NSU Health Veterans Care Receives $5 million from the State

From left, President George L. Hanbury II, Dr. Leonard Pounds, Sen. Alexis Calatayud, and Executive Vice President, COO and President-Elect Dr. Harry K. Moon.

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Florida state Sen. Alexis Calatayud came to the Alan B. Levan l NSU Broward Center of Innovation and presented a check for $5 million from the State of Florida to Nova Southeastern University’s NSU Health Veterans Care.

On hand to receive the check were Dr. Leonard Pounds, NSU’s Vice President of Clinical Operations; NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II; and Dr. Harry K. Moon, NSU’s COO, Executive Vice President, and President-Elect.

Posted 10/09/23

Health Science Alum Shares HIV Work at Fast-Track Conference

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H., presented his HIV work at the Fast-Track Cities 2023 conference, which took place on Sept. 25-27, 2023, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Organized by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), his presentation was titled “Examining the Health Equity of Health Systems, Policy, and Data Gaps for People Living with HIV: The Health Equity Tracker.”

The presentation focused on his endeavor to address the significant gap HIV incidence, particularly in the southern United States, with a specific focus on Georgia and Louisiana. To tackle this challenge, he and colleagues developed a powerful tool known as the Health Equity Tracker (HET) at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. What sets the HET apart is its ability to provide a more comprehensive array of metrics and insights compared to conventional choropleth maps.

HET is equipped with practical features, including comparison tools, enabling users to assess and contrast different locations and diseases. It also allows for customized reports tailored specifically for vulnerable communities, such as black women. Purcell says he firmly believes that making this data readily accessible to a wide audience, including patients, community organizers, physicians, and policymakers, will play a pivotal role in advancing health equity for individuals living with HIV across the United States.

Purcell holds a Ph.D. in Health Science from NSU, accompanied by an M.P.H in Epidemiology. Beyond his research endeavors, Purcell imparts his expertise in epidemiology as an adjunct assistant professor at Yeshiva University and Nebraska Methodist College. Additionally, he has taken on the responsibility of educating emerging healthcare leaders on the critical legal aspects of the healthcare domain.

Currently based at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, he actively contributes to advancing health equity through his involvement with the Health Equity Tracker. This multifaceted commitment exemplifies his dedication to underrepresented communities and resonates with NSU’s ethos of impactful scholarship and community advocacy.

Posted 10/08/23

Health Care Sciences Faculty to Speak at Kenyan Conference

Kamilah Thomas-Purcell

Kamilah Thomas-Purcell,  Ph.D., M.P.H., M.C.H.E.S, an associate professor at the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences in the Department of Health Sciences, will speak on behalf of the Cancer Stigma, Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccination during the plenary session.

The plenary session is titled: “Fostering Team Science and Global Oncology Research: Highlights from ongoing AC3 Collaborative Projects at the 8th Bi-annual African Caribbean Cancer Consortium Scientific and Training Conference.” The event is scheduled on Oct. 11-14, 2023, at the Pride Inn Paradise, Hotel, Shanzu, in Mombasa, Kenya.

The 2023 conference theme is “Community to Molecular Approaches in Early Screening and Diagnosis to Promote Equitable Outcomes Through the Continuum of Care in Cancer Among Populations of African Ancestry”, https://ac3online.org/program-overview.

Posted 10/08/23

Interprofessional Education, Simulation to Open Gateway to Future of Health Care at NSU

For years, NSU has been raising the bar on health care in South Florida through interprofessional education and simulation. Our philosophy and practice have focused on training future professionals to interact with patients and collaborate as members of health care teams before practicing in real-life health care environments.

To enhance and expand our current world-class health care facilities, NSU Health is seizing the opportunity to put them under one roof at the future site of a brand new, standalone Interprofessional Simulation Complex, or SimCom.

This facility – spearheaded by EVP and COO Dr. Harry Moon and NSU Health – will serve as the cornerstone of NSU’s health care footprint on the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus, strategically located near the health care colleges, NSU Health’s clinics, the Center for Collaborative Research, and the HCA University Hospital. The facility’s infrastructure will be used by students on campus as well as all regional campuses virtually. Slated to open in 2025, SimCom will be supported by NSU Health’s new Interprofessional Simulation Institute – led by Executive Director Dawn Wawersik. The Institute – which already oversees the administration and operations of simulation activities for the university.

These cutting-edge endeavors will culminate in a uniquely beneficial asset to NSU students, educators, and researchers across all our regional campuses, as well as the health care community and industry at large. The much smaller former Dolphins training facility building, previously considered to house SimCom, will be repurposed to address much-needed office and classroom space on campus.

Learn more about these exciting endeavors.

Posted 09/26/23

Professor Presents End-of-Life Interaction Research in U.K.

Professor Chandregowda at his presentation

Chandregowda at the conference venue, the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, U.K.

Adithya Chandregowda, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, from the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at NSU, presented his research on facilitating end-of-life interaction between patients with severe communication impairment in the acute hospital and their families at the British Aphasiology Society (BAS) International Conference, 2023, hosted by the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK. His presentation was very well received, getting an honorary mention in the rising research star award category on the third day of the conference.

His research synopsis: Severe communication impairment during the end-of-life phase can hamper one’s ability to express feelings related to physical and emotional well-being and bid farewell to family members and friends. It could also prevent family members from seeking closure related to their loved one’s impending death.

