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…
May 3, 2021
Todd Pridemore named Director of Advancement
The School of Health Professions is pleased to welcome Todd Pridemore as the school’s director of advancement starting May 17. Pridemore joined Mizzou in 2018 as a gift planning and regional advancement officer and was promoted to director of advancement for MU Health Care in 2020. His previous fundraising experience includes the Baptist Home and the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Todd earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from MU and his Master of Divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. “Todd’s skills and experience in building relationships will benefit our alumni, students, faculty…
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 19, 2021
Shining bright
One of the defining characteristics of School of Health Professions students is their desire to improve lives. David Gardner II, a senior Health Sciences major from Chicago, is an example of what it means to bring heart and dedication together to help others. Journey to Health Professions David Gardner attributes his success to support and drive from family members including his mother, Kristee Davis (top), a psychology professor, and grandmother, Geneva George, a civil rights activist. Gardner transferred to Health Professions his junior year after initially pursuing an education in animal science. Meeting with his adviser and…
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
March 24, 2021 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…
March 24, 2021
Audio-enhanced storybooks can improve vocabulary of at-risk preschoolers
March 24, 2021 A new study by the University of Missouri has found that using interactive, pre-recorded storybooks can improve the vocabulary of at-risk preschoolers – good news for getting a vulnerable population of children ready for school. “While we are working with children who are only 4 or 5 years old, we teach them the vocabulary words they will need to know when they eventually enter elementary or middle school,” said Elizabeth Kelley, an assistant professor in the MU School of Health Professions, who collaborated with Howard Goldstein at the University of South Florida, on the project. “If we can teach…