A long-time friend of USF and 22 USF Health nursing students and their faculty program director, all veterans, received handmade quilts in honor of their military service this week.

Philanthropist and community leader Frank Morsani was among those presented with a quilt from the local chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation during an emotional recognition ceremony Nov. 6 at the USF Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center.

Korean War veteran Frank Morsani is draped with a handcrafted quilt by Sharon Kalinowski of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Frank, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Korean War, and his wife Carol, have been dedicated supporters of USF and numerous other academic, medical, cultural and artistic effort across the Tampa Bay area, state and country. The Morsanis are the namesake of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and the Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare.

Each of 22 student members in the Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (known as VCARE), set to graduate next month, was also awarded a Quilt of Valor. And, the USF Office of Veteran Success presented a handcrafted quilt to VCARE Program Director Alicia Rossiter, DNP, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves Nurse Corps.

Members of the graduating cohort of the Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (VCARE) with Victoria Rich, PhD (front row center), dean of the USF College of Nursing, and Alicia Rossiter, DNP (far right), program director of VCARE.

“The recognition of Frank Morsani’s service in the Korean War is well-deserved, and we are extremely grateful for his service and for his ongoing commitment – and that of his wife Carol – to our university and our community,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft. “I also want to thank our outstanding VCARE students, and congratulate you on your graduation in just a few short weeks. Your service to our country, and your continuing service to others, are truly inspiring.”

According to the Quilts of Valor Foundation, the nonprofit was founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts whose son Nat was deployed in Iraq. Since its inception, more than 170,000 quilts have been awarded to veterans from the grassroots quilting organization.

Alicia Rossiter, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves Nurse Corps, is presented with a handmade quilt by Denise Appleman (right).

The quilts are made by volunteers, follow specific quilt-making dimensions, and can take up to 60 hours to sew. The first Quilt of Valor was awarded in November 2003 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to a young soldier from Minnesota who had lost his leg in Iraq.

The handmade quilts awarded this week were sewn by the Tampa-based quilting club CT Quilters, which is the local chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Member Sharon Kalinowski said presenting veterans with a quilt is a way to thank them for their service while giving them something tangible and comforting to hold.

Each year the Office of Veteran Success coordinates with CT Quilters to recognize graduating USF veterans with a quilt. So far, about 60 quilts have been awarded to USF veterans. This was the first time the quilts have been given to an entire nursing graduating class.

From left: Larry Braue, EdD, director of the USF Office of Veteran Success; Jessica Panasewicz, a student in the Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program; and Frank Morsani.

“This is a huge honor, especially for individuals who spent their entire military career caring for others. To have the care be returned to them is just so meaningful and special for these students,” Dr. Rossiter said.

Nursing student Tamara Maynard, who was a Navy Corpsman and served in Iraq, said she was honored to receive the handmade quilt and grateful for the recognition.

“It’s a physical representation of what veterans have done,” Maynard said. “Every time that I see it, it will remind me of this ceremony. It will remind me of my classmates and my cohort. We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve all had diverse, individual experiences in combat and deployments. This is a good reminder of what we’ve all been through.”

Each year the Office of Veteran Success coordinates with CT Quilters, the local chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, to recognize the military service of USF veterans with a quilt hand-sewn by volunteers.

-Story by Elizabeth L. Brown, USF College of Nursing, and Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
-Photos by Freddie Coleman, USF Health Communications

USF Health is once again hosting the Tampa DogFest Walk ‘n Roll to benefit the Canine Companions for Independence program.

The year’s event is Feb. 12 and continues the annual effort to help raise funds and awareness for service dogs and canine companions. The USF Health event will include a walk, silent auction, vendors, police and sheriff K-9 units, dog agility demonstration, a kids’ activity zone, a DJ with music and, of course, visiting service dogs and future service dogs (puppies!).

DogFest 2015 at USF Health.

Canine companions and service dogs are necessities for many people who are disabled and they help with daily living – from navigating to retrieving items to sensing that blood sugar levels are dropping. These unique animals are trained to help children, adults and veterans live more independently, said Karen Burdash, associate dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a longtime proponent for rescuing and training therapy dogs.

