory Therapy Program is housed in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences.
UAB screens "Twitch," documentary follows 18-year-old's journey testing for Huntington's disease
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- Created on August 06, 2014
Kristen Powers, producer & star of documentary "Twitch"“Twitch,” a documentary film chronicling the emotional journey of an 18-year-old as she is tested for a degenerative genetic disease, was screened on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham September 10 at Volker Hall.The producer and star of the film Kristen Powers attended the screening of her movie, gave a presentation on her journey and Huntington's disease (HD), answered questions from the audience and was guest of honor at a post-event reception held at the Edge of Chaos on UAB's campus.
The film "Twitch" follows her genetic testing for HD, a neurological brain disorder that led to the death of her mother.
Dish liquid, rubbing alcohol and UAB instructor help kids see their DNA
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- Created on August 06, 2014
Carol Robbins, Ph.D., (right) with McWane campersDeoxyribonucleic acid – better known as DNA – stores all of the information necessary for life and of course is in every living thing.One item in every living human is mucus, or as a group of middle schoolers at the McWane Science Center Biotechnology Camp would call it, snot.
“See that stuff in the tube that looks like snot? That is DNA from millions of your cheek cells,” said Carol Robbins, Ph.D., laboratory teacher in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Biotechnology Program, and guest instructor at the McWane Camp.
“As you know, your DNA is what makes you, you; so if you take a picture of yourself holding yourself in a tube then you will be taking the ultimate selfie,” said Tabitha Finch, Ph.D., manager of science education at the McWane Science Center and the student’s camp instructor this week.
UAB students serve others, win honors
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- Created on July 31, 2014
Samantha Layer, LaVonda Hildreth, Katie HarrisUAB Respiratory Therapy students did not clown around this summer at Camp WheezeAway. Samantha Layer, LaVonda Hildreth and Katie Harris joined more than 20 other UAB students at the Asthma Camp for Kids at YMCA Camp Chandler.“The purpose of this camp is to show the kids that they can do anything other children can do,” said Harris. “We also emphasized the importance of establishing a schedule with their respiratory medications, to recognize the signs of an oncoming asthma attack and what to do if they suffer an attack.”
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