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CHPConnect
College of Health Professions Newsletter
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| Welcome to CHPConnect Volume 2, Issue 4! CHPConnect is a bridge to our college—a two-way connection to engage and share good news, accomplishments, and experiences of our community of students, faculty, staff, and partners.
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| | Community Partner & Student Engagement
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AuD Students from Across Michigan Get Together!
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| Students from all four AuD programs in Michigan gathered together for dinner, learning, and hands-on experiential learning with hearing aids and hearing assistive technology on October 18, 2023 in Lansing, Michigan. The students also spent time hearing from a guest panel about various careers they may pursue after graduation. Jen Smart, Ph.D., CCC-A, who serves on the Student Outreach Advisory Panel for Phonak, contributed to the planning of this special event and served on the career panel. GVSU AuD students in their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years attended along with Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, and Wayne State University AuD students.
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Clinical Dietetics Students Partner with ALS Association
Clinical Dietetics graduate students are partnering with the ALS Association to educate the loved ones of those with ALS. Labs include an introduction to tube feeding management, dysphagia diets, high-calorie high-protein diets, and navigating the healthcare system focusing on nutrition.
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SLP Students Help Refugee Children and
Adolescents Prevent Summer Slide
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GVSU speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students partnered with Learning Cafe to support the language and literacy of African refugee and other children from the Oakdale neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Our GVSU team was led by Dr. Courtney Karasinski, in addition to SLP graduate students Erica Alexander, Autumn Buikema, Savannah Kendra, Alexis Khan, Stephanie Lester, Samantha Myers, and Madelyn Schrot.
The GVSU SLP team was welcomed into this experience by Dr. Rui Niu-Cooper of GVSU's graduate program for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages in the College of Education and Community Innovation. Learning Cafe is a camp that aims to prevent the academic "summer slide" experienced by many school-aged children and adolescents.
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AuD Students Attend Auditory Implant Workshop
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| Three second-year Doctor of Audiology (AuD) students had the opportunity to attend the 3rd Annual Auditory Implant Workshop hosted by Michigan Ear Institute (MEI). Attendance included AuD students from Central Michigan University and Wayne State University, along with local practicing audiologists. The workshop provided the students and audiologists with a real-life perspective of the latest technologies and surgeries available to improve hearing at MEI. Education sessions included hands-on cochlear implant and bone conduction hearing device workshops presented by implant manufacturers along with real-time surgery check-ins and a hands-on temporal bone lab presented by MEI neuro-otologists.
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| | Student Achievements & Recognition
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2023 Academic Excellence
CHP Students Recognized by the Graduate School
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN THE DEGREE PROGRAM
Autumn Cannon, Speech-Language Pathology
Terese Feldpausch, Occupational Science and Therapy
Jenna Kesh, Physician Assistant Studies
OUTSTANDING MASTER’S THESIS
Sarah Corder, Occupational Science and Therapy
Allison Range, Occupational Science and Therapy
Spencer Jackson, Occupational Science and Therapy
Alayna Kagande, Occupational Science and Therapy
Lydia Stout, Occupational Science Therapy
OUTSTANDING PUBLICATION
Shannon Metzger, Occupational Science and Therapy
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY OR PROFESSION
Stephanie Lester, Speech-Language Pathology
Torey Todd, Physician Assistant Studies
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO GVSU
Noelle Kraus, Physician Assistant Studies
Sydney Spotts, Occupational Science and Therapy
EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT GVSU
Trevor Dunn, Physician Assistant Studies
Madelyn Schrot, Speech-Language Pathology
2023 PRESIDENTIAL RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENTS
WINTER 2023
Maggie Carey, Public Health
Title: Sensory-friendly built environments and accommodations for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Dolly Kellogg, Public Health
Title: An assessment of Kent County’s kindergarten through fourth-grade teachers’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs: A focus on food allergies
Chloe Peitsch, Public Health
Title: Perceptions of Physician Assistants Regarding Their Education and Genetic/Genomic Knowledge
SPRING-SUMMER 2023
Lauren Czajka, Emily DeMers, Elise Kuiper, Andrea Valdes Flores, Jenna Prohaska, Occupational Science and Therapy
Title: The Effectiveness of Technology and Smart-Home-Based Teaching Modules for Direct Care Workers
Jamie Drow, Occupational Science and Therapy
Title: Bridging the Gap for Acute Care Occupational Therapists Treating Bariatric Patients: Utilizing Knowledge Translation to Provide a Hands-on Learning Experience
FALL 2023
Paige Flickinger, Allyssa Toth, Madielyn Knaggs, Jonathan Newby, Renee Olsen, Occupational Science and Therapy
Title: Cerebral Palsy and Social Participation: A Case Report
Congratulations to all!