“There are challenges people with disabilities face every day and canine companion assistance dogs can be the difference for those with limitations, helping them re-engage with society and achieve the range of needs found in daily living,” Burdash said.

“These dogs are highly trained to assist children and adults with disabilities, including veterans with physical disabilities. I’ve been told by someone who was matched to a service dog ‘I wouldn’t have a life if it wasn’t for this dog!’ ”

Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, including veterans with physical disabilities. There is no charge to the recipient for the dog but training and on-going follow-up services end up costing about $50,000 per dog. Following months-long intensive training, a dog is matched with a recipient, who has also undergone evaluation. Then, when a match is made, both dog and recipient have ongoing training together.

The USF Health DogFest 2017 Walk ‘n Roll is aiming to raise at least that $50,000 to help with a local match, Burdash said.

There are several ways to help, most of which start at the Canine Companions website. Donations can be made directly, or you can start your own team and begin collecting sponsorships and donations. You can also provide items and services that can be included in the gift baskets that will be auctioned off for funds.

You can also donate at the event, which is where you can meet some of the many folks benefiting from these service dogs, as well as those who help raise and train canine companions.

The key thing, Burdash said, is to come out to the event and support the effort.

“Bring your own pet on a leash if you want, bring the kids, and join the fun,” she said. “Come on out and help us raise funds to bring a dog to someone in need. It will be a great day for a worthy organization.”

Details:

Tampa DogFest 2017 Walk ‘n Roll

Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At USF Health, east side of CMS building on the corner of Bruce B. Downs and USF Holly.

The free event is open to the community. Donate or register a team at cci.org/dogfesttampa

Opportunities for enhanced collaboration were revealed as leaders from USF Health and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital gathered for a panel discussion and symposium May 23 —  a prelude to the annual Haley VA Research Day held May 24.

A panel of leaders from USF Health and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital met to discuss ways to strengthen research collaborations between the two institutions. The panel and symposium preceded the hospital’s annual VA Research Day on March 24.

Senior leaders from USF Health and the Haley VA  Hospital each shared their current research collaborations, as well as ideas for future endeavors. Representing USF Health were Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine; Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing; Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the College of Public Health; and Kevin Sneed, PharmD, dean of the College of Pharmacy.  Representing the Haley VA were Joe Battle, director of  the hospital and its clinics; Robert Campbell, JD, MPH, PhD, acting associate chief of staff; Gail Powell-Cope, PhD, ARNP, co-director of the Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR); and Edward Cutolo, Jr., MD, chief of staff.

The news that seemed to generate the most buzz was the availability of data from the VA – big data. The Veterans Administration is capturing information for U.S. veterans, likely the largest compilation of population data that touches all 50 states and is being gathered across time.

Dr. Robert Campbell, acting associate chief of staff at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, says the hospital has about 200 ongoing research projects at any given time.

“My story today is big data, health informatics, and predictive analytics,” said Dr. Campbell, whose research emphasizes identifying patient and system-level risk factors associated with fall-related injuries and other adverse events.  “I’ve been here for 16 years and I fell in love with the big data the first day I arrived and realized they were compiling it at the (Houston) Texas VA. Over the decades, they’ve made it more and more transparent and readily available for researchers to use.”

Dr. Campbell said the challenge making all that data meaningful is doing a better job training researchers and clinicians in health informatics.

“Things as simple as appreciating the strengths and weaknesses of diagnosis and procedure coding and how they’re used in the real world, primarily for administrative purposes and secondarily for clinical research,” he said.

Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, said it makes sense for USF’s academic health center to strengthen its partnership with Haley VA, one of the busiest VA hospitals in the country, including jointly recruiting top researchers.

He shared a recent experience that underscored his point when he met with clinicians and “for the first time they saw what we meant by big data rather than hearing about it,” he said.

“It’s one thing to say we have millions and millions of records, encounters and discharges and they’re coded in the following way, but to see how the VA has systemically attempted to organize that information was a revelation. That only comes from taking the time to bring your collaborators over and show them the data and ask them what they’re interested in. There are a lot of strengths, but the weaknesses are that predictive analytics will require a clearer understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of those coding systems. It’s a work in progress and a dialogue that continues with our USF colleagues.”