Chandregowda’s research has generated interaction strategies that speech language pathologists and related health care professionals could provide family members of patients who have acutely encountered the end-of-life phase and have severe communication impairment.

Posted 09/24/23

Physician Assistant Grad Continues to Grow Her Business

Karli Plunkett and her staff

When Karli Plunkett – a 2017 alum and graduate of the NSU physician assistant program – graduated, she started the Orlando business Nectar Aesthetics, a medical spa specializing in tailored aesthetic treatments. Now, Plunkett is planning to open a second location in downtown Orlando in November.

Plunkett attributes her drive and success to the lessons learned at NSU. Surrounding herself with other passionate PAs from NSU also has been her recipe. Two of Plunkett’s practitioners are Jenni Jagers and Rheema Islam, 2022 and 2023 graduates.

“I remember when NSU accepted me I felt so lucky, and then once didactic started I transitioned straight into feeling overwhelmed,” she said. “Fortunately, I was surrounded by great people.”

Plunkett says the relations she formed in school meant a lot. She credits the student acceptance screening with making NSU’s program “an overall great experience.”

“I think this is often underappreciated, but NSU’s screening for students is excellent, and surrounded me with wonderful classmates to encourage and be encouraged by,” she said. “PA school was one of my greatest challenges, but the rewards have been undeniable.”

Posted 09/10/23

Professor Elected Vice Chair of SoFIA Advisory Council

Alina M. Perez, J.D., M.P.H., LCSW

Alina M. Perez, J.D., M.P.H., LCSW, a professor at the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences in the Department of Health Science, was elected vice chair for the Advisory Council of the South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA) , https://www.thesofia.org/.

SoFIA, formerly known as Impact Broward, is a nonprofit organization focused on providing equitable and quality services to the aging community and their families in South Florida.

SoFIA engages older adult volunteers who will assist with services virtually and in person to offer services to seniors and caregivers by providing companionship to isolated individuals, veterans, and military families as well as support to community centers. They also provide technical training to help seniors navigate the digital environment.

Posted 09/10/23

ASHA Committee Appoints NSU SLP Associate Director

Steven P. Vertz

Steven P. Vertz, M.S., CCC-SLP, associate director of Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program, has been appointed to the Committee on Nominations and Elections (CNE) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

ASHA’s CNE is charged with reviewing and interviewing applicants for openings on ASHA’s Board of Directors, overseeing procedures for increasing the awareness of ASHA members regarding the elections process for the national office, providing input to ASHA’s National Office staff, and cultivating and recruiting future candidates for board positions.

His two-year appointment, which began January 1, 2023, will end December 31, 2024. Vertz is proud to represent both his profession and Nova Southeastern University in this capacity.

Posted 08/27/23

Faculty Presents at International Conference in Iceland

Hinckley presenting at the University of Iceland.

Jackie Hinckley, Ph.D.

Jackie Hinckley, Ph.D., a professor in the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences of the Department of Speech/Language Pathology, was one of the platform presenters at the Nordic Aphasia Conference June 14 – 16, 2023, held at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, Iceland. The conference was attended by over 200 experts from Europe, Australia, and North America.

While in Iceland, Hinckley also participated in a meeting of the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists. Her presentation was titled, “Characteristics of Good Responders to Activity-Focused or Impairment-Focused Treatment.”

Posted 08/13/23

NSU PT Professor Receives Excellence in Research Award

Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez, D.P.T., Ph.D., PT, CNT, a professor in NSU’s Physical Therapy Department, was recognized with the National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT) Excellence in Research Award at the NANT conference in April 2023.

This annual award was created to honor neonatal occupational therapists, physical therapists, or speech-language pathologists who tirelessly contribute to quality research in the specialized field of neonatal therapy. Fernandez-Fernandez maintains clinical practice in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) since 2003, and she holds a neonatal therapist certification (Certified Neonatal Therapist), which recognizes the neonatal therapy expertise, education, and knowledge needed to effectively serve high-risk infants and families in the NICU.

She is also a Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist. She serves as a board member of the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board since 2014, and is the exam liaison for neonatal therapy certification, responsible for the training of item writers, and development, deployment, and outcome analysis of the international certification exam.

Additionally, she participates in development, deployment, and outcome evaluation of the neonatal therapy practice analysis, leading to multiple publications that explore ongoing trends in this clinical area of practice. She has presented at national and international conferences on various neonatal therapy topics including neonatal referral patterns, safe sleep protocols, and neonatal certification.

She has also contributed to the Spanish translation of the first and second editions of the SENSE program, which provides education to engage families in providing developmentally appropriate positive sensory exposures to optimize outcomes for their infants.

At NSU, Fernandez-Fernandez collaborates with Raquel Garcia, S.L.P., CCC-SLP, CNT, BCS-S, an associate professor in NSU’s Speech-Language Pathology Department, and Daphna Barbeau, M.D., medical director of Neonatal Neurodevelopment at Envision Health and HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) Florida University Hospital, in the Tiny Tots Transition to Home program, a weekly education program series which is offered to caregivers of infants in the NICU at HCA Florida University Hospital with the goal of improving caregiver-child attachment and reducing caregiver stress.

The program is funded by an NSU Quality of Life grant and involves the collaboration of multiple departments at NSU.

Posted 08/13/23

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