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MPH Student Publishes Research in
Health Disparities Scientific Journal
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Ally Goerge, MPH (Class of 2023) published her master's project research in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Disparities.
Article: Goerge, A., Sanderson, M., Flewellen, C., Busen, K., & Nechuta, S. (2023). The Role of Spirituality on Physical Activity and Sleep Among African American Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 10.1007/s40615-023-01791-3. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01791-3
Conclusion: In African American long-term breast cancer survivors, a higher spirituality score increased the likelihood of greater PA and high sleep duration. These results indicate that interventions surrounding spirituality may benefit the QOL of African-American breast cancer survivors.
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Public Health Student Awarded Practicum Stipend
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Brennan Richardson was awarded a $3,500 stipend for his practicum work from the Public Health Region V Training Center. He qualified with his mosquito and tick work in the vector lab at the Kent County Health Department. His work served rural and underserved populations around the county. His duties provided active surveillance, as well as community outreach and education opportunities for the public on mosquito and tick safety.
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 | Dr. Shirley A. Kleiman, DPT, PT, OCS, cert. MDT
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Dr. Shirley A. Kleiman
Dr. Shirley Kleiman received her B.S. in Physical Therapy from Grand Valley State University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University. Awarded "Distinguished Alumna" from GVSU, Shirley developed Kleiman Biomechanical Correction Technique (BCT), a clinically proven therapeutic exercise program only offered at her private practice in Grand Rapids, Spine & Sport Biomechanical Rehabilitation Center.
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GVSU Distinguished Alumna
Kleiman-BCT takes a skeletal-to-muscular perspective of the body to help minimize pain, medical use, and the need for surgical intervention. The technique is a functional model for treating joint restrictions with corrective exercises to teach the patient to assess, correct, and prevent joint restriction and maintain functional joint biomechanics. Visit her website to learn more about Dr. Shirley Kleiman, BCT, and Spine & Sport Biomechanical Rehabilitation Center.
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Azizur Molla, Ph.D., M.P.H.
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Public Health Faculty Book Proposal Accepted
Azizur Molla’s book proposal was recently accepted for publication by Springer Nature. “Climate Change, Drinking Water Security, and Public Health,” a 20-chapter textbook for students and teachers will be available for use in the Fall 2025. As Dr. Molla stated in his proposal to Springer, “It is also a resource book for researchers, program planners, advocates, and policymakers, and specifically, this book aims to:
- examine the association between climate change, drinking water, and public health,
- enhance knowledge of the topics, and
- recommend strategies and interventions to address the threats of climate change on drinking water and health.”
The chapters will be written by Dr. Molla, as lead editor, along with various authors who are world authorities on climate change, drinking water, and public health. Disciplines such as public health, environmental science, environmental engineering, and civil engineering professionals are the audience of this book. As this book’s primary audience, students, teachers, researchers, program planners, advocates, and policymakers will use this unique book to understand and respond to the challenges of drinking water security as our climate changes.