Among the symposium presenters was Dr. Frank Kozel, a staff psychiatrist and associate investigator in the Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR) at James A. Haley Veterans’s Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at USF Health. He spoke about a randomized trial using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to augment combat processing therapy in combat veterans with PTSD.

USF Health’s Dr. Lockwood emphasized that students and residents exposed to faculty and staff conducting research are exposed the rigors of scientific inquiry and more likely to question the validity of approaches to  diagnosis and treatment and probe for evidence.

“On a broad scale, research improves health by demanding evidence-based care,” he said. “At the individual level, it can make you a better nurse, doctor, pharmacist, public health practitioner, physical therapist — a better health care provider — by challenging assumptions.”

Dr. Lockwood said it makes sense for USF’s academic health center to strengthen its partnership with Haley VA, one of the busiest VA hospitals in the country, including jointly recruiting top basic science, translational and clinical researchers.

“Given the VA’s access to an enormous amount of data, extraordinary comparative effectiveness research and clinical trials, its interest in neuroscience, which we are so committed to on our side of the campus, as well as common interests in rehabilitation, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, we’d be foolish not to work together,” he said.  “We have an obligation, in particular, to take the very best care of our veterans.”

Dr. Denise Cooper is a professor of molecular medicine at the Morsani College of Medicine whose research is supported in part by the VA. She spoke about the use of exosomes from human adipose-derived stem cells in wound healing.

The other panelists also addressed the many advantages of more collaboration among researchers from both the VA and USF Health. And threading the narrative for these ideas – such as building a common foundation that includes representatives who meet regularly to share information and ideas – was panel moderator Shyam Mohapatra, PhD, MBA, Distinguished Health Professor at USF and research career scientist at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital.

“I’m delighted that both our organizations have come together today,” said Dr. Mohapatra, “Our goal is to start a dialogue between the VA and USF that leads to something more meaningful, offering more collaboration of education, clinical care and research.”

Participating in the VA Research Day’s poster presentations were, from left: Nikita Patel, PhD, and Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, both associate professors of molecular medicine; Beth Grimmig, a PhD student in integrated biomedical sciences at MCOM (Dr. Bickford’s graduate student); Paula Bickford, PhD, professor of neurosciences at the USF Health Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair and VA senior research career scientist; and Shyam Mohapatra, PhD, Distinguished Health Professor at USF and VA research career scientist.

Following the panel discussion, several researchers affiliated with both USF (medicine, public health, biomedical engineering) and the VA, presented highlights of their research.  Their symposium topics ranged from applying human adipose-derived stem cell exosomes in wound healing, to ways the growth factor GCSF promotes brain repair following traumatic brain injury, to trends in data mining and knowledge discovery.

The next day, March 24, more than 50 poster presentations were on display in the hospital’s auditorium for VA Research Day.

Dr. Jamie Morano, (left) an infectious diseases physician at Morsani College of Medicine and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, explains her team’s research poster.

Among the presenters was Jamie Morano, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and a physician at the Haley VA Hospital.  Dr. Morano’s study tapped into a powerful VA data tool to analyze the outcomes of hepatitis C virus treatment among Tampa Bay veterans with hepatitis C and HIV.

“We have residents and fellows who cross train at the VA and Morsani College of Medicine,” Dr. Morano said, “so it’s a great opportunity to build upon collaborative research that benefits both institutions.”

.

Anne DeLotto Baier contributed to this article.
Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications and Marketing

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) classified as an effective therapy for PTSD and depression from SAMHSA program

Tampa, FL (Nov. 24 2015) – Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a brief and safe treatment for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studied at University of South Florida College of Nursing, has been officially recognized as an effective therapy for veterans, service members and civilians by the National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

Diego F. Hernandez, PsyD, (left) a licensed clinical psychologist, demonstrates Accelerated Resolution Therapy, ART for short, with veteran Brian Anderson at University of South Florida College of Nursing.

NREPP, which is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), found ART to be an effective psychotherapy for PTSD, depression, stress, and personal resilience. ART was also classified as a promising therapy for symptoms of phobia, panic, anxiety, sleep and wake disorders, disruptive and antisocial behaviors, general functioning and well-being. See details here.

