Anja Leefeldt - University of Delaware

Welcome! Anja Leefeldt, Instructor, Dietetic Internship Program – BHAN LaVonne Sumler, Sponsored Programs Assistant – PT Elaine Young, Office Coordinator – PT Ellen Wruble, Director, DPT Program (eff. 1/16/2011) – PT Carol Breeze, Professional/Laboratory Coordinator – MEDT Jillian Trabulsi, Assistant Professor, Medical Nutrition – BHAN Debbie Hrivnak, Staff Assistant, UG/Grad Clinical Coordination - NUR Susan Ruggiero, Assistant, Nurse Managed Health Center - NUR Lalitha Kambhamettu, Nurse Managed Health Center - NUR Carine Sakr, Nurse Managed Health Center - NUR Suzanne Milbourne, The Children’s Study - NUR

An undergraduate scholarship has been established in honor of Keith Handling, long-time athletics trainer and associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology.

Programs In Development: Concentration in Pre-Medical Studies within the Health Behavior Science major Interdisciplinary PhD in Biomedical Sciences

Buz Swanik received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Minor in Public Health has been launched. Established summer 2010 as a collaboration between CHS and School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy.

Carlton Brown received an Award of Excellence for his book, A Guide to Oncology Symptom Management, in the 22nd annual APEX Awards for Publication Excellence, sponsored by Writing That Works. As President of the Oncology Nursing Society, he also presented testimony to the FDA regarding opioid risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) on July 23, 2010. He was also designated one of the top 10 most influential nursing professors on a blog called “Mister Medicine.”

Bethany Hall-Long was the recipient of the “State Award for Nurse Practitioner Advocate” during the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners’ annual conference in June. The UD-CHOP site of the National Children’s Study received additional NIH funding (one of 30 sites in USA) for Formative Studies with teenage mothers and nonresidential fathers.

HANDLS data is available for those interested at: http://handls.nih.gov/06Coll.htm

BIOMS Program Among Top Doctoral Programs in U.S. •Assessment carried out by National Research Council, takes into account ~ 20 variables, from faculty productivity to graduate placement. •Measures based on data from 5,000 programs at 212 universities, spanning 62 fields. •Program won high scores for research activity based on average number of publications by faculty, average number of citations of those publications, percent of faculty with grants, and faculty awards.

Mary Ann McLane named “Alumni of the Year” for Neumann University to be recognized at their Homecoming on October 16.

Nurse Managed Health Center launched • Allen Prettyman and staff have seen over 60 clients. • More than ten UD departments have contracted for NHMC occupational health services which include respiratory physicals and screening exams, phlebotomy/lab work, spirometry, EKG, vision screening, Dept of Transportation exams, and acute injury treatment. • Evelyn Hayes, Dr. Lalitha Kambhamettu and Dr. Carine Sakr complete the healthcare team. • Located on UD campus in collaboration with Christiana Care Health System.

Nancy Getchell received a UD Global Partnership Award to develop a relationship between the University of Otago School of Physical Education in New Zealand and Departments of KAAP and BHAN.

Undergraduate nursing students secured 5 of 54 positions in the nurse extern program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Of the 600 applicants to this program, UD accounted for the most students hired from one institution. Two of these individuals were the speakers during their graduation ceremony.

Janice Selekman received the “Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice” Award for the category of Nurse Educator. Erlinda Wheeler was a finalist in the same category.

Virtua Health, Inc. (a four-hospital system in New Jersey) is a new Medical Technology affiliate.

Carolee Polek will receive “The Pennsylvania State University Shirley Novosel Award for Outstanding Nursing Alumni” during a November 1st ceremony at Penn State. She was also nominated, interviewed and selected to be a Stakeholder for the American Cancer Society, Extramural Grants Section, for a 2 year term. She is one of 39 individuals to be selected in the U.S.

Canine partners help kids with autism spectrum disorder step up the pace • Collaboration between faculty in Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition (Iva Obrusnikova and Janice Bibik) and School of Education (Al Cavalier) • Partnership with community organization PAWS for People • Supported by seed funding from University of Delaware Research Foundation • Aimed at collecting preliminary data to serve as basis for NIH proposal

Additional Updates: • Nursing’s MSN program (NP, CNS, HSAD) is booming with 61 admissions to the various MSN programs this fall. • Medical Technology is completing its self-study for reaccreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. • Martha Callahan (PT) was promoted to Sr. Administrative Assistant. • PT retirements effective 12/31/2010: Paul Mettler & Irene Davis

Slobodan Jaric was awarded two grants: 2010-2012 – Evaluation of novel tests of neuromuscular function (R21AR06065). NIH-NIAMS, $420,750 2010-2011 – Brian Gain Program (Support of higher education in developing countries), World University Service, Austrian Center, $9,500

• Amy Cowperthwait (NUR), Tara Manal (PT), Laura Schmitt (PT) and Allan Carlsen (Theatre) received $5,000 from the Marmot Foundation to springboard the Standardized Patient Program. • Theatre students serve as standardized patients for nursing and PT students • Enables students to learn how to manage the unexpected without compromising standard of care required with actual patients

Michelle Parent awarded $95,000 from Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology for a collaborative project investigating a novel vaccine against Yersinia pestis.

Paula Klemm, Erlinda Wheeler and the SON received $36,608 in HRSA Nurse Traineeship Monies to support Masters students.

Diabetes Study • Raelene Maser (MEDT) and Dr. James Lenhard (CCHS) • Evaluating effectiveness of new treatment for nerve dysfunction, or diabetic neuropathy • Research is being conducted at Diabetes and Metabolic Research Center in Christiana Care Research Institute • Supported by Delaware INBRE grant P20 RR01647210, sponsored by National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health

UD and Nemours partner on bone disorder study • Researchers: Chris Modlesky (KAAP), Michael Bober M.D. (Nemours) • Funded by Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation • Two-year study exploring the use of an FDA-approved vibration platform to build bone in children with OI

Judy Herrman received $10,000 from the AAUW Community Action Grants to provide a program called "Safe Dates for Young Mothers," a dating violence prevention curriculum for teens who are pregnant or parenting. She also conducted focus groups with women involved in the "Healthy Beginnings" program at CCHS--presenting findings to the multidisciplinary teams associated with women's health.

Ingrid Pretzer-Aboff was the recipient of University of Delaware International Research Award for the project, “Merging Delaware and Italian Chronic Care Research” ($3000) and the first Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation Distinguished Scholar in Nursing Award for outstanding achievement in improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease ($1,000). Her regional research was featured in UDaily.

Kathy Riley-Lawless and Diane Rudolphi organized the first School of Nursing Welcome Back Social and Activities Fair on August 18th. Geared toward freshmen, the event also included faculty and upperclassmen who manned booths representing ROTC/Armed Forces, Christian Nursing Fellowship, Lori's Hands, Student Nurses Organization, and Beta Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, Men in Nursing organization and the Minority Student Nurses Association.

UD joins consortium focused on geriatric health • UD now a member of Eastern Pennsylvania-Delaware Geriatric Education Center (EPaD GEC). • Enabled by $250,000 grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. • Established in 2005, consortium works collaboratively with community organizations and agencies to offer interprofessional education and training to enhance healthcare for the elderly.