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Celebrating 2023 Outstanding Preceptors
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Pictured from left to right: Jessica Kever, Julie Verdusco, Gary Detweiler, Marissa Doletzky, Amy Werling, Jill Bustin, Valerie Brickner, Matthew Lypka, Kelly Cartwright, Joe Dykstra, Ellen Smartt, Jennifer Vajda, and Brian Kane; Not pictured: Deb Brewer, Michelle Chvalva, Gisele Pereira, and Courtney Van Note
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| We honor and recognize the outstanding clinical preceptors who have supported our students and programs each year.
Marissa Doletzky, M.S., CCC-SLP–Speech-Language Pathology
Joe Dykstra, MA, AT, ATC–Athletic Training
Kelly Cartwright, PT, DPT–Physical Therapy
Gisele Pereira, DABR–Medical Dosimetry
Jill Bustin, MPH, RHIA–Health Information Management
Brian Kane, R.T. (T.)–Radiation Therapy
Amy Werling PA-C–Physician Assistant Studies
Gary Detweiler PA-C–Physician Assistant Studies
Julie Verdusco PA-C–Physician Assistant Studies
Deb Brewer, CTRS–Recreational Therapy
Matthew Lypka, MPH–Public Health
Courtney Van Note, MBA, RDMS, RVT–Medical Sonography
Valerie Brickner, AuD. CCC-A–Audiology
Jennifer Vajda, RD–Clinical Dietetics
Ellen Smartt, MS, RDN–Applied Food and Nutrition
Jessica Kever, MS, OTRL–Occupational Therapy
Michelle Chvalva, MHS, MLS–Medical Laboratory Science
Congratulations to all of our 2023 Outstanding Preceptors,
and thank you for teaching the next generation of health care providers!
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We are sad to announce the unexpected and untimely passing of our colleague, Dr. Bonni Kinne. Bonni was a trusted colleague in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, an exceptional educator and scholar, and a dear friend to many of us.
Bonni joined the DPT program faculty in 2010 and served as a Director of Clinical Education during her tenure at GVSU. Prior to this, she was a full-time clinician in the Lansing area, becoming a highly regarded expert in the evaluation and treatment of vestibular disorders. She was also an active and highly productive scholar, publishing over 25 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 35 presentations. She was very active in service to the institution, serving at all levels including her role as the chair of the College of Health Professions Faculty Council and University International Education Committee, Faculty Grievance Committee, and Student Conduct Committee. Dr. Kinne was also very active in APTA Michigan, including her service as an officer for the APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research and the APTA Michigan Clinical Education Consortium, for which she received the APTA Michigan President’s Award.
We remember Bonni for the joy she brought each day to her personal relationships and to her work. She cared deeply about the success of her students, the DPT program, and the university. She will be greatly missed.
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Happy Holidays from Dean JackieDear colleagues, alumni, and clinical partners,
As the holidays approach, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy holiday season and a prosperous new year!
Thank you to all faculty and staff colleagues for another productive and successful year. The university, clinical partners, and our students recognize your dedication and teamwork. The four successful accreditations and remarkable student outcomes this year are the best examples.
Student-centric education is a major characteristic of GVSU that differentiates us from many other universities, which is why we identify empowering student learning as a strategic priority. Our programs have achieved a lot in their student empowerment. We continue to explore the roles of navigators and advisors as we put learners in greater control of their educational journey as we support and encourage our undergraduate and graduate students to pursue their passion and purpose. Our college has provided over 90% of students with experiential learning opportunities and we will continue to work with programs to expand experimental learning in breadth and depth. The college's Council of Student Success and Empowerment will lead the discussions and development in this area—one of our priorities in winter 2024.
In our final issue of 2023, we highlight the student engagement of our Audiology, Clinical Dietetics, Speech-Language Pathology, and Public Health students, in addition to the academic excellence citations and presidential research grants awarded to our graduate students. We also celebrate our 2023 outstanding preceptors, highlight our distinguished alumna, Shirley Kleiman, and the success of Dr. Azizur Molla's new book contract with Springer. Please congratulate them when you see them. We are proud of all of you! Finally, in closing, we honor and remember our dear colleague, Bonni Kinne.
Again, Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Jackie Zhang
Dean
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