“The completed studies have shown ART to be a brief, safe and effective therapy for individuals suffering with PTSD and depression – including those who previously tried other therapies provided by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Kevin Kip, PhD, distinguished USF Health professor and executive director for the College of Nursing’s research center. “So, this recognition from NREPP is a great step toward making ART a first-line or potentially preferred treatment approach for PTSD across civilian and military settings.”

The USF College of Nursing, under Dr. Kip’s leadership, has been exclusively studying ART since 2010. This therapy, founded by licensed therapist and USF ART clinician, Laney Rosenzwieg, LMFT, is part of the college’s Restore Lives – an initiative designed to develop research and education programs that meet the needs of veterans, service members and their families. So far, USF Nursing has completed three ART studies, and more publications are in the works.

In its independent review, NREPP looked at all ART publications and clinicians’ training materials. Key to the review were results from the second ART study, which enrolled and treated 57 service members and veterans. In that randomized controlled trial, ART was shown to substantially reduce symptoms of PTSD in two-thirds of participants in less than four treatment sessions. Details on this study can be viewed here.

Kevin Kip, PhD, executive director of the USF College of Nursing Research Center, has led the college’s studies investigating the effectiveness of ART since 2010.

PTSD is a major public health challenge among veterans, service members and civilians in the United States. According to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, more than eight million Americans suffer from PTSD, depression or other related symptoms every year. PTSD symptoms can be debilitating, and treatment is extremely costly.

As a result, USF Nursing’s ART clinical team, including Rosenzwieg and Diego Hernandez, PsyD, assistant professor and ART clinical director, have conducted clinical training with military clinicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and social workers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and other military bases in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort. Belvoir, Virginia, and Fort Hood, Texas.

“I’m really proud of this research team including Dr. Hernandez, Rosenzwieg, Sue Girling, senior research coordinator, Trudy Wittenberg, research compliance administrator, and the large cadre of highly skilled ART clinicians,” Dr. Kip said. “Through our collective efforts, we can make major strides in fundamentally changing the way psychotherapy is practiced.”

For more information on ART click here.

–USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.

Media contact:
Vjollca “V” Hysenlika, USF College of Nursing Communications
(813)974-2017, or vhysenli@health.usf.edu

This week, faculty, staff and students are hosting, attending, and celebrating events that highlight and honor today’s vets. Take a look below at some of the highlights of events from across the week. Further down are some of the many ways USF Health is working to make life better for veterans.

Coverage of some of the veteran-related events from USF Health

More than 70 units with 1,600 volunteers participated in the Veterans Day Parade at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. Here are a couple of photos, but click here and click here to visit the VA’s Flickr photo books.

Haley VA Parade

Haley VA Parade

The USF College of Public Health’s OSHA Training Institute is offering courses in Wesley Chapel this week. The course on Nov. 10 is titled “Noise Hazards in the Construction Industry” and will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The course on Nov. 12 is titled “Managing Excavation Hazards” and will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Click here to learn more.

OTI Course Instructor Kevin Yarborough teaches a group attending the Evacuation and Emergency Planning class that was offered at the USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center in Wesley Chapel, FL on Nov. 9. Courses continue today and Thursday.

DogFest was a great success. The DogFest Walk ‘n Roll Tampa surpassed its goal and raised more than $36,400 toward an effort to provide a canine companion to a local veteran. The USF Health event was Sunday, Nov. 8, and several dozen supporters attended, including several four-legged ones. Volunteers for the day included USF Health’s Medicine in the Armed Forces student group.

USF Health turned out to help raise awareness and more than $36,400 in  funds for canine companions.

