June 16, 2021
Family support key to overcoming barriers to HIV treatment in Africa
June 16, 2021 Story contact: Brian Consiglio, 573-882-9144, consigliob@missouri.edu Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that physical mobility, transportation and financial issues pose the biggest barriers to accessing HIV treatment for older adults in South Africa, where 20 to 30 percent of people over age 50 are infected with the virus. However, MU researchers also found that family support proved to be the strongest facilitator in overcoming these challenges thanks to changing attitudes in Africa about HIV/AIDS. “What we found was older adults with HIV often have younger family members who have been raised in a society of…
June 10, 2021
Respiratory Therapist inducted into Public Health honor society
June 10, 2021 Sara Parker, MPH ’14, associate clinical professor of Respiratory Therapy, is among the newest inductees to the MU chapter of Delta Omega, a national honor society for public health. She was one of only five alumni invited to apply for membership this year. “Sara was selected because of her outstanding academic record while a student in the MPH program and her continued dedication to the field of public health,” said Jenna Wintemberg, chapter adviser and assistant teaching professor of Health Sciences. As a public health alumna and registered respiratory therapist, Parker recognizes the overlap between public health…
June 7, 2021
Kuruvilla-Dugdale named to Communication Disorders Review Committee
June 7, 2021 By Kelsey Pritchett Mili Kuruvilla-Dugdale, assistant professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, has been nominated to and will serve on the Communication Disorders Review Committee for the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). This 21-member committee advises on programs and activities, grant applications, awards and special projects focused on deafness and other communication disorders. Dr. Kuruvilla-Dugdale has served for the past three years as the ad hoc reviewer for NIDCD on two different review committees. Her work involves reviewing training, early-career research grants and loan repayment grants. “It’s an honor…
May 4, 2021
Monica Schibig leaving Respiratory Therapy program
Monica Schibig, Respiratory Therapy program director and associate clinical professor in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (CDS), will be leaving the university July 31 to be closer to family in St. Louis. “Monica is a people person,” said Kathy Moss, CDS department chair. “She has used a vast network of professional connections developed over nearly three decades in respiratory therapy education to effectively lead the on-campus, online and satellite respiratory therapy programs at MU.” Under Schibig’s leadership, MU’s programs received the Apex Recognition Award from the American Association for Respiratory Care, an award designating an elite group of…
May 3, 2021
Seven Health Professions students tapped in Mizzou secret societies
May 3, 2021 In a tradition dating back to 1917, small groups of students have been selected (or “tapped”) by their peers to join one of the University of Missouri’s six secret honorary societies. The six societies – QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa and the Rollins Society – honor new members for their service, leadership and commitment to the Mizzou community. Last Friday, seven Health Professions students were tapped in the 94th Tap Day ceremony. Congratulations to all new taps! Holly GrahamJuniorHealth ScienceMystical Seven Chris KimJuniorHealth ScienceMortar…
April 27, 2021
Lack of educational opportunities influence drug use for rural youth
April 27, 2021 Having grown up poor in a rural village in Zimbabwe, Wilson Majee saw firsthand as a child the lack of educational opportunities that were easily accessible and how that impacted the youth in his village. Now an associate professor of Health Sciences and Public Health in the University of Missouri School of Health Professions, Majee researches the challenges facing disadvantaged, rural youth. He found in a recent study that young people who are disengaged from their communities are much more likely to participate in risky behaviors such as substance abuse, particularly in rural areas that lack educational…
April 20, 2021
Alumni spotlight: Abbey Twehous, pediatric physical therapist
April 20, 2021 In these spotlights, we feature recent Health Professions alumni who are improving people’s health and well-being in a variety of careers all across the country. Find out what they’re doing now, and how their Mizzou education helped them get there. Abbey Twehous Degrees and graduation years: BHS ’17 (Health Sciences), DPT ’20 Job title: Pediatric Physical Therapist Employer: Special Learning Center Current city: Jefferson City, Missouri Physical Therapy for little ones Twehous kneels next to a client’s foot on a treadmill in the PhysZOU clinic for gait training. Can you describe your current…
April 16, 2021
University of Missouri System honors professors with President’s Awards
University of Missouri President Mun Choi recognized nine University of Missouri faculty for their outstanding contributions to their universities, Missouri and the world. Three School of Social Work faculty received the President’s Award for Intercampus Collaboration: Kelli Canada, associate professor, Ashley Givens, assistant professor, and Clark Peters, associate professor. This recognition was shared with colleagues from UMSL and UMKC. Together, this group comprises the inter-campus research team behind the Prison Research and Innovation Network grant, funded by the Urban Institute. In collaboration with the Missouri Department of Corrections, this research team was one of only five selected nationally to examine…
April 8, 2021
MU study finds racial inequality within heart transplant process
April 8, 2021 A new study from the University of Missouri found that Black patients with advanced heart failure were more likely to receive a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, later in their disease progression compared to white patients, ultimately resulting in worse health outcomes. Adrianne Frech, an associate professor in the MU School of Health Professions, is a medical sociologist interested in addressing inequalities within the health care system. She was curious if race affected a patient’s ability to access newer versions of LVADs, which are implanted into the chest of a patient with advanced heart failure to…
March 24, 2021
Laura Schopp announces retirement
Laura Schopp, professor and chair of the Department of Health Psychology in the School of Health Professions, will retire this summer, after 26 years of service at MU. “I moved to Columbia in 1989 for graduate school wondering if I could possibly spend three years in the same place after having moved a lot in the previous years,” said Dr. Schopp, who earned her master’s degree and PhD from MU. After completing a clinical internship at Duke University, Dr. Schopp returned to MU in 1995 for a post-doctoral fellowship before transitioning to a full-time faculty position. “MU has given me…