Points of pride on USF Health’s commitment to veterans

Programs across USF Health are focused on veterans. Here is a sampling of some of them:

School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences:

• USF prosthetic research with wounded warriors may also benefit civilian amputees
• USF awarded $1.3 million to expand research to prevent back injury in firefighters
• USF School of Physical Therapy Awarded $1.59 M From DOD For Musculoskeletal Research

Josh Sparling is silhouetted after completing the obstacle course at the Walter C. Heinrich Practical Training Site. Sparling and 13 other wounded warriors participated in a USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences research study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The project evaluated how well different types of prosthetic feet work for the rigorous and agile maneuvers soldiers must perform on the battlefield – from running and jumping to dodging, crawling and climbing. The study will ultimately benefit civilian amputees with physically challenging occupations, such as firefighters and police officers, or anyone with physically-demanding recreational pursuits, said USF associate professor Dr. Jason Highsmith, principal investigator for the double-blind randomized trial, who works out of James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital as deputy chief of the Research & Surveillance Division, Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence.

College of Public Health:

• Last July, USF’s undergraduate public health was ranked No. 1 in College Factual’s “Top10 Veteran-Friendly Public Health Schools” list
• USF provides undergraduates with a 360 degree exposure in public health

College of Nursing:

• College Factual names USF number one in top 10 ranking of veteran-friendly nursing schools
• Offers V-CARE, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing sequence created for service members and veterans who have completed training as Army or Air Force medics and as Navy corpsman,
• USF College of Nursing leads research on a novel technique to alleviate veterans’ symptoms of combat-related and military sexual trauma

The USF College of Nursing leads research on a novel technique to alleviate veterans’ symptoms of combat-related and military sexual trauma. That treatment – called Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART – has been under study at the USF College of Nursing for more than four years, showing remarkable results among initial participants, namely military veterans and civilians with symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

USF Health-wide:

• Many of USF’s Tillman Scholars are USF Health students, including one of the most recent awardees from the College of Pharmacy John Pasciak.
• Stetson University and USF Health form first-of-a-kind partnership to help veterans connection
• The Military Times just ranked USF the #2 Best For Vets university in the country, a ranking likely boosted by the College of Public Health’s #1 ranking and the College of Nursing’s #1 ranking as Veteran Friendly that came in June. In addition to those stellar rankings, support for our veterans can be seen across USF Health, from research endeavors to education to advocacy. Click here for the full article in the magazine.

A dog can be much more than simply the family pet.  For many people, their dog is a necessity for daily living – from navigating to retrieving items to sensing that blood sugar levels are dropping.

Michele Laine, nurse practitioner director for the USF Health Diabetes Home, with Hershey, a Labrador/Husky mix specially trained to detect fluctuations in blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Photo by Eric Younghans.

Called service dogs and canine companions, these unique animals take roles as people’s eyes, hands, legs and more.

To help raise funds and awareness for these dogs, USF Health is hosting the Tampa DogFest 2015 Walk ‘n Roll Nov. 8 to benefit the Canine Companions for Independence program (more details below).

Photo courtesy of CCI.org

The USF Health event will include a walk, silent auction, bake sale, dog photography, a kids’ activity table and, of course, visiting service dogs.

There are several ways to help. Donations can be made directly to the Tampa effort by visiting the Canine Companions website. You can also narrow your donation on that page to a USF Health team that will be walking Nov. 8 at the USF Health event, or start your own team and begin collecting sponsorships and donations. You can also provide items and services that can be included in the gift baskets that will be auctioned off for funds.

Gracie provides some de-stressing pet therapy for USF Health students at the Shimberg Health Sciences Library. Photo courtesy of the Shimberg Library.

You can also donate at the event, which is where you can meet some of the many folks benefiting from these service dogs, as well as those who help raise and train canine companions.

There are challenges people with disabilities face every day and canine companion assistance dogs are highly trained to help children, adults and veterans live more independently, said Karen Burdash, associate executive director of the USF Physicians Group and associate dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“Vets have served us, so it’s the least we can do for them,” Burdash said. “Wounded vets who might not have the ability to lead a full life can turn to a canine companion for help.”

Photo courtesy of CCI.org

Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, including veterans with physical disabilities. There is no charge to the recipient for the dog but training and on-going follow-up services ends up costing at least $50,000 per dog. Training a dog to be a service dog takes months. Following the intensive training, dogs are matched with a recipient, who has also undergone evaluation. Then, when a match is made, both dog and recipient undergo six weeks of training together.

The USF Health DogFest Walk ‘n Roll is aiming to raise at least that $50,000 to help a local veteran get matched to a dog, Burdash said.

“One of our main goals for this DogFest walk is to be able to say that USF Health was able to help raise enough to sponsor a dog to help someone,” she said.

As a longtime proponent for rescuing and training therapy dogs, Burdash said she can tell pretty quickly whether a dog has the temperament to be a therapy or service dog.

Karen Burdash with pet therapy dog Eric. Photo courtesy of Karen Burdash.

“Some dogs just show an affinity for helping,” she said. “It’s truly rewarding to me. The look on people’s faces when there is a good match is wonderful. And when a dog is really enhancing the quality of life for someone, that’s magical. That’s making someone’s life better.”

Details:

Tampa DogFest 2015 Walk ‘n Roll

Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At USF Health, east side of CMS building on the corner of Bruce B. Downs and USF Holly

The free event is open to the community. Donate or register a team at cci.org/dogfesttampa

Photo courtesy of CCI.org

Staff dog Snitch (note his ID card) also offers pet therapy to USF Health students at the Shimberg Library. Photo by Eric Younghans.

College Factual ranks the College of Public Health as top undergraduate choice for veterans

Tampa, FL (July 1, 2015) — The undergraduate public health program at the University of South Florida ranks No. 1 in College Factual’s  “Top10 Veteran-Friendly Public Health Schools” list, which was featured in a Military Times article this week.

College Factual generated the rankings from a variety of factors when determining the top colleges for veterans pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public health, from veteran-friendly policies to affordability to overall college quality.

The College of Public Health offers the first bachelor’s degree program in public health at an accredited college in Florida’s State University System. The degree in public health provides student-centered courses required for entry-level public health jobs found in government agencies, health corporations, community non-profit organizations and health care facilities.

Joe Close meets with University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft. Close is a senior in the College of Public Health and a National Guard air defense veteran from Leesburg, Fla. (Photo: University of South Florida)

Kay Perrin, PhD, assistant dean of undergraduate studies at USF’s COPH, says that the undergraduate courses in public health are both engaging and interactive and that the classes show student veterans how the work they did in the military leads to civilian jobs in public health.

“When the student veterans become familiar with the College of Public Health, they immediately see the link between what they did in the military and how it is applied to public health courses,” said Perrin.

For example, Perrin said, when  a student veteran who worked on enhancing clean water and sanitation in a village takes a course in global or environmental health, the student can instantly see the connection between the work they were doing and improved quality of life.

Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of USF’s COPH, recognizes the value of being a veteran-friendly institution.

“We’re very fortunate to be part of a University that understands, values and supports veterans on our campus and in our educational programs,” Petersen said.  “Military veterans who understand the importance of public health enrich our classrooms in immeasurable ways; it is our privilege  to create a welcoming and nurturing educational environment for them as we all seek to create healthy, prosperous and peaceful communities around the world.”

The USF COPH’s support for veterans extends beyond the classroom.  The college also organizes events to help student veterans get acquainted with each other outside of the classroom and feel more at home in a university environment.  Additionally, the undergraduate curriculum features multiple opportunities for student research, study abroad and workforce development.  More importantly, all students are expected to practice – in the field and begin honing their public health skills as an undergraduate.

This spring, 171 students graduated with public health bachelor’s degrees, bringing the total to 1,038 who have earned their four-year degrees since the undergraduate public health major was established at USF in 2011.

At the graduate level, USF’s public health college offers several master’s degrees as well as a PhD and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).  Earlier this year, USF’s COPH was ranked 16 in U.S. News and World Report’s list of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”

All College Factual rankings for veteran-friendly undergraduate public health programs can be found online here.

-USF College of Public Health-

Established in 1984 as the first college of public health in the State of Florida, the USF College of Public Health is a recognized leader in community health, online education, maternal and child health, social marketing, and global infectious disease research. The college offers multiple online and on-campus concentrations that lead to MHA, MPH, MSPH, DrPH, and PhD degrees, as well several dual degrees, graduate certificates, and special programs.  To learn more about the college and its 1600 students who commit to passionately solve problems and create conditions that allow every person the universal right to health and well-being, visit www.publichealth.usf.edu.

-USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50^th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.

Media contact:
Natalie D. Preston, USF College of Public Health, npreston@health.usf.edu

Written by Annamarie Koehler-Shepley, USF College of Public Health

New USF College of Nursing ranking reported in Military Times

Tampa, FL (May 15, 2015) – The University of South Florida College of Nursing has been named the number 1 veteran-friendly nursing school in the nation, Military Times reports in a supplement to its Best for Vets series of survey-based rankings. USF gets top billing by College Factual in a separate computer-based ranking of the top 10 veteran-friendly colleges for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Published earlier this week in Military Times, the ranking is based on such factors as affordability, size of the college’s veteran population and commitment to veteran-related programs. The description notes that USF “offers a special nursing degree for veterans who have trained as medics” —  the federally-funded College of Nursing program known as V-CARE, led by Rita D’Aoust, PhD, associate dean of academic affairs and interprofessional initiatives.

L to R: Charlotte Symonds and Chad Koerlin, students in the USF Health Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Program with LaSonya D. Malbrough, DNP, CRNA, USF assistant professor of nursing. — Photo by Ashlea Bailey, USF College of Nursing, 2012.

To increase collaboration across several military-focused projects, the college implemented the Research and Education to Rehabilitate and Restore the Lives of Veterans (RESTORE LIVES) initiative. To encourage a military-friendly culture, the college designed Challenge coins to recognize college and community members for their military service. A military liaison was also appointed to enhance partnerships with organizations serving veterans and those on active duty.

“We’re extremely proud of the endless opportunities we’ve created for veterans, service members and their families in all areas including research, education and clinical practice,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. “This recognition proves that we’re heading in the right direction.”

Through RESTORE LIVES, the College of Nursing created several programs to benefit the military population. These include V-CARE, a bachelor’s degree building upon military health care training and experience, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a research initiative investigating a promising technique to treat military service members and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including sub-studies related to women in combat. The college also holds an annual Joining Forces to Restore Lives national conference, which will be held this fall in Cumbria, United Kingdom.

To learn more about USF Nursing’s veterans initiatives watch video here. 

-USF Health-
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50^th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.

Following a nationwide search, Glenn Currier, MD, MPH, has been appointed the new chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

Dr. Currier will come to USF Health from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, where he is professor of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine and associate chair for Clinical Services. He starts here part time in April and will assume leadership of the department full time July 1.

“We look forward to Dr. Currier joining our USF Health team, and thank Dr. Kailie Shaw, who has done an exemplary job serving as interim chair of our psychiatry department during the search,” said  Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.

Dr. Glenn Currier has expertise in health services research and treatment practices in emergency settings and the organization of psychiatric clinical services.

Dr. Shaw, professor emeritus in the psychiatry department, will resume her role as a faculty member when Dr. Currier joins USF Health.

Dr. Currier brings to USF a strong background in medical student and residency education and comprehensive expertise in health services research, treatment practices in emergency settings and the organization of psychiatric clinical services.  He has conducted research and clinical care across academic and community settings as well as within the VA health system.

“In a changing health care environment with increased emphasis on reduced costs and improved outcomes, Dr. Currier can help USF Health prepare to meet two major challenges facing psychiatry today: delivering quality mental health services within a primary care context and reducing deaths among veterans at risk for suicide, who often enter the health care system through emergency departments,” Dr. Lockwood said. “Dr. Currier will also help us advance the interdisciplinary research and integrated care aspects of our collaborative neuropsychiatry initiative.”

Dr. Currier received his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science at Colby College in his home state of Maine, and was a research associate at the Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates prior to entering medical school.  He holds an MD degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in public health from Yale University, where he specialized in health services research.  Following residency training in psychiatry and internal medicine at Yale, he completed a fellowship in emergency psychiatry at NYU-Bellevue Hospital in New York City.  Before to moving to Rochester several years ago, Dr. Currier was the director of Consultation Liaison and Emergency Psychiatry at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center.

Dr. Currier completed a National Institute of Mental Health-funded K-23 career development award consisting of a randomized controlled clinical trial testing the use of mobile crisis teams to connect patients discharged from emergency departments with ongoing outpatient mental health care.  Dr. Currier’s more recent research includes a joint suicide surveillance project, funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and based in emergency departments at Rochester Medical Center, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.  He is also one of the principal investigators for the multisite trial of a safety-planning behavioral intervention implemented in nine VA emergency departments across the United States.

Dr. Currier is a member of the Psychiatry Clinical Practice Subcommittee of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a past president of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry.  He received the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Lifesaver’s Research Award in 2009

He is the author or co-author of more than 50 publications focused primarily on psychiatric research and treatment in emergency departments, particularly relevant to care of suicidal individuals and veterans.

Dr. Currier is the father of four teenagers — Tom, 19; Nick, 17; Amy, 15; and Mike, 13.  He is an avid Great Lakes sailor who says he looks forward to the challenge of saltwater sailing in a warmer climate.

Experts in rehabilitation and neuromusculoskeletal sciences from Florida’s universities gathered for the Inaugural Summit of the USF Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Research, held January 16, 2015 at CAMLS in downtown Tampa, FL.

From left, Dr. John Mayer, Lt. Gen. Martin Steele, and Dr. William Quillen.

Hosted by the USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, the day-long Summit set out to identify and discuss priorities for rehabilitation sciences research and address the burden of neuromusculoskeletal disease on Florida’s population. In addition to USF, the scientists attending represented faculty from Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, National University of Health Sciences. Nova Southeastern University, Palmer College of Chiropractic, and University of North Florida.

Musculoskeletal conditions, which can include arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, adult and pediatric injuries, spinal pain and disabilities, and brain and spinal cord injuries, are among the most disabling and costly conditions affecting Americans, said. William S. Quillen, PT, DPT, PhD, FACSM, associate dean and director of the USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.

“One thing that will surely stop economic growth is neuromusculoskeletal injuries,” Dr. Quillen told the group.

“The burden of cost for these conditions is felt throughout the health care system – both in-patient and out-patient, and long-term services – and causing loss of productivity and a huge negative impact on quality of life.”

“Well-designed and impactful research is needed to combat the negative effects of neuromusculoskeletal conditions throughout the State of Florida, United States, and the world,” said John M. Mayer, DC, PhD, Lincoln Endowed Chair and Associate Professor the USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences.

The event featured remarks by Lt. Gen. Martin Steele, (U.S. Marine Corps retired), who urged the group to reach beyond the boundaries of their own universities to collaborate with each other and to keep patients in mind as they build their research.

“First, I thank you for what you do and for your commitment to the quality of life for Americans and the people around the world,” said Lt. Gen. Steele, who came to USF five years ago as associate vice president for Veterans Research and chairs the Veterans Reintegration Program and executive director of USF Military Partnerships.

“This is a great effort here, focuses on collaboration, not competition. This is the first summit, and you will be the plank holders. This moment, this opportunity, is a window we have to jump through.”

Lt. Gen. Steele pointed out that USF is affiliated with the James A. Haley VA Hospital, the busiest VA hospital in the country, and the Bill Young VA Hospital, providing ample opportunities for strong collaboration. And as more and more veterans return home, he said, the number of injuries will need to be addressed.

“It is critical what you’re doing, even at the cellular level, because it’s only getting worse. The sustained injuries, the load-bearing equipment they wear, the helmets and neck injuries, the pelvic stress. Low back pain is the biggest issue we have in the military today, particularly in the Marines and the Army. And the demands for what they need to carry are only getting higher.”

And he urged them to continue with their work for all “soldiers, airmen and women, Marines, coast Guard and anyone else who is injured to give them all a chance, an opportunity, to live their lives larger than they’re living them right now.”

Following Lt. Gen. Steele’s keynote address, the group set out to create an asset map of research already taking place and facilities available around the state, which will provide a baseline of the current state of neuromusculoskeletal research initiatives, collaborations, and priorities in Florida.

Dr. Quillen provided a launching point for discussion.

“We were fortunate to acquire of the past few years about a million-dollars-worth of equipment that can quantifiably measure every part of the neuromuscular functional performance,” Dr. Quillen said. “So why can’t our work be inter-institutional. It’s collaboration, not competition.”

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications.