www.cohpa.ucf.edu/news/ The College of Health and Public Affairs is a global leader in creating positive community change. Mid-code Crisis Fri, 11 May 2012 09:12:00 Fri, 11 May 2012 09:12:00 http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/ucf-advisors-win-national-recognition/ Fri, 11 May 2012 09:12:00 Kristen Schellhase, Layla Archer /blog/2012/ucf-advisors-win-national-recognition/ Several  University of Central Florida staff and faculty members were recently honored by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) as some of the nation's top academic advisors of 2012. The four employees and one college, which will be honored at the national conference in Nashville in October, are: Angela Ritten, a faculty member in the College of Nursing, who was the recipient of a Certificate of Merit in the category of Faculty New Advisor. Jesse Sunski, coordinator of Freshman Explorations in First Year Advising and Explorations, who was honored as an outstanding new advisor in the category of New Advisor-Primary Role. Kristen Schellhase , director of the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training program and interim director of the Health Professions department, who received a Certificate of Merit in the category of faculty advisor. Layla Archer , assistant director of Undergraduate Student Services in the College of Health & Public Affairs, who was recognized as a top advisor in the category for employees whose primary role is advising. The College of Engineering and Computer Science, which earned a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Program for their Academic Alert program. /blog/2012/ucf-advisors-win-national-recognition/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/ucf-program-hiring-graduates-to-help-local-homeless-children/ Tue, 08 May 2012 14:01:00 Thomas Bryer /blog/2012/ucf-program-hiring-graduates-to-help-local-homeless-children/ By Karen Guin The television show "60 Minutes" placed a national spotlight on Central Florida last year when it aired two episodes on homeless children in Seminole County. Now UCF graduates have an opportunity to help these children through a new program hosted by the university's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. The center will hire 17 college graduates to work in the national service program known as VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America. They will work in both Seminole and Orange county organizations that provide services to homeless children and their families. Each VISTA member will serve full time for one year beginning in August. In return, they will receive expert training, a living allowance, child care if needed and some health insurance. They also will receive an education grant or cash payout after completing their service. "This is a terrific opportunity for our graduates to serve this population as well as launch a career in public service," said Thomas Bryer, director of the center and assistant professor of public administration. The center will place five VISTA members in Seminole County Public Schools' Families in Transition program, highlighted in "60 Minutes." Two others will work in the new Family Advocacy Office at Northland, a Seminole County church that supports the SCPS program. In Orange County, three VISTA members will serve at Orange County Public Schools' Homeless Education office, four will serve at Orange County homeless shelters and one will serve at First Baptist Orlando. The remaining two VISTA members will hold leadership positions based at the center. Bryer said the new VISTA members will start with several days of training in Atlanta, followed by training at the center in Orlando that will be ongoing. "Our staff will prepare the VISTAs to help the organizations with strategic planning, volunteer management, staff training, network development and other areas identified by our community partners," explained Bryer. "This will help build the capacity of the organizations to offer services and support to homeless children." The center will host the VISTA members with $329,397 a year for three years from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The funding will support three groups of VISTA members, each group working for one year. For further information about the center-hosted VISTA positions, visit  http://bit.ly/ISfBva or write  thomas.bryer@ucf.edu . To apply for one of the positions, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=45453 . For information about VISTA, visit www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp . For information about the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management, located in the School of Public Administration, visit www.cpnm.ucf.edu . /blog/2012/ucf-program-hiring-graduates-to-help-local-homeless-children/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/ehren-appointed-department-chair/ Tue, 08 May 2012 13:24:00 Barbara Ehren, Michael Frumkin /blog/2012/ehren-appointed-department-chair/ Barbara Ehren, professor of communication sciences and disorders and director of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders' doctoral program, has been appointed department chair effective May 8. Ehren is a nationally recognized leader in language and literacy with a focus on adolescents. She has a special interest in working with states and school districts to improve the effectiveness of literacy programs for diverse learners. Prior to joining the UCF faculty in 2007, Ehren was a research scientist with the University of Kansas, Center for Research on Learning. Previous positions included work in school district administration and teaching at Florida Atlantic University. Ehren is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Board Recognized Specialist in Child Language. She is a recipient of the Clinical Career Achievement Award from the Florida Language, Speech and Hearing Association. "Dr. Ehren is a superb educator and her reputation for the excellence of her work in the area of language and literacy will bring increased visibility and recognition to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders," said college Dean Michael Frumkin. "We are indeed fortunate to have her as part of the leadership team of the College of Health and Public Affairs." /blog/2012/ehren-appointed-department-chair/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/learning-how-funders-think/ Tue, 08 May 2012 10:06:00 Stephanie Loudermilk Krick, Mary Ann Feldheim /blog/2012/learning-how-funders-think/ By Karen Guin UCF graduate students learned first-hand how philanthropic organizations select programs to fund in a unique service-learning course taught this spring. Ten students enrolled in "Philanthropy, Fundraising and Social Entrepreneurship" worked with the Community Foundation of Central Florida to learn what foundations look for when matching needs with resources. The Community Foundation is an Orlando-based organization that manages and invests funds established by individuals, families and corporations. Members of the Community Foundation served as mentors who guided the students through a proposal funding cycle. "The students were able to request proposals from nonprofit organizations, research and meet with members of the organizations, review budgets and outcomes information, and ultimately develop funding recommendations," said Stephanie Loudermilk Krick, the course instructor and director of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance program in the School of Public Administration. On April 26, the students presented their recommendations for approximately $100,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations at a meeting of the Community Foundation Board. The board funded all of their recommended proposals. "The board was very impressed by their presentations," commented school Director Mary Ann Feldheim, who attended the board meeting. "The students were so passionate and well-prepared. It was truly an exceptional learning experience." Graduate students in any discipline were eligible to take the course. This first offering of the course included students in business administration, nonprofit management and social work. Feldheim said the school plans to offer the course again in spring 2013. For further information, contact stephanie.krick@ucf.edu. /blog/2012/learning-how-funders-think/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/a-public-affairs-milestone-touched-by-serendipity/ Wed, 02 May 2012 08:43:00 Rebekah Hazlett-Knudsen, Carole Zugazaga, Eileen Abel /blog/2012/a-public-affairs-milestone-touched-by-serendipity/ By Karen Guin The Doctoral Program in Public Affairs will reach a milestone tomorrow when the 100th student to complete the program graduates during commencement ceremonies for the College of Health and Public Affairs. Rebekah Hazlett-Knudsen earned this notable position when she successfully defended her dissertation earlier in the academic year. In several ways, Hazlett-Knudsen is a symbolic bookend to the first graduate of the doctoral program, Carole Zugazaga. As it turns out, both Zugazaga, graduate number 1, and Hazlett-Knudsen, soon to be graduate number 100, earned their master's degrees in social work at UCF. Moreover, they both went on to complete the public affairs doctoral program with a specialization in social work (now a "track") - quite a coincidence given that just seven graduates of the program have specialized in this discipline to date. And as serendipity would have it, Zugazaga was pregnant with her first child while completing her doctorate, and Knudsen is due any day now with her first child. Zugazaga is now a mother and an accomplished member of the social work faculty at Auburn University, which she joined shortly after earning her doctorate in 2002. In 2006, she received the College of Liberal Arts Early Career Teaching Award at Auburn. Today, statewide and regional organizations across Alabama seek her leadership and expertise in homelessness. Hazlett-Knudsen is on her way to a successful career too. This past year, she served as an instructor in UCF's School of Social Work, where she developed and taught courses in forensic social work. Her goal is to secure a tenure-track position where she can balance her interests in teaching and research on gender differences among criminal offenders. Not surprisingly, Associate Professor Eileen Abel, who serves as the social work coordinator for the doctoral program, is very proud of Zugazaga and Hazlett-Knudsen - and all others who have completed or are going through the public affairs-social work program for that matter. "We have wonderful students who bring a strong sense of intellectual curiosity to their research," Abel shared. "They are hardworking individuals who leave the public affairs program committed to undertaking community-based research. They aspire to make the world a better place." Joining Hazlett-Knudsen at tomorrow's commencement exercises will be six other students graduating from the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs. All will have bright futures ahead, however, only one will have the distinction of being graduate number 100: Dr. Rebekah Hazlett-Knudsen. /blog/2012/a-public-affairs-milestone-touched-by-serendipity/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/pirate-themed-party-honors-colleges-staff/ Fri, 27 April 2012 10:31:00 Michael Frumkin, Melvin Rogers, Katie Connolly, Vanessa Nixon, Ranetta Guinn /blog/2012/pirate-themed-party-honors-colleges-staff/ By Karen Guin Members of the College of Health and Public Affairs unleashed their inner buccaneer Wednesday at the college's Annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. This year's theme -- pirates -- prompted many to dress as scallywags and lasses. Those who arrived without an eye patch promptly received one at the door. Adding to the ambience were tables decorated with treasure boxes, jewels and doubloons. Music and scenes from the film Pirates of the Caribbean played in the background. The buffet luncheon included sweet plantains. Each spring, the college holds the luncheon for its staff members to recognize their contributions throughout the year. College administrators and faculty members are invited to attend as well to honor the staff's efforts. Dean Mike Frumkin donned a hat fit for a top swashbuckler to lead the festivities. Among the highlights were his announcement of the college's Employee of the Year Awards to Katie Connolly, Ranetta Guinn and Vanessa Nixon. Each award comes with a $1,000 check. He also announced the ever-popular door prizes, which included gift cards to local stores, coupons for local accommodations and a print by famed Florida photographer Clyde Butcher. At the conclusion, Frumkin extended his thanks to the college's hard-working committees that planned the event and coordinated the employee-of-the-year-award selections. Before leaving, pirates and landlubbers alike posed for photos against a backdrop certain to elicit memories of the fun-filled event. View Abi Bell's photos of the event. /blog/2012/pirate-themed-party-honors-colleges-staff/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/four-local-county-managers-learned-their-trade-at-ucf/ Wed, 04 April 2012 14:00:00 Melvin Rogers /blog/2012/four-local-county-managers-learned-their-trade-at-ucf/ By Karen Guin Brevard, Lake, Osceola and Seminole counties in Central Florida have at least two things in common: They border Orange County, home to UCF, and UCF graduates manage them. All four county managers -- Howard Tipton in Brevard County, Darren Gray in Lake County, Don Fisher in Osceola County and Jim Hartmann in Seminole County -- learned the fundamentals of local government management as students in UCF's public administration programs. Today, they are responsible for providing vital services to more than 1.5 million people in the four-county area. Like most county managers, Darren Gray oversees his county's budget, staff and day-to-day operations. As manager of Lake County, he is in charge of a $430-million-plus annual budget and about 750 employees. He also is responsible for the county's many departments, including Fire Rescue, Health and Human Services, Building Services, and Economic Development and Tourism. When managing such diverse operations, having "the right players on the team" is critical, Gray said. Then "solicit their ideas and recommendations," as well as those from citizens, businesses and other stakeholders. "At UCF, I learned a lot about team dynamics and how listening to other points of view could broaden my knowledge and affect my decision-making," shared Gray, who earned bachelor and master's degrees in public administration in the 1990s. "As the county manager, I'm constantly getting input from all directions and collectively this information allows me to make better decisions." Exercising due diligence is essential, he said, because "the wrong decisions can affect many people." Gray reports to his county's Board of Commissioners, composed of five elected officials. He is responsible for implementing policies set by the board, and he serves as the board's chief advisor. Brevard, Orange and Seminole counties also employ this "council-manager" structure. In fact, this structure is the most popular form of local government in the United States, according to the International City/County Management Association. Gray likes to remind people he got his start in local government as a student intern. Seminole County's Jim Hartmann remembers starting the same way. "A faculty member helped connect me with an internship opportunity in the Orange County Office of Management and Budget, which became the starting point of my career," Hartmann recalled. "I then pursed an M.P.A. while working at the county." He found the graduate curriculum particularly meaningful because it helped him better understand work-related problems and ways to solve them in the real world. Hartmann went on to hold manager positions in counties in South Carolina, Colorado and Virginia before returning to Central Florida in 2011. Over the years, he learned that developing trusting relationships is the key to success and leadership. "One must also be ethical and maintain integrity in all that you do," he added. Osceola County Manager Don Fisher made the same assertion: Professionalism is crucial in all aspects of the job. As an example, he cited the need to remain objective when working with the Board of Commissioners. "If an elected body votes differently from a staff recommendation, it's important not to take the decision personally," said Fisher. "Our job is to implement policy, not create it. Setting aside your ego and conducting yourself in a trustworthy, ethical and objective manner will lead to success when a big issue comes your way." Thinking back to his days at UCF, Fisher clearly recalls learning the "importance of ethics" from Instructor Mel Rogers and other lessons in public administration from professors and instructors who are still on the faculty. "Maintaining high ethical standards" is on Howard Tipton's list of strategies for success as well. The Brevard County manager also includes "building strong teams, building constituencies in good times, allowing for risk taking, setting clear expectations to drive performance and holding inclusive discussions with key stakeholders." Currently, Tipton is applying these strategies to improve economic development on the Space Coast following the end of the space shuttle program - one of many initiatives under his watch. Hartmann said he returned to Central Florida, and specifically to Seminole County, "for the quality of life." Not surprisingly, his top priorities include protecting and improving his county's livability for future generations. "How we use our valuable resources will be at the root of most decisions," he noted. "We must study things carefully and understand the potential consequences of our actions or inactions." Fisher's hope and vision for both Osceola County and the region are to have the most vibrant economy and the best quality of life of any place in the United States. "To make this happen, as a region, we must chose to build meaningful relationships to address our issues in a unified, cooperative and fair approach," he urged. Tipton also hopes that as a region "we will always see beyond our political boundaries and look at what we can do together." And he anticipates a future in which Central Florida becomes a leader in the global economy. "With a great infrastructure of roads, rail, air, sea and space; a strong corporate presence; strong educational institutions; a talented workforce; growing culture and arts; and tremendous natural resources," Tipton said, "we are too well-positioned not to be a significant player going forward." More than likely, UCF graduates working as leaders in local government will play a role in shaping that future. /blog/2012/four-local-county-managers-learned-their-trade-at-ucf/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/congratulations-founders-day-honorees/ Wed, 04 April 2012 07:48:00 Alice Noblin /blog/2012/congratulations-founders-day-honorees/ Congratulations to members of COHPA who were recognized at the annual Founders' Day ceremony, held today in the Pegasus Ballroom at the Student Union. Alice Noblin , director of the health informatics and management program received the University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Faculty Advising. She advises and instructs students in this program and helps them get ready for national testing. She is excellent at getting them ready. During the most recent nine-month reporting period, the pass rate on the national certification exam for UCF graduates was 100 percent while the national average pass rate was 74 percent. The UCF alumna also serves on many advisory committees including Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) Program Advisory Committee, RHIT Program Advisory Committee, and the Regional Extension Center Advisory Council. She's a leader in the field and is respected by the students she serves. Amanda Puttrich , a criminal justice major who was selected as the college's most Outstanding Student for 2012!  Puttrich was recognized at today's Founders' Day Convocation. Below are the remarks about her read by Dean Michael Frumkin. AMANDA PUTTRICH Since arriving on the UCF campus in 2008, Amanda Puttrich has had a truly remarkable academic career -- not only has she earned a 4.0 GPA in her major, criminal justice, she has earned an overall GPA of 4.0. Underlying this tremendous academic achievement is Amanda's unusually mature outlook on education and learning. She says she approaches every class as [quote] "a new opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and experience that will help me be more qualified to help others." This drive to both learn and help others has prompted Amanda to volunteer for a variety of organizations while in college. For example, in the local community, she has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Seminole County for the past four years, and this past year she has been a volunteer at SafeHouse of Seminole County. Amanda also has volunteered for organizations at UCF, including the UCF Student Conduct Board and UCF's Center for Multilingual and Multicultural Studies. Her experience as a conversation partner at the multilingual-multicultural center has been especially rewarding, she says, because she has learned so much from talking with students from different backgrounds and cultures. Amanda's desire to learn about the world prompted her to take an intensive Berlitz Language Course in Arabic at the Burnett Honors College one summer. And this past year, she participated in our popular summer study abroad program in Russia to learn about criminal justice in contemporary Russian society. As a senior at UCF, Amanda has spent hours working as a service-learning intern in the UCF office of Victim Services. Not surprisingly, her performance there has been outstanding, and it has resulted in her selection to participate in specialized training sessions on topics such as victim assistance, identity theft and crisis response. Amanda says her experience in UCF Victim Services has helped solidify her interest in pursuing a career in social work that focuses on children and families in the criminal justice system. After completing her bachelor's degree this spring, she plans to attend graduate school in social work, possibly at UCF. Amanda recently shared, "One of my main professional objectives is to incorporate and encourage understanding, respect and celebration of diversity throughout my professional career." Amanda, we are exceptionally proud of your accomplishments as a UCF student. With professional objectives like yours, I have no doubt you will make us equally proud as a UCF graduate. Congratulations on your selection as our most outstanding student for 2012! For universitywide coverage of all 2012 Founders' Day honorees, see http://today.ucf.edu/faculty-honored-for-excellence-at-founders-day-ceremony-2012/ . /blog/2012/congratulations-founders-day-honorees/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/c-usa-academic-medals-awarded-to-ucf's-best-and-brightest/ Thu, 29 March 2012 15:27:00 /blog/2012/c-usa-academic-medals-awarded-to-ucf's-best-and-brightest/ Six students from the College of Health and Public Affairs are among the UCF recipients of the prestigious Conference USA Academic Medal, an honor awarded to student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.75 or better. "Achieving a GPA of 3.75 or higher is a tremendous accomplishment for our student-athletes, who work hard in their classes while balancing the rigorous demands of their sports," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury . "The fact that so many of our student-athletes have earned academic recognitions from Conference USA is a testament to their determination and the support of our dedicated faculty members, coaches and academic advisors." The college's medal recipients are listed below. Jesse Baldwin Women's Rowing Communication Sciences and Disorders Beatriz Merino Women's Rowing Pre-Clinical Allied Health (Minor: Spanish) Tishia Jewell Women's Soccer Public Administration MPA/ Nonprofit Management Dara Spital Women's Soccer Communication Sciences and Disorders Taylor Dubins Women's Tennis Communication Sciences and Disorders Brittany McCord Women's Track Athletic Training For more information about this honor and the names of all UCF medal recipients, see http://tinyurl.com/7hzrhxk . /blog/2012/c-usa-academic-medals-awarded-to-ucf's-best-and-brightest/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/free-ipads-give-children-with-speech-difficulties-a-voice/ Wed, 28 March 2012 11:24:00 Jennifer Kent-Walsh /blog/2012/free-ipads-give-children-with-speech-difficulties-a-voice/ By Karen Guin Children with Down syndrome and limited speech recently received help learning to communicate using an iPad and special "apps" hand-selected by speech experts at the University of Central Florida. Fifteen children, ages 3 to 11, and their parents participated in "iCan Communicate" from March 22-24. The innovative program was offered collaboratively by UCF and the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida at the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) Assistive Technology Demonstration Center within the UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic. On March 22, the parents took part in an iPad training session led by UCF faculty and staff members and students. The following day, the parents assisted their children in therapy sessions to identify a relevant software application, or "app," for the child's individual communication needs. During the sessions, the children tested various "apps" with guidance from UCF graduate students studying speech-language pathology. Three faculty clinicians supervised the graduate students. Each "app" offers the child colorful keys containing pictures, words, or both pictures and words. When the child presses on a key, a synthesized voice says the selected word or message. By selecting a series of keys, the child can form simple messages up to complex sentences. Among the children was Brevan Walker, a 7-year-old boy who attentively practiced using an "app" to communicate about a bowling game he played during one therapy session. Associate Professor Jennifer Kent-Walsh, who directs the program and conducts research in the area of augmentative and alternative communication, monitored the session in a nearby room. On March 24, the children met for a final therapy session at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Afterwards, they practiced using their iPads to communicate while enjoying a "Spring Fling" egg hunt and luncheon at the college. Three-year-old Meredith Griffen used her iPad to communicate about the candy and other surprises she found in the eggs she collected. At the end of the program, the children received their own iPads to keep loaded with the "app" or "apps" identified by the graduate students and supervising clinicians. The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida donated both the iPads and "apps."  When applying to participate in the program, Meredith's mother shared that she and her husband learned in January that Meredith sustained vocal fold damage subsequent to surgery to repair Meredith's trachea and esophagus.  "Finding out that your child may not be physically able to speak can be devastating for parents," Kent-Walsh shared. "We were thrilled to be able to have Meredith participate in this program at such a young age since it is critical to provide all children with the tools they need to continue to develop their language and communication skills. Meredith is a bright child with an effervescent personality. It's incredible to see her already using her iPad to express herself more fully." UCF and the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida first offered the iCan Communicate program in October 2011 and plans for future programs are underway. "I can't think of another program quite like this in the country that provides free equipment and clinical services," Kent-Walsh noted. "The ability to merge the expertise of our clinical team with the vision and the resources of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida has been fantastic." Although there has been great interest in providing this type of program for children with other diagnoses who have limited speech, the current collaboration focuses exclusively on children with Down syndrome, she added. For further information on the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic and FAAST Assistive Technology Demonstration Center, see /clinic .  For further information on "iCan Communicate" and other "iCan" programs for individuals with Down syndrome, contact the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida at http://www.dsfflorida.org . /blog/2012/free-ipads-give-children-with-speech-difficulties-a-voice/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/study-findings-to-be-shared-at-ucf-disaster-preparedness-conference/ Thu, 22 March 2012 13:59:00 Naim Kapucu, Christopher Hawkins /blog/2012/study-findings-to-be-shared-at-ucf-disaster-preparedness-conference/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala A University of Central Florida team has created a tool that will help rural communities determine gaps in their disaster preparedness planning before a disaster strikes. The assessment tool and other findings from a national study about disaster preparedness and resiliency in rural communities will be shared during the "Building Disaster Resiliency and Sustainability" conference on Friday, March 30, at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. A team of professors examined disaster preparedness in 11 Central Florida counties to identify best practices that could be models for the nation.  Investigators Naim Kapucu and Chris Hawkins of the UCF School of Public Administration and  Fernando I. Rivera of the Department of Sociology led the team, which included several graduate students. They met regularly for 18 months to complete the USDA-funded study. "What we found is that while there are some plans that make good use of partnerships with an array of agencies, many communities suffer from a lack of resources to execute them whether it be lack of funding or personnel," Kapucu said. Some communities have some very good partnerships with nonprofits and other agencies in case of disaster, but sometimes the expectations of partners are not explicit, which could lead to some confusion during an emergency, he added. The team also created a Community Asset Inventory and Mapping tool, designed to  help rural communities identify  what resources t available and  find where gaps exist so they can be addressed before a disaster. A series of focus group interviews with citizen groups, faith-based community organizations, business representatives, and emergency management agencies also were held to discuss community resiliency and networks. The study team is organizing a workshop  a day before the conference on March 30. More preliminary findings will be shared at the conference, which is expected to draw 120 participants. A final report is expected in December. Frances L. Edwards, the deputy director of the National Transportation Security Center of Excellence at the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University, is the conference keynote speaker. She will discuss the "all hazards approach" and how a community can create resiliency despite current fiscal challenges. Emergency personnel from 11 Florida counties and national experts will participate in panel discussions. Among the panelists: Dave Freeman, emergency manager, Orange County; David Casto, emergency management director, Sumter County; Christine A. Bevc, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Ann-Margaret Esnard, Florida Atlantic University; Maureen (Mary) Brown, University of North Carolina Charlotte; Bryan W. Koon, director, Florida Division of Emergency Management; Alan Harris, emergency manager, Seminole County, and Joyce Shanahan, city manager of Ormond Beach and incoming FCCMA president. UCF professors Rivera, Hawkins and Kapucu will guide the discussions. Other members of the study team are:  Fatih Demiroz, a Ph.D. student in public affairs;  public affairs; Rebecca Dodson, a graduate student in public administration; and Marc Settembrino, a Ph.D. student in sociology. The workshop is geared toward scholars and emergency managers, but is open to the public. For information visit click here . /blog/2012/study-findings-to-be-shared-at-ucf-disaster-preparedness-conference/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/osceola-county-recognizes-social-work-program/ Thu, 22 March 2012 13:43:00 Sophia Dziegielewski, Marixa Salgado /blog/2012/osceola-county-recognizes-social-work-program/ By Karen Guin The Osceola County Board of Commissioners recently recognized the Master of Social Work program at UCF's Valencia Osceola campus with a formal proclamation.  During the board's March 19 meeting in Kissimmee, Board Chairman John Quiñones read a proclamation declaring March 2012 as "Social Work Month" in Osceola County to recognize the M.S.W. program's role in meeting the county's "vital need" for social workers.  The proclamation states the primary mission of the program: "to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable in Osceola County." It also refers to the program's "great promise" of graduating its first group of students in 2013. An M.S.W. prepares social workers for leadership roles and is usually required for supervisory, administrative and staff training positions. On hand to receive the written proclamation were Sophia Dziegielewski, interim director of the School of Social Work, and Marixa Salgado, an instructor and coordinator of the Osceola County program. Read the proclamation The School of Social Work established the M.S.W. program at UCF Valencia Osceola in the fall of  2010. It is the first master's degree program offered in Osceola County. /blog/2012/osceola-county-recognizes-social-work-program/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/ucf-graduate-programs-in-top-100-rankings-by-us-news-world-report/ Tue, 13 March 2012 08:12:00 Michael Frumkin /blog/2012/ucf-graduate-programs-in-top-100-rankings-by-us-news-world-report/ By Gene Kruckemyer U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools guide today ranked the University of Central Florida master's program in Nonprofit Management among that field's best 25 programs in the nation. Three additional graduate programs from the university's College of Health & Public Affairs were the next highest-ranking programs at UCF: "Criminology" [Criminal Justice at UCF] was ranked 26th in its category, "Healthcare Management" [Health Services Administration] was ranked 46th, and "Public Affairs" [Public Administration] was listed at 59th. All four of the COHPA programs moved up in their rankings this year. "Peer rankings such as these reflect our faculty's dedication and commitment to offering the highest quality graduate programs," said Michael Frumkin, dean of the College of Health & Public Affairs. "I'm extraordinarily proud of our growing national reputation." The College of Education also had two programs ranked in the top 25. It's graduate counselor education program ranked 11th and its special education graduate program ranked 14th. The College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) also had a program listed at number 13. Others from UCF in the top 100 of their specific fields were: Industrial Engineering (48), Computer Engineering (57), Electrical Engineering (62), Environmental Engineering (68), Best Engineering School (72), Speech-Language Pathology [Communication Sciences and Disorders] (78), Materials Engineering (74), Nursing (79), Civil Engineering (81), Social Work (89), Physical Therapy (99) and Best Education School (100). More than 1,200 programs were reviewed for the magazine's annual graduate-school guide.  The scores are based on expert opinions about programs and a variety of statistical indicators that gauge the quality of faculty, researchers and students at each institution. The rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/grad . Highlights of the rankings will be on sale in the Best Graduate Schools book at newsstands beginning April 3. /blog/2012/ucf-graduate-programs-in-top-100-rankings-by-us-news-world-report/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/college-announces-2012-summer-research-institute/ Thu, 01 March 2012 09:21:00 /blog/2012/college-announces-2012-summer-research-institute/ The College of Health and Public Affairs invites college faculty members and doctoral students to attend the 2012 Summer Research Institute, planned for May 1-3. Experts will make presentations on selected research strategies and techniques in morning and afternoon sessions held in HPA I - 335. For a list of topics and presenters, see COHPA Summer Research Institute . To sign up for one or more presentations, complete the Sign-Up Sheet and submit it to Patricia.Means@ucf.edu . /blog/2012/college-announces-2012-summer-research-institute/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/gabrielle-giffords-therapist-collaborates-with-ucf-to-promote-art-therapy/ Fri, 24 February 2012 10:30:00 Janet Whiteside /blog/2012/gabrielle-giffords-therapist-collaborates-with-ucf-to-promote-art-therapy/ By Zenaida Gonzalez-Kotala Nancy Helm-Estabrooks, the neurological-disorders expert who has been treating former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, is visiting the University of Central Florida this week to promote the benefits of art as part of stroke therapy. Giffords was shot in 2011 losing her ability to speak. She resigned earlier this year and continues to recover. Helm-Estabrooks, a national expert on aphasia, the loss of speech that results from a stroke or other neurologic injury, is consulting with UCF's Janet Whiteside on the innovative techniques being used at The Aphasia House, a treatment facility at UCF. The Aphasia House , one of only five intensive aphasia programs in the country, teams speech-language pathology graduate students with clients to work one-on-one for four hours a day every day for six-week to help improve their ability to speak after brain injuries. The clinic, which resembles a house with a kitchen, garage and living room, provides a familiar setting. The rooms are decorated with photographs taken by some of the clients. For the past two years, stroke survivors have worked with Whiteside and Dawn Roe, a professor of art at Rollins College to explore photography and help patients express themselves and their feelings. "There is evidence that art helps in the rehabilitative process," said Whiteside, chair of the Board of Clinical Educators at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic. Helm-Estabrooks is an advocate of using the arts as part of the rehabilitation process, which is why she is joining Whiteside in Orlando this week. After visiting The Aphasia House on Friday morning, the two will visit the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park. Polasek was a stroke survivor and completed 18 sculptures after his stroke, many of which are showcased at the museum. Whiteside is working with the museum to establish a pilot program that would connect stroke survivors to the world of art. /blog/2012/gabrielle-giffords-therapist-collaborates-with-ucf-to-promote-art-therapy/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/valuing-education/ Thu, 16 February 2012 13:15:00 Victor Petris /blog/2012/valuing-education/ By Karen Guin Alumnus Victor Petris recently chose to honor his experience as a student and the value he places on education with a very generous bequest to the college. Victor Petris was not a typical undergraduate when he enrolled at Florida Technological University, now the University of Central Florida, in 1977. Previously, he had served in the U.S. Marines Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant and working in the Pentagon, the White House and Camp David. He also had been to Vietnam, where he sustained injuries in combat during the Battle of Hue City. After recovering at hospitals in Japan and Philadelphia, he took on "probably the toughest thing I did while I was in the Marine Corps" -- the role of notifying parents of the loss of their son in battle. Petris completed his four years as a Marine on a decidedly more upbeat note. During his last week of service, he escorted Miss America to President Nixon's inaugural balls. After leaving the Marine Corps, Petris enrolled part-time in a community college near his hometown of Woodbury, New Jersey. He also worked as an agent with the U.S. Department of Justice. After four years, he completed his associate's degree and started looking for a place to complete a bachelor's degree. "I had a friend in Orlando who I'd visited a couple of times," Petris shared. "He suggested I try FTU, so I applied and was accepted, and I came down." He remembers FTU as being very compact in the late 1970s, with small classrooms and small numbers of students. Yet the campus left a big impression. "I had some of the greatest professors at that time," Petris said, recalling one in particular who arranged an especially meaningful internship for him. "I have great remembrances of the way I was treated. I was treated very well." Petris studied legal studies and criminal justice at FTU and completed his bachelor's degree in 1978. He remained in Central Florida, living and working in Winter Park. And over the years, he watched with pride as FTU became UCF and eventually the second largest university in the country. "I believe heavily in education," Petris said. "We need to educate our children and we need to educate them properly. UCF, in my view, is doing just that." To honor his experience at FTU and the value he places on education, Petris recently named the UCF College of Health and Public Affairs Scholarship Fund as the sole beneficiary of his estate. The college houses the university's legal studies and criminal justice programs. "Mr. Petris' commitment to helping COHPA students fulfill their educational and career goals is truly amazing," said Mike Frumkin, dean of the college. "His bequest will allow us to support many students who might not otherwise complete their education -- allowing them to fulfill their dreams and make untold contributions to their communities." This year, Petris will celebrate his 30 th year as a legal investigator with the Winter Park-based law firm Troutman, Williams, Irvin, Green, Helms, Polich and Hemphill. The position clearly suits him and takes full advantage of his keen sense of detail. "At this law firm, legal assistants handle a multitude of issues until it needs litigation," he explained. "You have to make sure all facets of the case are covered." This includes compiling information such as photos and witness interviews and working closely with clients. Petris has another accomplishment to celebrate as well. Through diet changes, daily exercise and a tremendous dose of discipline, he has lost 125 lbs. in the past year. As a result, he no longer has diabetes and high blood pressure. In between working -- and working out -- Petris manages to find time to read four to five newspapers a day. He also reads about a book a week and usually has several others going at the same time. He said his passion for reading and learning began in grade school during weekly visits to the Bookmobile, a traveling library. "It was a Godsend," he said. "I think it carried me. It taught me a lot of things and gave me a broader spectrum to pull from when needed." It's not a surprising thought, coming from a man who considers education to be one of life's greatest values. (Click on photo to enlarge) /blog/2012/valuing-education/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/congratulations-excellence-award-winners!/ Tue, 14 February 2012 00:00:00 Michael Abels, Thomas Bryer, Denise Gammonley, Alice Noblin, Reid Oetjen, Ross Wolf /blog/2012/congratulations-excellence-award-winners!/ Congratulations to the following recipients of the college's Excellence Awards for 2011-2012! Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Denise Gammonley, Social Work Ross Wolf, Criminal Justice Excellence in Graduate Teaching Michael Abels, Public Administration Reid Oetjen, Health Management and Informatics Excellence in Professional Service Thomas Bryer, Public Administration Excellence in Research Thomas Bryer, Public Administration Excellence in Undergraduate Faculty Academic Advising Alice Noblin, Health Management and Informatics /blog/2012/congratulations-excellence-award-winners!/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/mens-health-initiative-teachable-moments/ Tue, 24 January 2012 00:00:00 Michael Rovito /blog/2012/mens-health-initiative-teachable-moments/ By Drexler B. James, Central Florida Future What began as a small, two-person project in an office no bigger than a closet at Temple University in Philadelphia has now become a nationally recognized organization with seven staff members in Pennsylvania and one of the founders and directors working at UCF with 30 students. Michael Rovito, a health sciences/pre-clinical professor, is one of the two original founders of Men's Health Initiative, an organization designed to address health issues related to men in the community. Rovito was inspired after having a cancer scare when he was 17 years old. "I felt a lump and got scared," Rovito said. "I did some research and I couldn't find any information and thought, 'This isn't right.'" Disappointed at the lack of information relating to men's health and fueled with a desire to keep other men from dealing with the same situation, Rovito began Men's Health Initiative in June 2010 during his first year as a professor at Temple. Men's Health Initiative has three objectives which are known as the "Three I's." These goals are to inform men of health and wellness, identify risks unique to men and implement behavioral intervention. Issues that Men's Health Initiative focus on include testicular and prostate health, masculinity, fatherhood and sexual promiscuity among men. However, those are not the only goals, Rovito said, as Men's Health Initiative also wants to bridge the gender gap concerning health. Frank Johnson, a public health student at Temple University who has been involved with Men's Health Initiative for more than a year, also wants to help with the imbalance between promotion for men's and women's health. "There are gender disparities in health, and the public needs to understand that promoting the health of men is also promoting the health of women, family and communities as well," Johnson said. Despite the name, Men's Health Initiative is not a male-only organization. Many women are also involved with the movement, which Rovito believes is due to men's health being a hot new field of study. One of Men's Health Initiative's partnerships is with Women Against Prostate Cancer. Lisa Soler, a senior health sciences/pre-clinical student who got involved with Men's Health Initiative in fall 2011, says that she often gets the raised eyebrow when she mentions her involvement with the organization, but she doesn't mind. "Health is health, and I believe in spreading the word about educating yourself on health, whether male or female," Soler said. Rovito said that he hopes Men's Health Initiative can begin outreach in the UCF and greater Orlando community, teaching and lecturing at churches, men's groups and other organizations. He also hopes to have programs that men can get involved with, such as "Movember" and March Mustache Madness, where men grow facial hair for the entire month to raise awareness of men's health. "The notion of being aware of your health as a man was seen as unmanly," Rovito said. "Now, we're going out of the dark ages of that thinking. We have MHI to help with that process. It's OK to talk about this stuff." Current projects that Men's Health Initiative is working on include a proposal to make the group a non-profit organization, having students submit research to the Office of Student Undergraduate Research, among other projects. Junior Spencer Morley, a health sciences/pre-clinical student, is currently working on a project surrounding informed decision making about cancer screenings with the main focus being cancer of the prostate. Soler is researching background information for a proposal for a study on testicular self-examination and the effect that social media may have in spreading awareness and promoting monthly examinations with a focus on texting as a way of informing men. While the majority of students involved are health science/pre-clinical studies students, Rovito hopes that students of other majors will soon become involved with the program. An application has been recently developed in order to help sustain the flow of students interested. "It's reaching a point where I can't handle any more students right now," Rovito said. But this doesn't mean that there are not still plans to continue to grow. Until then, students interested in the program can find more information on the official Men's Health Initiative website www.menshealthinfo.org. /blog/2012/mens-health-initiative-teachable-moments/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2012/new-grant-ensures-continuation-of-assistive-technology-center-at-ucf/ Fri, 06 January 2012 00:00:00 Jennifer Kent-Walsh, Pamela Resnick /blog/2012/new-grant-ensures-continuation-of-assistive-technology-center-at-ucf/ By Karen Guin The University of Central Florida will continue to offer the latest in assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities thanks to a new grant from the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. From 2005 to 2011, UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic housed the Atlantic Region Assistive Technology Demonstration Center thanks to grant funding from FAAST. A new grant from FAAST, worth approximately $550,000, will continue the center's operations at UCF for an additional five years. "The center has flourished at UCF," said FAAST ARDC Director Jennifer Kent-Walsh, principal investigator for the original and latest FAAST grants. "Orlando has proven to be an ideal location for the center because many Floridians already come here to access professional and medical services and enjoy our recreational activities. I'm so pleased we can further serve people with disabilities in our 10-county service area." FAAST ARDC is unique in offering a variety of assistive technology services to individuals of any age or with any type of disability who reside in Brevard, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Seminole, St. Lucie and Volusia counties. At the facility, individuals with disabilities and their families, as well as service providers, learn about assistive technology devices from highly qualified clinicians and UCF graduate students preparing to be speech-language pathologists. Clinical Instructor Pam Resnick works full-time for the center, providing demonstrations of equipment, skill-development training, and assistance in borrowing or purchasing devices. She also teaches graduate students about the technology and oversees their work with clients at the center. Resnick helps fulfill the center's mission of improving public awareness of assistive technology as well. For example, last year she and several students provided device demonstrations and training over two days at a summer program in Brevard County for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. "It is difficult for me to describe the value of the services that [they] provided," wrote Jacqueline Yearby, executive director of the nonprofit Angels Bridging Gaps, which held the summer program. Through this program, Resnick and her students gave some children their first experience of using assistive technology in community settings, including a bowling alley. "Pam has influenced countless lives by leading and coordinating many outstanding programs through the center," Kent-Walsh said. "The possibility of offering children and adults the full potential of effective communication via AAC [augmentative and alternative communication] continues to inspire me, and I know Pam feels the same way." Six years ago, Kent-Walsh made a strong case for housing the FAAST ARDC at UCF largely because of the clinic's long history of offering services to individuals with communication disorders and her own expertise in AAC. Under Kent-Walsh's leadership, the FAAST ARDC has grown substantially in its equipment inventory and client base. With a new, five-year grant to support the program, Kent-Walsh anticipates the center will continue to grow its service capabilities, outreach and collaborative partnerships -- all in an effort to improve the lives of Floridians with disabilities. The FAAST ARDC is one of six regional demonstration centers funded by FAAST. To learn more about the FAAST ARDC, visit http://www.faast.org/programs/regional-demo/atlantic . To learn more about UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic, visit www.cohpa.ucf.edu/clinic . /blog/2012/new-grant-ensures-continuation-of-assistive-technology-center-at-ucf/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/moot-court-tournament-a-resounding-success/ Wed, 21 December 2011 10:23:00 James Beckman /blog/2011/moot-court-tournament-a-resounding-success/ By Karen Guin Earlier this month, more than 100 college students from across the country gathered in Orlando to compete in the South Atlantic Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament hosted by UCF's Department of Legal Studies. The Dec. 2-3 tournament gave students a chance to present oral arguments in favor of their position in a hypothetical or "moot" case (see http://tiny.cc/qqqxq ) in front of volunteer judges. Among the judges was the dean of Florida International University's law school and a local circuit court judge. The tournament was one of just eight regional tournaments of its kind in the nation. It also was a resounding success, said department Chair Jim Beckman. "Several members of the American Collegiate Moot Court Association [the governing body for the tournaments] said it was one of the best-run tournaments this year," Beckman shared. "That's especially satisfying to hear since it was our first time hosting the tournament." The ACMC named UCF a permanent host of the annual South Atlantic regional tournament this summer. Contributing to the success of this year's tournament was the overall quality of the teams in the competition. The U.S. Air Force Academy's team included a recently selected Rhodes Scholar and a recently selected Fulbright Scholar. Another team, from Patrick Henry College, comprised students who won first and third place as orators in the 2010 national competition. Also competing were three teams of UCF students who did "very well" in their first moot court tournament, Beckman reported. One UCF team, Yisell Rodriquez and Lizette Santiago, came in 24th out of 50 teams on day one and narrowly lost in the first elimination round on day two. Another team, Siiri Raniero and Cameron Marsh, placed 26th out of 50 teams on the first day. "What makes their ranking so impressive is that English is Siiri's second language. Their hard work and training over several months enabled them to place higher than almost half of the other teams in a very competitive field," Beckman said proudly. The final round of the tournament pitted Patrick Henry's team of stellar orators against a team from the University of Louisville. The volunteer judges, most of whom are Central Florida attorneys, ultimately selected the Patrick Henry team of Blake Meadows and Bridget Degnan as the winner of the overall competition (watch the final round and presentation of top awards at http://ce.ucf.edu/conference-services/mootcourt/ ). The top 20 percent of teams from each regional competition go on to compete in the ACMC's national competition next month. "The quality of the teams - and the time and expertise offered by our own faculty and the Orlando legal community - made the tournament simply superb," Beckman said. /blog/2011/moot-court-tournament-a-resounding-success/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/future-elder-caregivers-should-learn-life-histories/ Thu, 15 December 2011 11:27:00 Denise Gammonley /blog/2011/future-elder-caregivers-should-learn-life-histories/ By Karen Guin Their life stories couldn't be more distinctive. One grew up in a tight-knit neighborhood in the Bronx. Another spent his childhood in communist Poland. A third was raised in Jamaica, but also traveled to England. All are residents of Winter Park Towers, a residential facility for seniors in Winter Park, Fla. They also are participants in a project involving students from the University of Central Florida. This fall, Associate Professor Denise Gammonley from the School of Social Work teamed up with Connie Lester from the Department of History to lead a project designed to introduce undergraduates to the concept of "person-centered care." "Every senior has a unique set of life experiences that influence the sort of care he or she wants as an older adult," Gammonley explained. "When seniors share their life history with their caregivers, the caregivers better understand a senior's individual strengths and preferences. As a result, the relationships become more meaningful and everyone benefits." This is an especially important concept for social work students to understand because many will go on to work in elder care, she added. Funding from the Winter Park Health Foundation enabled Gammonley and three graduate students to recruit 23 residents from Winter Park Towers to share their life history with a class of 22 undergraduates. Many of the residents met with the students on one or more occasions to talk about their life. Three other residents chose to work with students to create a scrapbook about their life. Another five residents agreed to respond to questions about their life while being videotaped. A team of undergraduates posed the questions to the resident while a student from UCF's history department taped the interview, or "oral history." Among those providing an oral history was resident Betty Puryea, who was born in 1930. She shared fond memories of singing, playing the piano and fishing during her in childhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also recalled meeting her husband, who was in the Air Force, while "on rollerskates," and how much the couple enjoyed living at Patrick Air Force Base on the east coast of Central Florida. "In life, it's what you put into it, it's what you do," said Puryea. "Or you can sit back, and it's not too good." Not surprisingly, she prefers to remain active as an older adult and currently enjoys exercising, painting and reading. Social work major Timothy Blinde, who helped interview Puryea, said the project offered him a unique opportunity to work with seniors and learn from their "experiential wealth." The project also exposed him to career opportunities available in elder care. "Winter Park Towers offers a rich array of services, supports and levels of care, so it's a great setting for students to learn about employment roles within the elder-care workforce," Gammonley said. The growing elderly population and aging baby boom generation is creating considerable demand for social workers who specialize in working with the elderly, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This spring, Gammonley and the graduate students will analyze data from the project to evaluate its effectiveness in several areas, including educating students about "person-centered care." In addition, the history department will add Puryea's oral history and those of four other participating residents to its RICHES (Regional Initiative for Collecting the History, Experiences and Stories) of Central Florida website ( http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/) , enabling many others to learn about the lives of some of the region's senior-most residents. /blog/2011/future-elder-caregivers-should-learn-life-histories/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/students-gain-world-view-on-trip-to-seoul,-korea/ Fri, 02 December 2011 15:51:00 Peter Colby /blog/2011/students-gain-world-view-on-trip-to-seoul,-korea/ Students from the University of Central Florida, University of Delaware and Cornell University recently traveled to Seoul, Korea, to explore the nature of South Korean public administration. The group visited the city from Oct. 21-29, 2011, to participate in a weeklong case study of policy management funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Through lectures, seminars and field trips, the students learned about the city's innovative approaches to addressing transportation and environmental challenges. Peter Colby, professor of public administration, led the contigency from UCF, which included Iliana Castro, Fred Coulter, Elizabeth Krekel, Kaitlyn Lefebvre, Vanessa Littleton, Eva Marcos, Taylor Mountain, Sandra Ruff and Kelda Senior.  For a report on the trip, see Seoul Study Abroad 2011 . Photos from the trip and additional information are available at http://www.wix.com/ucfseoul2011/casestudy . /blog/2011/students-gain-world-view-on-trip-to-seoul,-korea/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/internet-threats-against-us-president-to-be-argued-during-student-tournament/ Thu, 01 December 2011 14:19:00 James Beckman /blog/2011/internet-threats-against-us-president-to-be-argued-during-student-tournament/ More than 100 college students will put their lawyering skills to the test Friday, Dec. 2, when they defend or argue against the legality of shutting down a chat room where threats to the U.S. president were made. It's a hypothetical case that is at the center of the South Atlantic Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament, which will be judged by more than 75 local judges and attorneys. The tournament will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at UCF's main campus in Orlando and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Seminole State-UCF Partnership Center in Sanford. The students will argue whether or not threats against the president made on the Internet are protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. They also will argue whether or not the U.S. Government's seizure of the chat room records is a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The judges will assess the students' ability to present oral arguments in favor of their position. The tournament is the only one of its kind in the southeastern United States, according to Jim Beckman, chair of the Department of Legal Studies at UCF and the tournament coordinator. "This type of competition is usually reserved for law students," Beckman explained. "So it's a great opportunity for undergraduates, regardless of their major or professional goal, to learn the art of advocacy in a professional setting." Competing particularly helps students sharpen their writing skills, polish their oral presentation skills and think critically on their feet, he added. Fifty-two teams of two students each will argue their positions during the two-day tournament. The students come from 13 colleges and universities around the country, including the U.S. Air Force Academy and the College of the Holy Cross. The top 12 teams will go on to compete in the American Collegiate Moot Court Association's national tournament in California in January 2012. /blog/2011/internet-threats-against-us-president-to-be-argued-during-student-tournament/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/college-secures-third-competitive-award-for-it-upgrades/ Mon, 28 November 2011 07:45:00 Ronnie Korosec /blog/2011/college-secures-third-competitive-award-for-it-upgrades/ The College of Health and Public Affairs recently learned it will receive a 2011-2012 UCF Technology Fee Award for $602,855. The winning proposal, "Upgrading COHPA's Network and Infrastructure," is part of a multi-year effort by Associate Dean Ronnie Korosec to upgrade and strengthen the college's information technology (IT) network. "This award will allow us to further secure, expand and replace various parts of our new network, including switches, wiring and cabling in HPA I and II," Korosec explained.  It is the fourth award Korosec has secured for the college in the last three years, and it is also the largest. In total, Korosec's winning proposals have resulted in $1,190,829.73 for IT improvements for the college. In 2010-2011, the college received two awards ($411,501 and $111,439.61) to upgrade two classrooms with new instructional computer equipment and to secure and enhance their IT infrastructure. In 2009-2010, the inaugural UCF Technology Fee Award year, the college received $65,034.12 to create a new multimedia conference room and a joint-use computer lab on the second floor of HPA I (rooms 213 and 215). The UCF Technology Fee Award is a competitive award process funded through student technology fees collected in the fall semester of each academic year. /blog/2011/college-secures-third-competitive-award-for-it-upgrades/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/new-ucf,-usf-program-to-help-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-children/ Mon, 07 November 2011 07:16:00 Linda I. Rosa-Lugo /blog/2011/new-ucf,-usf-program-to-help-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-children/ By Zenaida Gonzalez-Kotola While growing up in the Bronx, Linda I. Rosa-Lugo watched young children with hearing loss in her family struggle to learn Spanish and English, and she learned sign language to communicate with them. Rosa-Lugo's relatives would have benefited greatly from a new program she is launching in cooperation with University of South Florida professor Theresa Hnath Chisolm. The new initiative, funded with a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, will train future speech-language pathologists so they can help deaf and hard-of-hearing children whose families do not speak English. "It really is a wonderful blessing," said Rosa-Lugo, an associate professor in the University of Central Florida's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders."This grant will give us the chance to train students to partner with families and their children to develop foundational listening, speech, spoken language and early literacy skills in children with all levels of hearing loss." While there are many speech-language pathologists in Florida, few have the specialized knowledge to help children with hearing losses who come from homes where English is not the primary language. More than 31.5 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss,and an estimated three out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. may be born with hearing loss. Children who do not receive appropriate services are at risk for academic failure. Generally, public schools serve deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students by offering speech-language services at school. If more help is needed, children can attend specific schools that have a state-certified specialist for more intensive therapy.  However, there is a critical shortage of speech-language pathologists in public schools with the specialized skills to work with children with hearing losses, and specifically with those from culturally and linguistically diverse homes. Only 10 speech-language pathologists in Florida are trained in developing listening and spoken language in children with hearing loss.  The UCF-USF collaborative grant will train 40 new speech-language pathologists over the next five years to address this pressing need, specifically with children ages 0 to 3. Rosa-Lugo works with 10 school districts in Central Florida, ranging from small (Citrus) to large (Orange).  In Orange County alone, there are more than 300 students ages 3 to 22 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH). Osceola County Public Schools, where Rosa-Lugo consults, serves 81 students who are DHH. "It is extremely challenging to find highly qualified speech-language pathologists and educational interpreters who have the knowledge and skills needed to work with the deaf and hard-of-hearing student population," said Linda Schroder-King, Osceola County Public Schools' coordinator for exceptional students. The new program also will help meet a new Florida law that took effect this past July. It requires that public schools provide students with access to appropriately trained specialists ( http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1254 ). Chisolm, chair of USF's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has been working with children with hearing loss since 1988. She was instrumental in bringing The Bolesta Center, which specializes in developing listening and spoken language in children with hearing loss, into USF's clinic services. "I believe the program we have developed, including the concept of cross-university collaboration, would serve as an ideal model for other institutions," she said. "By combining our expertise, we were able to develop a unique program meeting a national need." UCF and USF are recruiting students who will begin the program in January. Each university will be selecting qualified graduate students in speech-language pathology to receive scholarship funding that is part of the grant. /blog/2011/new-ucf,-usf-program-to-help-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-children/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/$16-million-grant-funds-rural-health-care-study/ Thu, 27 October 2011 00:00:00 Thomas T. H. Wan, Judith Ortiz /blog/2011/$16-million-grant-funds-rural-health-care-study/ The University of Central Florida will help guide policy decisions when medical care reform is enacted in rural America thanks to a new grant. The National Institutes of Health has awarded UCF a $1.6 million grant to assess health care provided by Rural Health Clinics - federally recognized clinics located in rural, medically underserved areas of the United States. There are more than 3,800 nationwide. The research team will focus on eight southern states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, which account for approximately 25 percent of all Rural Health Clinics in the country. "The study is timely," said Thomas T.H. Wan, an associate dean for research for the College of Health and Public Affairs and one of the lead researchers for the grant. "We lack information on standards and best practices in rural health. It's critical to have this information as we design and implement ways to reform health care delivery." About 20 percent of all people ages 65 and older live in nonmetropolitan areas in the U.S. Rural Health Clinics have played an important role in meeting the needs of these adults for more than 30 years. Clinics have increased over the past two decades from 314 in 1990 to 3,846 clinics in 2011, according to UCF's Judith Ortiz, the other lead researcher for the new study. However, Rural Health Clinics have struggled to keep pace. "Many have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified health care professionals," Ortiz said. Rural environments present their own challenges with higher percentages of the elderly and higher rates of chronic disease compared to urban areas and increased costs to deliver medicine in some truly rural environments. "Our analysis should reveal the factors that contribute to a Rural Health Clinic's ability to offer accessible, cost-effective, quality care to all rural populations," Wan said. Wan and Ortiz believe that Rural Health Clinics could benefit from opportunities posed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The act allows these rural clinics to join Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), groups of health care providers (physicians and hospitals) that assume the responsibility for providing health care to a defined group of patients.  Because the ACOs are large, they have economies of scale and may have more flexibility in attracting medical personnel. "Accountable Care Organizations are the fundamental mechanism for reforming health care delivery," Wan said. "Their aim is to improve access to care, reduce costs of care and ensure quality care is rendered to the population." During the four-year study, the researchers will collect and analyze data from approximately 800 southern Rural Health Clinics. They will examine how many clinics join ACOs now that they are an option. Rural clinics need to have some basic computer resources and technical staff to join ACOs and that's not always the case, Ortiz said. The researchers believe that without access to these networks of physicians and hospitals, rural populations could receive fewer health care services. That poses health risks and ultimately could cost taxpayers more when patients are forced to seek emergency care. Researchers from UCF's Department of Health Management and Informatics (Maysoun Dimachkie), College of Medicine (Adam Golden), College of Nursing (Angeline Bushy) and College of Education (Stephen Sivo) will participate in the study. /blog/2011/$16-million-grant-funds-rural-health-care-study/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/public-administration-now-a-school/ Fri, 30 September 2011 15:00:00 Mary Ann Feldheim /blog/2011/public-administration-now-a-school/ By Chad Binette and Karen Guin The University of Central Florida's nationally ranked Department of Public Administration has been designated as a school, a reflection of the department's accomplishments and excellence. UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop informed the university's Board of Trustees of the new designation this week. Public Administration offers 22 graduate and undergraduate programs and serves nearly 1,000 students. In addition to degrees in public administration, the school offers an awarding-winning online graduate program in nonprofit management and an interdisciplinary graduate program in urban and regional planning. This fall, the school added a unique online graduate program in research administration. "It's the only program in the country to prepare students to administer grants in all disciplines of research that attract external funding," said Mary Ann Feldheim, the school's director. The school also is a leader in emergency management research, funded by several federal grants. One grant supported the development of a nationally recognized emergency management plan for the university and neighboring community. The school's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management has earned about $4 million in external funds and helped more than 200 nonprofit organizations. The center routinely pairs faculty members and graduate students to provide nonprofits with invaluable technical assistance. "This is an amazingly innovative department," College of Health and Public Affairs Dean Michael Frumkin told the trustees. The school currently has 16 full-time faculty members who frequently published articles in leading journals and make presentations at national and international conferences. Among them is Kuotsai "Tom" Liou, who also is president-elect of the American Society for Public Administration. Public Administration is one of eight UCF graduate programs nationally ranked byU.S. News & World Report. /blog/2011/public-administration-now-a-school/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/grants-available-for-needy-students-in-health-fields/ Wed, 24 August 2011 00:00:00 /blog/2011/grants-available-for-needy-students-in-health-fields/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala More than $500,000 in federal scholarship money is available for financially needy students pursuing health-related professions. University of Central Florida officials believe about 150 students could benefit. To qualify, students must meet federal poverty guidelines, be enrolled full-time in good standing and be studying one of four programs in UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs. They are a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders; sciences in health services administration or social work. Student's seeking bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders also qualify. For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the college a grant, which can be used for tuition and living expenses. This year's grant of $587,326 brings the college's total award under this program close to $2 million. Last year 102 students benefited from the federal grant. For Abdul Sykes, who has received about $10,000 in scholarships in the past two years, the money has transformed his life. Sykes, a father of four including two in junior college, said the money has allowed him to pay for an education that he knows will help better his family in the future without hurting them now. "These contributions took the edge off of the stress and allowed us to live with a little more dignity," Sykes said. Sykes served as a chaplain for 11 years in the North Carolina Department of Corrections and for eight years in the Federal Bureau of Prison. He's earning his master's degree in social work, which he hopes will help him land a job locally after he graduates in December. For Adam Lloyd, who is pursuing a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders, the scholarship money means he can study, conduct research, volunteer and teach, which are all degree requirements. He received money last year and again this year. "Although I earn some income, I make less money than I can physically live on," Lloyd said. For details visit: http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/documents/SDS_Information_Sheet_2011.pdf . An application is available at http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/documents/SDS_Application_2011.pdf. Deadline for all those seeking scholarships for fall 2011 and spring 2012 is Aug. 31. For information call 407-823-4025 or email cohpascholarships@ucf.edu /blog/2011/grants-available-for-needy-students-in-health-fields/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-offers-new-research-administration-degree/ Tue, 23 August 2011 00:00:00 Mary Ann Feldheim, Jo Ann Smith /blog/2011/ucf-offers-new-research-administration-degree/ By Karen Guin The University of Central Florida launches this week a new master's degree program in research administration that is among the first of its kind in the nation. "UCF's program is the only one in the country to prepare students to administer grants in all disciplines of research that attract external funding," said Mary Ann Feldheim, chair of the Department of Public Administration. "The few other programs that exist focus on medical research." Housing the program in her department is a natural fit, she added. The major components of public administration - administering and managing public services and programs - also apply to the administration of research programs in academic institutions and agencies. Organizations such as the National Council of University Researchers have repeatedly identified a need for highly skilled, knowledgeable research administrators, shared Jo Smith, coordinator of the Master of Research Administration program and assistant professor of public administration. "Our program is designed to give individuals already working in research administration a comprehensive understanding of the field's complexities," Smith said. UCF designed the completely online program for working professionals in consultation with leading research administrators and researchers. Students can earn their degree in two years of part-time, year-round study. Smith has accepted 21 students into the program. Ninety-five percent of them are currently working in research administration in areas such as proposal management, technology transfer and animal care. Most are employed by universities, including John Hopkins University, the University of Southern California and Auburn University. Others are employed by institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health and Florida Hospital. "It should be a great cohort, with students contributing along with members of our national advisory board," Smith said. "It's a truly wonderful mix." To learn more about UCF's new M.R.A. program, visit www.cohpa.ucf.edu/pubadm/research_administration.shtml . /blog/2011/ucf-offers-new-research-administration-degree/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/educating-social-workers-in-osceola-county/ Mon, 22 August 2011 00:00:00 Marixa Salgado, John Ronnau /blog/2011/educating-social-workers-in-osceola-county/ By Karen Guin Joy Chuba is devoted to helping child abuse victims. For the past five years, she has served as both the executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center of Osceola County and head of the county's child abuse prevention task force. Chuba already brings passion and innate leadership skills to these roles, but for the past year, she's had the added benefit of more advanced skills in social work thanks to the new part-time Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program being offered at University of Central Florida's Valencia Osceola campus in Kissimmee. UCF launched the program last fall as the first graduate program offered in the county. Students in the program resume classes this week after a short summer break. An M.S.W. prepares social workers for leadership roles and is usually required for supervisory, administrative and staff training positions. The degree also is required for clinical work and for positions in health and school settings. "The program is really helping me grow as a professional," Chuba said. "I have a much better understanding about the social factors that influence individuals. I also have a better understanding of how to navigate the systems and advocate for services on a much larger scale." And she's not the only one benefiting from the training. The 27 students currently in the program work with vulnerable populations in a range of capacities.Class members include a counselor from Park Place Behavioral Healthcare, a social worker from Osceola Regional Medical Center, the social work director of Avanté Nursing Home at St. Cloud, four child protective investigators from the Florida Department of Children and Families, and several juvenile justice probation officers. Osceola County needs more people highly trained in social work, said Susan Crutchfield, head of the Children's Cabinet of Osceola County and secretary of the county's Community Alliance, which oversees the foster care system there. Crutchfield said few individuals working with children in the county have the advanced training UCF has made available in the county. "Our number of child abuse cases per capita exceeds all of the surrounding counties and is way up from this time last year," Crutchfield said. Cases of domestic violence and substance abuse are on the rise as well. "Most of our families have to travel to Orange County for services," she said. "We need highly educated, qualified individuals in Osceola County to help us find solutions, to help these families and to provide more resources." The program, which was made possible with the expert help of UCF Regional Campuses, is geared for working professionals in mind, which is why it is part-time. That means participants like Chuba can continue to do their very important work work full-time while pursuing the advanced training. Agencies with employees in the program also benefit because the employees return from the classroom with new knowledge and ideas about their work. The Osceola branch of Youth and Family Alternatives has five employees enrolled in the M.S.W. program in Kissimmee. "These are people who go out and do adoption home studies and assess potential foster parents," said Osceola M.S.W. Program Coordinator Marixa Salgado. "They already have new insights about what they're doing in their jobs. When they graduate in 2013, that agency is going to be incredible." Salgado, who was largely responsible for recruiting the first cohort of students to the program, said she anticipates the members of this class will make significant changes in many lives. "It's an amazing cohort of students," Salgado said. John Ronnau, director of UCF's School of Social Work, agrees. He also said the diversity within the class  - 75 percent of the class members are Latino or African American - will make this group especially effective in their community work. Osceola County has seen a significant increase in its Latino population in the past three decades. "Students in a cohort learn from one another, so the students in this group will be especially culturally competent, meaning they will be keenly aware of the traditions, values and beliefs of the major client groups they serve," he said. /blog/2011/educating-social-workers-in-osceola-county/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/college-students-distribute-135-backpacks-to-need-children/ Mon, 08 August 2011 00:00:00 Eileen Abel /blog/2011/college-students-distribute-135-backpacks-to-need-children/ By Karen Guin Several University of Central Florida students studying to become social workers will help distribute about 135 backpacks they filled with school supplies for needy children on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Children and their families who signed up for help will be collecting the supplies at Jewish Family Services in Winter Park. Two backpacks will be handed out every 15 minutes. Adrienne Gordon Cooperman, the emergency services program manager for Jewish Family Services, says the UCF project comes at a critical time. "This partnership and the students' great work are a welcome relief to many families," Cooperman said. "Many in Central Florida are struggling with the economy, and there's hardly enough to cover basics." The UCF students are part of a required class that brings together the theory and practice of social work through a service-learning project. "The students have done an incredible job," said UCF Associate Professor Eileen Abel who led the summer course. "They developed a flyer and got a professional graphic artist to create it for free, held special events to raise money, made individual donor contacts and wrote letters.  The students also solicited hundreds of dollars from various venues." /blog/2011/college-students-distribute-135-backpacks-to-need-children/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/feds-fund-construction-of-health-clinics-at-evans/ Thu, 28 July 2011 07:47:00 Nancy Ellis /blog/2011/feds-fund-construction-of-health-clinics-at-evans/ By Karen Guin A federal grant has been awarded to build medical and dental clinics for students at the new campus for Evans High School in Orlando. The grant was awarded to Community Health Centers, Inc., a local nonprofit, and comes after two years of research and planning by the University of Central Florida, Children's Home Society of Florida and Orange County Public Schools. The clinics will be a key component of a community school the three partners are working to establish at Evans. "We identified Community Health Centers, Inc., as a Federally Qualified Health Center that could secure funding to build the clinics and provide the clinical services," said UCF Center for Community Partnerships Director Nancy Ellis, who helped develop the successful grant proposal. "They submitted a proposal to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' school-based health centers initiative and were awarded $307,325 for the project." The funds will be used to build and equip a 2,117 square-foot clinic at a new campus for Evans, which is currently under construction. The clinic will include two examination rooms, a dental care facility, a therapy room, a lab and sterilization room, two offices, a conference room, a reception area and waiting room, administrative and storage space, and bathrooms. The school-based health facility will open at Evans' new campus in August 2012. It will offer medical services Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dental services on Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facility also will offer students health screenings and sponsor health promotion and disease prevention activities. "Once the center is established, we anticipate that more half of Evans' 1,900-plus students will be using its services," Ellis said. Providing students with health care services at school should increase student attendance and improve student performance and achievement. Community Health Centers currently has 10 neighborhood clinics in Orange and Lake counties and is the largest provider of medical and dental services to uninsured and underserved populations in Central Florida. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, the nonprofit is eligible to receive federal funding for all qualified patients who come to its centers. For an announcement of the grant funding by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, see www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/07/20110714a.html . To learn more about plans for the community school at Evans, see http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=00240041052a2b5bb012d44907649006a65 . /blog/2011/feds-fund-construction-of-health-clinics-at-evans/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-faculty-member-wins-national-advising-award/ Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 Robin Kohn /blog/2011/ucf-faculty-member-wins-national-advising-award/ By Karen Guin Robin Kohn, coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Work program at UCF, is one of four faculty members at UCF selected to receive a 2011 award from the National Academic Advising Association. She has been selected as an Outstanding Advising Award winner in the Faculty Academic Advising category.  Kohn is known for her tireless support of social work students. Her award recognizes outstanding academic advising by an individual whose primary responsibility is teaching and who also advises students. "I see students both in the classroom and during advising sessions, where we develop an academic plan and discuss career goals," Kohn said. "It's so rewarding to watch students evolve, both professionally and personally. I'm deeply honored such value is placed on what I do." Kohn is a licensed clinical social worker who joined UCF's School of Social Work as an instructor in 1996. Since 2001, she also has served as coordinator of the B.S.W. program, which enrolled 306 students last fall. As program coordinator, Kohn helps develop the curriculum, implements policies and procedures, teaches clinical courses, and advises students.  Each spring, she leads several hundred UCF social work students to Advocacy Day in Tallahassee, where they advocate for the needs of diverse and highly vulnerable populations - and routinely win a statewide award for outstanding participation. Since 1983, NACADA has honored individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising. The UCF winners will be formally presented the award this October at NACADA's Annual Conference in Denver. /blog/2011/ucf-faculty-member-wins-national-advising-award/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/new-video-showcases-college's-global-activities/ Tue, 26 April 2011 00:00:00 Jack Ryalls /blog/2011/new-video-showcases-college's-global-activities/ By Karen Guin A new video produced under the direction of Jack Ryalls, professor of communication sciences and disorders, showcases many of the College of Health and Public Affairs' research activities at locations around the world. The video begins in Orlando, then heads south to Costa Rica and then veers west for additional stop-off points in Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Turkmenistan, Russia, Turkey, France and Britain before returning to the sunshine state. Ryalls engaged communication sciences and disorders' students Randi Baumgartner, Gary Adams and Adam Stockey to tape original scenes for the video. He also tapped the talents of Ryan Retherford in the University of Central Florida's Office of Instructional Resources to create a visual path that circumnavigates the globe using Google Earth. In addition, Ryalls employed an original musical score written by Benjamin Zeilstra, a young man with muscular dystrophy who is associated with the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. FAAST has a regional demonstration center at UCF. /blog/2011/new-video-showcases-college's-global-activities/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/helping-local-government-address-homelessness/ Mon, 18 April 2011 00:00:00 Thomas Bryer, Nancy Ellis /blog/2011/helping-local-government-address-homelessness/ By Karen Guin A University of Central Florida faculty member is helping local government address the issue of homelessness. Thomas Bryer, assistant professor of public administration, has been lending his expertise in community engagement and process design at meetings convened by Seminole County's Department of Community Services. He has helped the county facilitate two "community conversations" among those who provide services to the county's homeless. And, most recently, he helped design and implement a survey of the service providers. Both the meetings and survey results will help the county identify the "paths" homeless clients take in accessing services. They also may reveal areas where improvements can be made - valuable information for the county as it develops strategies to reduce homelessness. Bryer joined the effort thanks to Nancy Ellis, director of the Center for Community Partnerships in the College of Health and Public Affairs. She was aware of the county's plans to hold the meetings and knew Bryer could help. She also secured funding from the college to support Bryer's efforts. To hear Bryer help facilitate Seminole County's most recent "community conversation," held in March in Altamonte Springs, visit http://cmfmedia.org/2011/04/homelessness-a-community-conversation/ /blog/2011/helping-local-government-address-homelessness/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/experts-to-discuss-voice-care/ Tue, 05 April 2011 00:00:00 Bari Hoffman Ruddy /blog/2011/experts-to-discuss-voice-care/ By Karen Guin Local physicians, speech pathologists, singing and acting teachers, and former patients will discuss good voice habits and the treatment of voice problems during a presentation hosted by the University of Central Florida on Wednesday, April 13, at Rollins College. "World Voice Day: Panel Discussions and Performances" will take place at 6 p.m. in the Tiedtke Concert Hall of the Keene Music Hall on the Rollins' campus in Winter Park. The event is free and open to the public. The event also will include classical, musical theater, pop and rock vocal performances. "The core of so much that we love - singing, laughing and talking with our friends and family - lies in our voice," said Bari Hoffman Ruddy, associate professor of  communication sciences and disorders at UCF and coordinator of the event. "World Voice Day is an annual event that helps promote vocal health and prevent common voice disorders among community members." For further information, contact Bari.HoffmanRuddy@ucf.edu . /blog/2011/experts-to-discuss-voice-care/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/eternal-knights-memorial-service/ Wed, 30 March 2011 00:00:00 Gerald-Mark Breen, Tina Davia, Vanessa Marson, Gregory Martin /blog/2011/eternal-knights-memorial-service/ The Eternal Knights Memorial Service honors students who have passed away during recent academic terms. The following students from the College of Health and Public Affairs were remembered at this year's Eternal Knights Memorial Service: Gerald-Mark Breen Public Affairs Tina Davia Public Administration Vanessa Marson Health Sciences Gregory Martin Health Sciences   /blog/2011/eternal-knights-memorial-service/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/cyberlaw-course-teaches-virtual-justice/ Tue, 29 March 2011 00:00:00 Bob Cherry, Pamela Kirby /blog/2011/cyberlaw-course-teaches-virtual-justice/ By Erika Finnimore With the Internet becoming such an important part of their daily lives, University of Central Florida students can learn about their virtual rights and how to protect themselves online with a class on CyberLaw. Current Issues in CyberLaw is a graduate course that examines free speech, copyright, patent and privacy issues through discussions, case study reviews and legal research projects. Bob Cherry, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Legal Studies, teaches the online course from North Carolina, where he leads his own private practice. The 15-year veteran of the law industry began his career as a law clerk for a Circuit Court judge while he studied Legal Studies at UCF in 1992. "CyberLaw is becoming so prevalent now because the idea of anonymity on the Internet develops a sense of unrestricted freedom," Cherry said. The course explores emerging issues such as workplace privacy, Internet piracy and intellectual property as new laws are built on precedent-setting cases. "Today, judges are taking laws that were created for old technology and figuring out how to apply them to the latest technology," said Pamela Kirby, associate dean of undergraduate studies in the College of Health and Public Affairs. Near the end of the course, students will participate in an independent research project about a topic of their choice.  "We did this so students can study what interests them specifically while still gaining a broad range of knowledge on CyberLaw," Cherry said. Because so much commerce is done online, CyberLaw is becoming more applicable in all areas of the professional world. Students in other graduate programs can take the course to learn how CyberLaw applies to their profession. Qualified undergraduate seniors also can enroll in the course with approval from an adviser. /blog/2011/cyberlaw-course-teaches-virtual-justice/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/new-degrees-ok'd-in-research-administration,-latin-american-studies/ Wed, 23 March 2011 00:00:00 Jo Ann Smith /blog/2011/new-degrees-ok'd-in-research-administration,-latin-american-studies/ By Chad Binette A new degree program that will help advance research is coming to the University of Central Florida. The UCF Board of Trustees last week approved a master's degree program in Research Administration. The Master of Research Administration program will be the first of its kind in Florida and among the first of its kind in the nation. It will provide in-depth knowledge of all aspects of research administration. This includes identifying funding opportunities, preparing grant proposals, negotiating and managing contracts, and managing intellectual property and technology transfer, all essential to helping get research from the laboratory to the marketplace. The two-year, 36-credit-hour program will be offered completely online beginning in the fall. "We designed our program to meet the needs of research administrators working in large research universities and institutes and in smaller liberal arts colleges," said Jo Ann Smith, program coordinator and assistant professor of Public Administration. The few existing programs in the country focus on either health sciences or clinical research administration, she added. The UCF program is the only one based in public administration. Smith helped develop the program with input from a national advisory board of top research administrators and a $40,000 grant from the National Council of University of Research Administrators. /blog/2011/new-degrees-ok'd-in-research-administration,-latin-american-studies/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/criminal-justice-students-interviewed-by-bbc-radio-during-uk-trip/ Mon, 21 March 2011 00:00:00 Ross Wolf /blog/2011/criminal-justice-students-interviewed-by-bbc-radio-during-uk-trip/ By Courtney Gilmartin Seventeen students from the University of Central Florida had a first-hand look at the English criminal justice system during a 12-day visit to the United Kingdom this Spring Break. The goal of the trip was to give students a better understanding of the American justice system, which is founded on the UK model. Accompanied by Criminal Justice Associate Professor Ross Wolf, students visited police departments and museums, sat in on court hearings and toured other landmarks, including the River Thames and New Scotland Yard. "We examined policing in some of the most rural areas in England, and the busiest metropolitan area, London," Wolf said. In addition to exploring the streets with law enforcement officers, students also attended seminars the Universities of Chester and Gloucestershire. Criminal justice students from Gloucestershire will visit the U.S. next year in a similar study abroad program. While in Gloucestershire, the students spoke with a reporter from the UK's BBC Radio. During the interview, the students shared stories about their trip, including experiencing the formality of the English court system, where justices wear traditional wigs and robes. The culture shock didn't end there, students said. The group toured a jail, where they learned that in the UK, only one inmate is placed in each cell. They also went on police ride-alongs, where they saw how officers depend on closed-circuit television cameras, a practice that is just beginning to take off in the U.S.   "Many facets of the criminal justice system in the UK were similar to that of the U.S., however we were shocked to learn about some of the differences between the two," said master's student Amber Perenzin. Volunteer community policing is a major aspect of the UK system, and many of the officers patrol unarmed, relying on special de-escalation tactics rather than weapons. Students got a firsthand look at community policing when they met with constabulary from the Metropolitan Police Service. "I am a reserve deputy with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, so I felt honored to meet fellow law enforcement volunteers that are at such a high rank in one of the busiest cities in the world," said Stephen Fickey, a senior. "I had an amazing time on this trip and would definitely do it all over again if I could." /blog/2011/criminal-justice-students-interviewed-by-bbc-radio-during-uk-trip/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-graduate-programs-rank-among-nation’s-best/ Tue, 15 March 2011 00:00:00 /blog/2011/ucf-graduate-programs-rank-among-nation’s-best/ By Karen Guin Four of the eight graduate programs at UCF ranked in the top 100 by U.S. News & World Report are in the College of Health and Public Affairs. The college's graduate programs were ranked as follows: 46th in the "Healthcare Management" category: M.S. in Health Sciences - Health Services Administration Track program at UCF 87th in the "Speech-Language Pathology" category: M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders program at UCF 90th in the "Public Administration" category: Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program at UCF 96th in the "Social Work" category: Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program at UCF The rankings are available online . Highlights will be published in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 edition of the Best Graduate Schools book available on newsstands beginning April 5.   /blog/2011/ucf-graduate-programs-rank-among-nation’s-best/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-symposium-to-focus-on-technology-in-health-care/ Thu, 10 March 2011 00:00:00 Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter /blog/2011/ucf-symposium-to-focus-on-technology-in-health-care/ By Courtney Gilmartin Regional representatives will discuss the impact of technology in health care at the seventh-annual State of Health Care in Central Florida Symposium at the University of Central Florida. The public is invited to attend the symposium at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, across the street from the UCF Arena, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 16. Panelists will discuss the ways technology is used to improve health care, such as the use of electronic health records and mechanisms for checking in and treating patients. Speakers on the panel include Andy Lee, chief scientist for Harris Healthcare; Rick Schooler, vice president and chief information officer for Orlando Health; Rajesh Toleti, CEO of PatientPoint; and Dr. James Palermo, chief medical and quality officer for Health First. The agenda also includes a networking session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The event is free for UCF students, and the fee for UCF Alumni is $10. The cost for the public is $15. UCF's Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter is hosting the symposium. It has brought a series of important topics to the area including talks on medical insurance, patient rights and the economy's impact on health care. For information or to register for this year's symposium, call 407-823-1600 or visit www.ucfalumni.com/symposium . /blog/2011/ucf-symposium-to-focus-on-technology-in-health-care/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/spring-break-service-in-seven-states,-jamaica-and-puerto-rico/ Thu, 03 March 2011 00:00:00 Jennifer Tucker /blog/2011/spring-break-service-in-seven-states,-jamaica-and-puerto-rico/ By Courtney Gilmartin Physical therapy Instructor Jennifer Tucker will lead nine physical therapy students and two others on a trip to Kingston, Jamaica, during next week's spring break. UCF students have traveled to Jamaica to help orphans for the past six years, and they are part of an ongoing partnership with the Florida Hospital Outreach program SHARES International. Tucker's team will provide aid at two homes for special needs children, where they will hold educational sessions for the caregivers and interact with the children. /blog/2011/spring-break-service-in-seven-states,-jamaica-and-puerto-rico/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/studying-criminal-justice-in-the-uk/ Wed, 23 February 2011 00:00:00 Ross Wolf /blog/2011/studying-criminal-justice-in-the-uk/ By Courtney Gilmartin Riding along with English constables, cruising the River Thames and visiting the famed New Scotland Yard are among the ways some University of Central Florida students will be spending Spring Break. Seventeen criminal justice majors, along with Associate Professor Ross Wolf, are traveling to the United Kingdom from March 2 -14 to get a first-hand look at the English system. "The American criminal justice system is founded on the UK model," Wolf said. "I hope students gain a better understanding of the American system and local governments by exploring another culture's." The students will learn about police operations including firearms, forensics and dog handling through tours of police headquarters and seminars at the Universities of Chester and Gloucestershire. They'll also explore the different elements of community policing, which is a keystone of the UK system. "Students are going to see a lot of the interaction between the police officers and the community," said Wolf. "They'll be able to compare that to the ride-alongs and other job-shadowing they've done here." Although the American policing system is rooted in UK traditions, the two are very different. The UK's police system is comprised of less than 40 agencies, whereas the U.S. has a more decentralized system with more than 18,000 different police and law enforcement agencies. Additionally, volunteer community policing is a major aspect of the UK's criminal justice system, where many officers patrol unarmed. Students will learn more about how volunteer officers are recruited and trained during a presentation on how the UK is preparing to host the 2012 Olympics in London. The international travel experience also gives UCF students an edge when applying for jobs. Karla Amaya graduates in May and hopes to one day work for a federal agency. "It's great that I'll already have an understanding of foreign law enforcement and that I've been to other parts of the world," said Amaya. "It won't be a complete culture shock if my job requires that I travel." For others, such as Kena Bracey, there are added benefits to the experience. The trip marks her first time on an airplane. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me," said Bracey. /blog/2011/studying-criminal-justice-in-the-uk/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-takes-second-place-in-health-administration-case-competition/ Fri, 18 February 2011 00:00:00 Sarah Cox, Natalia Warren, Dawn Oetjen /blog/2011/ucf-takes-second-place-in-health-administration-case-competition/ By Karen Guin The UCF team of Sarah Cox and Natalia Warren, both students in the master's degree program in health services administration, took second place out of 29 teams from across the country in the national Health Administration Case Competition, sponsored by the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Health System. By placing second, they each won a cash prize of $2,000. The competition took place Feb. 16-17 in Birmingham and included teams from Johns Hopkins University, Baylor University, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Mount Sinai University took first place. Cox and Warren earned second place under the mentorship of Associate Professor Dawn Oetjen. Like each of the competing teams, they received a health-care case to analyze. They then formed recommendations, presented in a written executive summary, PowerPoint document and handouts. The competition "is designed to be a capstone experience that tests [students'] analytic, teamwork, communication and presentation skills," according to the Case Competition Web site. Graduate students enrolled in a CAHME-accredited health administration program are eligible to compete. /blog/2011/ucf-takes-second-place-in-health-administration-case-competition/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/vhb-millersellen-establishes-urban-and-regional-planning-scholarship/ Fri, 11 February 2011 00:00:00 Mary Ann Feldheim /blog/2011/vhb-millersellen-establishes-urban-and-regional-planning-scholarship/ By Karen Guin VHB MillerSellen has donated $25,000 to the University of Central Florida to establish an endowed scholarship in urban and regional planning. Jim Sellen, ­­a principal with the Florida planning firm, announced the gift Thursday evening at a gala at the UCF Center for Emerging Media. The event celebrated last fall's launch of a master's degree program in urban and regional planning at UCF. The new program is the first comprehensive planning program of its kind in the region. "Central Florida is the ideal crucible for advancing the best practices for urban and regional planning, and the students in this UCF program will no doubt graduate with exceptional, first-hand experience in the field," said Sellen, who has worked in urban planning in Central Florida for more than 30 years. "Our firm is proud to provide support to the top prospective students for this degree year after year." The first scholarship will be awarded this fall. The gala drew dozens of planning professionals and several local leaders, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Commissioner Lui Damiani and former county mayor Linda Chapin, all of whom spoke about the significance of the program to the region. "As mayor for this great city of Orlando, I have developed a newfound respect for the planning profession and why planners are so greatly needed in a fast-growing and fast-changing city such as ours," Dyer said. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (seated at right) joined local planners, faculty members and students at the gala. (Photos: santiagostudios.com) The event provided an opportunity for the program's students and faculty members to discuss displays on local planning projects. Central Florida is known for its innovative practices in handling rapid growth, planned communities such as Celebration and Baldwin Park, and new high-speed and commuter rail initiatives. "Almost every national firm in planning has a presence in Orlando," said Mary Ann Feldheim, chair of UCF's Department of Public Administration and part of the team that developed the program. Many of these firms voiced a need for professional education in urban and regional planning to educate future planners for the region, she said. A master's degree is needed for most planning jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. UCF's program is tailored for working professionals. Students can complete the program by taking two courses each semester for eight semesters, and all courses are offered in the evening. The program takes a holistic approach to planning by considering the collective health of individuals, communities and the environment. In addition, students choose an area of concentration from three options: environmental planning, transportation planning and healthy community planning. Fourteen students are enrolled in the program, and enrollment is expected to increase to 80 students by fall 2012. "I'm so excited to be in this program," said student Gabriella Serrado, who also works in the City of Winter Park's economic development and community redevelopment department. "I'm really looking forward to planning great places to live and work." /blog/2011/vhb-millersellen-establishes-urban-and-regional-planning-scholarship/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/new-ucf-tv-programming-on-health,-public-affairs/ Mon, 07 February 2011 00:00:00 /blog/2011/new-ucf-tv-programming-on-health,-public-affairs/ By Karen Guin The first of six new television episodes about the College of Health and Public Affairs begins airing today on UCF TV. The first new episode of the For Your Health show explores aphasia - the loss of speech and language resulting from stroke or other neurologic injury. The episode features studio interviews with faculty experts conducted by veteran medical reporter Charna Wiese. And it takes you to The Aphasia House, where participants with aphasia undergo intensive therapy that produces stunning results.  The episode will air repeatedly throughout the month of February on Bright House Channel 1 and Central Florida on Demand Channel 300. Subsequent episodes of For Your Health will focus on health care reform and hospitals, health care informatics, doctoral training in physical therapy, physical therapy aid in Jamaica, and research on neck-pain management. The season also includes three new episodes of the Public Affairs Today show, hosted by veteran news reporter Alicia Callanan Mandigo.  The episodes welcome faculty experts and members of the community to the studio to share their insight on police culture, truancy intervention and strengthening the efforts of nonprofits.  Public Affairs Today's field segments focus on domestic violence, Seminole County's juvenile justice  programs and Hope Community Center in Apopka, Fla. For a complete viewing schedule, see http://tiny.cc/s0wcb . /blog/2011/new-ucf-tv-programming-on-health,-public-affairs/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/new-scholarship-to-honor-jennifer-kesse/ Fri, 21 January 2011 00:00:00 Ross Wolf /blog/2011/new-scholarship-to-honor-jennifer-kesse/ By Karen Guin Jennifer Kesse's parents have established a scholarship in honor of their daughter, a University of Central Florida graduate who went missing five years ago this month. Drew Kesse, Jennifer's father, announced the creation of The Jennifer Kesse Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship at a press conference today at the Fairwinds Alumni Center. He made the announcement while close family members and friends looked on. Jennifer Kesse graduated from UCF with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2003. Family members decided to establish the scholarship following their experience working with law enforcement. "We learned that the first responders are the most important people in any crime," said Drew Kesse. "We want to turn out the best law enforcement officers who are first responders." The new scholarship is the first to solely support students in UCF's master's degree program in Criminal Justice. Students in the program pursue one of two tracks. The Professional Track prepares participants for leadership roles in criminal justice organizations. The Research Track is for students who plan careers as criminal justice research analysts or who plan to pursue a doctorate in the field. "We have many exceptional students in our program" said Associate Professor Ross Wolf, who directs the master's degree program. "Access to scholarship support can make all the difference in the world to those who are struggling to make ends meet." The new scholarship is an endowed scholarship, which means the funds used to establish it are invested and the interest earnings are awarded as a scholarship. Since no interest has accrued yet, the Kesse family provided a $1,000 gift to UCF so a scholarship can be awarded this fall. Scholarships would be funded through the endowment beginning in 2012. At UCF, an endowed scholarship begins with an endowment of at least $25,000. The Kesse family invites friends, family members and community members to contribute to the fund. A representative of Westgate Resort, Jennifer's employer at the time of her disappearance, contributed to the fund Friday. Several sorority sisters and community members also wrote checks after meeting with the family Friday. "We are so grateful to this wonderful community that has shown us such great support," Drew Kesse said. To contribute online, visit www.cohpa.ucf.edu and click on "Give a Gift." Under "Donation Information," select "The Jennifer Kesse Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship" and complete the remainder of the form. A picture of Jennifer Kesse, drawn and donated to the family by Donnell Rector, will hang in the Department of Criminal Justice to recognize the family and the scholarship. For more information, contact Katie Korkosz at kkorkosz@mail.ucf.edu or 407-823-1600. /blog/2011/new-scholarship-to-honor-jennifer-kesse/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/new-evans-high-will-offer-health-and-dental-care,-community-hub/ Thu, 13 January 2011 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin /blog/2011/new-evans-high-will-offer-health-and-dental-care,-community-hub/ By Karen Guin and Zenaida Gonzalez-Kotala When Evans High School opens at its new location in 2012, it will house a clinic offering mental health, health and dental care to its students thanks to a partnership with the University of Central Florida and the Children's Home Society of Florida. Evans will become Central Florida's first community school, a place that engages students, parents and other community members by offering after-school enrichment, adult-education and social services programs in addition to its regular high school curriculum. The goal is to promote student success and help draw the community closer together. "It will end up becoming a hub for neighborhood activities," said Mike Frumkin, dean of UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs.  "Research has shown that increased cohesiveness among community members creates an environment where students succeed and improves neighborhood stability, safety and prosperity." Frumkin and David Bundy, CEO of the Children's Home Society of Florida, share a vision of establishing one or more community schools in Central Florida. And both are committed to maintaining a long-term partnership, lasting a minimum of 10 to 15 years, which will support the initiative. "At Children's Home Society of Florida, our strategic goal is to ensure that children are safe, healthy and prepared for life," Bundy explained. "We believe this community school model will enable us to meet that challenge; to help students succeed in school and in life, supported by stronger families and communities. UCF is a critical partner in this effort, providing invaluable hands-on resources in addition to vast research and analysis of effective community school strategy and practice." Frumkin and Bundy led a search to identify schools and neighborhoods that could clearly benefit from a community school. They then looked for school partners willing to take on such an initiative. They found one in David Christiansen, principal of Evans High. "It is an exciting time for Evans High School," Christiansen said. "A new campus is on the way, our graduation rate is at a 10-year high and now we are establishing a community school partnership between OCPS, UCF, the Children's Home Society and JP Morgan Chase. This innovative partnership will allow our students to meet their full potential and our community to thrive." A $175,000 donation from JP Morgan Chase to the Children's Home Society of Florida this fall has enabled the nonprofit organization to hire a director who will help launch and run the community school at Evans. The grant may be renewed on an annual basis. "Chase has embraced our community school vision, making a generous contribution essential to our progress," Bundy said. "Chase's support funds the position of community school director, the critical convener of the Evans High family, local business and faith leaders, additional resources and on-site partners." Plans for a second community school at Friendship Elementary in Volusia County are currently under way. At UCF, the College of Health and Public Affairs is taking the lead in helping to facilitate the development of the community schools. The College of Education is playing a key role a well, and the colleges of Medicine and Nursing also will contribute their expertise and resources. "The community school initiative is very much in keeping with UCF's goal of being a premier partnership university," Frumkin said. "By combining our talents and resources with those of the Children's Home Society of Florida and our partner schools, we hope to have a lasting impact on the lives of students, families and communities in Central Florida." /blog/2011/new-evans-high-will-offer-health-and-dental-care,-community-hub/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-professor-leads-effort-to-promote-human-rights-in-russia/ Thu, 06 January 2011 00:00:00 K. Michael Reynolds /blog/2011/ucf-professor-leads-effort-to-promote-human-rights-in-russia/ By Karen Guin Russian citizens will receive free legal services at three new human rights centers a University of Central Florida professor is helping to establish. Associate Professor K. Michael Reynolds recently secured a $645,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State to establish centers in southern Russia that also will coordinate human rights efforts and promote police reform. Reynolds, who teaches criminal justice at UCF and was a Fulbright scholar in Russia, will help to develop the centers in collaboration with the Volgograd Academy of the MVD and the Volgograd Academy of Public Administration in Volgograd, Russia, where he has been studying police corruption and human rights violations for the past five years. "It's no secret that bribery and corruption are serious problems in Russia," Reynolds said. "Our research shows that Russians have very little faith in their prosecutorial system and an extremely high distrust of police. If we educate citizens about their rights and provide support for ongoing police reform, we'll contribute significantly to the development of a civil society in Russia." There are credible reports of torture, abuse and coerced confessions from suspects by police, according to an online report by the State Department. However, Reynolds said the vast majority of Russians can't afford to hire a lawyer. That's why these centers are of critical need. Reynolds and his Volgograd colleagues are identifying the most serious problems in the police system through a citizen survey; in-depth interviews of victims of police abuse; and focus groups composed of government and police officials, the regional ombudsman, human rights advocates, media representatives and scholars. Olga Semukhina, an assistant professor at Marquette University and a Russian lawyer by training, is collaborating with Reynolds.  She is a graduate of UCF's doctoral program in Public Affairs. The information gathered will help create a prototype human rights center in Volgograd this year. Once the prototype is operational, the international team will establish human rights centers in Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar. Reynolds said the centers will be staffed with attorneys from nongovernmental organizations and other human rights advocates. They will focus on helping citizens who are particularly vulnerable, including the elderly and those with limited educations or low incomes. Assistance will be offered at no charge to citizens with any type of legal issue. The centers will coordinate the efforts of human rights organizations in the region. In addition, they will increase public awareness of police and human rights abuse through a website, local media, public meetings, conferences and social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Reynolds and his colleagues plan to use information gathered at the centers to revise the human rights curriculum for students at the Volgograd Academy of the MVD who are training to become police officials. "Both participating Russia academies are innovative leaders in human rights, and we want to provide additional information that can be used to enhance the cadets' understanding of and respect for human rights," Reynolds said. The team will present its recommendations for changes in police training and operations to Russia's Ministry of the Interior. If implemented, the changes could affect thousands of future law enforcement officials throughout the country. /blog/2011/ucf-professor-leads-effort-to-promote-human-rights-in-russia/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2011/ucf-trains-child-abuse-investigators/ Tue, 04 January 2011 00:00:00 John Ronnau /blog/2011/ucf-trains-child-abuse-investigators/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala The University of Central Florida will begin training those who are responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect in Orange, Osceola and Brevard counties beginning today.  UCF's School of Social Work landed a four-year $1.3 million contract from the Florida Department of Children and Families to develop materials and train its new child protective investigators and supervisors. UCF staff members also will help current investigators get recertified, which is required every three years. At least 200 people will receive the training.  "There is no more important job than helping ensure our families are healthy and our children stay safe," said Professor John Ronnau, the director of the School of Social Work at UCF who is leading the project. "Child Protective Investigators serve our most vulnerable population. This is an opportunity for UCF to help these dedicated people do their jobs by providing the best training and resources possible."  The UCF-designed program combines classroom instruction, computer laboratory sessions, supervised field training activities, personal observation, on-line distance learning, direct feedback and one-on-one consultation. It meets all DCF requirements for material that must be covered to get an investigator ready for the job. All people involved with the development of the program will go through an extensive background check and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement because they will be involved with sensitive and private documents regarding minors. Training of new investigators begins Jan. 4 at the UCF Cocoa campus. Other sessions will be offered on the UCF South Orlando campus. /blog/2011/ucf-trains-child-abuse-investigators/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf-program-helps-nonprofits-run-more-effectively/ Thu, 16 December 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/ucf-program-helps-nonprofits-run-more-effectively/ By Karen Guin Twenty-six nonprofits from Lake, Orange and Sumter counties are running more effectively thanks to a federally funded program offered by UCF's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. The nonprofits make up the first group to participate in the Strengthening Communities in Central Florida Program, funded with a $1 million grant awarded to the center by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During the 10-month program, representatives of the nonprofits attended workshops on areas known to enhance nonprofit effectiveness: leadership development, organizational development, program development and evaluation effectiveness. The monthly workshops were held from February to December at UCF's South Lake Campus in Clermont. Among the specific workshops offered were "Grant Writing - The Art and Science" and "Your Organization and Volunteers -Finding the Right Fit." The final workshop, held Dec. 3, focused on collaboration and community engagement and was facilitated by Hildy Gottlieb, author of The Pollyanna Principles: Reinventing "Nonprofit Organizations" to Create the Future of Our World . At the conclusion of the workshop, the center recognized the participants for their successful completion of the program and achievements. In addition, several participants gave testimonials about their experiences. They said the knowledge gained during the program both challenged and revived their organizations. Thanks to a generous donation from the Community Foundation of Central Florida, the workshop's 68 attendees enjoyed a catered luncheon as well. Early assessments of the program indicate a positive relationship between training in three areas - leadership, organizational development, and collaboration and community engagement - with increased organizational effectiveness and networking and collaboration among the nonprofits. A second group of nonprofits will begin the Strengthening Communities in Central Florida program in January 2011. For further information about the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management and Strengthening Communities in Central Florida Program, visit www.cpnm.ucf.edu .   /blog/2010/ucf-program-helps-nonprofits-run-more-effectively/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/oral-cancer-screenings-draw-hundreds/ Fri, 05 November 2010 00:00:00 Bari Hoffman Ruddy /blog/2010/oral-cancer-screenings-draw-hundreds/ By Karen Guin Volunteer prosthodontists and oral surgeons, in conjunction with UCF's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Pre-Dental Society, conducted hundreds of free oral cancer screenings during a Nov. 3 outreach event held near the Student Union. "Our students and the doctors screened approximately 400 students, staff and faculty over six hours," said Bari Hoffman-Ruddy, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders. "This was a record for us and the American College of Prosthodontist's annual screening program." The ACP is particularly interested in targeting a younger population for screenings because of the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and oral cancer. According to the ACP, 25 percent of those newly diagnosed with oral cancer have no traditional risk factors, such as the use of tobacco or alcohol. "Much of the literature suggests a strong association between transmission of HPV via oral sex, and this is a relatively new demographic with oral cancer," said Dr. John Whitsitt, a prosthodontist and ACP member from Daytona Beach who volunteered at the event. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., students and faculty members worked at tables outside a large bus devoted to the screenings. They shared information about risk factors associate with oral cancer and encouraged people to have a free screening performed by a volunteer specialist. Each screening took just a few minutes. As of 1 p.m., no cases of oral cancer had been detected, said Whitsitt, who was clearly pleased with the turnout. "It's just so important to increase awareness about it." /blog/2010/oral-cancer-screenings-draw-hundreds/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/sindlinger-honored,-leaves-lasting-support-for-advisers/ Tue, 19 October 2010 00:00:00 Judith Sindlinger /blog/2010/sindlinger-honored,-leaves-lasting-support-for-advisers/ By Karen Guin Judith Sindlinger served as an academic adviser and administrator at UCF for nearly 20 years before her retirement in May. She spent the most recent 15 years as director of Undergraduate Student Services in the College of Health and Public Affairs. Beginning this December, UCF will recognize Sindlinger's many contributions to the campus by annually awarding the "Dr. Judith Sindlinger Outstanding New Advisor Award."  Each year, UCF's Academic Advising Council will present the award to an adviser who has been employed at UCF for three years or less and has made outstanding contributions to her or his advising office. The award is a fitting honor for Sindlinger, who has been devoted to the promotion of professional academic advising. She was instrumental in developing the Academic Advising Council and served as its first chair. She also helped develop the Advisor Enhancement Program and create career levels for academic advising positions at UCF. In 2006, Sindlinger received the Academic Advising Administrator Award from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) in recognition of her service and contributions to advising at UCF. Shortly before her retirement, Sindlinger and her husband, Stephan Sindlinger, contributed $25,000 to UCF to establish the "Dr. Judith A. Sindlinger Professional Development Endowment."  The fund will exist in perpetuity, and each year a portion of the annual earnings will be used to support the professional development of advisers in the college's Undergraduate Student Services office. The advising staff has already benefitted from the Sindlingers' generosity. "Funds from the endowment helped defray the costs of our advisers attending the annual NACADA conference this fall," said Pam Kirby, associate dean for undergraduate studies and interim chair of the Department of Legal Studies. "The college is extremely proud of Judy's contributions and grateful for this tremendous gift on behalf of our advisers."   /blog/2010/sindlinger-honored,-leaves-lasting-support-for-advisers/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf-students-sign-with-orlando-magic/ Fri, 15 October 2010 00:00:00 Ashley Loomis, Jason Hurdich /blog/2010/ucf-students-sign-with-orlando-magic/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Ashley Loomis can't dunk or shoot 3-pointers, but she'll be signing with the Orlando Magic this season. Loomis is one of 35 UCF students who will sign the national anthem for deaf and hard-of-hearing fans before all Magic home games, including the preseason and playoffs. "I think it is great to be part of something that will expose others to sign language and the deaf community," said Loomis, who has been deaf since birth. "It demonstrates the heart behind the Magic team to reach out to and connect with deaf and hearing individuals." Loomis, a Health Sciences major with a minor in Deaf Studies, is a huge Magic fan. In addition to signing the U.S. national anthem, she will be signing the Canadian national anthem when the Toronto Raptors visit the Magic in November. The UCF students will work in teams to sign the national anthem. One student will sign next to the singer. He or she will take cues from a second student acting as a feeder from the sidelines. Because some of the student signers are deaf or hard of hearing, the role of the feeder is to give the signers cues to follow. "One of the biggest challenges a deaf individual faces is separation from the general community due to the language and communication barriers," Loomis said. "Being a part of these events helps me feel more connected to my community." Jason Hurdich, an American Sign Language instructor at UCF, said few NBA teams provide signing for all of their games. He said it's special that the Magic are "taking accessibility a step further than what other teams have done." UCF offers ASL within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. UCF sought the partnership with the Magic to assist fans and give students studying the third-most-used language in the United States invaluable opportunities to practice. It was an easy sell. "We are extremely happy to be partnering with the UCF's American Sign Language program in order to serve all Orlando Magic fans and create a legendary experience," said Shelly Driggers, director of Arena & Event Presentations for the Orlando Magic. /blog/2010/ucf-students-sign-with-orlando-magic/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/study-examines-how-rural-communities-cope-with-natural-disasters/ Tue, 21 September 2010 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu, Christopher Hawkins /blog/2010/study-examines-how-rural-communities-cope-with-natural-disasters/ By Karen Guin Rural communities in 11 Central Florida counties will benefit from a grant awarded to the University of Central Florida this month and will help create a national model for disaster preparedness. Researchers from UCF's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management will examine how rural communities in 11 counties in Central Florida - Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia - prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. Their goal is to identify strategies that minimize the impact of disasters in rural areas. These best practices will be shared with rural communities throughout the nation. "Rural communities face unique challenges in dealing with disasters," said principal investigator Naim Kapucu, director of the center and associate professor of public administration. "They're spread out and not heavily populated, making communication more difficult. They also tend to have limited resources."  The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provided the $387,556 grant. Kapucu and co-investigators Christopher Hawkins and Fernando Rivera think Central Florida is an ideal place to examine emergency management practices in rural areas. The region has 87 rural communities, according to 2000 U.S. Census data, and they are located in a region prone to natural disasters. The research team is particularly interested in learning how individuals, government agencies, community groups and other organizations in rural communities and the surrounding areas interact in the face of disaster. Co-investigators Christopher Hawkins (left) and Fernando Rivera "The nature of these relations plays a key role in the resiliency of rural communities in a disaster," said Hawkins, an expert in social network analysis and assistant professor of public administration. To study these relations, Kapucu, Hawkins and several graduate students will identify all organizations in the 11 counties that manage and respond to disasters. The will then inventory their roles and responsibilities and use a Geographic Information System to create a map to analyze how they work together and share information. They also will obtain data from policy manuals, state and federal emergency management reports, and newspaper articles. In addition, the team will examine the effect of land-use, labor markets and housing on the resiliency of rural communities. Previous studies have shown that areas with agricultural industries that employ local residents are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.  Rivera, a sociologist, will explore the influence of socio-demographic and cultural factors on a rural community's ability to cope. The age, social class and ethnicity of residents are among the social forces known to affect how a community prepares for and recovers from disasters. The researchers will glean more information by analyzing a survey of Florida's local and regional emergency managers taken immediately after three hurricanes hit the state in 2004. More than 90 percent of the survey recipients responded.  The team also will conduct a focus group in each county to gain input from community members. Kapucu said one of the most important parts of the study will be a workshop held toward the end of the two-year project. "We will bring national and international experts and local practitioners together to share the best strategies rural communities can use to manage the impact of natural disasters," he said. /blog/2010/study-examines-how-rural-communities-cope-with-natural-disasters/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/critics-love-new-nursing-home-book/ Wed, 08 September 2010 00:00:00 Thomas Wan, Ning "Jackie" Zhang, Lynn Unruh /blog/2010/critics-love-new-nursing-home-book/ By Karen Guin UCF researchers are the authors of a new book, Improving the Quality of Care in Nursing Homes , published this month by Johns Hopkins University Press. The service-oriented guide is "a landmark contribution to informing professionals and advocates working for effective, efficient care of nursing home residents," according to Bernard Roos, professor of medicine and director of the University of Miami Geriatrics Institute. Thomas T. H. Wan, Gerald-Mark Breen, Ning Jackie Zhang and Lynn Unruh wrote the book after conducting a wide-scale study on the quality of care in nursing homes. The project was funded in part by a grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health. The authors begin with a review of the history, development and current state of nursing homes. They go on to define the concept of "quality" in a nursing home and discuss how it is measured. They also identify the many factors and issues that affect quality of care, and they discuss the relationship between efficiency and quality of care. Throughout the book, the authors make recommendations for improving care based on scientific methodology and real-world experience. The publication is considered "an unequaled, much-needed scientific review of nursing home quality" by Michele F. Bellatoni, a physician with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Wan is a professor of public affairs and associate dean for research in the College of Health and Public Affairs, Zhang is an associate professor of public affairs and Unruh is an associate professor of health management and informatics. Breen was a research associate in public affairs until his death in March 2010.   /blog/2010/critics-love-new-nursing-home-book/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/new-planning-program-to-help-communities-handle-growth,-rail/ Mon, 23 August 2010 00:00:00 Mary Ann Feldheim /blog/2010/new-planning-program-to-help-communities-handle-growth,-rail/ By Karen Guin As Central Florida communities struggle with growth and prepare for new high-speed and commuter rail lines, the University of Central Florida is poised to train more planners who can help them. UCF launched a new master's program today in Urban and Regional Planning. The first comprehensive planning program for students in Central Florida is tailored for working adults, who should be able to earn degrees after three years of taking courses part time. Graduates will be able to work for government agencies, private firms or nonprofit organizations at the local, state and federal levels, said Mary Ann Feldheim, chair of the Department of Public Administration. A master's degree is needed for most planning jobs in the current market, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Planners identify and recommend actions involving land use, urban design, environmental protection, real estate and housing. Central Florida is ripe for such a program because of the region's practices in handling rapid growth, urban innovations such as the planned communities of Celebration and Baldwin Park and the new high-speed and commuter rail initiatives.  The program's holistic approach considers the collective health of individuals, communities and the natural environment. Students learn how these components interrelate in courses on planning methods, transportation policy, environmental program management, economic development and planning healthy communities. Students also choose one of three areas for focused study:  healthy community planning, environmental planning or transportation planning.  "All three areas are important to the health and sustainability of our Central Florida communities," said Feldheim, who added that UCF's program is the only one in the state to offer a focus on healthy community planning. Faculty members from many departments, including Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science, Engineering and Health Professions, are teaching in the program. The Central Florida planning community also helped to develop the courses. "Almost every national firm in planning has a presence in Orlando," Feldheim said. "The planning community has made a strong commitment to supporting the new program through its willingness to offer internships, mentorships and studio experiences."  A dozen students began their studies this week, and the program's enrollment could increase to 80 students by fall 2012. "The university can be a laboratory for advancing the best practices for urban and regional planning and a great partner to both the public and private sectors in developing solutions to our most serious urban problems." said Jim Sellen, an urban planner in Central Florida for more than 30 years and currently a principal with the Orlando-based firm VHB Miller Sellen. Feldheim, Associate Professor Jay Jurie and Assistant Professor Christopher Hawkins, all of Public Administration, led the development of the new program.  For more information, visit www.graduatecatalog.ucf.edu/programs . Under "Health and Public Affairs," select "Urban and Regional Planning M.S." /blog/2010/new-planning-program-to-help-communities-handle-growth,-rail/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/public-affairs'-program-returns-to-orlando-campus/ Fri, 20 August 2010 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin, Ronnie Korosec /blog/2010/public-affairs'-program-returns-to-orlando-campus/ By Karen Guin UCF's Doctoral Program in Public Affairs has returned to the Orlando campus after being housed at a facility in the Central Florida Research Park for the past five and a half years. The Doctoral Program in Public Affairs' annual research conference features presentations by national experts. The program's offices are now located in Health and Public Affairs building I, Suite 220. A student technology lab is located nearby. The program is the largest doctoral program in the College of Health and Public Affairs, with more than 100 students enrolled.  It also is the "flagship" academic program of the college, said Dean Michael Frumkin. "The program is central to the college's mission of 'strengthening communities, changing lives,'" Frumkin explained. "It prepares students to view societal needs from an interdisciplinary perspective, creating new ways of understanding and new solutions to impact community life." To date, 76 students have completed the program since it was established in 1998. Both Frumkin and Interim Program Director Ronnie Korosec think the program's relocation to HPA I will enhance interactions between students and faculty members, as well as provide new opportunities for networking and research. "The move should increase everyone's ability to translate knowledge into action," Frumkin said. "We anticipate this coming year to be one of great promise and progress," shared Korosec, who also serves as the college's associate dean for technology and graduate studies. "We're welcoming 24 new students, including several from other countries, who are certain to contribute to our already diverse mix of full-time, part-time and practitioner students." The program will unveil some changes to its curriculum this fall. Previously, students followed a broad, "generalist" course of study in public affairs or chose to specialize in a discipline. Now students must declare a formal track in criminal justice, health services management and research, governance and policy research, public administration, or social work. Korosec said the program plans to hold a sixth Public Affairs' Research Conference early next year. "This signature event lets us showcase the talents of our students, faculty and community partners within the realm of public affairs' research," she added. Earlier this year, public affairs' students published a second volume of Public Affairs Review, a professionally produced electronic journal on contemporary issues in public affairs (see http://tiny.cc/2hbof ). This fall, the college will resume a national search for a permanent director for the program. Thomas T. H. Wan, associate dean for research for the college, served as director of the doctoral program from 2003 to spring 2010. For further information about UCF's Doctoral Program in Public Affairs, see  www.graduatecatalog.ucf.edu/programs/ and under "Health and Public Affairs" select "Public Affairs PhD." /blog/2010/public-affairs'-program-returns-to-orlando-campus/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/grant-to-provide-scholarships-for-disadvantaged-students/ Mon, 19 July 2010 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin /blog/2010/grant-to-provide-scholarships-for-disadvantaged-students/ By Karen Guin Students in the College of Health and Public Affairs who face economic hardship may be eligible to receive scholarship support thanks to federal funding that aims to increase the number of health professionals working in underserved areas. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the college $636,147 to provide scholarships for full-time students in several health-related programs during the 2010-2011 academic year. Full-time undergraduates in radiologic sciences and communication sciences and disorders along with graduate students in communication sciences and disorders, health services administration, and social work are eligible to apply for the financial support. Applications for the scholarship will be distributed by Knights E-Mail to students in these programs during the first week of the fall semester. Applicants must meet federal poverty guidelines. For complete eligibility requirements, see www.cohpa.ucf.edu/documents/Eligibility_Requirements_2010-11.pdf . This is the second year the college has received a grant through the federal government's Health Resources and Services Administration Scholarship program. The program helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds complete a health or allied health professions program. In many cases, graduates of these programs return to their home communities to work. Last year's grant provided scholarship assistance for 102 students in the college, said Dean Michael Frumkin. (Learn more at www.cohpa.ucf.edu/documents/Disadvantaged_Students_Scholarships_11-09.pdf .) /blog/2010/grant-to-provide-scholarships-for-disadvantaged-students/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/new-aphasia-house-offers-innovative-therapy-in-a-home-like-setting/ Wed, 14 July 2010 00:00:00 Janet Whiteside /blog/2010/new-aphasia-house-offers-innovative-therapy-in-a-home-like-setting/ By Karen Guin A new facility dedicated solely to innovative therapy for individuals with aphasia, or the loss of speech resulting from neurologic injury, has been established at the University of Central Florida with an anonymous $25,000 donation. The Aphasia House provides speech-language therapy in a setting distinct from a typical medical office. Each room is outfitted to resemble a familiar space in a home, including a kitchen, garden patio and garage. The rooms are designed to encourage natural conversations. UCF graduate students studying communication sciences and disorders provide individualized and group therapy under the supervision of certified clinical faculty. This is the only intensive program for persons with aphasia in the Central Florida area. Approximately one million people in the United States, or one out of every 275 adults, have some type of aphasia, according to the National Aphasia Association. The most common cause is a stroke. The facility is a dream-come-true for its director, Janet Whiteside, a clinical educator at UCF and Chair of the Board of Clinical Educators at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic. Whiteside is an expert in her field. She received the 2010 Honors of the Association Award from the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Director Janet Whiteside makes notes while monitoring therapy sessions. "As a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, I saw how effective the use of a home environment was during therapy for children who were deaf or hard of hearing," Whiteside recalled. "I've always wanted to create that type of environment for clients with aphasia." She is equally pleased that The Aphasia House is also an educational facility, where students gain experience implementing cutting-edge therapies for the condition. It is conveniently located in the Central Florida Research Park's Research Pavilion. The UCF Communication Disorders Clinic is housed in the same building. Thanks to the donation, Whiteside brought the first group of clients to the house this summer. Four individuals with aphasia resulting from either a stroke or brain injury are participating in a six-week Intensive Aphasia Program from June 21 to July 29. Research has shown that personalized intensive therapy is especially effective in treating aphasia, so each client spends four hours a day, four days a week working directly with one or more student clinicians. The goal of the program is to increase the clients' communication skills. Whiteside closely monitors the therapy sessions, noting the clients' progress and ways to adjust the therapies, which she shares with the students. She and the students also keep the clients and their family members well-informed by providing them with a copy of the protocol and explaining what is being done and why. Clients sign in when they enter the house's living room. The Intensive Aphasia Program will be conducted six times a year in The Aphasia House. Whiteside is currently interviewing stroke survivors for the next session, which runs from Aug. 30 to Oct. 8. Treatment is not free, but the facility takes Medicare and will work with participants to fill out the paperwork for reimbursement. The donation will help pay for running the intensive programs, education for those working at The Aphasia House and consultation with experts "to help us become the premier facility of its kind in the nation," Whiteside said. Those interested in learning more about the program at The Aphasia House may call 407-882-0468 or email www.ucfspeechlanguagetherapy.com for more information. /blog/2010/new-aphasia-house-offers-innovative-therapy-in-a-home-like-setting/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/department-of-criminal-justice-and-legal-studies-splits-into-two-departments/ Thu, 01 July 2010 00:00:00 Robert Langworthy, Pamela Kirby /blog/2010/department-of-criminal-justice-and-legal-studies-splits-into-two-departments/ By Karen Guin The College of Health and Public Affairs is pleased to announce that the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies has split into two departments, effective today. The Department of Criminal Justice is led by Dr. Robert Langworthy, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies since 2007. The restructured department's administrative offices are located in the former department's offices in HPA I - Suite 311. Criminal justice faculty members continue to maintain offices on the third floor of HPA I. UCF is ranked 10th among the nation's top-producing institutions of books on criminal justice. Learn more at www.cohpa.ucf.edu/crim.jus . The Department of Legal Studies is led by Dr. Pamela Kirby, interim chair, associate dean for undergraduate studies and a member of the legal studies' faculty. The department's administrative offices are located in HPA I - Suite 343. Legal studies' faculty members will continue to maintain offices on the third floor of HPA I, but they will relocate this summer to rooms closer to the department's administrative suite. The new department is home to the Mock Trial Team at UCF, one of the most competitive and successful organizations on campus in recent years. Learn more at www.cohpa.ucf.edu/legalstudies . /blog/2010/department-of-criminal-justice-and-legal-studies-splits-into-two-departments/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/computech-citysuitemed-gift-aids-health-care-informatics-program/ Thu, 17 June 2010 00:00:00 Kendall Cortelyou-Ward /blog/2010/computech-citysuitemed-gift-aids-health-care-informatics-program/ By Karen Guin CompuTech City, a health information technology company based in Casselberry, Fla., and its California-based partner, SuiteMed, have donated software and technical support valued at more than $2.2 million over five years to the University of Central Florida. The donation will give health care informatics students real-world experience with electronic health records (EHR) and practice management software used by physician practices nationwide. CompuTech City is providing UCF's master's degree program in health care informatics with licenses for its Intelligent Medical Software (IMS). Beginning this fall, students entering the program will be given access to the software, enabling them to gain experience with managing EHR, scheduling, drug dispensing, lab orders, billing and other components of a medical practice. "The software will help our students see how the different parts of a medical practice can fit together electronically as well as interface with other services and offices. Its use will be an invaluable experience for our students," said Kendall Cortelyou-Ward, interim director of the Health Care Informatics graduate program in the College of Health and Public Affairs. The company will provide the licenses, technical support, hosting and software updates for five years. "We realize the importance of a formalized training program, which will enable professionals to attain a better understanding and use of today's technology and take them into the future of health care," says Saurin Patel, CEO of CompuTech City. Cortelyou-Ward said there has been keen interest in the informatics program since it began last fall. Twenty-five students are currently enrolled, and she anticipates adding 30 new students this fall. /blog/2010/computech-citysuitemed-gift-aids-health-care-informatics-program/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/liberman-discusses-health-care-benefit-changes-on-fox-35-news/ Tue, 15 June 2010 00:00:00 Aaron Liberman /blog/2010/liberman-discusses-health-care-benefit-changes-on-fox-35-news/ Professor Aaron Liberman discusses the impact of health care reform on businesses in this segment aired by Fox 35 Orlando. /blog/2010/liberman-discusses-health-care-benefit-changes-on-fox-35-news/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/study-colleges-lack-confidence-in-disaster-preparedness/ Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu /blog/2010/study-colleges-lack-confidence-in-disaster-preparedness/ By Christine Dellert A new University of Central Florida study found that some U.S. colleges and universities might not be as well prepared for emergencies or disaster situations as school leaders would like. Of more than 100 campus safety leaders surveyed, UCF Associate Professor Naim Kapucu found that only 13 percent of respondents - a mix of emergency management, public safety and police officials - said they were "very confident" that their campuses would be disaster resilient. Campus security is an issue of primary concern for colleges and universities, especially since the tragic 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech and other high-profile incidents of campus violence across the nation. Both the UCF Office of Emergency Management and UCF's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management are involved with improving and researching emergency preparedness. UCF received a grant last year from the U.S. Department of Education to improve its disaster and emergency management plans. "Colleges and universities across the country should focus on promoting a culture of preparedness on their campuses and reducing individuals' lack of knowledge or complacency in the event of a disaster," said Kapucu, who directs the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management in the College of Health and Public Affairs. With help from the federal Emergency Management Higher Education grant, UCF has formed an advisory council of university, law enforcement and homeland security officials from across the region. Its purpose is to better facilitate long-lasting partnerships and better prepare UCF and other Central Florida institutions for possible threats. "At UCF, the safety and security of students and the university community is our No. 1 priority," said Jeff Morgan, the university's emergency management coordinator. "We continue to enhance our many alert systems that inform our university community during emergencies and to provide extensive training for students, faculty and staff members." The UCF Office of Emergency Management also leads efforts to educate the university community on how to best prepare for disasters. UCF already has in place a series of emergency notification systems called UCF Alert. These tools include outdoor sirens, emergency text messages and e-mails, the university's main Web site, radio station WUCF-89.9 FM and social media sites. /blog/2010/study-colleges-lack-confidence-in-disaster-preparedness/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/'driven-to-succeed'-grad-helps-others-through-her-own-struggles/ Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/'driven-to-succeed'-grad-helps-others-through-her-own-struggles/ By Jessica Wycoff Simply looking at Katherine Olson doesn't tell you the magnitude of challenges she has overcome. Olson, who graduated from UCF on Friday, was diagnosed with severe hearing loss when she was 4. She received her first pair of hearing aids before she even entered kindergarten. Her parents insisted that she attend mainstream schools, and despite the extra hours of studying and ups-and-downs with speech therapy, she excelled. "I've surprised myself," she says. Although she knew it would be a challenge, Olson pursued a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Initially intimidated by the higher dropout rate of students with similar impairments, she was determined to finish school and graduate. "If I could use one word to describe my daughter, it would be 'driven.' She always has been driven to succeed," says Katherine's father, George Olson. The Olsons moved from Virginia to Florida when Katherine was 5. In Orlando, she kept up with her dance recitals and played the flute in the Timber Creek High School marching band, while two of her older brothers attended UCF. While she was in high school, she received the DisneyHand Shining Star (Dreamer and Doer) award and a college scholarship from the AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Olson originally enrolled at UCF in 2006 as a part of the Pegasus Success Program, a limited-access summer program to help students achieve their academic goals while transitioning from high school to college. She wanted to be a Nursing major, but soon switched to Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health and Public Affairs. In her classes, she often acted as a mentor to other impaired students. She also answered her classmates' questions based on her own experiences with deafness. Olson also spent time in the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic, where she took speech therapy and volunteered in the audiology lab. For the past two years, she's been working more than 20 hours a week at an ear, nose and throat doctor's office near UCF, interacting with parents and children who suffer hearing loss. "She has been a tremendous example to the parents bringing their children in for hearing aids and wondering how their child will ever function in this hearing world," George Olson said. In addition to her coursework in communication disorders, Katherine Olson is an active member of the American Sign Language (ASL) Club. She hopes her fluency in ASL will help in her career in audiology or as a physician's assistant. Olson and her parents credit her success in college to the many resources UCF provided to help her complete class assignments, study for tests and learn the ropes around campus. Student Disability Services provided Olson with captionists who took notes in her classes, and the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic offered additional assistance when she needed it. After her graduation, Olson hopes to make a final decision about her career path. She may enroll in the Doctorate of Audiology program at the University of South Florida. "Everyone who comes in contact with her is in awe of what she continues to accomplish in spite of her handicap," George Olson said. /blog/2010/'driven-to-succeed'-grad-helps-others-through-her-own-struggles/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf-celebrates-first-graduates-of-doctor-of-physical-therapy-program/ Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 Gerald Smith /blog/2010/ucf-celebrates-first-graduates-of-doctor-of-physical-therapy-program/ By Karen Guin The first group of students in the University of Central Florida's new Doctor of Physical Therapy program will graduate this week. Thirty students have completed the three-year, year-round program, launched in May 2007. Their degrees will be conferred at the College of Health and Public Affairs' graduation ceremony at 2 p.m., Friday, May 7, at the UCF Arena. "We've got a group of very well-prepared graduates ready to work in the community," said Gerald Smith, director of UCF's Physical Therapy program. "When you mix a group of very good students with a very rigorous program, you get a positive outcome." Previously, UCF offered a master's degree program in physical therapy. Advancing to a doctoral program reflects a national trend in physical therapy education, Smith explained. UCF's doctoral program requires 35 credit hours more than the former master's degree program. "We added course work in areas such as radiology, imaging and differential diagnosis and expanded the time spent in clinical practice," Smith said. Most of the students completed clinical internships at health care facilities in Central Florida; however, some sought clinical experience out of the area. For example, Anne Kunderman gained experience working with injured servicemen and women at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., while Matt Hennings worked with professional basketball players at a sports-medicine practice in Portland, Ore. The graduating students range in age from 21 to 33, and about three-quarters of them are women. Most are from Florida; others are from Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey and West Virginia. All graduates of the accredited program are eligible to take the state examination that leads to obtaining a license to practice physical therapy. Smith said there is a tremendous need for physical therapists in Florida. He cited a recent study by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation that reports there are almost 1,000 openings for physical therapists in the state. Two other classes of doctoral students are enrolled in the UCF program, and a new class of 34 students will begin next week. To learn more about UCF's Physical Therapy program, click here . /blog/2010/ucf-celebrates-first-graduates-of-doctor-of-physical-therapy-program/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/five-ucf-graduate-programs-ranked-in-us-news'-top-100/ Fri, 23 April 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/five-ucf-graduate-programs-ranked-in-us-news'-top-100/ U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools guide ranks five University of Central Florida programs among the nation's best in their fields. Two of the five programs are in the College of Health and Public Affairs: Speech-Language Pathology and Public Administration.   /blog/2010/five-ucf-graduate-programs-ranked-in-us-news'-top-100/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ncg-medical-gift-aids-health-care-informatics-program/ Mon, 12 April 2010 00:00:00 Kendall Cortelyou-Ward /blog/2010/ncg-medical-gift-aids-health-care-informatics-program/ By Karen Guin NCG Medical, an Electronic Health Records (EHR) company based in Central Florida, has donated software and technical support valued at $1.25 million over five years to the University of Central Florida. The donation will give Health Care Informatics students real-world experience with EHR software used by thousands of doctors' offices to integrate their clinical and financial records. NCG Medical is providing UCF's master's degree program in Health Care Informatics with licenses for its Perfect Care EHR software. Beginning this fall, students entering the program will be given access to the software, enabling them to gain experience with certified EHR consisting of electronic medical records, electronic lab orders and revenue cycle management. "The software will help our students see how all the different parts and pieces of a medical practice can fit together electronically," said Kendall Cortelyou-Ward, interim director of the Health Care Informatics graduate program in the College of Health and Public Affairs. "It will be an invaluable experience for students preparing for a career in health informatics." The company will provide the licenses, technical support and software updates for five years. "We are very impressed with the efforts UCF has contributed to regional healthcare informatics initiatives," said Antonio Arias, senior vice president of business development of NCG Medical, which is based in Altamonte Springs. "Our goal is to integrate the university's efforts with our support and software tools to create a world-class health informatics program." In 2009, NCG Medical established a scholarship for students enrolled in UCF's Health Care Informatics program. Cortelyou-Ward said there has been keen interest in the informatics program since it began last fall. Twenty-five students are currently enrolled, and she anticipates adding 30 new students this fall. /blog/2010/ncg-medical-gift-aids-health-care-informatics-program/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf-honors-outstanding-faculty-at-founders'-day/ Wed, 07 April 2010 00:00:00 Ross Wolf, Robin Kohn, Marva Ellington /blog/2010/ucf-honors-outstanding-faculty-at-founders'-day/ Three members of the College of Health and Public Affairs received universitywide excellence awards in 2010: University Award for Excellence in Professional Service: Ross Wolf, assistant professor of criminal justice University Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising: Robin Kohn , instructor and B.S.W. program coordinator University Award for Excellence in Professional Academic Advising: Marva Ellington, coordinator of academic support services   /blog/2010/ucf-honors-outstanding-faculty-at-founders'-day/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf,-medical-community-to-offer-free-cancer-risk-assessments/ Thu, 01 April 2010 00:00:00 Bari Hoffman Ruddy /blog/2010/ucf,-medical-community-to-offer-free-cancer-risk-assessments/ By Karen Guin Cancer of the head and neck is the sixth most-common form of cancer in the United States. Unfortunately, many people do not recognize the symptoms of these life-threatening diseases, which can be easily treated if diagnosed early. The UCF Communication Disorders Clinic, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute and The Ear Nose and Throat Surgical Associates will jointly offer free risk assessments for oral, head and neck cancer in observance of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, April 12-18. The assessments will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital Medical Library, 200 N. Lakemont Ave., Winter Park, and from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, April 16, at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 155, in the Central Florida Research Park in Orlando. Each assessment is painless and only takes about 10 minutes. "The face of head and neck cancer patients has changed," said Bari Hoffman Ruddy, associate professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and assessments coordinator. "It's no longer the 75-year-old man with a long history of smoking cigarettes. There's an increasing number of young adults diagnosed with oral cancer related to a strand of HPV (human papillomavirus) that may be sexually transmitted." An early indication of oral cancer is one or more changes in the way the soft tissues of the mouth usually look or feel. This can include a mouth sore that doesn't heal or increases in size. For a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms, visit www.headandneck.org . Hoffman Ruddy said other changes, such as hoarseness, should be checked out, especially in someone who smokes, a risk factor for precancerous conditions in the larynx (voice box). "Awareness of risk factors and early signs, as well as new technology, is allowing clinicians to identify precancerous conditions early and treat them effectively." she said. A panel of experts, including Hoffman Ruddy, will discuss team management in oral head and neck cancer from noon to 1 p.m. April 15 at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital Medical Library. The presentation is free and open to the public. UCF Communication Sciences and Disorders students and medical students will attend the presentation, assist with the risk assessments and distribute information on campus to increase awareness. The assessments coincide with this year's World Voice Day, April 16. The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery sponsors the U.S. observance of this annual event to educate people about keeping their voices healthy. For more information about World Voice Day, visit www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/worldVoiceDay.cfm . For more information about the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic, visit www.ucfspeechlanguagetherapy.com . /blog/2010/ucf,-medical-community-to-offer-free-cancer-risk-assessments/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/an-innovative-model-for-employee-health-care/ Mon, 15 March 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/an-innovative-model-for-employee-health-care/ By Karen Guin Harris Rosen, president and founder of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, will speak about his company's innovative approach to providing employee health care at the sixth-annual State of Health Care in Central Florida Symposium at the University of Central Florida. The public is invited to the symposium at the Fairwinds Alumni Center, across the street from the UCF Arena, from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 24. Rosen's company provides direct health care to its associates and their families at an on-site, full-service medical center. The approach keeps cost down by focusing on wellness and prevention and has drawn the attention of political leaders and the national media as a model for health care reform. "Mr. Rosen has innovative ideas about employee health and a unique perspective on the employers' view of health care delivery," said Kevin Lenhart, chair of UCF's Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter, which is sponsoring the event. "He's been invited to share his perspective with the campus and local communities." Rosen, a UCF trustee, and his wife, Trisha, provided the signature gift for UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus, which opened in 2004 in the heart of Orlando's tourism corridor. Other speakers at the forum will include Kenneth Aldridge, Jr., director of health services at Rosen Medical Center and a UCF alumnus, and Ashley Bacot, president of ProvInsure. The agenda also includes a career workshop for students from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and networking and hors d'oeuvres from 6 to 6:45 p.m. UCF students can attend for free. The fee for UCF Alumni Association members with a valid membership card is $10, and the cost is $15 for the general public. For more information or to register, call 407-823-1600 or visit www.ucfalumni.com/symposium . /blog/2010/an-innovative-model-for-employee-health-care/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/fottlers-establish-endowed-scholarship-fund/ Wed, 03 March 2010 00:00:00 Myron Fottler /blog/2010/fottlers-establish-endowed-scholarship-fund/ By Elizabeth Herrera For Professor Myron Fottler and his wife, Carol Fottler, generosity isn't just about rising to the challenge but also about challenging others. The Dr. Myron D. Fottler and Carol A. Fottler Endowed Scholarship Fund will help students in the health services administration master's degree program and in the health administration specialization of the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs . Fottler, both a faculty member and an executive director of the health services administration program at UCF, was first approached by Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter Chair Kevin Lenhardt to contribute to the association's scholarship fund. Fottler was willing but offered a challenge: He would double his $500 contribution if every faculty member also contributed. He then broadened the challenge, pledging an additional $1,000 if everyone on all three advisory boards in Central Florida also donated. The Fottlers also created the scholarship in their name under the principle of incentives. "If someone is a great student and can get into the University of Alabama at Birmingham or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, they will go there because they can offer better scholarships," Fottler said. "The goal of the scholarship program is not to recruit more students, because we have a very large number of students. The issue is we want to make sure we get our fair share of the very best students." Fottler stresses the need to compete with long-established schools in order for UCF's program to excel. He holds a doctorate in business from Columbia University and became interested in health services administration while writing his dissertation. A professor encouraged him to learn about the field and deliver a dissertation proposal within two weeks, a task he took to eagerly. Since then, he has worked at several universities, written more than 140 journal articles and published 18 books. Carol Fottler began her career as a high school social sciences teacher. She later became a trainer for the federal government and has worked for the census bureau and the postal service. She was president of the UCF Women's Club and an integral part of the group's efforts to provide scholarships for nontraditional students. "We decided to create the master's and Ph.D scholarships in our names to help the young UCF program to continually improve the quality of the student body, encourage future leaders in the health care area to consider UCF and attract students from other parts of the United States to come here for a quality education," she said. Professor Aaron Liberman, department chair of health management and informatics and of health professions, is proud to have the Fottlers as supporters. "I think this speaks to the generosity of Myron and Carol Fottler and the fact that they're willing to invest in the future of our department, and we thank them for it," Liberman said. He believes that big changes are on the way in the health care field. "What's happening in the health care field today is quite remarkable," Liberman said. "With the economy shrinking in every sector, the health care field is expanding in a robust way. And this is necessitating a development of new organization to support the graying of America, the aging of America's citizens." Myron Fottler also believes that health care reform, in whatever shape it may come, is almost certain, and that one possibility is an increase in health care jobs. His goal is to figure out how best to help students get jobs in hospitals, long-term care, assisted living, consulting companies, government and insurance companies, as well as competitive fellowships where they can meet mentors. He credits the support he received during his education, which allowed him to finish with little debt, as one of his reasons for giving. "It seems to me that if you benefit from other people's generosity, you ought to turn around and do the same thing yourself." /blog/2010/fottlers-establish-endowed-scholarship-fund/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf's-withers-named-florida-social-worker-of-the-year/ Wed, 03 March 2010 00:00:00 Jacqueline Withers, John Ronnau /blog/2010/ucf's-withers-named-florida-social-worker-of-the-year/ By Karen Guin Jacqueline Withers, field education coordinator for social work at the University of Central Florida, has been named Social Worker of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The award recognizes Withers' three-decade-plus career as a licensed clinical social worker and volunteer in Central Florida. "Jacquie models the ethics and values of the social work profession in her work setting, community involvement and personal life," said Cindy Carlson, director of case management at Winter Park Memorial Hospital and a former colleague of Withers. "She is a shining star." Withers joined the university's School of Social Work in 2008 and currently oversees the education of social work students during their internships at community agencies. She previously worked for two years at the UCF Counseling Center, where she was a counselor, referral specialist and internship supervisor. Before coming to UCF, Withers spent years working as a professional social worker, initially for Orange County Social Services and later at Waterman Memorial Hospital, Shands Teaching Hospital, Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Hospice of Central Florida, Florida Hospital and CHARLEE Family Care Services. She frequently rose to leadership positions at her work place and strove to educate health care professionals about the positive impact social work can have on patient care. Withers also has spent countless hours volunteering for organizations such as the Friends of Children and Families, American Cancer Society, Social Work Leaders in Health Care, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Last year she formed a nonprofit organization named "Four Families," which serves foster children in Central Florida. Earlier this year, Withers was named Social Worker of the Year for the Central Florida Unit of the FL-NASW. She was selected from among 18 regional winners for the statewide award. She will be formally recognized at the state chapter's annual meeting, held June 10-12 in Deerfield Beach, Fla. "Being named state social worker of the year is a superlative compliment to Jacquie and, by association, to the School of Social Work," said John Ronnau, the school's director. "Jacquie is the consummate social worker and very deserving of this recognition." /blog/2010/ucf's-withers-named-florida-social-worker-of-the-year/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/college-featured-in-spacecoastmedicinecom-magazine/ Mon, 01 March 2010 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin, Kristen Schellhase /blog/2010/college-featured-in-spacecoastmedicinecom-magazine/ The College of Health and Public Affairs is the subject of a feature article in the March/April 2010 issue of SpaceCoastMedicine.com Magazine . Author Catherine Hardwood introduces the reader to Dean Michael Frumkin and many of the health-related programs in the college. She also profiles several alumni from the college who work on the Space Coast. /blog/2010/college-featured-in-spacecoastmedicinecom-magazine/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf,-va-medical-center-to-help-returning-veterans-and-their-families/ Tue, 23 February 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/ucf,-va-medical-center-to-help-returning-veterans-and-their-families/ By UCF Staff UCF graduate student Rafiq Raza, a U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan, knows how difficult it can be to readjust to civilian life. When he left the military in July 2005, he found a job as a readjustment counselor with the Department of Veterans Affairs and began his graduate studies at UCF in social work.  His goal is to assist other veterans in getting the help they need to take control of their lives when they come home. That's why he worked with the UCF School of Social Work and the Orlando VA Medical Center to put together "Meeting the Needs of Veterans and Their Families," a daylong program on Friday, March 5. It will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the VA Medical Auditorium, 5201 Raymond St., Orlando. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The program is geared toward practitioners who help veterans and their families with everything from physical therapy to responding to the needs of children of returning veterans. Those who served and their family members also are invited to attend so they can learn more about the kinds of challenges they face and the community resources available to help them. The cost is $65 for administrators and $25 for students. Jane Blackin, a VA expert in the field of assisting veterans' families, will give a presentation. Local experts then will participate in a panel discussion about what they are seeing in Central Florida. The VA Medical Center in Orlando sees more than 90,000 patients a year in seven locations throughout the six-county area it covers. "Providing education about the specific issues and needs of our returning veterans is critical to a successful re-integration of veterans into our community," said Fanita Jackson-Norman, an Orlando VA Medical Center licensed clinical social worker and Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom Seamless Transition program manager. Jackson-Norman said participants will gain a greater awareness of the needs and resources available in Central Florida. UCF representatives say the program is a good example of how a university and government agency can work together to solve community challenges. "The VA Medical Center has been a tremendous partner in this initiative," said Estelli Ramos, an instructor and coordinator of the master's degree program in social work at UCF. "Together, we will be able to address the issues of returning veterans, including reintegration, post-traumatic stress disorder and other topics. It promises to be a productive and informative day." /blog/2010/ucf,-va-medical-center-to-help-returning-veterans-and-their-families/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/hear-from-international-woman-of-courage/ Tue, 23 February 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/hear-from-international-woman-of-courage/ By UCF Staff Norma Cruz, a human rights defender who last year staged a hunger strike in front of the U.S. Supreme Court to protest the illegal adoption of stolen children from Guatemala, will speak Monday, March 1, at the University of Central Florida. Cruz will talk about "Violence Against Women in Guatemala: Global Connections and Action." Her presentation is part of the School of Social Work's ongoing effort to raise awareness about international social welfare issues. The speech, which is free and open to the public, will be at 1 p.m. in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the Student Union. Violence against women, including femicide -- the murder of women by men simply because they are women -- has reached epidemic proportions in Guatemala. Cruz provides emotional, social and legal support to victims of domestic violence and the families of murdered women through the Survivors Foundation, a Guatemala City-based organization that she co-founded and directs. Her effort to bring justice to perpetrators has occurred at enormous personal risk, including death threats. Last year, she received the 2009 "International Woman of Courage" award from the U.S. Department of State. Sponsors of the presentation include UCF's B.S.W. and M.S.W. Student Associations, School of Social Work, College of Health and Public Affairs and Office of International Studies. UCF Stands For Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 3rd largest in the nation with more than 53,500 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu .  /blog/2010/hear-from-international-woman-of-courage/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/nirvana-health-services-establishes-scholarship-in-physical-therapy,-nursing-at-ucf/ Wed, 17 February 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/nirvana-health-services-establishes-scholarship-in-physical-therapy,-nursing-at-ucf/ By Katie Korkosz The UCF Colleges of Health and Public Affairs and Nursing are pleased to announce a new partnership with Nirvana Health Services, Inc. Recognizing the importance of nurses and physical therapists and the role they play in health care, Nirvana Health Services has established a $25,000 endowed scholarship at UCF. The scholarship will be available to students enrolled in the Doctorate in Physical Therapy and accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The first scholarship will be awarded this fall. Leo Mendez, president and CEO of the company, said "Nirvana Health Services is excited to establish this scholarship to aid nursing and physical therapy students with on-going financial assistance. It will also present students with the choice of a different avenue of pursuit within the health care field since students will receive better knowledge about home care, the alternative to employment in a hospital or skilled nursing facility." This scholarship program will provide the framework for a lasting lucrative and challenging career in home care, he added. Physical therapy. The program in physical therapy includes a three-year, nine-consecutive-semester professional curriculum designed to prepare entry-level therapists to practice in a variety of clinical settings. The professional curriculum is a full-time, "lock-step" program with no opportunity to take courses other than those prescribed by the curriculum. The program includes clinical practica and internships ranging from four-to-twelve weeks long. The program currently has 100 students enrolled, with another class of 40 being admitted this fall. Nursing. The accelerated BSN program is designed for individuals with a bachelor's or higher degree in a non-nursing field who wish to change careers and become nurses. The full-time, "lock-step" program begins each May and takes four consecutive semesters, or 15 months, to complete. The professional curriculum includes service-learning courses with clinical rotations in culturally diverse, medically underserved communities, as well as clinical rotations in long-term care facilities, hospitals and other health care agencies. Students completing this degree program are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam for registered nurses (RN). The program currently has 110 students enrolled, with another class of 60 being admitted this summer. Nirvana Health Services. Nirvana Health Services is a Medicare Certified home health agency serving Central Florida since 1994, with offices in Winter Park and Leesburg. Since its inception, the home health agency has seen thousands of patients in their own homes, and it currently provides services to more than 200 patients per day.  In the last year alone the company did more than 30,000 specialty nursing and therapy visits. The company celebrated its 15th year in business with a proclamation by Mayor Crotty on May 29, 2009. Its primary mission is to provide an exceptional quality of health care services to its patients in coordination with staff, patients and health care providers, in a caring, timely and professional manner. For additional information about Nirvana Health Services, visit nirvanahealthservices.com /blog/2010/nirvana-health-services-establishes-scholarship-in-physical-therapy,-nursing-at-ucf/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/ucf-to-host-orlando-walk-to-cure-diabetes/ Tue, 16 February 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/ucf-to-host-orlando-walk-to-cure-diabetes/ The Central Florida Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) will host a "Walk to Cure Diabetes" on Saturday, March 6, at the University of Central Florida. Members of the College of Health and Public Affairs are participating in this annual event to raise funds for research on type 1 diabetes. /blog/2010/ucf-to-host-orlando-walk-to-cure-diabetes/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/state-of-the-union-to-include-participant-in-college-forum/ Wed, 27 January 2010 00:00:00 Thomas Bryer /blog/2010/state-of-the-union-to-include-participant-in-college-forum/ BY Karen Guin During President Obama's State of the Union address, tonight at 9 p.m., a Belle Isle, Fla., resident, Cindy Parker Martinez, will be seated near First Lady Michelle Obama. The White House invited Parker to attend the event as a representative of the struggles many middle-class Americans face in obtaining health insurance. Martinez first shared her story at UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs in December 2008 at a community discussion on health care moderated by Thomas Bryer, assistant professor of public administration. "Cindy attended the forum with two young children in hand," Bryer recalled. "The White House learned of her powerful story about challenges seeking health care insurance through the report we submitted." In fact, UCF's community discussion was one of four - out of 3,276 conducted around the country - to be featured in a final report released by the Obama administration and published online at HealthReform.gov. To read a summary of Martinez's story published on HealthReform.gov, visit: www.healthreform.gov/reports/participationc.html (see the UCF entry). To read her follow-up letter to Bryer, which he incorporated in a report about the health care discussion and submitted to the White House, visit www.cohpa.ucf.edu/pubadm/documents/FINDINGS_FROM_A_COMMUNITY_HEALTH_CARE_DISCUSSION.pdf (see page 38 of the report). Click here to learn more about the college's community discussion on health care, held in December 2008. /blog/2010/state-of-the-union-to-include-participant-in-college-forum/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2010/david-b-ingram,-1936-2010/ Tue, 05 January 2010 00:00:00 /blog/2010/david-b-ingram,-1936-2010/ By UCF Staff David B. Ingram, a recognized innovator in diagnosing and treating voice pathologies and retired colleague from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, passed away on Jan. 2, 2010. He was born on April 15, 1936, in Detroit to Elton Ingram and Florence Kruger Ingram. Dr. Ingram received his Ph.D. in communication from the University of New York at Buffalo. He then taught at the University of Central Florida for 28 years. Upon his retirement, he was awarded associate professor emeritus status and UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic's Voice Care Center was named after him. Dr. Ingram founded and directed the Voice Care Center at The Ear, Nose and Throat Surgical Associates in Winter Park, Fla. He worked with patients in that practice for 26 years, and he was recognized nationally for excellence in patient care. This partnership allowed him to share his clinical experience with students in the classroom. "While his professional accomplishments were significant, his personal life and walk with God deeply impacted everyone he met," shared his family. "He helped many find their voices as well as their way in life. His genuine interest in helping anyone he met reach their potential, solve their problems, and walk closer with God, transformed many people." He was a "loving and committed husband, father and grandfather." He is survived by his wife, Sherrill; son John; daughter-in-law Melissa; daughter Elizabeth; son-in-law John; and grandchildren Jacob, Matthew, Emily, Haley and Alison. A scholarship fund will be established in David B. Ingram's memory at the University of Central Florida. Please send donations to the UCF Foundation, 12424 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826-3208. Please note Dr. Ingram's name on the memo line. A visitation will be held at the Baldwin Fairchild Chapel at 501 East Mitchell Hammock Road in Oviedo on Thursday, Jan. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m. at Northland Church, 530 Dog Track Road in Longwood, Fla. /blog/2010/david-b-ingram,-1936-2010/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-hosts-community-forum-on-creating-jobs/ Tue, 15 December 2009 00:00:00 Thomas Bryer /blog/2009/ucf-hosts-community-forum-on-creating-jobs/ By Karen Guin Some two dozen community members gathered at the University of Central Florida on Dec. 11 to share ideas on how to create jobs at a meeting held in response to a request from the White House. Thomas Bryer, assistant professor of public administration, responded to a call from the Obama administration for community leaders to convene job forums throughout the country. The objective of the forums is to obtain citizen input on how to reduce the nation's high unemployment rate. Among those attending the UCF forum were representatives from state government, job placement organizations, nonprofit organizations, education, a green technology company and a business consulting firm. At the meeting, Bryer posed a series of discussion questions provided by the White House. The participants responded with their thoughts on creating jobs and economic recovery, including the following: • Florida has a  unique competitive edge in some areas, such as simulation and modeling. We need to infuse money into these areas to spur job growth. • Investment in innovations, such as green technologies, is key to the region's economic recovery. • The White House needs to know that big business should not squelch entrepreneurs. • The region needs to develop more health-services-related positions. • Nonprofits in Central Florida are really suffering. They are the safety net for our community, yet they are not "at the table" during discussions about resolving the economic crisis. • Small businesses do much of the hiring, yet they are currently running their businesses on a credit card. • We have to find ways to educate people so they can do the jobs that do become available. • We need to move ex-felons into careers that offer pension plans and health benefits. In addition, some attendees proposed holding other local forums, such as one specifically for small-business owners, to gather additional input. Bryer will summarize ideas from the UCF forum and possible spin-off forums in a report he will submit to the White House in the coming weeks. "I think it was a good conversation that clearly demonstrated the complexity of the issue and allowed some thoughtful leaders from the community to consider the future," Bryer said. /blog/2009/ucf-hosts-community-forum-on-creating-jobs/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/fox-35-interviews-aaron-liberman-on-health-care-reform/ Thu, 10 December 2009 00:00:00 Aaron Liberman /blog/2009/fox-35-interviews-aaron-liberman-on-health-care-reform/ BY WOFL Fox 35 Orlando A tentative deal on the nation's health care overhaul without a public option has many wondering what that means for the American public. FOX 35 Good Day talked to Professor Aaron Liberman from the University of Central Florida. Watch our video interview. /blog/2009/fox-35-interviews-aaron-liberman-on-health-care-reform/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/college-wins-award-to-create-new-computer-multimedia-lab/ Tue, 08 December 2009 00:00:00 Ronnie Korosec /blog/2009/college-wins-award-to-create-new-computer-multimedia-lab/ By Ronnie Korosec and Karen Guin The College of Health and Public Affairs is pleased to announce that it has secured a UCF Technology Fee Proposal Award for $65,034. The award will enable the college to create a joint-use, "flagship" computer lab and multimedia center for students and faculty members to work collaboratively on research, course work and community projects, said Ronnie Korosec, the college's associate dean for graduate studies and technology and author of the winning proposal. "Level one planning for this lab will begin in the spring, and the lab will continue to be upgraded over the course of the next few years," she explained. The lab will be housed on the second floor of HPA I. Funding for this and other awards at UCF was generated by a state-mandated technology fee charged to students per credit hour beginning this fall term. The resulting revenue is to be used to employ technology to enhance the development and delivery of instruction and promote student learning. A 16-member committee composed of student, faculty and staff representatives from throughout the campus selected the college's proposal as one of several to receive technology-fee funds. "I'm ecstatic that COHPA has received funding for this project," Korosec said. "These funds will allow us to better serve our students, employ more sophisticated technological programs, and enhance our research and learning potential for years to come." /blog/2009/college-wins-award-to-create-new-computer-multimedia-lab/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-hosts-local-job-summit-at-white-house's-request/ Thu, 03 December 2009 09:22:00 Thomas Bryer /blog/2009/ucf-hosts-local-job-summit-at-white-house's-request/ By Karen Guin Small business owners, executives, nonprofit mangers and other community members will meet to share ideas on ways to create jobs at a forum held at UCF on Dec. 11.  The University of Central Florida Department of Public Administration will host the gathering in response to a request from the White House for community leaders from across the country to hold community job forums.  "Your community jobs forum will be a source of insights and ideas that will inform the President's approach to job creation," White House advisor Valerie Jarrett wrote in an e-mail to community leaders including UCF's Thomas Bryer, assistant professor for public administration. She said President Obama wants "to explore every possible avenue for job creation." The nation has an unemployment rate of 10.2, the highest in 26 years. Florida's unemployment rate is at about 11.2 percent. The picture is only expected to get worse according to economists around the nation. That's why the White House is holding a national job summit today in Washington, D.C. The local summits to be held around the country continue the White House's quest for answers.  The Central Florida community jobs forum begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 in room 247 of Health and Public Affairs building II on the Orlando campus. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Register at tbryer@mail.ucf.edu . Last year, UCF's Department of Public Administration held a community forum on health care in response to a request from the White House. "Our forum was one of four out of 3,276 conducted around the country to be featured in a final report from the Obama Administration," Bryer said.  "This is exactly the kind of thing universities can help facilitate," said Michael Frumkin, dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs. "We don't simply educate students, we want to be part of creating lasting solutions that will help our community." /blog/2009/ucf-hosts-local-job-summit-at-white-house's-request/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/women-discuss-careers-in-law-enforcement/ Fri, 20 November 2009 00:00:00 Ross Wolf /blog/2009/women-discuss-careers-in-law-enforcement/ By Karen Guin Marie Verret started working for the Orlando Police Department 15 years ago. At first she was an assistant who took reports for officers. Today, she is a homicide detective and the department's only woman in this role. Her success is a result of years of hard work - and opportunities. After graduating from the police academy, Verret spent four years as a patrol officer, followed by eight years as an undercover officer. She then pursued an opening for a detective. "I've not experienced racial or gender discrimination," she said. "If you're qualified, you'll get it." Verret's career reflects several themes that emerged in a recent panel discussion among seven women working in law enforcement during the course, "Police and Society." Among the themes were: career growth is available to females in this male-dominated profession and law enforcement offers opportunities to move around within the profession. Listening in to the panelists were more than 100 criminal justice majors. "I really enjoy giving our students a chance to pose questions about law enforcement directly to current practitioners," said Assistant Professor Ross Wolf. "Students often come away with a different perspective of policing from what they had previously, and their gender biases are often shattered." Several of the panelists said they think being a women helps in their interactions with male criminals. As a patrol officer with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Sarah Keefer always showed respect toward a man when she arrested him. "I had no problems," she said. "There wasn't an alpha male issue." Keefer has since earned a master's degree in criminal justice at UCF and is now a property crime detective with the sheriff's office. Her husband also works in law enforcement, and they appreciate being able to go to one another for advice. Both are awaiting word of their acceptance to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. Shelli Walters has worked in law enforcement for 23 years, the last 20 of which she has been at the Altamonte Springs Police Department, where she is currently commander. She also has been married for the past two decades, and she said her line of work does present challenges. "My husband doesn't like that I spend my days with men," noted Walters, who as commander oversees 50 people. "But I've explained that I have a bond [with male officers], not a relationship, and he has accepted it." Just a few years ago, Cheryl Newberry was a student in Wolf's "Police and Society" course, where she also heard women in law enforcement talk about their careers. The experience helped convince her to enter the profession, and today she is a patrol officer with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "I love it," she said. "Every day I put on my uniform, I have a smile on my face." Newberry's sentiment was a shared one. When a student asked the panelists how many would go into law enforcement again knowing what they know now, all seven raised their hand. /blog/2009/women-discuss-careers-in-law-enforcement/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/students-flock-to-annual-public-service-career-showcase/ Tue, 17 November 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/students-flock-to-annual-public-service-career-showcase/ By Heather Engelking* The Eighth Annual Public Service Career Showcase at the University of Central Florida was held Nov. 12, 2009. The event provided opportunities for students of all majors to learn about careers in the public sector. Representatives from nonprofits, government offices and agencies related to health, human and social services shared information about career paths within their fields and recruited students for internship, volunteer and paid positions. There was a 60 percent increase in student attendance at this year's showcase compared to last year's. The showcase was hosted jointly by UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs and Career Services office and the following student organizations: Organization for Public Administration (OPA), Master of Public Administration Student Association (MPASA), National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), Health Services Administration Student Association (HSASA) and the Bachelor of Social Work Student Association (BSWSA).  Both participating students and employers appreciated the opportunity to network and remarked on the need for events focused on careers in the public sector. Mark your calendars as the next Public Service Career Showcase is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2010! * Assistant Director of Employer Relations, UCF Career Services Below is a list of organizations with representatives at this year's showcase: Apopka Family Learning Center Central Intelligence Agency Devereux Florida Easter Seals of Volusia/Flagler Florida Department of Transportation Lighthouse Central Florida Mental Health Association of Central Florida Orlando Science Center Social Security Administration U.S. Pretrial Services Boys & Girls clubs of Central Florida Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Kids Hope United Central Florida Chapter of American Society for Public Administration UCF Victims Services Adult Literacy League Early Learning Coalition of Orange County Volusia County Schools American Lung Association Heart of Florida United Way U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Fisheries Service, Office of Law Enforcement Center for Independent Living Children's Home Society of Florida Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc Orange County Sheriff's Office Share the Care, Inc Florida City & County Management Association Brevard Public Schools Seeds of Hope, Inc HCR Manor Care Florida Hospital U.S. Food & Drug Administration Orange County Public Schools Rescue Outreach Mission U.S. Census Bureau /blog/2009/students-flock-to-annual-public-service-career-showcase/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/students-receive-more-than-$700k-in-scholarships/ Wed, 11 November 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/students-receive-more-than-$700k-in-scholarships/ The Central Florida Future reports on the awarding of 90 scholarships to full-time students by the College of Health and Public Affairs. The scholarship support is provided through a grant to the college from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. /blog/2009/students-receive-more-than-$700k-in-scholarships/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/college-celebrates-diversity-around-the-world/ Thu, 22 October 2009 00:00:00 Melvin Rogers /blog/2009/college-celebrates-diversity-around-the-world/ By Karen Guin Students, faculty and staff celebrated the diversity of cultures this week during an "Around the World Continental Sampler" event that drew more than 130 people to the HPA I atrium. The Oct. 21 "Diversity Week" celebration featured tables with food and artifacts from each of the world's continents. The regional food and displays were prepared by departments and student organizations in the College of Health and Public Affairs, College of Nursing and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. With plates in hand, the guests took a culinary trip around the world, sampling foods such as Bolivian humintas at the "South America table" and Japanese sushi at the "Asia table." Along the way, they viewed maps, photos, books and authentic clothing, tapestries and other materials from each continent. "We had a great time with great food," said Associate Dean Mel Rogers, who chairs COHPA's diversity committee. He thanked all who helped put on the event and said he anticipates holding a similar celebration next year. /blog/2009/college-celebrates-diversity-around-the-world/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/dean's-undergraduate-student-leadership-council-meets/ Tue, 20 October 2009 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin /blog/2009/dean's-undergraduate-student-leadership-council-meets/ By Karen Guin Members of the college's Dean's Undergraduate Student Leadership Council for 2009-1010 gathered today for their first meeting with the Dean Michael Frumkin and other key administrators. The council comprises students from each of the college's 11 undergraduate programs. Each student was selected for the council by his or her program director - a recognition that is to be commended, said Pam Kirby, associate dean for undergraduate studies and operations. "These students are also officers within their respective student organizations," Kirby noted. Over an informal luncheon, Frumkin shared news about the college. In turn, the students offered reports on their academic programs and student activities. The group also heard from Judy Sindlinger, director of Undergraduate Student Services, and Katie Korkosz, assistant director of development and alumni relations. Among the topics discussed were ways to increase student involvement in service activities and opportunities to interact with alumni from the college. The group agreed to meet again this fall to discuss plans for a future collegewide service project. "I always look forward to opportunities to meet and talk with our students," Frumkin said. Note: Not pictured in the photo is leadership council member Jonathan Schneider (Pre-Clinical). /blog/2009/dean's-undergraduate-student-leadership-council-meets/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-lands-first-of-its-kind-nih-grant-to-study-brain-disorder-among-chinese/ Thu, 08 October 2009 00:00:00 Pak Hin Anthony Kong /blog/2009/ucf-lands-first-of-its-kind-nih-grant-to-study-brain-disorder-among-chinese/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotola A new University of Central Florida study could help tens of thousands of Chinese-Americans who have difficulty speaking after they suffer from strokes or other illnesses. Assistant Professor Anthony Kong of Communication Sciences & Disorders has been awarded a first-of-its-kind $727,000 National Institutes of Health grant to research aphasia among Chinese speakers. Aphasia is a condition in which people have difficulty understanding and speaking, usually after a stroke or head trauma. The trauma damages the left side of the brain, which is largely responsible for language comprehension and production. A tumor, brain infection or dementia can also cause the condition.   About 1 million people in the United States have aphasia. Up to 38 percent of people who suffer a stroke develop it.   "Aphasia can have devastating effects on daily communication and conversational skills that can severely hamper qualify of life," Kong said. "The overarching goal of this study is to improve assessment methods and provide some treatment guidelines for Chinese speakers with aphasia worldwide."   Several studies have looked at how the brain processes the English language and how aphasia impacts language ability among English speakers. But no large-scale, comprehensive studies have been conducted among any Asian language speakers. Contrary to popular belief, people do not acquire and process all languages the same. Existing research shows the brain's processing pattern for acquiring Chinese languages is quite different from Latin-based languages, which makes it essential to have the kind of information this study will produce available for assessment and treatment, Kong said. There are very distinct ways that aphasia manifests itself among Cantonese speakers compared to English speakers, Kong said. He saw it first-hand while earning his doctorate and working in a Singapore hospital that saw hundreds of patients with aphasia who spoke English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay and Hindi, among other languages.  Much of Kong's work will be conducted in his native Hong Kong because the community has a homogenous Cantonese-speaking population. Data and recommendations from the study, however, will have implications for all Chinese speakers with aphasia around the world. The information also will help further research about conditions across different languages. Beginning in June, Kong and his team will interview and conduct extensive videotaped observations of more than 360 native Cantonese speakers with and without the condition. He will then create a database of information, which will include the distinctive linguistic symptoms of Chinese aphasia, the rhythm, stress and intonation of Chinese aphasic speech, and non-verbal behaviors of Chinese speakers with aphasia as a result of stroke. He will also document the same three categories in non-aphasiac subjects to create a baseline for comparison. The information his team will collect is not available anywhere at this time and is essential in developing proper diagnosis and treatment of the condition among Chinese speakers. There are only a few existing tools to assess the condition among Cantonese speakers, one of which Kong developed when he was a graduate student. In comparison, more than 200 assessment tools exist for English speakers. Kong's team includes Dr. Sam Po Law of the University of Hong Kong, Dr. Alice Su Ying Lee of University College Cork in the Republic of Ireland and several students at the University of Hong Kong. Several hospitals and service agencies also are helping with the study. Pilot programs conducted the past two summers were funded by grants from UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs. Kong joined the UCF faculty in the fall of 2007. He is originally from Hong Kong. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Hong Kong. He stayed at the University of Hong Kong to earn his doctorate in the areas of aphasiology and adult neurogenic communication disorders. Prior to moving to the United States, he worked as the department head of the Speech Therapy Unit at the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf and served as the vice chairperson for the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists. /blog/2009/ucf-lands-first-of-its-kind-nih-grant-to-study-brain-disorder-among-chinese/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-awarded-$1-million-grant-to-help-nonprofits-promote-economic-recovery/ Tue, 06 October 2009 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu /blog/2009/ucf-awarded-$1-million-grant-to-help-nonprofits-promote-economic-recovery/ By Karen Guin Local nonprofit organizations serving communities hit hard by the recession will benefit from a new $1 million federal stimulus grant awarded to the University of Central Florida.  UCF's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management will improve the ability of nonprofits to provide services and promote the economic recovery of people with low incomes thanks to an award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. UCF is the only institution in Florida to receive an award from the department's Strengthening Communities Fund. The Strengthening Communities in Central Florida Program will target nonprofits in west Orange, south Lake and south Sumter counties. Both secular and faith-based nonprofits in these county regions will be eligible to apply for management training and technical and financial assistance offered by the center. "We'll focus on communities where there are high rates of unemployment and poverty," said Naim Kapucu, the center's director and principal investigator for the grant. "We want to empower nonprofits in these areas to help individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better jobs, and gain greater access to state and federal benefits and tax credits." Over the next two years, the center will provide training to 80 nonprofits in five critical areas: organizational development, program development, collaboration and community engagement, leadership development, and evaluation of effectiveness. Twenty of these nonprofits also will receive extensive one-on-one assistance in strategic planning, financial management, and human resources policies and procedures, as well as an average of $30,000 in financial assistance. "The nonprofits receiving financial assistance will be counseled to make investments that improve their efficiency and capacity," Kapucu said. "We want to promote healthy financial practices." The program is a natural extension of training and assistance programs completed by the center's faculty, staff and graduate students over the past six years, Kapucu added. "We've already worked with more than 159 small nonprofit organizations across UCF's 11-county service area, all of which exhibited growth in their budget; numbers of staff, volunteers and clients; and sustainability," he said. "This new program is a perfect fit with the capacity building mission of the Center for Public Nonprofit Management." For information, visit www.cpnm.ucf.edu or contact cpnm@mail.ucf.edu . /blog/2009/ucf-awarded-$1-million-grant-to-help-nonprofits-promote-economic-recovery/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/college-names-new-associate-dean/ Mon, 28 September 2009 00:00:00 Ronnie Korosec, Michael Frumkin /blog/2009/college-names-new-associate-dean/ By Karen Guin Dean Michael Frumkin of the College of Health and Public Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Ronnie L. Korosec as associate dean for graduate studies and technology. Korosec is an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration. She also has served as the inaugural faculty fellow in the dean's office, from August 2008 to January 2009, when she was appointed interim associate dean for graduate studies and technology.   "It is rare to find an individual who combines creativity and administrative competence. Dr. Korosec links these characteristics in a way that will help COHPA grow and develop in the future. She brings a sense of excitement and enthusiasm to her position and to the college," Frumkin said.   Korosec earned her B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1988. She completed her M.A. in public policy administration and analysis and Ph.D. in political science in 1990 and 1994, respectively, from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She went on to spend four years as an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, where she also served as an instructor with the Kellogg Executive Leadership Program.   Korosec came to UCF in 2000 as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Public Administration. She joined the faculty as an assistant professor the following year and was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2007. She has served as the program coordinator and adviser for the department's graduate and undergraduate internship programs and bachelor's and master's degree programs in public administration.   Korosec's professional interests include strategic planning and management; public administration and policy analysis; innovation, leadership and public management; service delivery and contracting; and e-government and information technology. /blog/2009/college-names-new-associate-dean/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucp-students-experience-college-for-the-first-time/ Mon, 21 September 2009 00:00:00 Layla Archer /blog/2009/ucp-students-experience-college-for-the-first-time/ By Karen Guin Among the students sitting in Layla Archer's recent class were four young adults with special needs who are excitedly experiencing college for the first time. The students with special needs are enrolled in a new College Transition Program offered jointly by the College of Health and Public Affairs and nonprofit UCP. Seven transition students in all are auditing courses in the college - on "Human Development," "Careers in Criminal Justice" and "Careers in Public Affairs - with support from UCP's new East Orange/Bailes campus in the Central Florida Research Park. "They're attending lectures at UCF and working on their class assignments at our campus," said UCP coordinator Bonnie Reid, who accompanied the transition students to Archer's class. "We're also planning to develop exams for them to take." All of the transition students have completed their high school course work and are supported by McKay Scholarships for students with disabilities. At the college, the transition students also will receive support from "Study Buddies" - UCF students enrolled in the course who are willing to sit with a transition student during class and answer questions. The buddies will also work together on group projects and meet for study sessions. "Twelve students in this course have offered their support," said Reid, a 2009 graduate from UCF who majored in exceptional education. "They've either worked with students with disabilities as "Best Buddies" here at UCF, or they have a family member with a disability." During the class, Archer randomly divided her students into teams to begin a group project. She encouraged the teams to pull in a transition student, and in a matter of minutes each one was part of a group. "I like the classes," said transition student Taylor Nardolillo. "This whole experience is awesome." Inclusive programs like this give individuals with disabilities an opportunity to explore their own potential, explained John Bricout, associate director for research in the School of Social Work. "Traditionally, these individuals go on to low-level jobs," he said. "But as a society, we're trying to move toward supporting them in reaching their full potential." This sort of program also provides non-disabled peers and the institution an experience of working with individuals with disabilities, Bricout added. "The experience can really broaden attitudes." /blog/2009/ucp-students-experience-college-for-the-first-time/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ncg-medical-scholarship-supports-informatics-students/ Wed, 09 September 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/ncg-medical-scholarship-supports-informatics-students/ By Katie Korkosz and Karen Guin Recognizing the importance of informatics and the role it will play in the future of health care, Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based NCG Medical Systems Inc. has established a $10,000 scholarship available to students enrolled in the program. The first NCG Medical Scholarship in Health Care Informatics will be awarded this semester. "Helping talented students pursue their dreams of implementing the next generation of health care technology is one of our most important pursuits," said Antonio Arias, vice president of business development for NCG Medical and a 1995 UCF alumnus. "It is an honor to team up with University of Central Florida," he added. "We are proud to support these young, talented students and reward their dedication and achievement in this developing field." NCG Medical was founded in 1979 and is ranked among the top three providers of practice management software nationwide by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Managers. The company has installed software in over 2,000 medical offices spanning 24 states. For additional information about NCG Medical Systems, Inc., visit www.ncgmedical.com The College of Health and Public Affairs launched a new Master of Science in Health Care Informatics program in fall 2009. Click here to learn more. /blog/2009/ncg-medical-scholarship-supports-informatics-students/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-flags-lowered-to-half-staff-in-memory-of-staff-sgt-jason-s-dahlke-('04)/ Wed, 02 September 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/ucf-flags-lowered-to-half-staff-in-memory-of-staff-sgt-jason-s-dahlke-('04)/ By Kimberly Lewis UCF flags have been lowered to half staff today, Sept. 2, to honor the memory and sacrifice of Staff Sgt. Jason S. Dahlke, 29, a UCF graduate who was killed Aug. 29 in combat in Afghanistan.  Dahlke graduated from UCF in May 2004 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. A Jacksonville native, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. One of the UCF flags flown at half staff today will be presented to Dahlke's family. Click here to read an article about Dahlke published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Orlando Sentinel. /blog/2009/ucf-flags-lowered-to-half-staff-in-memory-of-staff-sgt-jason-s-dahlke-('04)/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/new-fellowship-program-promotes-faculty-research/ Tue, 01 September 2009 00:00:00 Thomas Wan /blog/2009/new-fellowship-program-promotes-faculty-research/ By Karen Guin The College of Health and Public Affairs has launched the University of Central Florida's first college-based fellowship program to promote the professional development of faculty researchers. Ten faculty members are participating in the yearlong program. Each has the goal of submitting a grant proposal to a federal funding agency by the end of the academic year. Over the next nine months, the COHPA Research Faculty Fellows will attend presentations by experts on topics such as federal grant applications, analytical models, collaborative research, human subject protection, budget preparation and grants management. They will also complete assignments and participate in online discussions through Webcourses@UCF, as well as receive mentoring and feedback from seasoned researchers. The program is designed to guide the fellows as each expands a three-page preliminary proposal, submitted as part of an application to the program, into a full-fledged grant application. A college committee selected the fellows based largely on the scientific merit, likelihood of funding, feasibility and significance of their preliminary proposal, according to Tom Wan, the college's associate dean for research and director of the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs. The first group of fellows includes instructors and assistant and associate professors. Among them is physical therapy Instructor William Hanney, who expressed his excitement about the new program: "I've always been interested in doing research, but until now I haven't had a platform on which to get started. I look forward to completing my first proposal." At the program's first meeting, held Aug. 27, Wan told the fellows they had been chosen to help foster research collaboration in the college. "We have a very exciting program for you," Wan said. "However, there are also expectations. By the end of the period, you will be very proud of your accomplishments." Click here for a list of the fellows' proposed research projects. Click here for the program's training schedule. /blog/2009/new-fellowship-program-promotes-faculty-research/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-informatics-program-prepares-students-for-a-new-era-in-health-care/ Thu, 27 August 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/ucf-informatics-program-prepares-students-for-a-new-era-in-health-care/ By Karen Guin As the national debate on health care reform rages, the University of Central Florida this week launched a new program that will prepare students for jobs considered essential to streamlining and improving health care.  UCF's new health care informatics 20-month master's degree program will educate students on the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) and the electronic exchange of information between organizations. EMRs are considered a hallmark of the Obama administration's efforts to modernize health care, said Aaron Liberman, chair of the Department of Health Management and Informatics and a founder of the new program, which is the first of its kind in Florida. EMR systems allow health care providers to review, update and share a patient's medical record using a secure computer network. They provide a more timely and efficient way to order medications and laboratory tests, improving health care delivery, reducing the need for paper records and potentially lowering costs. "They'll be able to use the information to recommend standards of practice for disease and injury management in both hospital and medical practice settings," Liberman explained. The students also will gain a proficiency in the management and analysis of large databases of health information. Identifying trends within this data is key to improving the overall quality, safety and efficiency of health care delivery. Twenty-seven very diverse students are enrolled in the online program, which hoped to attract between 15 and 20 students.  "We had tremendous interest in the program and received 42 applications," said Interim Program Director Kendall Ward. Abdul Hai enrolled in the program because he saw the robust growth of the health care industry at a time when the economy is crashing. He spent more than 14 years working in information technology. But he never has worked in health care. By merging both, he plans to transition into the health informatics industry. "There are not enough properly trained and educated Americans to fill the employment demands," Hai said. Jeremy Martin, who earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences in 2008 has always had an interest in computer technology. He called this career the "perfect intersection" of his interests and hopes to work as a health informatics specialist at a hospital when he graduates.  Tuition for the program is $29,000 and some employers are encouraging their staffs to enroll and are providing tuition assistance. Recognizing the importance of informatics and the role it will play in the future of health care, Altamonte Springs- based NCG Medical Systems Inc. has established a $10,000 scholarship available to those who get into the program. The first NCG Medical Scholarship in Health Care Informatics will be awarded this semester. "Helping talented students pursue their dreams of implementing the next generation of health care technology is one of our most important pursuits," said Antonio Arias, vice president of business development for NCG Medical. The health care informatics program will admit one class per year and has already begun recruiting its class for August 2010. Click here for information or  email kcortely@mail.ucf.edu . /blog/2009/ucf-informatics-program-prepares-students-for-a-new-era-in-health-care/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/aaron-liberman-discusses-health-care-reform-on-local-tv/ Wed, 19 August 2009 00:00:00 Aaron Liberman /blog/2009/aaron-liberman-discusses-health-care-reform-on-local-tv/ By Karen Guin In an interview yesterday, Aaron Liberman, chair of the Department of Health Management and Informatics, responded to questions about health care reform posed by WESH Channel 2 reporter Michelle Meredith. His comments were aired on the TV station's news programs last evening and this morning. Click on the links below for his response to four of her questions. What does the health care reform bill do? Response What do they mean by "public option" and why is it so controversial? Response Who stands to lose the most with health care reform? Who gains? Response Will health care reform increase my taxes? Response /blog/2009/aaron-liberman-discusses-health-care-reform-on-local-tv/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf,-state-attorney's-office-identify-effective-ways-to-reduce-truancy/ Tue, 18 August 2009 00:00:00 Shawn Lawrence, Wendell Lawther /blog/2009/ucf,-state-attorney's-office-identify-effective-ways-to-reduce-truancy/ By UCF Staff A new report released today will guide local efforts to reduce truancy among elementary school children, who return to the classroom next week. The report from University of Central Florida researchers concluded that an Early Truancy Intervention Program, jointly run by the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office and Orange County Public Schools, has been effective in reducing truancy in many public classrooms. The report also recommends adjustments that could enhance the program's effectiveness. School resource officers now attend meetings with parents about children who habitually miss school. The report finds that if outside law enforcement officers attend those meetings, parents would be more likely to take action. Schools could improve attendance by more quickly placing children who are frequently absent and their parents in the Early Truancy Intervention Program, the report says. The researchers also suggest developing a more comprehensive system to help solve the issues that contribute to truancy with a team of case managers, counselors, school district and State Attorney's Office representatives and families. Lead researchers Shawn Lawrence and Wendell Lawther from UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs evaluated the program's effectiveness at the request of State Attorney Lawson Lamar. Truancy has been linked to higher rates of criminal and gang activity among youths. "It is better to spend a lifetime educating our children than prosecuting them," Lamar said. "Education is the cornerstone of building an individual's character." The researchers analyzed data from 1999 to 2005 provided by OCPS. They focused on "habitual truants," defined as students who had 15 or more days of unexcused absences in an academic year. "Children who stay in school are more likely to succeed and positively impact their communities," said Michael Frumkin, dean of UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs. "Working with the State Attorney's Office to improve school attendance is part our commitment to build community partnerships that create opportunities for families to support their children." The researchers hope to continue the study by looking at the community- and family-based problems that can cause children to miss a lot of school. Highlights of the findings include: -- In the first year of implementing the program, 34 of 36 schools experienced a reduction in truancy. Truancy decreased by 22 percent to 68 percent in 26 of those schools. -- Schools that opted out of the voluntary program after participating saw a dramatic increase in truancy. Of the nine schools that later reinstated the program, eight of them decreased truancy rates between 19 and 49 percent in one year. -- Many administrators, teachers and staff go above and beyond their usual job duties by providing students with transportation, supplying alarm clocks and donated clothing and making home visits after hours. -- School administrators and staff unanimously agreed that it is more effective to have an outside law enforcement officer, instead of a school resource officer, attend meetings with parents. "We appreciate the collaboration with community partners such as UCF and State Attorney Lawson Lamar. This partnership helps us achieve our mission, 'To lead our students to success with the support and involvement of families and the community,'" said Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Ronald Blocker. "We look forward to working with the findings of the UCF study and examining improved procedures in our schools for the most efficient system of addressing truancy issues." For the complete report, visit http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/ETI . /blog/2009/ucf,-state-attorney's-office-identify-effective-ways-to-reduce-truancy/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/mother-of-three,-full-time-employee-and-ordained-minister-earns-bachelor's-degree-after-16-years/ Mon, 10 August 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/mother-of-three,-full-time-employee-and-ordained-minister-earns-bachelor's-degree-after-16-years/ Among the graduates who crossed the stage at the college's commencement exercises on Aug. 8 was Virginia Lewis Whittington. She completed her bachelor's degree after a college career that reflects superb time management skills and tremendous perseverance.  Learn more about this remarkable new alumna of the college in a tribute below by Harold Barley, executive director of Metroplan Orlando and member of the Department of Public Administration's Planning Advisory Board. A Tribute to Virginia Lewis Whittington By Harold W. Barley Virginia Lewis Whittington received her Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration at the University of Central Florida's graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 8, 2009.  This completes a journey that started 16 years ago. Virginia began taking college level courses at Valencia Community College is 1993.  She enjoyed the learning experience but it was difficult raising three children as a single mother and working at a full-time job with Orange County Government.  Since you only get one chance to raise your children and she needed to work, Virginia needed to postpone her goal of earning a college degree. In 1997, Virginia accepted a job with Metroplan Orlando.  She held a demanding position yet proved that she was capable of taking on additional responsibilities.  She earned another promotion soon after this.  Her potential for further advancement was recognized so she was encouraged to resume work on her college degree. With the help of Metroplan Orlando's tuition reimbursement program and the support of her new husband, Virginia returned to Valencia Community College in 2004.  She took 2-3 classes each semester, which is quite a workload for someone with family obligations and a full-time job. While family, job and school were top priorities for Virginia, she also gave generously of her time to her church -- the New Hope Baptist Church.  This went far beyond attending Sunday services and doing church-sponsored volunteer work.  Virginia had a calling so she became an ordained minister.  This required an even greater commitment to her church -- which she accepted with humility, grace and help from God with her time management skills.  But there was more.  As a result of unexpected circumstances, she needed to assume responsibility for raising a newborn grandchild. Remarkably, all this did not deter Virginia from her goal of earning a college degree.  In 2006, she was awarded her degree from Valencia Community College.  Her impressive credentials helped her gain acceptance to the University of Central Florida where she started taking classes in 2006.  Virginia continued taking a few classes each semester at UCF, including summers.  She thoroughly enjoyed her classes, especially those that related to her work.  She was very proud that she had earning straight A's - and then her record was shattered when she got one B.  This was hard but she vowed to work even harder.  Also during this time, she took on additional community volunteer work.  In 2008, she was appointed by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to serve on the Citizens Review Board.  In addition, she organized a major event in 2009 to prepare young women to go to their high school proms with donated gowns, beauty sessions and etiquette seminars.  The event was a huge success. Virginia's graduation from the University of Central Florida marks the end of a 16-year journey.  It goes to show that dreams may need to be deferred but not abandoned.  It also demonstrates the value of having top-rated institutions such as Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida here in our community.  Their programs allow people to grow and prosper. This mother, grandmother, daughter, wife, friend, ordained minister, church elder, community volunteer and valued employee has earned the right to take a break . . . but Virginia is not expected to slow down.  Coinciding with her graduation, she has received another promotion with Metroplan Orlando.  She is now serving on the organization's management team as the Director of Regional Partnerships.  And given her range of interests, it is unlikely that there will be any free time on her calendar. /blog/2009/mother-of-three,-full-time-employee-and-ordained-minister-earns-bachelor's-degree-after-16-years/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/social-work-students-provide-hurricane-supplies-for-low-income-seniors/ Thu, 30 July 2009 00:00:00 Eileen Abel /blog/2009/social-work-students-provide-hurricane-supplies-for-low-income-seniors/ By Karen Guin Selected clients of the nonprofit Seniors First will receive boxes of hurricane-relief supplies in the coming week thanks to the efforts of social work students from the University of Central Florida. Thirty students spent weeks gathering boxes and soliciting supplies to create individual "Hurricane Supply Kits" as part of a summer course taught by Associate Professor Eileen Abel. They collected donations of some items, such as water bottles, fleece blankets, first-aid kits and coolers, from local merchants. Other supplies, such as canned and boxed food, came from generous individuals. The students also raised about $500, enabling them to purchase a hand-held radio for each senior and extra blankets, coolers and flashlights. The class met on July 28 to assemble the kits. The students created stations for preparing cardboard boxes and sorting supplies. And in an exercise Abel described as "organized chaos," they made 56 kits, adorning each with a group photo of the class. The kits were picked up the following day by Seniors First employee Wayne Gardner. They will be distributed to clients in Orange County who are considered especially vulnerable, often because they have very limited resources and no family member living in the area. "This will make a huge, huge difference," said Gardner, who is also an alumnus of UCF's social work program (B.S.W., '82). "Thank you so much." /blog/2009/social-work-students-provide-hurricane-supplies-for-low-income-seniors/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-trustees-approve-elimination-of-four-academic-programs/ Thu, 23 July 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/ucf-trustees-approve-elimination-of-four-academic-programs/ Responding to $77.2 million in state budget cuts since July 2007, the University of Central Florida will phase out four academic programs during the next two years and suspend a fifth program. The College of Health and Public Affairs' programs in cardiopulmonary sciences and radiologic sciences will be discontinued in 2011. /blog/2009/ucf-trustees-approve-elimination-of-four-academic-programs/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/health-information-management-student-named-top-in-the-state/ Fri, 17 July 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/health-information-management-student-named-top-in-the-state/ By Karen Guin Health information management major Janine Vance was recognized this week as the 2009 Outstanding Student by the Florida Health Information Management Association. The honor took place at the association's annual conference, held July 13-16 in Orlando. Vance is an excellent student who consistently produces high-quality work, said her faculty adviser, Alice Noblin, director of the HIM program at UCF. "She is meticulous in completing all assignments and has maintained a 3.99 GPA," Noblin said. Throughout her college career, Vance has been active in UCF's Student Health Information Management Association and served as the organization's secretary this year. She has also worked in health information management at the UCF Student Health Center and was an active participant in the internships and site visits she completed as a student. According to her management affiliation clinical supervisor, "Janine sets the bar high for future HIM students." This is not the first award for Vance this year. In the spring, she was named the Founder's Day student for the College of Health and Public Affairs and the 2009 Outstanding Student in HIM in the Department of Health Management and Informatics. In 2008, she was the recipient of the annual Florida Health Information Management Association Scholarship and the Betty Kernodle Scholarship, awarded by the Central Florida Health Information Management Association. Vance will graduate from UCF on August 8. She has accepted a position as operations coordinator in the Revenue Management Document Imaging Center at Orlando Health. /blog/2009/health-information-management-student-named-top-in-the-state/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/area-high-school-students-explore-opportunities-for-study/ Tue, 14 July 2009 00:00:00 Mariangelly "Mary" Rente, Lee Ross, Melvin Rogers /blog/2009/area-high-school-students-explore-opportunities-for-study/ By Karen Guin Some 40 students from area high schools visited the College of Health and Public Affairs today as part of a weeklong Summer Institute sponsored by UCF's Office of Student Outreach Programs . They came to hear about opportunities for study. They also received words of encouragement and support. "You need to go for it," college adviser Mary Rente told the students. "Stay in school, do your best and, most importantly, make sure you are always learning something." Students enrolled in the Summer Institute are also participants in UCF's Student Outreach Programs, which run during the academic year. The programs are designed to motivate and prepare underrepresented students in sixth through 12th grade to pursue and complete a college education. Each year, high school students in the outreach programs may apply for admission to the Summer Institute, which provides a week's stay on the campus, including meals, room and transportation - all for $15, said LaTasha Holcomb, a coordinator with the Office of Student Outreach Programs. This year's institute includes tours of the campus, visits to various colleges, field trips and interactions with counselors who are UCF students from underrepresented groups. . At the College of Health and Public Affairs, the students heard from Rente, Associate Dean Mel Rogers, and criminal justice Associate Professor Lee Ross, who shared the story of his own professional development. All three are members of underrepresented groups themselves. When Rogers asked the students to identify the area of study that interests them, most every student had a clear idea, some down the exact major and minor they would choose. "I was really impressed with the motivation these students have about attending college," said Rogers. "I think COHPA could be a good fit for a number of them." /blog/2009/area-high-school-students-explore-opportunities-for-study/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/the-legacy-of-claire-massey/ Wed, 24 June 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/the-legacy-of-claire-massey/ By Mary Van Hook On June 15, 2009, the School of Social Work lost a colleague who was a devoted mother and friend and consummate professional in social work. Claire Massey passed away after a long battle with breast cancer.  Claire was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Winston and Elizabeth Massey, both professors at the University of Chattanooga. Her father served as the Guerry Professor of Mathematics and chairman of the math department. Her mother was a professor of French. Claire was valedictorian of her class from Chattanooga High School, completed her undergraduate degree at Rhodes College and earned her master's degree in social work from Tulane University in 1968. In the many years Claire practiced social work, she worked in the mental health field and with Orange County Public Schools. At UCF, she made important contributions in her roles as a member of the Community Advisory Board, instructor and field coordinator until she took an early retirement in 2005 due to illness. Claire brought to the school her extensive knowledge of social work, her commitment to providing a quality education for students, her care for others, her sense of integrity and her wisdom. She consistently went the extra mile to find new field placements for students, match students with a good learning experience, support students in their field placements and advocate for students. She was a steady presence for students facing the anxiety of taking on their complex internship responsibilities. Everyone trusted her integrity and good judgment and enjoyed her love of life and sense of humor. She was an elegant woman who carried the banner of the social work profession with dignity. Claire was also a person of great courage who fought her battle with cancer with bravery and dignity. She was an inspiration for all of us. As evidence of the respect and affection Claire engendered in others, when she retired, field instructors filled a large scrapbook with notes of their fond memories of working with her. Claire has left an important legacy of grace and courage for all of us who were fortunate enough to have our lives be touched by her. She will be deeply missed by all. A memorial service will be held on June 27, 2009, at noon at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 251 East Lake Brantley Drive, Longwood, Florida 32779 . The family has asked that anyone attending honor Claire's memory by wearing colorful attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Resurrection Memorial Fund, Hospice of the Comforter or the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. /blog/2009/the-legacy-of-claire-massey/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/robert-b-kirby,-1946-2009/ Mon, 22 June 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/robert-b-kirby,-1946-2009/ Robert "Bob" B. Kirby, an adjunct instructor in the legal studies program and attorney in private practice, passed away on June 17, 2009. He was the husband of Pam Kirby, the college's associate dean for undergraduate studies and operations. Bob Kirby was born in Queens, N.Y., on October 14, 1946, to Robert Gordon and Muriel Brandt Kirby. He grew up in Hot Springs, Ark., and attended Tulane University, beginning at age 16. He earned his law degree at the University of Texas. Bob was commissioned in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps as a uniformed attorney. He retired at the rank of colonel after 26 years of active duty. In 1993, Bob, Pam and their daughter, Lisa, moved to Winter Park, where Bob became a member of the Florida Bar and a certified financial planner. He specialized in estate planning in his private law practice.  In addition to teaching at UCF, Bob was an instructor and a local director in the certificate in financial planning programs for the Florida Institute of Technology and Barry University. Bob was a beloved husband, father and brother, and a consummate adviser and friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Pam; daughter Lisa of Somerville, Mass.; sister Susan Lee of Chesapeake, Va.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lisa and Charles Evans of Winter Park; nephew Matthew Downs of Cornelius, N.C.; and niece Georgia Goppert of Las Vegas, Nev. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association. Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home Oviedo Chapel, 501 East Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, Florida . Private burial services will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Please sign and view the family guest book at www.baldwinfairchild.com . /blog/2009/robert-b-kirby,-1946-2009/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/a-tribute-to-debbie-phillis/ Thu, 18 June 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/a-tribute-to-debbie-phillis/ The college received the sad news of the passing of staff member Debbie Phillis on June 14. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 29, in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on the Orlando campus. Below are thoughts about Debbie from colleagues and friends. Employees of the College of Health and Public Affairs mourn the loss of their friend and colleague, Debbie Phillis. Debbie tragically passed away this past weekend after a bout with pneumonia. We are awaiting word on contact information for her funeral arrangements. Once we learn of the arrangements, we can share them with those of you interested in passing along your condolences.  A two-time graduate of UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs, Debbie received her Bachelor of Arts in 1984, while obtaining a Master of Arts in 1991. She was a founding member of the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Alumni Chapter and former chair of the Space Coast Alumni Chapter. She was also founder of the Public Affairs Scholarship and a long-time supporter of the Golden Knights Club. Debbie also served her alma mater professionally, as a long-time employee where she worked in criminal justice and legal studies and public administration. Debbie spent much of her time advising criminal justice and legal studies students, and helping public administration students obtain and complete their internships.  Debbie served on the Advisory Board of the Gamma of Florida Alumni Association of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society since 1989. She was a member of NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) since 1990. In her spare time, she would also work at the UCF Arena on men's and women's basketball game days. Those of you who knew Debbie, knew her passion for UCF, and her support for athletics was second-to-none. During her UCF career, she was recognized many times through the Alumni Association, of which she was a lifetime member, for her dedicated service, receiving the Jefferson Award in 2008. Debbie's life revolved around the University of Central Florida, and she will be missed by her friends in COHPA, by her students and by the many alumni whose lives she touched in many ways.  - Staff members, Department of Public Administration, 6-17-09 ________________________________________________________ The news that Debbie had passed away was relayed to me this past Sunday. It was a total shock then and still is. I first met Debbie about five years ago when she transferred from the Brevard campus to our department. She became our Legal Studies advisor and what a god-send she was. I don't know how we got along without her before and don't know what we will do now. Debbie never, ever turned away a student no matter what their question or issue. She helped everyone who came to her door and truly believed in doing whatever needed to be done to assist a student. From my many years in the military, I learned what it meant to hit a brick wall when trying to get something done and I decided then that I would never be a part of that wall. Debbie was the same way.  If someone told her it could not be done, she found a way to get it done. Her approach to obtaining assistance for students could be summed up this way: "don't tell me why it can't be done - tell me how it can."  She always lived by that "rule" in her advising and was immensely successful. One of Debbie's finest qualities and a big reason for her success was her absolute love for this university. Debbie was your consummate UCF fan - whether it was academics, alumni club, athletics, student organizations, whatever, she loved it all and was involved in every way possible. She never missed a game or an opportunity to hold tailgate parties, worked with student organizations, took part in career fairs - the list is endless. She was 100 percent dedicated to this university. I have never met anyone who so truly believed in what she did. Her job was not work to her - it was a joy, as was being a part of UCF. We already miss her - she leaves a hole that will not be easily filled. I do believe that when Debbie receives her angel's wings, they will be black and gold! - Sharon Richardson, Coordinator of Administrative Services, Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, 6-17-09 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When I learned of the passing of my friend and beloved UCF Knight, Debbie Phillis, I was overwhelmed with sorrow. Debbie and I were friends for quite a number of years - mostly because we not only worked together, but because together, we had more Black & Gold UCF pride than anyone could ever imagine. Those of you who have attended a UCF Football game or Tailgate Party with the Colleges of Nursing and Health & Public Affairs over the past several years personally knew Debbie. She was unbelievably dedicated to the University of Central Florida, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees and also worked tirelessly in student support for the College of Health and Public Affairs for countless years. In addition, Debbie also was a lifetime member of the UCF Alumni Association and was honored countless times for her work and volunteerism. She had established scholarships for students within the College of Health & Public Affairs and wanted to make sure students with less financial means could attend the university she loved so much. I last spoke to Debbie about a week ago. I knew she was feeling ill and I advised her to see her physician in the morning; but I never comprehended just how serious the course of her illness would take. Debbie was hospitalized on Saturday afternoon for her symptoms and was dead before the end of the night. I will miss Debbie very much. She always made sure to wake me up early enough to really make the tailgating parties for the Colleges of Nursing and Health & Public Affairs huge successful events. Football season won't be the same without Debbie honking the horn, patiently waiting for me to finally come downstairs and head to the stadium. Knowing I wasn't near the level of donor as she was, Debbie always extended her extra ticket to any exclusive high-donor Golden Knights Club event to me. It was an honor to be friends with Debbie Phillis. I will miss her very much. God not only added a loving angel to his family, but also a fierce UCF Knight whose pride for her alma mater was evident on so many levels. I am sure Debbie will be present at every UCF sporting event from here to eternity. Good bye Debbie. Thank you for being my friend. - Dr. Chris Blackwell ('00, '01, '05), Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, 6-17-09 __________________________________________________________________________ It was a shock to learn of Debbie's untimely passing. Her legacy as a committed, dedicated member of the UCF community will be difficult to match.  I first met Debbie in 1984 when she worked as a member of the office staff for the Public Service Administration Department. It was very evident then that her career goal was to be a student advisor, helping students navigate through UCF rules and regulations and on to graduation.  When the College of Health and Public Affairs was formed in 1990, she became the head of the College Student Advising Office. In my role as Associate Dean for Student Affairs, I was very much aware of the time and effort she put into this job. She seemed to be in her office all the time, working many evenings and weekends. During those early years of the College, when the economy was not doing well and money for staff was non-existent, she worked alone most of the time, handling all of the day-to-day issues herself without any help. Debbie thoroughly understood the graduation policies and requirements. More than anyone else, she knew the coursework and curriculum for all college majors, and was able to assist any student who walked in the door, invariably having the solution to any problem. Debbie will be missed for her exceptional dedication to UCF and to COHPA. But most of all, she will be remembered for the countless students that she helped. - Dr. Wendell Lawther, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, 6-19-09 /blog/2009/a-tribute-to-debbie-phillis/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf's-andrea-predl-named-florida-student-social-worker-of-the-year/ Sun, 07 June 2009 00:00:00 Robin Kohn /blog/2009/ucf's-andrea-predl-named-florida-student-social-worker-of-the-year/ By Karen Guin Andrea Predl, a new graduate of UCF's Bachelor of Social Work program, was named the state's 2009 Student Social Worker of the Year at the National Association of Social Workers - Florida Chapter's annual conference, held June 4-6 in Orlando. This is the fourth time in six years a student from the Social of Social Work has won this award. "Energetic, highly organized, intelligent, resourceful, creative and reliable come to mind in describing Andrea," said Robin Kohn, Predl's faculty adviser and coordinator of the B.S.W. program. "She also has a sincere interest and commitment to the social work profession, always upholding our code of ethics and demonstrating the highest of integrity." Predl began the social work program in fall 2007 and quickly proved to be an outstanding student with exceptional leadership skills. She served as co-chair of the B.S.W. Student Association, recruiting students to become involved and coordinating a number of community and school events and fund raisers. This year, she served as the B.S.W. state representative to NASW-FL. In the community, Predl has volunteered for many years with the Girl Scouts, at one point serving as a trainer of troop leaders. In recent years, she has volunteered as supervisor of the Seniors First Meals on Wheels program in Orlando. In this role, she has supervised and trained 75 volunteers, worked extensively with clients and maintained the route books for 15 drivers. She has since become a paid employee with the nonprofit. "Andrea has developed a passion for working with older adult populations," Kohn remarked. Before coming to UCF, Predl spent eight years in the Navy as an aviation administrator, earning the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. She completed the B.S.W. program in May 2009 and will enter in the school's M.S.W. program this fall. /blog/2009/ucf's-andrea-predl-named-florida-student-social-worker-of-the-year/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/george-desalvia-memorial-golf-tournament-raises-money-for-student-scholarships/ Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin /blog/2009/george-desalvia-memorial-golf-tournament-raises-money-for-student-scholarships/ By Katie Korkosz The Fifth Annual George DeSalvia Memorial Golf Tournament took place on Saturday, May 30, at Orange National Golf Course in Winter Garden, Fla. The DeSalvia family organized the golf tournament for friends and family. One hundred sixteen golfers played and supported the cause. George DeSalvia was an Orlando police officer who was killed in the line of duty on February 3, 2000. He was backing up another officer on a routine traffic stop when the driver jumped out of the car and began firing, hitting George one time in the head and killing him. George left behind three children and a lifetime of memories. As tragic and painful as this event was, some good has come of it. Not only will this scholarship help a student who is majoring in the field of criminal justice, it will also keep alive George's name, pride and heroism. This year's golf tournament raised $9,020, which will go toward the George DeSalvia Memorial Endowed Scholarship fund in the College of Health and Public Affairs, Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. The scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall. /blog/2009/george-desalvia-memorial-golf-tournament-raises-money-for-student-scholarships/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/hilary-clinton,-barack-obama-on-the-resume/ Fri, 01 May 2009 14:24:00 /blog/2009/hilary-clinton,-barack-obama-on-the-resume/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Reid Pearson spent the past three months interning in the Diplomatic Security branch of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. He worked with special agents checking for threats against VIPs such as Colin Powell, John Kerry and Dick Cheney. He was within 15 feet of President Barack Obama and the first lady while supporting security efforts during the inauguration parade, and he helped with security measures when Hillary Clinton assumed her role as secretary of state. Pearson, who will graduate Friday with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, also learned about identity theft and other crimes while working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Orlando. He plans to work for the federal government. "Thanks to the good experiences at UCF, I have a bunch of doors open to me," Reid said. "I just have to figure out which one I'm going to take." /blog/2009/hilary-clinton,-barack-obama-on-the-resume/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-health-care-discussion-highlighted-in-obama-administrations-final-report/ Tue, 31 March 2009 00:00:00 Thomas Bryer /blog/2009/ucf-health-care-discussion-highlighted-in-obama-administrations-final-report/ By Thomas Bryer On December 22, 2008, approximately 70 people attended a Health Care Community Discussion hosted by the Department of Public Administration within the College of Health and Public Affairs at the University of Central Florida's Orlando campus. Participants included everyday Americans and representatives from social service and local government agencies, medical offices, and various academic disciplines. Attendees cited access to care as the most significant problem with our current system, particularly for children and the uninsured. Other problems identified during the Health Care Community Discussion included needing to cover the uninsured, affordability, disparities in the cost of care, the quality of practitioners, the need to improve efficiency and patient services through medical technology, and an inadequate focus on preventive care. The UCF Health Care Community Discussion was covered by a local NPR radio station (WMFE), a local television station (WESH, Channel 2 NBC News), the Orlando Sentinel, and the UCF Newsroom. /blog/2009/ucf-health-care-discussion-highlighted-in-obama-administrations-final-report/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/ucf-trustees-approve-masters-program-in-health-informatics/ Thu, 19 March 2009 00:00:00 /blog/2009/ucf-trustees-approve-masters-program-in-health-informatics/ By Chad Binette A new University of Central Florida master's program will train students for the expanding, high-tech hospital workforce that develops information systems for patient diagnosis and billing. The online Health Care Informatics program will begin with 20 students in fall 2009, and administrators expect the enrollment will increase to 40 students by the fifth year. The federal government has asked universities to help address an anticipated need for 40,000 new health care informatics professionals in the next decade. There are no other master's programs in that field in Florida. Starting salaries for graduates typically range from $57,000 to $84,000 annually. Students will take classes online but also will visit the College of Health and Public Affairs' health care informatics research laboratory on the main campus. Administrators expect a strong demand for the new program. With no marketing efforts so far, the program already has attracted 11 applicants. /blog/2009/ucf-trustees-approve-masters-program-in-health-informatics/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/disabled-orphans-to-receive-physical-therapy-from-ucf-students/ Tue, 03 March 2009 00:00:00 Jennifer Tucker /blog/2009/disabled-orphans-to-receive-physical-therapy-from-ucf-students/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Orphaned children who can't walk, bend their arms or use their hands will get much-needed physical therapy during spring break, thanks to a partnership between the University of Central Florida and the Florida Hospital Foundation. Thirteen UCF students studying physical therapy will leave Monday, March 9, for Kingston, Jamaica, where they will spend a week treating children with special needs living in orphanages. These children have likely never had physical therapy before, said Jennifer Tucker, a UCF instructor accompanying the students abroad. "We will be providing some therapy, but more importantly, we will be training those who take care of them so they can continue to get care after we are gone." Students learned of the trip while taking Tucker's pediatrics physical therapy course at UCF. The trip is not a requirement, Tucker said, but many students saw it as an opportunity to give back to the community. UCF students have traveled to Jamaica to help orphans for the past four years. They are part of an ongoing partnership with the Florida Hospital Foundation outreach program SHARES International. The nonprofit organization helps coordinate the trips and provides some financial support. However, the students are responsible for the plane fare and will not be paid for their services. The students don't see it as giving up their spring break. "I didn't even think about it as working during my spring break," said Sharon Sampson, who plans to graduate in spring 2010. "I am eager to work with the children, connect with them and come up with a good plan that will help them. I think we all want to help the children as much as possible, so we can make a difference in their lives." Tucker and two other clinicians will travel with the students and help supervise their work. The group expects to be back on March 14. "Florida Hospital SHARES International is thrilled to have a partnership with UCF and be able to offer international programs to your physical therapy students," said Eylin Ramos, the development director for SHARES. "We believe it is important to provide a service-learning experience that nurtures global awareness and socially responsible citizenship. We hope that these experiences will shape the lives of these students." /blog/2009/disabled-orphans-to-receive-physical-therapy-from-ucf-students/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2009/conference-at-ucf-to-address-diverse-needs-of-latinos-in-central-florida/ Tue, 03 March 2009 00:00:00 Estelli Ramos /blog/2009/conference-at-ucf-to-address-diverse-needs-of-latinos-in-central-florida/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala The struggles of immigrant workers, illegal immigrants and other Latinos in Central Florida will be the focus of the Third Annual School of Social Work Conference at the University of Central Florida. "Latinos in the New America: Responding to the Needs of a Diverse Population" will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on the main UCF campus. The cost is $25 for the general public and $10 for students. The goal of the conference is to educate attendees about the diversity within the Latino community and to discuss challenges and solutions to serving this unique population. "There is a huge need in the community in terms of cultural competency and understanding the diversity within our Latino community of Central Florida," said Estelli Ramos, an instructor at UCF's School of Social Work who helped to organize the event. "We are not all Cubans or Puerto Ricans," Ramos said. "There is this stereotype that we are all the same. But there are commonalities that strengthen our community and understanding this fact is critical to serving the community." Sister Anne Kendrick, a nun with the Notre Dame de Namur order, will be among the speakers at the daylong event. She is a winner of the Opus Prize for her 30 years of service in Apopka. Thanks to her efforts, a Community Health Center that started in a trailer now has eight freestanding clinics to provide medical and dental care for the working poor. The order also operates the Home Community Center and Farmworkers Ministry, which help immigrants in the community. "She's one of my heroes," Ramos said. "She has dedicated her life to defending and serving people. In social work, that's what we're all about." Kendrick will discuss how immigration and deportation laws impact families with children. She also will talk about the impact of stereotypes on working poor Latino communities with which she works daily. Keynote speaker Jose Maunez-Cuadra, a professor who directs UCF's Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies program, will speak about the diversity within the Latino community and how it has grown in Central Florida. Other speakers include Orange County Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez, who will address Latinos in the juvenile justice system, and UCF Assistant Professor Bernardo Ramirez, who will discuss Latinos and health care management. Event Schedule: 8 a.m. Registration 9 a.m. Keynote speaker 10 a.m. Panel discussion with Sister Kendrick, Judge Rodriguez and Assistant Professor Ramirez12 p.m. Lunch 1 p.m. Afternoon workshops on immigration, preventing violence among youth and family, and infant mental health. Registration is requested by calling 407-235-3960 or clicking here . /blog/2009/conference-at-ucf-to-address-diverse-needs-of-latinos-in-central-florida/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/residents-share-health-care-nightmares-at-obama-inspired-ucf-health-care-meeting/ Mon, 22 December 2008 00:00:00 Thomas Bryer /blog/2008/residents-share-health-care-nightmares-at-obama-inspired-ucf-health-care-meeting/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotola Some arrived in scrubs, having hustled from work early to make the meeting. Some modified vacation plans and opted for a trip to the University of Central Florida health care community discussion instead of a day at a theme park. Others arrived with their children, traveling 50 miles to have their voices heard. Nearly 60 people packed a classroom at UCF for a grassroots meeting organized at the request of President-Elect Barack Obama's transition team. The meeting is part of a strategy that UCF Assistant Professor Thomas Bryer says is the first of its kind by an incoming president. The goal is to have citizens from all walks of life identify the problems with health care and suggest ways to fix them. College professors, church leaders and others from around the country have been invited to organize these meetings. The call for volunteers to host these meetings came through the Internet and can be viewed at http://change.gov/page/s/hcdiscussion with a video clip of Daschle asking for help. The Obama transition team says information collected at the meeting will be delivered to former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, the secretary designate for Health and Human Services. He will use the information to make recommendations to Obama once he is in office.  UCF College of Health and Public Affairs Dean Michael Frumkin said he was eager for UCF to help play a role in developing solutions to the health care challenges. He asked those representing healthcare agencies attending the meeting to discuss how they could partner with UCF for the good of the community. "This is an amazing opportunity for the College of Health and Public Affairs to facilitate health care reform discussions throughout the community - bringing together the knowledge and expertise of consumers, providers, and researchers," Frumkin said. "Dialogue leads to relationships and to the College's fulfilling its commitment to building ties with community partners focused on improving the quality of life of our citizens." Those who arrived shared their stories, saying they were excited that a president wanted ideas from community members instead of lobbyists. Their stories illustrated a range of problems with health care including lack of access, affordability, quality of care and frustrations with bureaucracy. They were compelling stories: The software-engineer, who after working for a company for 35 years, was laid off and now can't find health insurance. The state employee, who despite working two part-time jobs providing psychiatric care to children, doesn't qualify for health insurance. The farmer, who is healthy at 55, but can't afford health insurance. The janitor, who has to call the state every week to make sure his children keep their state-funded insurance because he doesn't make enough to buy it privately. He also does not work enough hours to qualify for coverage through work. But the room grew silent when Cindy Parker Martinez stood up to speak. She's married and has two young children. Both she and her husband are college educated and were working until recently. Then her husband was injured at work, which began the unraveling of their lives. "My husband had insurance at the time," she said. "Even with insurance it was a $52,000 hospital bill." With the loss of their jobs, their children lost insurance, too. She never had it because she has a pre-existing condition. They earned too much to qualify for public assistance, but not enough to purchase insurance on their own.   A state representative "pulled some strings" and got her children state health insurance after she finally got a hold of him, Parker Martinez told the group. "My family is the American dream," she said holding her youngest, as her oldest watched from a stroller eating a peanut butter sandwich. "We're college educated. We've always worked hard and now  . . . This is what's wrong with our system." /blog/2008/residents-share-health-care-nightmares-at-obama-inspired-ucf-health-care-meeting/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/service-learning-project-supports-local-hivaids-community/ Fri, 19 December 2008 00:00:00 Sharon Douglass /blog/2008/service-learning-project-supports-local-hivaids-community/ By Karen Guin Students enrolled this fall in "HSC 3593: HIV Disease: A Human Concern" saw the benefits of learning about and supporting people battling HIV/AIDS when they sponsored a Christmas party for local families affected by the disease. The guests were participants in HUG-Me, a program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando that provides HIV/AIDS services for the community, said course instructor Sharon Douglass, an associate professor in the the Department of Health Professions. They included individuals infected with HIV and their family members. On Dec. 6, some 220 guests and students arrived at the Orlando Science Center to share in the fun of games, arts and crafts, entertainment, food, gifts and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The students set up the rooms, supervised the activities, served the dinner and took care of the needs of their guests. Student Stephanie Scoville said she could summarize her feelings about the party in one word: "phenomenal." In many ways, the party represented a culmination of the students' semester-long assignments and activities. Through readings, journaling, writing papers, medication-regime simulations and interactions with HIV-positive individuals, the students expanded their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including its acquisition, clinical manifestations and prevention. "I learned that the disease comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities," said another student, Angelo Lewis. "This disease does not only affect one group ... it affects everyone." Armed with this new-found knowledge, the students successfully served as advocates for the HIV/AIDS community at events to raise funds to hold the party. They held bake sales, car washes, garage sales - anything to raise money - to pay for renting the party facilities, the catering, arts-and-crafts materials and other expenses. The students prepared for the party with a much greater awareness of the HIV/AIDS community. "Four months ago, I would probably not have volunteered for a party with HIV-positive persons in attendance," Scoville said. "But now, after the preparations for this project, I am able to say that I would love to do this again." "There is still the stigma and still a lot of ignorance and a lot of students share this," Douglass said. "It's really great to see how their views change." For the families, the party offered a welcomed break from the medications and doctor's appointments that infiltrate the lives of HIV-positive individuals and their loved ones. Moreover, it offered a feeling of acceptance. "The fact that almost one hundred students pulled their resources to provide money, joy and presents for the families had a huge impact on the HIV community," Lewis said. "It sent the message that there are people who care and who are willing to help ... that they are not in the fight alone." /blog/2008/service-learning-project-supports-local-hivaids-community/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-instructor-named-to-obama's-transition-team/ Thu, 04 December 2008 00:00:00 David Gray Ross /blog/2008/ucf-instructor-named-to-obama's-transition-team/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala University of Central Florida Executive in Residence and Instructor David Gray Ross has just been named to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team.  The former circuit judge will serve on Obama's Health and Human Services team. He will help analyze the current state of affairs in health and human services and advise new secretary Tom Daschle.  He and three other experts will review in particular child welfare, Head Start and child support. Ross served as deputy director in the Office of Child Support Enforcement under President Bill Clinton, and he has a long history as a child advocate. He served 15 years as a circuit judge in Prince George's County, Md. He also served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1970-1978 and as a juvenile court judge. He was named "Family Court Judge of the Nation" in 1989 by the National Child Support Enforcement Association. "I am so excited and honored to be called to serve," Ross said Thursday from Washington, D.C. "It is such an important time in history." UCF Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Chair Robert Langworthy said the incoming president couldn't have picked a better champion for children. He described Ross as a "wonderful asset" to the Criminal Justice program at UCF. "I consider him on loan, and I want him back," Langworthy joked. Ross, who will return to UCF after his temporary assignment, has advised the UCF Criminal Justice department since 2001, when he retired to Florida. During his tenure here, he has often taught courses related to juvenile justice. "I love UCF," Ross said. "I enjoy the people and the spirit of the place. The students are fantastic. I always taught while I was a judge in Maryland, so when I came to Florida, it was what I wanted to do. And it has been a wonderful experience." /blog/2008/ucf-instructor-named-to-obama's-transition-team/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/new-ucf-program-provides-help-to-victims-of-crime/ Fri, 21 November 2008 00:00:00 Mary Ann Eastep /blog/2008/new-ucf-program-provides-help-to-victims-of-crime/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Victims of crime often say they feel victimized all over again when they have to face their attacker during a criminal trial. That's why attorney generals' offices hire victim advocates onto their staffs. These advocates are paid to help victims and their families navigate the legal system, help with referrals to services they may need and often to sit in court and hold a victim's hand. "It takes a special kind of person and the right kind of training to be effective," said Mary Ann Eastep, an instructor at the University of Central Florida who leads the new Victims Advocate Program. She was the director of a domestic violence program that serves Brevard County and worked with many advocates in that capacity until she joined UCF in 1995. "It's a tough job, but it is so very necessary. And it can be rewarding because you are helping people start to heal." UCF approved a certificate program in Victim Advocacy late last year and has about 10 students enrolled in the program this semester. The students take several classes that help prepare them for working with victims of crime. Among the classes are Criminal Victimization in Society, Crisis Intervention, Sex Offenders and the Criminal Justice System, Women and Crime and Domestic Violence and the Criminal Justice System. Students also participate in the CourtWatch Service Learning project. It puts students into real courtrooms to observe. They go through training with the CourtWatch group and volunteer 12-15 hours each while taking the courses at UCF. Tracey Harrelson is a student in the new program and says anyone pursuing police work or legal studies should earn a certificate. "It gives you a different perspective - the victim's take on things," Harrelson said. She hopes to become a criminal investigator and said she enrolled in the certificate program because she wanted to make sure she understood what happens to victims after a crime. "I know I'll meet many victims," she said. "Police tend to focus on suspects, but I want to make sure I know how to work with victims to aid my investigations." UCF's Victim Services Office employs three advocates who provide crisis counseling and emotional support along with other resources as needed. The State of Florida recognizes the importance of victim advocates. It offers free victim services training for law enforcement personnel, state attorneys' office staff, private non-profit victim advocates and other professionals through the Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute. However, participants have to travel to various parts of the state from the Keys to the Panhandle to take the required eight-hour courses. Stephanie Carter, a 2008 UCF graduate with degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology, says the certificate is invaluable. She had completed the coursework just as the certificate became available. She credits it with helping her land a job once she graduated. She is a victim advocate with Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, Penn. "This is exactly the job that I wanted," Carter said. "I spend most of my time dealing directly with victims, and feel that all that I learned in school is being put to good use. This is a job where I can actually see the good that I do for people and that is very rewarding." She highly recommends the coursework for the certificate. "It will prepare you to understand where people are coming from and to anticipate what will be hard for them," she added. Eastep says victim advocates are very important and proper training is vital. "A good victim advocate can make all the difference in the world for someone trying to recover from a horrible experience," she said. "That's why we've created the program we have. It will serve our students well and those they will serve." /blog/2008/new-ucf-program-provides-help-to-victims-of-crime/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-students-use-wii-and-yoga-to-help-alzheimer's-patients/ Mon, 17 November 2008 00:00:00 Janet Whiteside /blog/2008/ucf-students-use-wii-and-yoga-to-help-alzheimer's-patients/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Eighty-nine-year-old Fred Tombros calls the therapy sessions he attends with University of Central Florida graduate students a "godsend." Tombros is one of 12 people who attends sessions of Brain Fitness, a program aimed at helping those with early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia keep their cognitive skills sharp. UCF students provide individual evaluations and therapy sessions. Then the student therapists work with the participants to sharpen their cognitive skills by playing games on the Wii, along with ping-pong, pool, Scrabble and other games. "I'd be at home doing nothing," said Tombros, a former glassmaker who has been coming to the program at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park for two years. "Here I learn some things, help out the students and enjoy myself. I can't complain about a thing." Nancy Gerrity founded Brain Fitness in 2007 for a very personal reason. Her husband Tom, in his early 50s, was diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer's disease. At the time, there were no local day facilities that provided appropriate stimulation for persons with early onset dementia, so she began advocating for one. "What I found was a real gap in what was provided and what was needed," said Gerrity, who works full time at an engineering firm. "So, with the help of a few people, we created Brain Fitness." Peggy Bargmann, a registered nurse and the director of a support group Gerrity attended, directs the two-day-a-week program. Clinical Instructor Janet Whiteside at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic supervises the graduate students, who are studying speech therapy, during the weekly visits to Brain Fitness. "Each game, everything we do here has a purpose," Bargmann said. "It's not just entertainment; it helps keep certain cognitive skills sharp." Tombros, for example, loves to play pool. So, as part of his therapy, he teaches others the game. Another participant is learning to play ping-pong, which is helping her process new information and coordination. Group activities include yoga, drawing and walking. Tonia LaTesta, a UCF graduate student, said she is learning as much or more than some of the clients.  "I had no idea what to expect," LaTesta said. "I had these ideas of what dementia patients were like -that they stayed at home and couldn't do much. Now I know better. Consistency can help maintain and even improve their abilities." Nancy Slay, another graduate student, said she finds the experience invaluable. "It really prepares you because there's one thing to learn it in a book and then there's real practice when you have a real client and you have to specialize what you are doing to meet that person's need," she said. The UCF Communication Disorders Clinic maintains many partnerships with community groups to benefit local residents and give students practical experience. The program is funded through grants and private donations. First United Methodist Church provides the space for free and recently agreed to take on the program as one of its ministries. Still, the program can always use financial support, Gerrity said. The cost for participants is $35 per day. Because UCF students provide the therapy sessions, the program is run on a semester basis and takes breaks during the holidays. "I'm so grateful for all the help we've received," Gerrity said. "The church has been supportive, and the partnership with UCF is great. It has benefited our family personally, and to know this helps so many others, it's so rewarding." For information on the program, call Brain Fitness at 407-927-4380. /blog/2008/ucf-students-use-wii-and-yoga-to-help-alzheimer's-patients/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/turkish-officials-complete-public-service-leadership-program/ Thu, 13 November 2008 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu /blog/2008/turkish-officials-complete-public-service-leadership-program/ By Naim Kapucu and Karen Guin Turkish officials who recently participated in the Department of Public Administration's Public Service and Leadership program, run by the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management , gathered today to celebrate their successful completion of the program's requirements. It was the third group from Turkey to finish the program. "This group consisted of nine participants who hold high-status positions, as senior chief inspectors, in public service in the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey," said Associate Professor Naim Kapucu, who oversees the program. Like the two previous groups, the senior chief inspectors completed intensive English-language and culture training at UCF's Center for Multilingual Multicultural Studies and workshop trainings. They also visited government facilities and non-governmental sites. "With the help of our dedicated community leaders, the group was able to visit the Orange County Emergency Operations Center, Central Florida United Way, City of Winter Park and Orlando Police Department," Kapucu said. "They also made a two-day trip the state capital, Tallahassee." A focus of their studies was the U.S. government system. "Each participant had a specific topic of interest to research," Kapucu explained. "They gathered information from their visits, workshops and literature to write a final report and will provide a copy to the department and the Ministry of Interior of Turkey." During the graduation ceremony, the participants received a Certificate of Public Service and Leadership from the University of Central Florida. Afterwards they enjoyed a lunch with the department's faculty, experts from the field and others who contributed to their success. "We did learn a lot from the program participants in terms of government operations and their role in the Turkish public administration system," Kapucu said. "I hope their experience with the program will enhance performance of government." /blog/2008/turkish-officials-complete-public-service-leadership-program/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-in-first-of-its-kind-$54-million-study-of-environmental-and-genetic-factors-in-childhood-diseases/ Fri, 03 October 2008 00:00:00 Thomas Wan /blog/2008/ucf-in-first-of-its-kind-$54-million-study-of-environmental-and-genetic-factors-in-childhood-diseases/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala The University of Central Florida is partnering with local and state organizations to participate in a first of its kind national study to examine the role environment and genetics play in the health of children. The National Institutes of Health announced Friday (Oct. 3) that it has granted Florida a $54 million contract to participate in the National Children's Study, an ambitious effort to follow 100,000 children across the country from conception through age 21. The Orange County area's portion of the contract, which includes UCF, is about $15 million. The study's goal is to examine the environmental and genetic factors that contribute to a host of diseases in children -- including asthma, diabetes, autism and obesity -- which local doctors, like those across the nation, are seeing in epidemic proportions. The study also will investigate factors influencing the development of such conditions as cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and birth defects. Experts expect patterns will emerge that can help physicians and scientists answer questions and potentially develop strategies for prevention, better treatment options and someday cures for these diseases. Professor and Associate Dean Thomas Wan, the lead investigator for the UCF portion of the project, called the research grant very important. "This project holds much promise to really help us understand and focus on improving the health of our children," said Wan, who is based in the College of Health and Public Affairs. "It exemplifies the growing interest in preventing unhealthy pregnancies and children's health problems that are attributable to a variety of environmental exposures." Wan and College of Medicine Professor and Assistant Dean Lynn Crespo will work together on the project. They will work closely with the Orange County Public Health Department, a host of local pediatrician offices and all local hospitals where women deliver babies to enroll families in the area. Wan and Crespo said that the data collected, even in the early years, would likely provide clues that they will be able to follow with further studies out of the University of Central Florida. "Many studies look at single factors," Crespo said. "This national database of information will offer some insight into trends, patterns and multi-factor causes and provide guidance for spin off research that may lead us to some answers. It will expand our knowledge base immensely and that's good news for parents of children who are facing some of these diseases as well as for those whose children may be at risk for developing them." Local residents will be hired with the contract money to go door to door and ask families to participate in the study. The families selected will be based on a variety of factors so that the sample is appropriate for the study and representative. Florida's team, a statewide coalition, is one of 36 new or existing study centers announced Friday in the second wave of contracts granted by the NIH. When the study is completely underway, about 105 locations nationwide will be part of the project. Kathleen O'Rourke is Director of Research at the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies and professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida. She and her team will oversee the efforts in Orange and Hillsborough counties while UF will oversee work in Baker County. The University of Miami Medical School will serve as the study center hub and report findings to the National Institutes of Health. Researchers estimate women will start enrolling in the study in about two years. Authorized by Congress in the Children's Health Act of 2000, the National Children's Study is being conducted by a consortium of federal agencies.  This includes two NIH institutes, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. /blog/2008/ucf-in-first-of-its-kind-$54-million-study-of-environmental-and-genetic-factors-in-childhood-diseases/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/new-center-for-public-and-nonprofit-management-approved-by-ucf/ Thu, 18 September 2008 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu, Maria Elena Augustin /blog/2008/new-center-for-public-and-nonprofit-management-approved-by-ucf/ The Department of Public Administration's proposal to launch a Center for Public and Nonprofit Management (CPNM) was approved by the administration of the University of Central Florida on September 18, 2008. /blog/2008/new-center-for-public-and-nonprofit-management-approved-by-ucf/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/new-study-why-do-some-teens-offend,-when-others-do-not/ Thu, 11 September 2008 00:00:00 John Ronnau /blog/2008/new-study-why-do-some-teens-offend,-when-others-do-not/ WFTV reports on a study of juvenile crime in the region conducted by the State Attorney's Office and College of Health and Public Affairs at the University of Central Florida. /blog/2008/new-study-why-do-some-teens-offend,-when-others-do-not/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-law-enforcement-partner-expands-and-moves-to-research-park/ Fri, 01 August 2008 00:00:00 K. Michael Reynolds, Jennifer Sumner /blog/2008/ucf-law-enforcement-partner-expands-and-moves-to-research-park/ By Barb Abney An important crime-fighting partnership that involves University of Central Florida faculty and students and law enforcement officers has new resources and a new home in Central Florida. Building on the success of a unique crime fighting data sharing system, the nonprofit Center for Law Enforcement Technology Training and Research (LETTR) has moved into the Central Florida Research Park and will host an open house next week. In addition to giving students the opportunity to work hands-on with law enforcement professionals, LETTR allows for expansion of the Florida Integrated Network for Data Exchange and Retrieval (FINDER™) program to sheriff's offices and police departments across the nation. In its new location, LETTR houses law-enforcement personnel and engineering and computer science students who develop the software tools needed by law enforcement.  The team also researches new technology to keep crime fighters ahead of the criminals. LETTR members and the public are invited to tour the new facility from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5. The new office is in University Tower on Research Parkway. Ernie Scott, a UCF alumnus and retired criminal investigations division chief with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, is the current director of LETTR. He, along with Orange County Sheriff's Detective Jim McClure, who manages FINDER, are spreading the word about the FINDER system to law enforcement agencies nationwide. FINDER allows police to search databases throughout the state by entering queries involving property, motor vehicles, pawn activity and persons ranging from suspects to felons or their known associates. Only individual law enforcement agencies have access to the system. "FINDER is one of the first information sharing systems that has appealed to law enforcement agencies at all levels," said McClure, who credits its success to the hands-on development approach. "The UCF approach was from the ground up, with criminal justice and computer science experts working one-on-one with the law enforcement users to develop software that would meet the immediate and intricate needs of a working officer." Cpl. Duwana Pelton, a homicide detective with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, estimates that three-quarters of her workload, which largely involves researching unsolved cases from as long ago as the 1960s, was cut in half by FINDER. For example, if Pelton comes across a case that involves stolen property, she can automatically search for it in seconds using FINDER's pawn shop records -- something that would have taken her hours, if not days, to complete before.  When Pelton finds a match, she has immediate access to the seller's name, driver license information, and thumb print, which, by state law, pawn shops are required to obtain.  Pelton says that, while she has used other commercial software programs in the past, they were prohibitively expensive to the agency and did not have the wealth of data offered by FINDER. Law enforcement officials are not the only ones impressed with the FINDER system. The LETTR board of directors is made up of members who praise FINDER's success and are eager to spread the word throughout the country. They include Seminole County Sheriff Donald Eslinger; Vice Admiral Al Harms, UCF vice president for strategic planning and initiatives; Joe Giampapa, director of technology transfer at UCF; and Emery Gainey, director of law enforcement relations, victim services and criminal justice programs for Florida's Attorney General. Harms said that LETTR, by providing the FINDER system, is making information sharing for law enforcement an accessible and affordable reality. Giampapa adds that LETTR is "getting the best technology available into the hands of law enforcement."   Orange and Seminole counties, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the National Institute of Justice have already contributed almost $1 million in development funds for the center. To RSVP to the Aug. 5 open house, contact Jennifer Sumner at 407-882-0550 or jsumner@mail.ucf.edu. The office is located at 12201 Research Parkway, Suite 223. Note: K. Michael Reynolds, associate professor of criminal justice, helped establish the FINDER program. /blog/2008/ucf-law-enforcement-partner-expands-and-moves-to-research-park/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/intensive-aphasia-program-at-ucf-helps-stroke-survivors-take-back-their-lives/ Thu, 31 July 2008 00:00:00 Janet Whiteside, Jane Hostetler /blog/2008/intensive-aphasia-program-at-ucf-helps-stroke-survivors-take-back-their-lives/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala   Dr. Renato Parungao was a successful surgeon.He also traveled to the Philippines to repair cleft palates and treat thyroid conditions among some of the poorest residents on the southern end of the island. Then on New Year's Eve in 2003 a blood vessel in his brain burst and he became one of the 700,000 Americans who have strokes each year. For him it meant losing his speech and partial paralysis. "I was forced to retire. It is very frustrating because all the medical knowledge is intact up here," he said pointing to his head. Thanks to an innovative therapy program at the University of Central Florida's Communication Disorder's Clinic, Parungoa is making progress in his recovery. He has been attending the clinic for three years, but this summer he was able to participate in a pilot program that provides patients with intensive therapy for a short amount of time and then provides opportunities for them in the community to practice what they've been learning. "It's has helped me a lot," said the reserved Parungoa. "I am very grateful."  The clinic is staffed with Clinical Educators and graduate students who treat a variety of disorders. It is the clinical centerpiece of the undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UCF and provides high-quality speech, language and hearing services to the local community. Fellow participant, Uriah Nelson - a former professional soccer player, is equally thankful and smiles every time he pronounces a word. "I couldn't talk at all. I used to never go out to the store or to eat," Nelson said about the first six months after his stroke in 2006. "People weren't patient. It was embarrassing. Now I go to store. The therapist here, they do good." Janet Whiteside, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Clinical Educator and founder of the pilot program called Intensive Aphasia Program, said isolation is a major problem for stroke survivors. She's amazed at the progress many of the patients are making. Research says traditional therapy - short sessions over a long period of time -- is necessary to help people regain skills after a stroke. But recent research suggests patients may increase their benefit and maintain their improvement with more intensive sessions over a shorter period of time.And a critical piece is re-integrating them back into the community. "It's not always easy," Whiteside said. "People aren't always patient when they don't see an obvious disability." Whiteside, Clinical Instructor Jane Hostetler, MA, CCC-SLP and five graduate students have been working with members of the community throughout the summer. Stroke survivors receive individual and group therapy Monday through Thursday, three hours a day, for an entire month.  Goals are based on assessed needs and the individual's perceived communication needs. One day a week they take a field trip to a facility on the UCF campus to practice what they are learning and confront what they might encounter in their everyday lives. The participants have ordered coffee and lunch at dining facilities on campus. They have toured the Arboretum, bookstore and the stadium as well as visited the library and Institute of Simulation and Training in Research Parkway. Thegoal is to get them engaged and speaking. "Empowering our clients to communicate in different environments with unfamiliar listeners is a very important part of our clients' rehabilitation,"Whiteside and Hostetler said. "This also gives our graduate students good experience that bridges what they learn in the classroom with what they will experience in clinical settings." Graduate student Deidre Mears, of Altamonte Springs, agrees. She's been working with Nelson this summer.  "In the clinic you see your client and what they are going through in that environment," Mears said. "But then you see them like this, in real life, in action, and it really tells you what they need and how effective strategies are or are not." People of all ages have participated in the summer program. They include former CEOs, housewives, doctors, engineers and everything in between. It reflects the simple fact that the third-leading cause of death in the nation doesn't discriminate. About one-third of all cases are among people 65-years-old or younger. "It can happen to anyone," Whiteside said. "It really can, but we can help a lot of our community take back their lives. That's what we are all about." /blog/2008/intensive-aphasia-program-at-ucf-helps-stroke-survivors-take-back-their-lives/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-social-work-students-deliver-hurricane-supplies-to-vulnerable-citizens/ Mon, 28 July 2008 00:00:00 Eileen Abel /blog/2008/ucf-social-work-students-deliver-hurricane-supplies-to-vulnerable-citizens/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Roosevelt Jackson saw three University of Central Florida students approach him as he popped open a Pepsi can at 9 a.m., he smiled. "Mighty nice," he said nodding. He stayed in his seat as UCF student Gueline Felix placed a box of hurricane supplies just inside his Sunset Road home blocks from the Citrus Bowl. "That'll help a lot. Mighty nice." He was one of 30 senior citizens the group  helped Thursday. "To see his smile, knowing it really helped. That's why I do it," said Andrea Predl, the UCF student who pitched the idea of providing low-income seniors in Orange County with hurricane supplies to her social work class at UCF. She is also co-chair of the Bachelor of Social Work Student Association. She told the class of 30 students about the people she had gotten to know through her volunteer work with the nonprofit Seniors First, which delivers meals to more than 600 seniors in Orange County, among other services it provides. This summer she began delivering Meals on Wheels to seniors in Parramore, Pine Hills and East Orlando. Jan Kerline, Seniors First CEO, said many of their clients are on fixed incomes and isolated. "For many, the Meals on Wheel driver is the only human contact they have all week, Kerline said. Jackson isn't alone. He has a daughter who lives in Haines City and she's been trying to get her dad to move into her home. But he won't budge.  The former orange picker and cement setter said he likes his independence. But that means things are tight and any help is welcomed.  He was one of 15 seniors Perdl personally delivered hurricane kits to on July 24. Another group of students delivered the kits to another 15 of the most vulnerable members of the Orange County community. "I saw the need," Perdl said." All of the clients I have encountered enjoy small talk and a smile, as I might be the only person they see for the day. Unfortunately, a vast majority of clients have little support from family and this was another reason why I chose to present the project to the class."  Social work is more than just helping people in an office setting, said the three students on the route with Predl. It's about helping people in their own community. The students used word of mouth to get people to donate items for the project. Students, faculty and staff at UCF and Valencia Community College partnered to collect supplies. Some more affluent seniors in the area who heard about the project also made donations. The kits contain blankets, nonperishable food, batteries, and first aid kits among other things. Jimmy Payne, a Terry Avenue resident waited outside his door for Predl, Felix and Michael Morrison to arrive with his kit. As soon as Predl's car pulled up, he came over. He took his box and went inside. A few minutes later he came out again asking Predl if she could get him some batteries for his radio, because he would need one in case of a hurricane. He pointed to an AM radio with a broken antenna, full of dust and cobwebs. Felix said the project opened her eyes.  "I was a little worried at first, I mean it's Parramore and you hear about the shootings and the crime," Felix said. "I've never been to this part of town. I've been very sheltered and you get these stereotypes in your head. But seeing the human side of this, it really makes you realize that fear paralyzes you. They are just people. And people need to help people, and not just ask government to fix everything. I can help, we can help." Note: The project was part of a summer course taught by Eileen Abel, associate professor of social work. /blog/2008/ucf-social-work-students-deliver-hurricane-supplies-to-vulnerable-citizens/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-rankings-can-help-nursing-homes-improve-quality,-efficiency/ Fri, 20 June 2008 00:00:00 Thomas Wan, Ning "Jackie" Zhang, Lynn Unruh /blog/2008/ucf-rankings-can-help-nursing-homes-improve-quality,-efficiency/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Nursing home operators already have access to a ranking system similar to what federal government is creating to help consumers choose a nursing home for their loved ones. The University of Central Florida operates a database of all nursing home facilities nationwide that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Public Affairs Professor Thomas Wan and his team created the database with funding from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Nursing Research. The collection contains more than 10 years of data and millions of records and ranks each facility based on quality and economic efficiency. The new federal database, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced this week, will rank facilities on a five-star scale similar to the way hotels are ranked, and is expected to be ready by the end of the year. UCF's database can help nursing homes prepare for what consumers will find in the federal rating system. "Our approach is to help nursing home administrators to improve performance in efficiency and quality," said Wan, who is also director of the doctoral program in Public Affairs and associate dean for research at the UCF College of Health and Public Affairs.  "The key is that the recommendations for improvement are research based. These are factors that we know matter. It is not theory." Nursing homes can get individualized prescriptions for improvement through UCF's massive and searchable database, housed at the Informatics Research Lab. Nursing home administrators can see how they rank based on a variety of data from nurse-resident ratios to economic indicators.  The research team includes Assistant Professor Ning Jackie Zhang and Associate Professor Lynn Unruh. They have authored several journal articles based on the database and its analysis, most recently in the June 2008 edition of Health Services Research. In that study, they analyzed whether the payment system in place now has increased nursing home efficiency. Wan has published extensively and has served on NIH committees. He has also been a consultant to government agencies in Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, South Africa and South Korea as they work to establish graduate health services management education and research. /blog/2008/ucf-rankings-can-help-nursing-homes-improve-quality,-efficiency/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-offers-fema-recognized-emergency-management-and-homeland-security-graduate-certificate/ Tue, 17 June 2008 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu /blog/2008/ucf-offers-fema-recognized-emergency-management-and-homeland-security-graduate-certificate/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala As fires burn in Florida and Northern California, floods ravage Iowa and tornadoes rip through the Midwest, the University of Central Florida is taking a leadership role in preparing people who will manage government responses to disasters. UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs this month began offering a new graduate certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The program, recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, prepares graduate students for careers in the administration of emergency management and homeland security. Those enrolled also may pursue emergency management careers with private and nonprofit entities. The first class, which began this summer, is at capacity with 30 students enrolled. "There is increased demand in every level of government for individuals with experience, training and education in Emergency Management and Homeland Security," said UCF Associate Professor Naim Kapucu, one of the certificate program's founders. Emergency management-related occupations are among the fastest growing in the nation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 28 percent increase between 2002 and 2012 in these kinds of occupations. The 18-hour program will cover foundations in emergency management and homeland security, managing crises and working across government agencies. The graduate certificate program adds to the Department of Public Administration offerings, which include a minor in emergency management and homeland security. Those interested in admissions into the graduate certificate program can visit   click here . /blog/2008/ucf-offers-fema-recognized-emergency-management-and-homeland-security-graduate-certificate/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-alumni-chapter-establishes-scholarship-for-health-services-administration-graduate-students/ Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 Aaron Liberman /blog/2008/ucf-alumni-chapter-establishes-scholarship-for-health-services-administration-graduate-students/ By Karen Guin Recognizing the value of an advanced degree in careers in health-care administration, the university's Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter has established a scholarship for master's degree students in health services administration. The chapter hopes to award the first scholarship in 2010. Like many health-care professions, health services administration requires a high level of knowledge and skill to assume the responsibilities of the profession, which can include managing large budgets and large numbers of employees. Many consider a graduate degree in the field to be essential for career advancement. The Health Services Administration Alumni Chapter Scholarship fund was created with contributions from officers and members of the chapter and faculty members from the program. The chapter has set a goal of raising $10,000 by March 2009 for the fund. The amount raised will determine the size and number of scholarships awarded. "Scholarships assist students who otherwise might not be able to attend college or graduate school," said Aaron Liberman, chair of the Department of Health Management and Informatics. "This scholarship will serve as a source of encouragement for students in the health services administration program, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college." The scholarship also pays tribute to the high quality of the master's degree program at UCF, said Kevin Lenhart, a 2001 graduate of the program, chair of the alumni chapter and health services director for the Lake County Sheriff's Office. "This scholarship is one way for our alumni to give back to the program and its students," he added. "It's a tradition we hope we'll be able to continue with support from the community, faculty and former students." /blog/2008/ucf-alumni-chapter-establishes-scholarship-for-health-services-administration-graduate-students/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/5,900-ucf-students-graduating-this-week/ Tue, 29 April 2008 00:00:00 /blog/2008/5,900-ucf-students-graduating-this-week/ By UCF Staff More than 5,900 University of Central Florida students expected to graduate last weekend. Those graduates include students who landed coveted internships in pediatric respiratory care at Duke Medical Center and a native of Russia who wanted to become a veterinarian ever since she saw animals treated so poorly while she was growing up. Other success stories include a woman who will use her new master's degree to help nonprofit agencies after a 31-year career in the U.S. Marines and a "fund-raising machine" who has collected more than $20,000 for charities while at UCF. The university held four commencement ceremonies Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. A variety of speakers from former lieutenant governor Toni Jennings to theme park executive James D. Atchison addressed the graduates during ceremonies at the UCF Arena. For additional commencement information, visit the registrar's Web site at http://www.registrar.sdes.ucf.edu/commencement/terms/2008/spring/ . /blog/2008/5,900-ucf-students-graduating-this-week/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf's-second-annual-public-administration-conference-explores-innovation-in-government/ Fri, 25 April 2008 00:00:00 Maria-Elena Augustin /blog/2008/ucf's-second-annual-public-administration-conference-explores-innovation-in-government/ By Maria-Elena Augustin More than 110 public administrators serving in local government and academia met at the Orlando campus on March 28, 2008, for the University of Central Florida's Second Annual Public Administration Conference, titled "The Changing Face of Public Administration: Innovation in Government." The conference provided a forum to highlight professional experiences and research in many topic areas, including innovations in cross-sectoral partnerships, public safety research and practice, governance and leadership, and public participation and collaboration. Distinguished speakers from academia, government and the community presented and discussed innovative approaches to public administration with an engaged audience. The keynote speaker was Stephen Goldsmith, the Daniel Paul Professor of Government and director of the Innovations in American Government Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He is also the chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Goldsmith received the conference's Exemplary Public Service Award. Conference participants included practitioners in city and county government, UCF faculty members and students, and nonprofit administrators. The four panels comprised city and county leaders; UCF, FSU and Arizona State University faculty members; and the Urban Academies Program of Broward County, 2006 winner of the Innovation in American Government Award. Participants commented that the conference was one of the best they had attended and provided a great networking opportunity. They also said they appreciated the convenience and comfort of the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. The Second Annual Public Administration Conference sponsors included Pizzuti Solutions, the Central Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, R.W. Beck and Seminole County. These sponsorships included the awards to students presenting research and 20 student conference scholarships. The Third Annual Public Administration Conference will be held April 17, 2009, at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and will focus on Networking and Collaborations in the 21st Century. For more information on the degree and certificate programs of the UCF Department of Public Administration and its other activities, call (407) 823-2604 or go to www.cohpa.ucf.edu/pubadm/ . /blog/2008/ucf's-second-annual-public-administration-conference-explores-innovation-in-government/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/medical-web-sites-may-improve-nursing-home-care/ Thu, 10 April 2008 00:00:00 Ning "Jackie" Zhang /blog/2008/medical-web-sites-may-improve-nursing-home-care/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Medical Web sites could be key to improving the quality of care at nursing homes, a new University of Central Florida study found. While sites such as WebMD.com have rapidly become popular with Americans, they have not been integrated well into care at nursing homes, UCF doctoral student Gerald-Mark Breen and Assistant Professor Ning Jackie Zhang reported. Such technology would help nursing homes meet the increased demand for care at a time when many states lack the funding to raise or even maintain staffing levels.  "E-health could improve nurses' knowledge and skills and ameliorate deficiencies," Breen said. About 2 million Americans live in 18,000 nursing home care facilities, and that population is expected to double by 2020. But because of widespread economic troubles, funding for nursing home care isn't likely to improve at either the state or national levels. "We're not saying e-health will fix everything," Breen said. "But given the recent developments and funding crisis, we suggest this will help while we figure out how to properly fund and staff nursing home care facilities." The UCF analysis looked at nursing home staffing levels, staff training, the daily demands on staff and the current and potential future funding available for facilities.  The researchers' conclusion is that sites such as WebMD.com could help nursing home professionals respond to the daily needs of their patients and thus improve their care. The findings are published in the April issue of the Journal of Medical Systems. Several Web sites have the potential to help staff better care for patients. They include Medlineplus.gov, Medscape.com and mentalhelp.net, Breen said. "I hope my research will improve the efficiency, outcomes, and integrity of nursing homes across the country," he said. "With the introduction of telemedicine and e-health resources, I hope that improved care and greater access to important medical information will result.  Breen joined the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs in 2007. He previously had a teaching position at the University of Texas - Pan American. He earned his master's degree in communication from the University of Oklahoma, and he is working as a research assistant for Thomas Wan, the doctoral program director. His doctoral work at UCF focuses on health care administration and medical care. The co-author of the paper, Zhang, is a medical doctor, assistant professor of public affairs and the director of the Informatics Research Lab at UCF. He also is the research associate for a National Institutes of Health grant at UCF that focuses on nurse staffing and nursing home quality.  For a look at the abstract of the study, go to http://www.springerlink.com/content/w7xun802225162l6/?p=05ceced7f169416d8385d8d6b65dd2fc&pi=0 /blog/2008/medical-web-sites-may-improve-nursing-home-care/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-voice-clinic-helps-local-high-school-chorus-groups-tune-their-voices/ Wed, 09 April 2008 00:00:00 Bari Hoffman Ruddy /blog/2008/ucf-voice-clinic-helps-local-high-school-chorus-groups-tune-their-voices/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala In one episode of the television show Hannah Montana, the singer loses her voice. She's told to keep quiet so her vocal cords can rest. By the end of the episode, she's ready to perform again.  It's not always that easy for actresses, politicians, teachers or students who struggle with hoarse voices. That's why the University of Central Florida and a local ear, nose and throat physician run a clinic that diagnoses and treats a wide range of voice problems. UCF's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Dr. Jeffrey Lehman treat clients with laryngitis, vocal nodules and other more complex medical problems, such as laryngeal cancer. Any resident in the community can visit the clinic, which charge fees on clients' incomes. In an effort to reach out to the community, graduate students led by Associate Professor Bari Hoffman Ruddy have also been giving vocal health care presentations to local high schools this year. They have given students in choirs, speech teams, cheerleading squads and drama clubs a crash course on healthy vocal use. The UCF students are also making presentations to local support groups for Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, ALS and multiple sclerosis. The last presentations will be given this week and next week to coincide with World Voice Day on April 16. In addition, the clinic maintains a close partnership with UCF Music Department. Each year, voice majors get checked out by the clinic staff to make sure their vocal cords are in tip-top shape.  The exam includes a look inside each student's throat. A small camera is inserted into the throat, and the images are projected onto monitors in the clinic. Lehman, along with clinicians and graduate students, evaluates the patient and makes recommendations. "People don't realize how prevalent voice problems can be," Ruddy said. "I see a variety of professional voice users from lawyers to classroom teachers to singers. The ability to speak is more important than ever at school, in the workplace and socially. But most of us don't really know how to take care of our voice." The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that more than 7.5 million people have a voice disorder. Smoking, drinking alcohol, shouting and poor speaking techniques also can harm the mechanisms that make the voice work.  Ruddy is passionate about educating people about preventative care because failing to recognize symptoms that something is wrong can lead to serious trouble. "Drinking water; eliminating harmful substances, such as smoking; treatment for reflux or allergy irritation; warming up your voice before prolonged use . . . there are a host of things you can do to keep your voice healthy," Ruddy said. To raise awareness, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery created World Voice Day in 2002. Groups around the world will be holding a variety of events and activities on April 16 to educate people about keeping their voices healthy. For more information about World Voice Day, visit http://www.entnet.org/aboutus/worldvoiceday.cfm . For more information about UCF's clinic, call 407-823-4804. /blog/2008/ucf-voice-clinic-helps-local-high-school-chorus-groups-tune-their-voices/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf's-graduate-programs-rank-among-the-best-100-in-the-nation/ Fri, 04 April 2008 00:00:00 /blog/2008/ucf's-graduate-programs-rank-among-the-best-100-in-the-nation/ According to the latest U.S News & World Report Best Graduate Schools guide, the college's graduate program in speech-language pathology ranked 87 and the graduate program in public administration ranked 90. /blog/2008/ucf's-graduate-programs-rank-among-the-best-100-in-the-nation/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-students-honored-for-excellence-at-founders'-day-ceremony/ Wed, 02 April 2008 00:00:00 /blog/2008/ucf-students-honored-for-excellence-at-founders'-day-ceremony/ Students in the College of Health and Public Affairs who were honored at the 2008 Founders' Day Ceremony are identified below. Founders' Award: Megan Policastro, a Legal Studies major with a minor in Political Science, is a Burnett Honors College student and the President's Leadership Council chair. A LEAD Scholar, Policastro currently serves as director of university relations for the Student Government Association. She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, the Coalition for the Homeless, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She has raised more than $20,000 for charity while at UCF. She plans to pursue a career in environmental law after graduating this year.  Founders' Scholar Awards: Lauren Albers, Samuel Bird III, Denise Cespedes, Jamie A. Cummings, Kelly B. Davis, Lynn S. Deem, Audrey M. Flanegin, Stephen J. Hajdas, Nicole J. Hudson, Borica Karan, Marla Laloo, Angela K. Little, Elisabeth S. Lottman, Giselle M. Lugo, Eileen B. Stana, Candace S. Stuart and Janine R. Vance. /blog/2008/ucf-students-honored-for-excellence-at-founders'-day-ceremony/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/fifteen-ucf-students-inducted-to-order-of-pegasus/ Thu, 20 March 2008 00:00:00 /blog/2008/fifteen-ucf-students-inducted-to-order-of-pegasus/ Three of the 11 undergraduates selected to win Order of Pegasus honors this year are students in the College of Health and Public Affairs: Bryan Arnette, Tabatha Calabrese and Megan Policastro. /blog/2008/fifteen-ucf-students-inducted-to-order-of-pegasus/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-autism-expert-applauds-governor’s-call-for-autism-task-force/ Fri, 07 March 2008 00:00:00 Teresa Daly /blog/2008/ucf-autism-expert-applauds-governor’s-call-for-autism-task-force/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Recognizing the growing health crisis that autism represents, Governor Charlie Crist announced the creation of the Task Force on Autism Spectrum Disorders. The task force has many responsibilities and will provide a report on the status of resources for families to the governor by March 20, 2009. The University of Central Florida is home to the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) . The center is a resource for the community. "We were part of the discussion and fully support the creation of the task force and the work it will be doing," said CARD Director Tery Daly. The Orlando center, one of seven in the state, acts as a local resource for family members of children and adults diagnosed with the disease. CARD at UCF serves more than 2,700 people in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties. The seven other centers in Florida serve about 12,000 people altogether. While CARD services are free, the child or adult must already be diagnosed with autism or a related condition before the agency can help. CARD staff members work with families, initially by phone and then with a home visit, to evaluate their needs and help ensure that they are met. The state agency serves as a clearing-house of sorts. It provides information to parents and those who care for people with autism and offers workshops on a variety of topics, including how to deal with the behavior and estate planning. Clients are also referred to federal, state and local agencies that can help with education and transportation needs. CARD also offers a library of materials, including resource books, training manuals and videos of workshops, that people can borrow. For information about the center call 407-737-2566 or send an email to ucfcard@mail.ucf.edu. /blog/2008/ucf-autism-expert-applauds-governor’s-call-for-autism-task-force/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/former-gang-member-shares-strategies-for-ending-violence/ Fri, 07 March 2008 00:00:00 Estelli Ramos /blog/2008/former-gang-member-shares-strategies-for-ending-violence/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Luis Rodriguez, a former gang member and award-winning author, encouraged about 100 people attending a gang violence conference at the University of Central Florida to stay connected to their children and work together as a community to end gangs and gang violence. "I neglected my own son," Rodriguez said. "What my father did to me, I did to him. Like me, he got into a gang." His son is now serving a 28-year-sentence for shooting another gang member in Chicago. A national expert on gangs, Rodriguez wrote one of the first books about gang life in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. His vivid descriptions of gang life in "Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." earned him literary accolades and gave people a new look into gang life. He is now a community activist and the founder of Youth Struggling to Survive, which helps young people leave the gang life behind.  "This is not just a police issue," he told the audience that gathered at the FairwindsAlumni Center on campus. "This is a community issue, and that's the only way to solve the problem." Attendees at the "Understanding Gang Violence - Prevention and Intervention: A Community Response" conference ran the gambit from parents, social workers and nonprofit leaders to school counselors and police officers. The UCF School of Social Work organized the event with help from several partners, including the College of Health and Public Affairs, the Ninth Judicial District Court, the State Attorney's Office, the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the National Alliance of Gang Investigators' Association. The event was funded in part by grants from the African American Focus Fund and Nuestro Futuro initiatives of the Community Foundation of Central Florida. "This is a critical issues for our community," said Estelli Ramos, a UCF instructor who specializes in gang prevention. "Luis is such a great speaker because he brings an authentic perspective." Rodriguez identified the five "empties" by which residents can identify a gang member. Young people drawn to gangs generally feel like they have no roots or connections to anyone or anything. They feel helpless and powerless, and they have lost all hope. They also believe that life has lost all meaning for them. Rodriguez implored all those who attended the conference to provide opportunities for young people to get involved and connect to their communities. Simply arresting or deporting offenders doesn't solve the problem, he said. Afternoon workshops focused on the dynamics of a variety of gangs, an explanation of what lures young people to gang life and culture and strategies for helping to end the violence. /blog/2008/former-gang-member-shares-strategies-for-ending-violence/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-starts-first-traumatic-brain-injury-program-in-the-country,-local-students-treated-at-no-cost/ Thu, 21 February 2008 00:00:00 Janet Whiteside, Kenyatta Rivers /blog/2008/ucf-starts-first-traumatic-brain-injury-program-in-the-country,-local-students-treated-at-no-cost/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Imagine not being able to remember whether you shampooed and conditioned your hair in the shower, moments after you did it. Now imagine going through that same experience every day for the rest of your life. That's exactly what happens to hundreds of college-age students with traumatic brain injury when they don't get the rehabilitation they need. It happened to University of Central Florida student Amanda Patrick shortly after a car accident that injured her brain. "It's absolutely frustrating," Patrick said. "And if you don't get both physical rehabilitation and mental rehab, your academic life -- your entire life can be ruined." TBI is a term used to describe a brain injury caused by a blow to the head, a fall or a motor vehicle accident. Dozens of stories about TBI have been written about injured soldiers returning from the conflict in Iraq or Afghanistan. But 15 to 20 percent of the nation's college population also suffers from TBI, according to a study in 1996 and more recent studies at UCF. While they may conquer the physical injuries related to their trauma, problems with long-term brain function often go undetected for years. That's part of the reason UCF is launching a first-of-its-kind TBI Program to provide academic rehabilitation to college students with the condition. UCF is the first university in the country to offer such a program on campus, and its leaders believe it will become a national model. The program also will give graduate students studying communication disorders the opportunity to learn key techniques and therapies to help people master the long-term mental challenges related to TBI. They will be able to take courses on TBI beginning in the summer and will learn by working side-by-side with their supervisors. "Many times these college students have been hurt in a car accident or have suffered other traumatic brain injury in their pre-teen or teen years," said Larry Schutz, the director of the UCF TBI program and a clinical neuropsychologist. He had directed brain injury rehabilitation programs treating young people in New Jersey and Florida since 1983. "While they may get rehabilitation for their physical injuries, the mental implications sometimes take a while to manifest and even when they do, young people tend to deny there is a problem. If they aren't helped, they are at risk for failure," Schutz said. "But we have developed the technology required for a good recovery." Taking advantage of the new technology and therapies is what helped UCF's Patrick get back on track after a car accident in December 1998 left her in a coma for 17 days. She was in the middle of her junior year of high school. She recovered from her physical injuries but struggled when she returned to school. "At the time of the accident, I was ranked fourth academically in my class. I would study for a test and do really well," she said. "I had a whole system for studying and I juggled lots of extracurricular activities like student government and various clubs. After my accident when I didn't use the therapy technique I was taught I would fall flat on my face. Not only was memory loss an issue, but so was my mental processing ability." To cope with her mental limitations, Patrick used and adapted the techniques Schutz and his team taught her in rehab, which helped her finish high school and get into college. She earned a bachelor's degree at UCF in Advertising and Public Relations and is now pursuing a master's degree in English Language Arts. She intends to become an English teacher. Depending on the severity of the injury students may experience difficulties remembering information, taking accurate and complete notes, demonstrating knowledge on exams and organizing their study time. The treatment teaches students strategies that allow them to think effectively using the brain systems that are still healthy. "You literally have to learn how to think again and you can't do it the way most people do," Patrick said. The cost of treatment, which Schutz said isn't typically covered by insurance, runs about $70,000 for about 400 clinical hours. But in Florida, those who have been diagnosed with TBI can get treatment paid for by a special state fund for rehabilitation of brain and spinal cord injuries. Schutz learned the basic strategies for TBI from a pioneer in the field, who helped to develop the current standard of care. "We're using best practices, sound research and innovative techniques we've been developing," Schutz said. "It makes a difference in people's lives. And I am confident we will become a national demonstration school that will help revolutionize the way we treat young people with TBI." Co-directors of the new UCF program are Janet Whiteside, a specialist in adolescent and adult TBI, and Kenyatta Rivers, a specialist in child and adolescent TBI. All services and training will occur on the main campus. /blog/2008/ucf-starts-first-traumatic-brain-injury-program-in-the-country,-local-students-treated-at-no-cost/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/new-graduate-certificate-addresses-increasing-demand-for-knowledge-of-emergency-management-and-homeland-security/ Wed, 20 February 2008 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu /blog/2008/new-graduate-certificate-addresses-increasing-demand-for-knowledge-of-emergency-management-and-homeland-security/ By Catherine Carson UCF Graduate Studies has approved the Department of Public Administration's new Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) program. Admission to the program will officially begin in summer 2008.  The program of study will prepare graduate students for careers in the administration of emergency management and homeland security. The new graduate certificate program is identified on the Web site of the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project within the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. Assistant Professor Naim Kapucu, one of the certificate program's founders, said, "There is increased demand in every level of government for individuals with experience, training and education in EMHS." He explained that many public agencies are responsible for functions related to emergency management and homeland security, even in times between emergencies and disasters.  Skills learned in this program may be applied at local, state and federal levels, including Central Florida fire and police departments, state and local emergency operations centers, and federal public safety departments, specifically FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Nonprofits and private consulting firms also show interest in individuals with EMHS experience. The program's course work is interdisciplinary, offering core courses from a public administration and management perspective and diverse electives from other departments, such as CGN 6655: Regional Planning, Design and Development offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The course work consists of 18 semester hours at the graduate level, including three new offerings: Foundations of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Managing Emergencies and Crises Cross Sectoral Governance In addition to four core courses, students will choose two electives. For more information about these courses and the certificate's requirements, see the UCF Graduate Catalog . Kapucu said some students are taking Foundations of Emergency Management and Homeland Security this spring. Apply online at www.graduate.ucf.edu . /blog/2008/new-graduate-certificate-addresses-increasing-demand-for-knowledge-of-emergency-management-and-homeland-security/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-names-new-dean-of-college-of-health-and-public-affairs/ Mon, 18 February 2008 00:00:00 Michael Frumkin /blog/2008/ucf-names-new-dean-of-college-of-health-and-public-affairs/ By Karen Guin Michael Frumkin, dean of the School of Social Work and Human Services at Eastern Washington University, has been named dean of UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs. He will begin at UCF on July 1. "Dr. Frumkin is a national expert in the area of social work and has a wealth of experience that will add to the excellence of the College of Health and Public Affairs," said Terry Hickey, UCF's Provost and Executive Vice President. "He is an accomplished scholar and we look forward to Dr. Frumkin joining our UCF family." Frumkin has taught at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash., since 1991, when he joined the faculty as a professor of social work and director of the university's social work and human services' program. He was appointed dean of the school in 1998. He has also held faculty positions at Boston University, the University of Minnesota and Florida State University. At Eastern Washington University, he was instrumental in expanding the social work program. Under his leadership, the number of faculty positions nearly tripled, the budget grew by more than 500 percent and the program became a stand-alone school with a stature comparable to a college at UCF. From 1992 to 1995, Frumkin was president of the Council on Social Work Education, the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the nation. "It is an honor to be named the Dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs and to become part of a college and university that is committed to building community partnerships focused on improving people's lives," Frumkin said. "Building on the existing accomplishments of the college, my goal is to work with our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to strengthen our programs and enhance our ability to truly make a difference." One of UCF's 11 colleges, the College of Health and Public Affairs offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs that prepare students for careers in health care, speech-language pathology, social work, criminal justice, law and public administration. Many of the college's faculty and students conduct research that focuses on improving the quality of life for citizens and communities. Frumkin has published widely and made many conference presentations in the areas of social welfare policy, administration and social work program development. He has also generated more than $25 million in external grants and contracts primarily to support social work education. He earned his bachelor's degree from New York University, master's degree from the University of Michigan and doctorate in social policy from the Florence Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Frumkin replaces Joyce Dorner, who has been interim dean of the college since 2006. /blog/2008/ucf-names-new-dean-of-college-of-health-and-public-affairs/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/proper-nursing-staff-can-save-patient-lives-and-reduce-healthcare-costs/ Fri, 25 January 2008 00:00:00 Lynn Unruh /blog/2008/proper-nursing-staff-can-save-patient-lives-and-reduce-healthcare-costs/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala As the presidential candidates stomp in Florida this week and toss about their ideas on how to make health care more affordable in America, a UCF Health Services Administration professor has completed a study that shows one way hospitals can save money. Contrary to popular belief, having the proper number of registered nurses caring for patients may not cost more. Associate Professor Lynn Unruh's review found that in many cases it actually lowered the costs of giving care. "As an economist, I know how it works," Unruh said. "It comes down to money. But the research shows that it makes economic sense to properly staff. We need more research to establish nurse to patient ratio standards, but the bottom line is that if you find the right balance you not only save lives, you save money." Unruh was a pediatric nurse for more than 25 years before going back to school to earn a Ph. D in economics from the University of Notre Dame. Since 2000 she's been teaching and conducting research at the University of Central Florida, with the exception of a one-year fellowship at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation August 2006 to August 2007. Quality and access to care in the U.S. health care system are below what is available in most other developed nations, but the costs are higher, Unruh said. That makes finding ways to improve care and reduce costs critical. Because of the absence of national standards for nurse-to-patient ratios, the severity of patients' injuries must be considered when determining the appropriate staffing levels, Unruh said. "What may be a proper ratio in one area may not be adequate in another," she added. "We really need to develop those standards. But studies show that when the ratio is appropriate, the patient outcomes are better, nurses are more satisfied, and costs can be lower." According to the Unruh's review published in this month's American Journal of Nursing (htpp://www.ajnonline.com), hospitals with higher RN staffing levels experienced lower rates of deaths, pneumonia, post-operative complications, and other negative patient outcomes in. That means patients were healthier and insurance companies didn't have to spend extra money for added procedures. In specialty units such as geriatrics or obstetrics, there were fewer incidences of falls and medication errors, which is not only good for patient well-being but also protects hospitals from lawsuits. Unruh's review also found that nurses in better-staffed units were more satisfied and less likely to leave their jobs, saving hospitals the expenses of replacing them. It can cost as  much as $160,000 to hire and train a new nurse.  /blog/2008/proper-nursing-staff-can-save-patient-lives-and-reduce-healthcare-costs/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2008/ucf-professor-introduces-crime-analysis-mapping-techniques-to-russia's-future-police-force/ Wed, 02 January 2008 00:00:00 K. Michael Reynolds, Michael Flint /blog/2008/ucf-professor-introduces-crime-analysis-mapping-techniques-to-russia's-future-police-force/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Russian's next generation of police officers may be able to track down criminals by neighborhood and perhaps even anticipate where they will hit next, thanks to a University of Central Florida professor. UCF Criminal Justice Professor Kenneth Mike Reynolds is working with the Volograd Law Academy. The Academy is one of the country's five executive police training academies in Russia and the first to introduce data-drive crime analysis mapping techniques These are tools and techniques that police in the United States routinely use, but new to the former Soviet Union. "This is a critical step because these men and women of the Academy are the future leaders of the Russian police system in the areas of investigation, forensic evidence,  prosecution, and senior management policy makers" Reynolds said from his apartment in Volograd. "Some of these students will be members of the Russian judiciary." Reynolds is teaching senior students and faculty members at the academy about the techniques thanks to a long-standing partnership with the academy and being awarded a  Fulbright Scholarship. The partnership also brings Russian cadets and faculty to Orlando and UCF students participate in classes at the Volgograd Law Academy every year. The Academy is located in Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad). It's a five-year residential university with 4,000 students and 400 faculty members. It educates the future workforce of the national police system. Think of it as a West Point for law enforcement personnel that include the future judges, prosecutors, detectives, and forensic scientists. Reynolds described the crime analysis and mapping work as "the connect-the-dots techniques that allows for the visualization of crime data, associated patterns, and trends that are used to focus on high crime areas and develop strategies to combat crime." He is also doing his own research about Russian policing issues that include unreported crime and public satisfaction with the police. This research is conducted in collaboration with Nikolai Demidov of the Volgograd Law Academy and Olga Semoukhina, a navite of Russia, and recent UCF doctoral graduate.  Twenty-one of the Russian cadets along with the Russian institutions president and provost have also studied at UCF. For the past four years, more than 80 students and several faculty members from UCF have attended classes at the Volgograd Law Academy in the summer. When the Russian students and faculty were in Florida, Reynolds arranged visits to several law enforcement agencies. These agencies hosted the Russian students and faculty and provided programs designed to introduce the state-of-the-art policing and training practices used in the U.S. These programs were extensive and included the Orange County Sheriffs Office, the Ocoee Police Department, the UCF Police Department, St. Martin County Sheriffs Office, and the St. Lucie Law Enforcement Training Center. Representatives the Public Defender's Office, State Attorneys Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also provided in-class instruction pertaining to their roles and practices in the U.S. criminal justice system. It's been a life changing experience for most UCF participants as they experience first-hand a country in transition to democracy. Volgograd is modern in many respects, but it has many features of life as it was in the 1950 era of the U.S. The heritage of the Soviet Union period is still very obvious and persistent in daily life. UCF students visited their new Russian friends in their one and two bedroom flats shared by several family members. The cultural emersion and exchanges between Russian and American students have created lasting friendships and new understandings previously unattainable. The international partnership has produced significant dividends for U.S. and Russian participants and is part of the integral UCF effort to promote the internationalization of programs that recognize the significance of globalization. "By going to Russia and learning about their criminal justice system, I have gained a broader perspective on how things may and may not work and different ways of combating particular issues," said Andrew Butts, a UCF student who will graduate this month. He plans on becoming a crime analyst with a local law enforcement agency. At least a dozen working police officers in the Central Florida area, who graduated from UCF's criminal justice program, have participated in the program. Reynolds, who has taught at UCF since 1997, says the program is important not just because it exposes UCF students to a different system, but because the Russia students get to see a democratic system at work. Mike Flint, another UCF professor who has traveled to Russia as part of the program, put it simply. "You don't really know your criminal justice system until you examine another," Flint said. /blog/2008/ucf-professor-introduces-crime-analysis-mapping-techniques-to-russia's-future-police-force/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucf-graduate-student-empowers-homeless-teens-in-kenya-during-winter-break/ Thu, 27 December 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/ucf-graduate-student-empowers-homeless-teens-in-kenya-during-winter-break/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Betsy Swart is spending the holidays in Kenya helping a group of homeless boys plan their community's next big project: clean water. Swart, a graduate student in Social Work at the University of Central Florida, is no stranger to the homeless boys of Kibera in Nairobi. She helped them start their own city-sanctioned soccer team, which took second place in the league this year. The teens also have started a youth center and cleaned up areas exposed to sewage and standing water in their community. Very few homes in the city have indoor plumbing. Their next goal is to buy a water purification system to provide fresh water to their neighborhood. "They are absolutely amazing" Swart said before packing up for the transatlantic flight on Dec. 10. "Many of these children lost their parents to AIDS. They have no one. And they are taking care of their community, giving back. I think that's simply amazing." The story began in 2004, when Swart visited a friend who was teaching in a nearby school as part of a humanitarian mission in Kenya. They were walking home when they met the boys and began to chat. She got to know several of the boys, and on one of her follow up visits to the region she asked them what she could do to help. They asked her for help in creating a soccer team. Swart used a cell phone, the Internet and Western Union to help the teens when she was back in Florida, and they stood in long lines in Kenya to get the team approved. A year later, she helped them incorporate, rent a small office and open a girls and boys center called Kibera Santiago Resource Center. Today, about 60 boys and girls meet every Friday at the center. They talk, learn new skills and have a chance to be kids. They also plan their community service projects at the center. Swart credits one of the teens - Jackson Muhoro - for being the glue that keeps the group cohesive. "He was a homeless boy himself and grew up in these conditions," she said. "He's a little older than the other kids now, and he's taken on the role of coach and leader." Meanwhile, Swart has created her own nonprofit, Outreach Kibera. She collects money to pay for soccer uniforms, cleats, wheelbarrows, rakes and other items the group needs. During her December visit, she is helping the teens plan for the purchase of the water tank and purification system. Swart said what she is learning in her master's program at UCF has helped her aid the teens of Kenya. "The school focuses on social justice and cultural competency in the practice of social work," she explained. "We're taught to not only help individuals but to also address injustices, such as poverty and racism, in larger social systems. It's been empowering for me as a student." Swart, of Orlando, is also helping others closer to home thanks to the UCF program. As part of her studies, she is volunteering at the Florida Center for Survivors of Torture in Tampa. It's a program of the Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services. Clients there tend to be refugees from other countries. She said she's sharpened her Swahili skills by working with the refugees here and in Kenya. The fifty-something Orlando resident has always had a passion for helping people. After she earned a master's in English, she joined Greenpeace and worked with that organization for years. Since 1984, she has worked for another international social justice organization with offices throughout the world, including Florida. /blog/2007/ucf-graduate-student-empowers-homeless-teens-in-kenya-during-winter-break/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/64-year-old-lands-ucf-degree-from-afar/ Sat, 15 December 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/64-year-old-lands-ucf-degree-from-afar/ /blog/2007/64-year-old-lands-ucf-degree-from-afar/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/two-ucf-teams-take-top-honors-at-mock-trial-competitions/ Wed, 21 November 2007 00:00:00 Kathy Cook /blog/2007/two-ucf-teams-take-top-honors-at-mock-trial-competitions/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Two UCF Mock Trial Teams have won national competitions this month. Team 868 of the Mock Trial Team at UCF took first place in the John Donovan Division at Harvard University's Second Annual Crimson Challenge Mock Trial Invitational Tournament held Nov. 9-10. The team beat squads from 15 other universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Cornell. Team 868's members are Brenna Egan, Erica Emas, Tiffany Colbert, Jessica Kennedy, Andrew Doyle, Sam Bird, Genesh Chen-Shue, Mike Quintero and Ben Abel. Legal Studies Instructor Margarita Koblasz is the faculty advisor to the team. Two other UCF teams also competed in that contest. Team 868 members Egan and Emas earned Outstanding Attorney Awards and, Team 870 member Marcus Rein earned an Outstanding Witness Award. He was one of only two competitors in the tournament to earn a perfect score as a witness. UCF's Phi Alpha Delta Mock Trial Team, which shares some members with the Mock Trial Team at UCF, placed first in the 2007 Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Conference Mock Trial Competition held Oct. 31 to Nov. 4. In addition, Sam Bird was named the organization's most Outstanding Pre-Law Secretary. Phi Alpha Delta is the world's largest law fraternity. Legal Studies Instructor Kathy Cook is the faculty advisor for the team. /blog/2007/two-ucf-teams-take-top-honors-at-mock-trial-competitions/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/college-mourns-the-loss-of-social-work-founding-faculty-member-cheryl-green/ Fri, 05 October 2007 14:39:00 /blog/2007/college-mourns-the-loss-of-social-work-founding-faculty-member-cheryl-green/ By UCF School of Social Work Dr. Cheryl Evans Green passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2007. She was a founding member of the School of Social Work and a member of the faculty for 30 years. Her contributions to the school, profession and the community are countless. She is greatly missed by all. A special tribute event for Dr. Green was held on Thursday, October 18, 2007, at 6:30 p.m., in Health and Public Affairs I, Rm. 119, on UCF's Orlando campus. The event was a celebration of Dr. Green's life and included an invocation, a video presentation, music, reflections, poetry and a reception. If you would like to share memories of Dr. Green to be posted on this website, please email them to the School of Social Work . Cheryl Evans Green Scholarship A scholarship has been created in Dr. Green's honor. (Click here for further information.) To make a contribution to the scholarship fund, please contact Katie Korkosz at 407-823-1600 or kkorkosz@mail.ucf.edu . /blog/2007/college-mourns-the-loss-of-social-work-founding-faculty-member-cheryl-green/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/nonprofit-management,-conservation-biology-and-event-management-programs-lauded/ Thu, 20 September 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/nonprofit-management,-conservation-biology-and-event-management-programs-lauded/ By Chad Binette Provost Terry Hickey described the Nonprofit Management master's program as the "poster child" for online programs. Ninety-nine students were enrolled in the fully online program in fall 2006, far exceeding the projected enrollment of 25. Hickey said he'd like to see other deans use Nonprofit Management as a model to create online programs within their colleges. /blog/2007/nonprofit-management,-conservation-biology-and-event-management-programs-lauded/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/more-than-2,700-students-expected-to-graduate-aug-4/ Sat, 21 July 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/more-than-2,700-students-expected-to-graduate-aug-4/ Commencement exercises for multiple colleges at UCF, including the College of Health and Public Affairs, were held on Aug. 4. The exercises included the first graduating class for the College of Nursing, which became a college on July 1. The College of Nursing previously was a school that was part of the College of Health and Public Affairs. /blog/2007/more-than-2,700-students-expected-to-graduate-aug-4/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/martin-helps-mongolia-develop-a-social-service-system-to-aid-children/ Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 Larry Martin /blog/2007/martin-helps-mongolia-develop-a-social-service-system-to-aid-children/ By Karen Guin Public affairs' Professor Larry Martin recently traveled to Mongolia to help its government develop a plan to expand social services for children. Mongolia, which is located between Russia and China, is a former communist country. Its transition to a market-based economy has been difficult, and a large segment of the population lives in poverty. Many parents are forced to abandon their children because they can not feed and care for them, Martin said. As a result, many children live on the streets, creating a major social problem. The Mongolian government wants to increase the private sector's involvement in addressing this problem. Martin has been helping as a consultant with expertise in the development of contracts for services. During his three-week trip, Martin met with representatives from many organizations, including several Mongolian government ministries; Save the Children: United Kingdom; and the World Bank. He went on to draft a plan that will help the Mongolian government award contracts to the private sector for social services. He submitted his plan to Mongolia's Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor earlier this month. "The work was difficult because the social-service contracting system must satisfy the requirements of international funding organizations, like the World Bank, and be sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of the Mongolian government," Martin said. With contracts in place, more private organizations will be able to provide social services to Mongolians. The services will likely include support for poor young mothers, day care for young children and foster care for orphan children. /blog/2007/martin-helps-mongolia-develop-a-social-service-system-to-aid-children/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucf-student-identifies-more-than-1,000-central-florida-veterans-for-hospital-memorial/ Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/ucf-student-identifies-more-than-1,000-central-florida-veterans-for-hospital-memorial/ By Karen Guin A University of Central Florida social work student has compiled the names of more than 1,000 Central Florida veterans who died serving their country for a memorial wall to be built at the planned veterans' hospital in Orlando. Lauren Barr, who is pursing a Master of Social Work degree at UCF, spent months scouring U.S. military records, beginning with World War I, for the names of men and women from the region who died while in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. She started the project under the guidance of Paul Maiden, associate professor of social work, who had been contacted with a request for assistance by Central Florida Veterans Inc. Barr identified the names of 1,013 veterans from six Central Florida counties -- Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia -- who died during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, the Persian Gulf War and the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. With help from librarian Hal Mendelsohn at UCF and analyst Donald Post at the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Barr located most of the records online or in special archives published by the Florida Department of Military Affairs. She learned, however, that some records are missing information. For example, collective death records for World War II, which had the largest number of casualties, do not include the date of death. This information is recorded on a veteran's individual record, which may not be easily accessible. Other records are unclear as to the cause or location of a veteran's death. "The biggest surprise was to learn just how difficult it is to get accurate information," Barr said. "It's really opened up my eyes about the lack of awareness (of veterans' deaths) and the sheer numbers involved." Barr's list of names and those gathered by the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, a nonprofit organization, will be used to create a memorial wall at a planned veterans' hospital to be built at Lake Nona, near UCF's new College of Medicine. The foundation's chairman, Neil Euliano, said its members have been meeting regularly with architects to fine-tune the details of the wall, which will consist of a large semicircle made of black granite. "The wall will be approximately 12 feet high with two-inch engraved letters identifying each veteran," Euliano explained, adding that it will be designed so that new names can be added over time. "In the center will be an eternal flame flanked by the U.S. flag, the Florida flag and the MIA (missing-in-action) flag." The wall will part of the construction of the hospital, but it will be paid for with donations to the foundation. Euliano said positioning the wall at the hospital's entrance will provide the facility with a perfect venue for welcoming dignitaries and holding press conferences. It will also serve as a reminder to the thousands of visitors, employees and patients who visit the hospital each month of the ultimate sacrifice made by "fallen Central Florida heroes." Note: Readers who know the name of a veteran who should be included on the wall should contact Neil Euliano at dreuliano@earthlink.net . /blog/2007/ucf-student-identifies-more-than-1,000-central-florida-veterans-for-hospital-memorial/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucf-offers-intensive-summer-reading-camp-for-children-with-disabilities/ Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/ucf-offers-intensive-summer-reading-camp-for-children-with-disabilities/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala Children with severe disabilities in reading, writing or spelling can participate in an intensive summer program that the University of Central Florida will offer in east Orange County beginning June 11. This is the first time UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic will be offering the six-week program. The goal is to provide children who have severe disabilities in reading with intensive therapy during the summer - a time when they can focus their energy on therapy with fewer distractions than during the school year. "A summer program can be more intensive, and research shows the more intense the intervention, the more effective it is," said Sally Giess, a clinical instructor at UCF who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of reading disabilities. If enough children are enrolled, the intensive reading program will be held June 11 through July 18 at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic located in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to UCF's East Orlando campus. The program will run three days a week for three hours a day and will target children in grades three to eight who have been diagnosed with language-learning disabilities or specific reading disabilities. The program is limited to the first 24 children who register. The deadline to apply is May 8. The cost of the program is $1,650, but a limited number of parents can get a reduced rate according to a sliding scale. The reduction would be based on parental income.  Camps for children with disabilities are difficult to find and organizers hope to these sessions will help meet the need especially at summer time. "We came up with the idea out of a desire to provide a needed service to the community and to help children make optimum progress," Giess said. "It's also a good way to give our graduate students exposure to an intensive program." The program will include individual therapy sessions based on the specific needs of each child, as well as group therapy sessions that will focus more intensely on reading fluency, reading comprehension and writing. The Communication Disorders Clinic at UCF offers a full array of evaluation and treatment options year-round for people of all ages. Those services include helping people who stutter and helping people recover after strokes. "The parents I speak with are very concerned about their children's progress in school," Giess said. "Either the children are receiving school-based reading services but still need extra support or the children do not qualify for school-based services, yet still need intervention. A lot of progress can be made with quality therapy early on." Summer is a perfect time because clinicians can capitalize on the free time many children have during the school break. For more information or to register, call Sue Campbell at 407-249-4770. /blog/2007/ucf-offers-intensive-summer-reading-camp-for-children-with-disabilities/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/annual-luncheon-honors-the-college's-usps-staff-members/ Wed, 25 April 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/annual-luncheon-honors-the-college's-usps-staff-members/ By Karen Guin The College of Health and Public Affairs held its annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon today to honor the efforts of its 44 University Support Personnel System staff employees. More than 100 members of the college gathered at the Stoneybrook Country Club in Orlando, where they enjoyed lunch and the awarding of door prizes donated by local community businesses and organizations. Joyce Dorner, the college's interim dean, thanked the staff members for their work over the past year. "The college couldn't operate without your efforts," she said. She also announced the college's Employee of the Year for 2006-2007, Christine Baker, a secretary in the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. Joining the group were the college's deans, department chairs, school directors, faculty and other staff, who introduced USPS employees who had joined the college since last year's luncheon. The following businesses and organizations generously donated door prizes to the college for its 2007 Staff Appreciation Luncheon: College Park Yoga, Orlando Sbarro's Pizza, UCF Student Union TooJay's, Waterford Lakes Town Center, Orlando Aveda @ Gary Lambert Salon & Spa, Winter Park Orlando Opera Company Woody's Bar-B-Q, Alafaya Trail, Orlando Holy Land Experience, Orlando Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando Panera Bread Executive Office, Altamonte Springs Orlando Science Center Orlando Museum of Art Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Chamberlain's Health Food Store, Oviedo /blog/2007/annual-luncheon-honors-the-college's-usps-staff-members/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucf's-first-public-administration-conference-focused-on-financing-the-future/ Thu, 12 April 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/ucf's-first-public-administration-conference-focused-on-financing-the-future/ By Maria-Elena Augustin About 125 public servants, professors and students gathered for the University of Central Florida's first Public Administration Conference entitled "The Changing Face of Public Administration: Financing the Future." Hosted by UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management on March 30, the conference addressed many key issues in the field of public administration. The keynote address was presented by Lee Feldman, Palm Bay city manager and president of the Florida City and County Managers Association. Feldman also received the conference's Exemplary Public Service Award. The conference participants included government practitioners, public managers, administrators and students. Speakers on four panels of experts included city and county government leaders and UCF and Florida International University faculty. The panels discussed a myriad of challenges associated with public administration, including:  Finances for the Future of Local Government, Regional Cooperation, Collaborative Public Management, and Entrepreneurial Responses to Limited Resources.  "The speakers were excellent and covered applicable current topics of interest to all in the field," said conference participant Jeaneen P. Clauss, assistant town manager and deputy clerk of Ponce Inlet. The conference was sponsored by Pizzuti Solutions LLC, the Central Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and the UCF Department of Public Administration. Those organizations, along with R.W. Beck Inc., sponsored scholarships for 36 students to attend the conference. The 2nd-annual Public Administration Conference will be held March 28, 2008, at UCF's East Orlando campus and will focus on "Innovation in Government."   The Department of Public Administration offers five degree and five certificate programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including Public Administration, Nonprofit Management and Urban and Regional Planning. The department is home to 12 faculty members and 524 students. Professors are instructors and researchers in the fields of local government management and nonprofit management. For more information, contact the Department of Public Administration at 407-823-2604 or go to http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/pubadm . /blog/2007/ucf's-first-public-administration-conference-focused-on-financing-the-future/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucf-switching-to-doctoral-program-for-physical-therapy-students/ Wed, 11 April 2007 00:00:00 Gerald Smith /blog/2007/ucf-switching-to-doctoral-program-for-physical-therapy-students/ Students who enter the University of Central Floridas Physical Therapy program will enroll in a new doctoral program instead of a masters degree program starting this summer. Switching from a masters to a doctoral program reflects a national trend in physical therapy education, said Gerald Smith, director of UCFs Physical Therapy program. The trend follows a call by the American Physical Therapy Association for all physical therapy programs to be at the doctoral level by 2020. The APTA is the national accrediting body for academic programs in the discipline.   Health care has become increasingly complex, and practioners require an education with additional breadth and depth to become truly effective, said Diane Jacobs, chair and professor of Health Professions at UCF. The change follows approval of the new program by the Florida Board of Governors in late March. Thirty-two students will begin the new program on May 14. The doctoral program adds 35 credit hours over two semesters to UCFs masters degree program in physical therapy, which will be discontinued after the last class graduates in 2008. The additional credit hours will consist of new courses and more clinical practice. There is a tremendous need for physical therapists in Florida, Smith said. He cited a 2004 study by the U.S. Census Bureau in which about a third of the states residents reported they had a disability that affected their ability to fully participate in life. But according to the APTA and states Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, there is just one physical therapist for every 439 residents in Florida; the ratio is one to 298 nationally. /blog/2007/ucf-switching-to-doctoral-program-for-physical-therapy-students/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/faculty-and-students-honored-at-founders-day-for-excellence-contributions/ Wed, 04 April 2007 00:00:00 Kenyatta Rivers /blog/2007/faculty-and-students-honored-at-founders-day-for-excellence-contributions/ Faculty members and students in the College of Health and Public Affairs were among those recognized for the excellence in teaching, research and service at the universitywide Founders' Day convocation for 2007. For a list of college members honored at the event, click on "Download the File" below. /blog/2007/faculty-and-students-honored-at-founders-day-for-excellence-contributions/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/hsa-alumni-club-to-host-symposium-on-growth-of-healthcare-in-central-florida/ Fri, 23 March 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/hsa-alumni-club-to-host-symposium-on-growth-of-healthcare-in-central-florida/ The state of health care in Florida, what its future means to local residents and how it may be improved by the University of Central Florida's new College of Medicine will be the focus of a UCF symposium next week. The public is invited to the "Growth in Healthcare" symposium at the Fairwinds Alumni Center on the East Orlando campus from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28. The UCF Health Services Administration Alumni Club is sponsoring the event. Leaders from the medical community will discuss growth in the healthcare industry and what it means for people living in Central Florida. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Deborah German, dean of the UCF College of Medicine. The medical school, approved by Florida's Board of Governors in March 2006, could welcome its first class as early as fall 2009. The college is seeking preliminary accreditation with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, an organization responsible for evaluating medical-education programs. Other speakers on the panel include Don Langmo, founder and CEO of Healthcare Support Staffing; Tim Liezert, medical center director for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Orlando; Rich Morrison of Florida Hospital; Dr. Kevin Sherin, the Orange County Health Department director; Karen Van Caulil of the Health Council of East Central Florida; and William Winder, administrator for Florida Campuses for Nemours, one of the nation's largest children's healthcare systems. The experts will share their opinions on the impact of the College of Medicine and what it means to their organizations and to residents who need services in Central Florida. Central Florida is bursting with activity within the medical and biomedical research community. The Burhnam Institute, which works on cutting-edge research in areas such as aging and cancer, will open a facility near the medical college at the UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona. The University of Florida plans to open a research facility there as well. Nemours is seeking approval to build a children's hospital in the same area in the next five years. And plans to locate the new Veterans Administration hospital at Lake Nona are in the works. That facility is expected to house 134 beds, an expanded outpatient services center, a nursing home and a domiciliary in about 1 million square feet. Eventually, the UCF College of Nursing is expected to leave the East Orlando campus and relocate to Lake Nona, joining the College of Medicine and the Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences. The nursing school, which will formally become a college in July, is looking for funding for its new home. The nursing school has nearly 550 undergraduate students, 220 master's candidates and 36 doctoral students. The symposium is free to students. UCF Alumni Association members will pay $5, and non-members will pay $10. Attendees must RSVP at www.cohpa.ucf.edu/HSASymposium.htm or by calling 407-823-2723. The Fairwinds Alumni Center is in Building 126 on North Gemini Boulevard, directly across from the UCF Arena and site of the new Convocation Center. /blog/2007/hsa-alumni-club-to-host-symposium-on-growth-of-healthcare-in-central-florida/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucfs-mock-trial-team-earns-shot-at-national-title/ Fri, 02 March 2007 00:00:00 Margarita Koblasz /blog/2007/ucfs-mock-trial-team-earns-shot-at-national-title/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotola One of UCF's mock trial teams is headed to the Championship Tournament in April thanks to its stellar performance at a regional competition this past weekend. A second team has a shot at making the same competition if it performs well at the National Tournament in Illinois from March 16 to 18. Team 868, which includes Jayson Serrano, Jean Marc Chanoine, Brenna Egan, Natalie Boyajian, Juan Medolla, Joe Etter, Kendell Ali and Candance Stuart, placed second at the American Mock Trial Association's Gulfcoast Regional Tournament last weekend. That was good enough for an invitation to the Championship Tournament, where the national champion will be determined. Team 869, which includes Rachel Rubinski, Marcus Hyatt, Michael Quintero, Andrew Langenbach, Chris Arter, Tiffany Colbert, Stephen Chavarria and Jessica Kennedy, placed third at the same regional competition. That gave the team an invite to the National Tournament. If the team places in the top six there, it will join Team 868 at the Championship Tournament in April for a shot at the national title. "I'm very proud of these students," said Margarita Koblasz, the team's advisor and coach. "They performed well." More than 150 students competed in the regional Gulfcoast Tournament at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. UCF teams took six of the 24 individual awards and two of five given during the competition. Individuals also earned awards for their performance as attorneys and witnesses. The teams are part of the UCF Mock Trial Team, a student organization on campus. The students prepare a fictitious case and argue it in front of judges. They compete against teams from other universities portraying each of the characters involved in a trial. The group placed first this year at the inaugural Southeastern Invitational Mock Trial Tournament and at the 10th Annual Yale Invitational, the largest tournament in the country. The American Mock Trial Association's National Tournament will be held March 16 to 18 at Northwestern University in Illinois. The Championship Tournament will be held April 13 to 15 at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg. /blog/2007/ucfs-mock-trial-team-earns-shot-at-national-title/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2007/ucf-to-offer-graduate-program-in-clinical-and-lifestyle-sciences/ Tue, 20 February 2007 00:00:00 /blog/2007/ucf-to-offer-graduate-program-in-clinical-and-lifestyle-sciences/ By Karen Guin The University of Central Florida will begin offering this summer a new master's degree program in clinical and lifestyle sciences, approved last month by Provost Terry Hickey. The new program will be offered as a track in the Master of Science in Health Sciences program. Students in the new program will gain a thorough understanding of the pivotal role of exercise and nutrition in maintaining health and preventing chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. They will learn how to translate these concepts into programs that promote a healthy lifestyle, as well as develop skills to participate in research on strategies to establish and maintain healthy lifestyles. "I imagine it will be of interest to a growing number of students in health sciences," said Diane Jacobs, chair and professor in the Department of Health Professions .  The new program consists of 38 credit hours, with course work in clinical and applied physiology, nutrition and clinical research methodology. Students may select a thesis or non-thesis option. "It's a program that's well-grounded in the health sciences, but its application will be to the study of contemporary lifestyles," Jacobs explained. Jacobs anticipates there will opportunities for the program's faculty and students to collaborate with UCF's newly established Center for Lifestyle Medicine and College of Medicine and the Orlando branch of the Burnham Institute of Biomedical Sciences. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take exams for certifications as an exercise specialist or a registered clinical exercise physiologist. They will likely find employment in these positions and others in settings such as lifestyle medicine centers, industries, government agencies, private practices and public relations offices.  Jacobs said her department developed the program in response to a report, "Healthy People 2010," published in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that documented the need for promoting healthy lifestyles. /blog/2007/ucf-to-offer-graduate-program-in-clinical-and-lifestyle-sciences/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-establishes-college-of-nursing-to-recognize-schools-growth,-stature/ Tue, 05 December 2006 10:13:00 /blog/2006/ucf-establishes-college-of-nursing-to-recognize-schools-growth,-stature/ By Tom Evelyn Recognizing the growth of the University of Central Florida's School of Nursing and its stature among nursing programs, President John Hitt announced today that the school will become the university's 12th college on July 1. The College of Nursing designation reflects the program's breadth and adds prestige that will help build on successes in recruiting top students and faculty and increase opportunities for grants and private fund-raising, said school Director Jean Leuner, who will serve as founding dean of the college. The College of Nursing will likely be located at the UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona, which also will include the College of Medicine and the Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences. "There will be many opportunities for the College of Nursing to collaborate with the College of Medicine in nursing and medical education and research," Leuner said. "Future nurses and doctors will benefit from working closely together early in their education, and those experiences will improve patient care." When elevated to its new stature as a college, the School of Nursing will separate from the College of Health and Public Affairs. Leuner will work with Joyce Dorner, interim dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs, to facilitate the transition and separation of responsibilities. The College of Nursing will remain in the Health and Public Affairs I building until money is raised for a new facility can be built at Lake Nona. "The School of Nursing is recognized as a premier nursing program among its peers, most of which are stand-alone colleges," said Terry Hickey, UCF provost and executive vice president. "The school's establishment as a college is a recognition of its accomplishing this standard of excellence." UCF's nursing program has consistently ranked among the top recipients of National Institutes of Health funding among the state's nursing schools and colleges, a reflection of its research productivity. The school has nearly $1.3 million in external research funding this year. Recent funding highlights include $2.2 million from NIH for Professor Karen Dennis to study weight loss in home and center-based programs and $250,000 from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for Professor Karen Dow to develop a Web-based program addressing fertility after breast cancer. Dow was recently appointed by President Bush to serve on the National Cancer Advisory Board. The nursing program has two endowed chairs and an endowed professorship. More than 10 percent of UCF's nursing faculty members are fellows in the American Academy of Nursing. UCF's nursing program began in 1978 as the Department of Nursing and admitted its first class of undergraduate students in 1979. It became a school in 1995. The program has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, adding a doctoral program in nursing; an accelerated second degree BSN program; and two new master's options, nurse educator and clinical nurse leader, in recent years. Plans are underway to develop a doctor of nursing practice program. Programs are offered in Brevard County and Daytona as well as Orlando and several select programs are offered through distance learning. This fall the school enrolled 542 undergraduates, 215 master's students and 36 doctoral students. /blog/2006/ucf-establishes-college-of-nursing-to-recognize-schools-growth,-stature/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-and-florida-hospital-announce-partnership-to-study-lifestyle-medicine/ Mon, 06 November 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/ucf-and-florida-hospital-announce-partnership-to-study-lifestyle-medicine/ By Tom Evelyn University of Central Florida President John Hitt knows all too well the importance of lifestyle medicine. His doctors at Florida Hospital will tell you that his healthy diet and regular exercise helped to save his life and speed his recovery after suffering from a severe heart attack this summer. Recognizing the dramatic impact of lifestyle medicine on health, UCF and Florida Hospital have formed a strategic alliance to advance research and model best practices in the emerging field of lifestyle medicine, the university and hospital announced today. The primary focus will be to address a significant gap in the current personal health care research and best practices. "We are learning more and more that lifestyle can have a direct impact on our health," Hitt said. "For instance, we know that proper diet and regular, moderate exercise can improve health and longevity significantly.  Together, UCF and Florida Hospital will conduct more research in this area and open new opportunities for people to learn about lifestyle medicine." Currently, the UCF Center for Lifestyle Medicine conducts research into diverse aspects of how daily lifestyle habits and actions such as physical activity, nutrition, and weight management impact short- and long-term health and quality of life. Now, with this new alliance, the Florida Hospital Institute for Lifestyle Medicine will further the research by conducting state-of-the-art clinical application studies exploring how the findings can be used to educate people on the importance of daily lifestyle practices and habits. In addition, UCF and Florida Hospital will partner on the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal with commentaries and research reviews to help clinicians guide patients to lead healthier lives. The journal will be the official journal of the American Lifestyle Medicine Association. It will publish its first issue in January 2007. The Center for Lifestyle Medicine is housed in an 8,000-square-foot research space in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to the main UCF campus. The Florida Hospital Institute for Lifestyle Medicine is housed at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. "This alliance provides a unique opportunity for collaborative efforts between a major university and one of the largest hospitals in the United States," said Dr. James M. Rippe, chairman of the Florida Hospital Institute for Lifestyle Medicine and professor of Biomedical Sciences at UCF and chairman of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at UCF. Through collaboration with the Department of Health Professions at the College of Health and Public Affairs, Florida Hospital and UCF plan to develop undergraduate and graduate programs in lifestyle medicine. "Florida Hospital is not only concerned with the treatment of diseases but also with the prevention of those diseases," said Lars Houmann, president and chief executive officer of Florida Hospital. "Together with UCF, we hope to push back the age barrier so that people can live to a healthy 100 years, enjoying robust health and a rich quality of life." /blog/2006/ucf-and-florida-hospital-announce-partnership-to-study-lifestyle-medicine/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/student-poll-workers-contributing-to-future-of-our-democracy/ Mon, 06 November 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/student-poll-workers-contributing-to-future-of-our-democracy/ By Tom Evelyn and Sam Gardner Bucking the myth that young people don't care about politics, more than 100 UCF andValenciaCommunity College students will staff voting stations in Orange County Tuesday to help their fellow citizens cast ballots. UCF andValencia worked with the Supervisor of Elections Office to recruit student poll workers as part of a grant awarded to UCF's Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government. Students were recruited through presentations to political science classes and other outreach efforts. In addition, UCF Public Administration students will staff the UCF Arena voting precinct as part of the Supervisor of Elections' adopt-a-precinct program. "It's important to get the students involved in the process because they are the future for our democracy," said Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles. Cowles added that students also are familiar with new technology, which helps with the use of touch-screen voting machines and will be beneficial if the elections office decides to start using computers to check voters in at the polls. According to a U.S. Elections Assistance Commission students who have an intimate experience in the electoral process tend to stay involved after they graduate, something experts say is critical to the future of the country. That's why the university participated in the project. Timothy Dunaway, a UCF political science major, will work the polls for the first time Tuesday. "It has been really easy to become involved in the process, and it has stirred up some community pride," he said. For the Public Administration group, Patricia Harris, a graduate student studying Nonprofit Management, will be the precinct clerk at the UCF Arena. She has worked several elections in the past. "I get to see how the process works from a poll worker's standpoint," Harris said.  "I'm also curious to see how many people come and vote and what kind of people they are." Undergraduate and graduate students of all majors were eligible to participate, and they will receive excused absences for their classes on Election Day. Like other poll workers, participating students attended an orientation session and a three-hour training session before Tuesday. Students will be paid between $120 and $190, depending on their job assignment, for working from6 a.m. to9 p.m. According to Harris, however, working the polls is not about the money, but more about an interest in people and a motivation to learn. She also said she wishes more students were concerned about what is happening in the world of politics. "I'd like to see more students find out about what's on the ballot and what's going on in their area," Harris said. "More students need to get out and vote." /blog/2006/student-poll-workers-contributing-to-future-of-our-democracy/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/diversity-week-focused-on-‘sport-and-cultural-change’/ Fri, 13 October 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/diversity-week-focused-on-‘sport-and-cultural-change’/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotola Florida Board of Governors member Ava Parker spoke to UCF students Friday, Oct. 20, about the importance of diversity in higher education. The Jacksonville native and attorney spoke about the great strides made in granting people access to higher education. "I'm not saying everyone is where they need to be -- I'd be naïve to believe so -- but it would be wrong, and unfair, to deny that a transformation has taken place," Parker said. "University admissions officers no longer scheme to keep black students out. In fact, they compete to recruit them." Much work still needs to be done, she said. Parker focused on how few minority faculty members are in the state university system. Of the 9,298 faculty at the 11 universities, 1,172 are black or Hispanic, she said. She also implored faculty members to seek out talented students of color. "Find them. Nurture them. Encourage them. Bring them into the academic orbit," Parker told her audience at the Student Union. "Show them the excitement of study and research and high-level learning. Make them see that a graduate degree is within their reach and is, in fact, in their future. For without graduate students, there is no faculty. That's the bridge we need to build if we are to have a truly diverse faculty." The Diversity Initiatives Office, which coordinated Diversity Week, called it a success. About 500 people attended the kick off breakfast, which featured UCF Professor Richard Lapchick -- a well-known expert on sports and social justice. Lapchick is an endowed chair and director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at UCF. Another 100 students attended the Diversity and Disparities in Healthcare Conference Oct. 18, one of several events organized during UCF's Diversity Week. Guest speakers talked to students about the disparities in access to health care, both well-publicized factors such as race and poverty and other less-known contributors such as the aging of America. This year's theme is "Diversity, Sport and Cultural Change" but topics covered throughout the week included religion, education, law and the arts. "Diversity Week is about celebrating humanity in general and developing among our faculty, staff, and students the cultural competencies to become a more inclusive and accepting community," said Valarie King, director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives. "The intent is for us to gain a better understanding about the interconnectedness of one person to the other." /blog/2006/diversity-week-focused-on-‘sport-and-cultural-change’/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-experts-available-to-discuss-anniversary-of-911-and-other-terrorism-issues/ Wed, 06 September 2006 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu, K. Michael Reynolds /blog/2006/ucf-experts-available-to-discuss-anniversary-of-911-and-other-terrorism-issues/ By Chad Binette and Zenaida Gonzalez Kotola Several University of Central Florida professors are available to speak with reporters about the five-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other issues related to terrorism. Reporters can contact the professors directly or contact university writers Chad Binette (407-823-6312 or cbinette@mail.ucf.edu ) or Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala (407-823-6120 or zkotala@mail.ucf.edu ) for assistance in reaching them. Stephen Sloan, afellow in the UCF Global Perspectives office and a political science professor, has worked as a consultant on terrorism and peacekeeping issues to governments and corporations worldwide for three decades and has taught terrorism courses for 40 years. He is the author of "Terrorism: The Present Threat in Context," which was published in August. The book explores the history of terrorism since the French Revolution, the psychological effects of terrorism and how terrorism affects policy decisions at all levels of government. Sloan can discuss the protracted nature of the war on terror and how the Sept. 11 attacks are an example of how "the actions of a small terrorist group are magnified through the lenses of the media to create an impact far beyond the number of individuals killed or injured." Sloan wrote the book to counter the "fear multiplication" that makes terrorism so effective. He also aims to help readers understand the context of the threat of terrorism so that they don't react to it primarily on an emotional level. Contact: 405-821-2316 (cell), carlos@mail.ucf.edu Pamala Griset, interim chairwoman of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, is the co-author of the "Terrorism in Perspective" textbook. She teaches a graduate course on terrorism that explores several topics, including conventional terrorist tactics (such as hijackings and bombings), ecoterrorism, actions by left-wing and right-wing extremists in theUnited States and media ethics and responsibilities in reporting on terrorism. Griset is preparing a paper entitled "Ten Myths of Terrorism" to deliver at a national conference inSeattle. Those myths shape the social construction of terrorism and may hinder the development of sound public policy. Contact: 407-823-5929 (office), 407-482-4112 (cell), griset@mail.ucf.edu Abe Pizam , dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, can discuss the impact of terrorism and fears about terrorism on the tourism industry. He is the editor of "Tourism, Security and Safety: From Theory to Practice," which examines prevention measures and crisis management issues for the hospitality industry. Contact: 407-903-8010 (office) , 407-222-3242 (cell), apizam@mail.ucf.edu K. Michael Reynolds , associate professor of Criminal Justice, teaches a graduate course in Criminal Justice Intelligence Analysis and uses the 9/11 Commission Report as one of his textbooks. He can discuss the importance of law enforcement agencies identifying terrorism risks proactively and improving their abilities to "connect the dots" by sharing information and intelligence at all levels of government. He believes law enforcement in the United States still has "a long way to go" to achieve that. Contact: 407-823-2943 (office), kreynold@mail.ucf.edu Naim Kapucu , assistant professor of Public Administration, can discuss the importance of intergovernmental relations, coordination and communication in official responses to terrorist acts. He uses the Sept. 11 response as a case study in his Homeland Security and Crisis Management courses. Kapucu wrote his doctoral dissertation on 9/11 response operations. Contact: 407-823-6096 (office), 321-230-2304 (cell), nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu . Houman Sadri , associate professor of Political Science, can discuss how theU.S. relationship has and hasn't changed with theMiddle East since Sept. 11 and the wars inIraq and Afghanistan. Contact: 407-823-6023 (office), sadri@mail.ucf.edu /blog/2006/ucf-experts-available-to-discuss-anniversary-of-911-and-other-terrorism-issues/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-community-encouraged-to-participate-in-avian-flu-vaccination-exercise/ Thu, 24 August 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/ucf-community-encouraged-to-participate-in-avian-flu-vaccination-exercise/ By Chad Binette (Updated Aug. 26, 2002) About 375 members of the UCF community helped the university prepare for a potential avian flu outbreak by volunteering as patients in a vaccination exercise Monday. Participants weren't given any shots. The "vaccines" were cups of M&Ms, and participants also registered for prizes, including an MP3 player donated by the UCF Computer Store, Barnes & Noble gift certificates provided by the UCF Bookstore and a gift basket from the UCF Health Services Pharmacy. Each volunteer filled out one-page health screening forms before sitting down with a UCF health professional or nursing faculty member for a follow-up screening and then the delivery of the "vaccine." The exercise helped the university prepare for the possibility of having to vaccinate about 50,000 students, faculty members and staff during over just two days. UCF also can use the drill to help improve the process that is used annually to distribute regular flu vaccines. Dr. Michael Deichen, associate director of clinical services, said the exercise will help Health Services determine how many people can be vaccinated per hour and improve the plan that is being developed to deliver the vaccines at four sites on campus. "We hope we will never have to give the actual vaccinations, but we want to be well-prepared just in case," Deichen said. The avian flu has yet to reach theUnited States, and health officials stress that there is no reason to panic even if it does. The disease is mainly carried by birds, and humans have become infected mainly through close contact with birds. To date, the virus has not been capable of spreading easily from person to person, and that type of transmission would be necessary for a pandemic to occur. Coordinated by Health Services with help from theSchoolofNursingand other campus departments, the vaccination exercise was part of a broad university effort to prepare for a pandemic flu outbreak. UCF employees are working together to determine how to best care for ill students, continue essential services and provide classes online during a pandemic. /blog/2006/ucf-community-encouraged-to-participate-in-avian-flu-vaccination-exercise/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-professor-appointed-by-president-bush-to-serve-on-national-cancer-advisory-board/ Mon, 31 July 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/ucf-professor-appointed-by-president-bush-to-serve-on-national-cancer-advisory-board/ By Karen Guin University of Central Florida breast cancer researcher Karen Dow Meneses will serve on the National Cancer Advisory Board, the White House announced late last week. President George W. Bush appointed the UCF nursing professor to the board for a six-year term beginning immediately. Dow will serve as one of 18 members of the board, which advises, assists, consults with and makes recommendations to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and director of the National Cancer Institute. The institute supports research on the prevention, early detection, treatment and surveillance of cancer. The National Cancer Advisory Board includes leading representatives of health and scientific disciplines, such as Dow, as well as leaders in the fields of public policy, law, health policy, economics and management. "I am delighted and honored to be appointed. This gives me a unique opportunity to bring my perspective as a nurse and researcher to the National Cancer Program," Dow said. Dow has spent more than three decades working to improve the care of cancer patients, the most recent 11 years as a member of the UCF faculty. She is the recipient of a $1.6 million research grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research and National Cancer Institute and a $250,000 grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Dow also has a distinguished record of professional service. She recently completed six years of service as a member of the Florida Biomedical Research Council and for many years she served as a scientific grant reviewer for the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Nursing Research. In April, she was named a Pegasus Professor, the highest honor bestowed to a faculty member by UCF. "We are indeed proud of Dr. Dow's presidential appointment to the National Cancer Advisory Board," said Joyce Dorner, interim dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs, which houses the UCF School of Nursing. "Her appointment is indicative of the level of recognition she has achieved through her breast cancer research." /blog/2006/ucf-professor-appointed-by-president-bush-to-serve-on-national-cancer-advisory-board/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/center-on-ucf-campus-helps-locals-cope-with-growing-number-of-autism-cases/ Mon, 17 July 2006 00:00:00 Chad Nye /blog/2006/center-on-ucf-campus-helps-locals-cope-with-growing-number-of-autism-cases/ By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotola When Victor Colon found out his daughter had autism, he went into shock. He thought his life and worse -- hers -- was over. Then he called the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of Central Florida. The Orlando center, one of seven in the state, acts as a local resource for family members of children and adults diagnosed with the disease. "They helped open up the spectrum of possibilities for my daughter," Colon said. "It made a world of difference. Let's put it this way: When they tell you that your child has an incurable disease, the skies get really gray. CARD helped clear the skies." Scientists aren't sure what causes the condition, which blocks the development of speaking skills in some children. Other children mimic every word or sequence of numbers they hear. Symptoms also include no direct eye contact and emotional outbursts. "It's becoming more and more common," said Chad Nye, executive director for CARD and a professor at UCF. "About one in 166 people are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States. We don't know exactly what causes it, but we believe it may have something to do with chemical imbalances and structural differences in the brain." CARD at UCF serves more than 2,700 people in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties. The seven other centers in Florida serve about 12,000 people altogether. While CARD services are free, the child or adult must already be diagnosed with autism or a related condition before the agency can help. CARD staff members work with families, initially by phone and then with a home visit, to evaluate their needs and help ensure that they are met. The state agency serves as a clearing house of sorts. It provides information to parents and those who care for people with autism and offers workshops on a variety of topics, including how to deal with the behavior and estate planning. Clients are also referred to federal, state and local agencies that can help with education and transportation needs. CARD also offers a library of materials, including resource books, training manuals and videos of workshops, that people can borrow. Colon and his family attended CARD workshops that he said gave his family the skills necessary to help their daughter with everything from potty training to emotional outbursts. The CARD case worker also attended a few meetings with teachers and specialists at Harbor Ridge Elementary, which Colon's daughter attends. "They helped me understand and helped me with the worst - the anxiety of not knowing how to fix it or how to deal with it," said Colon, who found the transition difficult given that his older son is in a gifted program at a local high school. Because of funding issues, the center has not been able to keep pace with the demand for its services, Nye said. However, this year CARD expects a $1.12 million budget, which is much higher than the $760,000 it has received each of the past five years. "We hope to hire several new staff members this year," Nye said. "I think it's money well spent to help the community." Famous people who have spoken out about autism include retired Major League Baseball player Will Clark and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, a retired Miami Dolphin. Clark and Marino have sons who have been diagnosed with the condition. /blog/2006/center-on-ucf-campus-helps-locals-cope-with-growing-number-of-autism-cases/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-interns-help-teenagers-with-disabilities-learn-to-use-assistive-technologies/ Thu, 06 July 2006 00:00:00 Jennifer Kent-Walsh /blog/2006/ucf-interns-help-teenagers-with-disabilities-learn-to-use-assistive-technologies/ By Kristie Smeltzer Fourteen undergraduate speech-language pathology interns from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders recently helped area young adults with disabilities learn to use assistive technology software and hardware to substantially improve their ability to communicate and perform academic tasks. The interns worked with 11 young adults with disabilities and their parents who attended "Technology in the FAAST Lane," an innovative five-day camp in June run by the FAAST Atlantic Region Assistive Technology Demonstration Center, known as the ARDC, in cooperation with other community agencies. The camp, held primarily at the Assistive Technology Educational Network facility in Sanford, also included a curriculum-relevant field-trip to Walt Disney World's Epcot. According to Matthew Press, an occupational therapist for the FAAST ARDC, the UCF interns underwent eight hours of rigorous training over two days to become proficient enough in the assistive software programs, such as Inspiration, Universal Reader and PixWriter, to help camp participants and their parents learn to use the software. This training was part of the students' service-learning activities in their augmentative and alternative communication class. Of the intern experience, UCF undergraduate speech-language pathology student Mina Keramati said, "I have learned so much better with this hands-on experience than I have in any other class in this major so far. I had never worked so closely with a client that had AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) needs, and I feel I am much better prepared for clients I may see in the future. I have also learned so much about all the technology that is offered and the processes I will go through to get these AAC devices if needed." The assistive programs and devices used during the camp can aid students with a number of disabilities. For example, Universal Reader allows users to highlight areas of text on the Web and have the words read aloud. This program aids those with special visual needs or who are auditory learners. Some camp participants received physical accommodations as well, with simple tools such as stickers on the keyboard keys with larger letters on them for a visually impaired participant or a keyboard with larger keys for a participant with special manual exterity needs. Some also learned to use augmentative and alternative communication devices, supported by camp interns and staff to understand the devices' real-world applications. During the camp, participants used AT software and hardware to research a country of their choice via the Internet and during the Epcot field-trip. At the end of the camp, participants demonstrated their knowledge and skills by delivering public presentations on the country they researched and their experiences at the camp. Each participant received a refurbished desktop computer with the software programs used during the camp included. The cost of the program was $50 per student, and scholarships from sponsors were available for students in need of financial assistance. ARDC Coordinator Jennifer Kent-Walsh said, "What makes this camp different is that we are teaching the participating teenagers and their parents to use assistive technologies to complete challenging and motivating educational activities, and then we send the families home with the computer and software they learned to use during camp. We want these kids to have access to the tools they need to be successful when completing homework, and it is exciting to have the undergraduate student interns play such a key role in this process. Service-learning activities like this help the students to realize that it is critical for them to work collaboratively with families to identify appropriate assistive technologies and challenging goals for all of their clients." The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology provided funding to establish the ARDC in the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic in October 2005. The center provides services to clients with disabilities in nine Florida counties and unique field-experience opportunities to UCF interns, such as this camp. The FAAST ARDC frequently collaborates with community agencies to provide services, and partners for "Technology in the FAAST Lane" included the Assistive Technology Educational Network, Center for Independent Living of Central Florida, Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida, IDEAS Special Needs Consults Inc., Kiwanis Club of Oviedo-Winter Springs and Walt Disney World. For additional photos, visit www.cohpa.ucf.edu/gallery/comdis/ATEN/ /blog/2006/ucf-interns-help-teenagers-with-disabilities-learn-to-use-assistive-technologies/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/joyce-dorner-assumes-position-as-interim-dean-of-the-college/ Thu, 29 June 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/joyce-dorner-assumes-position-as-interim-dean-of-the-college/ The University of Central Florida has appointed Joyce Dorner interim dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs. She assumes the position this month from Dean Belinda McCarthy, who served as dean of the college since fall of 1990 and is leaving UCF to become the first provost at Missouri State University. As interim dean, Dorner will oversee the college's academic programs, which include undergraduate, graduate, certificate and internship programs, as well as the Center for Community Partnerships, Florida Institute of Government at UCF, Florida Center for Nursing, Public Safety Technology Center, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, and Communication Disorders Clinic. Dean Dorner received her degrees from the University of Kansas and the University of Florida. She joined UCF's nursing faculty in 1980 and served as interim chair of the nursing program prior to accepting an associate dean position in the College of Health and Public Affairs. She served as associate dean in the college for 12 years with responsibilities in a number of areas, such as academic and student affairs, undergraduate and graduate studies, budget and personnel operations, development liaison, and acting director for the Florida Center for Nursing. This past year while on professional development leave from the college, Dorner worked closely with Denise Young, the university's associate vice president for planning and evaluation, on UCF's successful re-accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She also assisted in the development of the medical school proposal, and on May 30 Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill establishing the UCF College of Medicine. /blog/2006/joyce-dorner-assumes-position-as-interim-dean-of-the-college/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-preparing-plan-to-cope-with-potential-pandemic-flu-outbreak/ Tue, 13 June 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/ucf-preparing-plan-to-cope-with-potential-pandemic-flu-outbreak/ By Chad Binette The University of Central Florida has joined companies and governments nationwide in preparing a plan to cope with a potential pandemic flu outbreak. UCF employees are working together to determine how to best care for ill students and anticipate when campuses would have to be closed if a pandemic flu outbreak were to reachCentral Florida. They also are determining how they would continue essential services and provide as many classes as possible online during a pandemic. The avian flu has yet to reach the United States, and health officials stress that there is no reason to panic even if it does. The disease is mainly carried by birds, and humans have become infected mainly through close contact with birds. To date, the virus has not been capable of spreading easily from person to person, and that type of transmission would be necessary for a pandemic to occur. However, emergency and health workers want to be prepared in case an outbreak affects the region. Departments might need to operate with only 60 percent to 70 percent of their usual staffs, and they need to have essential supplies and protective gear ready in advance. "We do not want anyone on campus to panic, but we want people to worry enough to ask themselves questions on what they would do in case we have to deal with a pandemic," said Jim Uhlir, director of Environmental Health and Safety. "Our emergency management structure and the prior preparations that we have made for hurricanes should provide a good foundation for a flu plan that will help ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff." Avian flu was the topic of a half-day forum Tuesday hosted by UCF's Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies. The event featured David Winn, who serves on the U.S. Department of State's Avian Influenza Action Group, a task force established earlier this year to coordinate the U.S. preparedness and response to the threat of a global flu pandemic. To read more about the forum, go to this story . A pandemic flu epidemic could affect many departments on campus. Housing and Residence Life would continue housing students who do not return to their homes and might set up separate "sick zones" and "well zones" to try to prevent the disease from spreading. Health Services would care for ill students and also is leading an effort to plan how to vaccinate large number of students quickly, in case an effective vaccine becomes available during a pandemic. Working with the School of Nursing, Police Department and others on campus, Health Services may hold a vaccination drill in August. Instead of giving out shots, participants plan to hand out candy while simulating the process that would be used for vaccinations. "We want to make sure that when such an event happens, UCF will be best prepared," said Dr. Michael Deichen, associate director of clinical services for Health Services. If the campus was to be closed for an extended time, Course Development and Web Services could be called on to help the university continue classes online to avoid major disruptions to students' educational plans. Following recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, UCF's emergency personnel and Continuity of Operations Team have divided up several tasks among member departments to create a pandemic flu plan. The team plans to present a draft plan to President John Hitt later this month. Employees who would work directly with ill students will be fitted for respirators and trained on how to use them. Many other employees would be given basic surgical masks that do not require any advance training to use. Individual departments are being asked to determine what supplies and services they would need during an outbreak and to make sure they have adequate plans to get them. They also should identify which employees might be the most likely to become ill or to have to care for other family members so that other employees could be trained to do their jobs. Some departments may need to consider hiring temporary employees or contractors or moving to alternate locations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to wash their hands vigorously and often to try to avoid catching diseases. They also should stay at home from work when they are sick and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Health Services has set up a Web site to help inform the UCF community about the avian flu: www.shs.ucf.edu/services_avianflu.htm . More information about the avian flu also is available at www.pandemicflu.gov or www.cdc.gov/flu/avian . /blog/2006/ucf-preparing-plan-to-cope-with-potential-pandemic-flu-outbreak/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/counseling-sessions-may-impact-student-use-of-alcohol-and-junk-food-and-help-reduce-stress/ Tue, 25 April 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/counseling-sessions-may-impact-student-use-of-alcohol-and-junk-food-and-help-reduce-stress/ By Chad Binette A University of Central Florida study is examining how much influence health-care providers can have in helping students drink less alcohol, eat more nutritious meals, reduce stress and take other steps to lead healthier lives. The study divides students into two groups. Both groups first complete a questionnaire that asks them about alcohol use, eating habits, stress, exercise and other issues. Students in one group later have two 20-minute sessions with a health-care professional, while the second group does not. Dr. James Schaus, a UCF Health Services physician and the lead researcher in the project, said the study's results may demonstrate that colleges throughout the country should focus more on preventative health care. He believes such care is especially important for college students. "The decisions these students are making now will impact the rest of their lives," he said. Schaus is hopeful that an increased emphasis on preventative care can help students reduce alcohol consumption, overcome eating disorders and better cope with stress that they experience at times such as final exams or the end of relationships. Two UCF Health Services physicians, a physician's assistant and a nurse practitioner meet one-on-one with the students. Each professional tries to build a rapport with the students and connect with them through motivational interviewing techniques. They only discuss issues about which students are comfortable talking. If a student who may be drinking too much expresses concern about her weight, for example, the health care professional might point out how many calories some drinks contain. A student who is concerned about his finances might cut down on alcohol consumption if he finds out he has been spending $2,500 a year on drinks. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is providing $645,000 over two years for UCF to conduct the study. One goal of the study is to determine whether the meetings with health-care providers help to reduce high-risk drinking, which is defined as male students consuming more than five drinks in a row and females at least four in a row during the past two weeks. Excessive alcohol use is the most significant public health problem on college campuses, Schaus said. About 600,000 college students in theUnited Stateseach year are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol, and 1,700 die each year from unintentional, alcohol-related injuries, according to a 2002 study by the NIAAA. Students meet individually with a health-care professional twice, two weeks and four weeks after completing the initial questionnaire. Students in both groups take short online surveys three months, six months, nine months and one year after the initial questionnaire. The surveys will help researchers determine the effectiveness of the one-on-one meetings with health care professionals and measure how willing students are to change their behavior. More than 170 students have signed up for the study, and UCF hopes a total of 400 will participate this year. Students can sign up by going to theHealthCenterand filling out the initial patient information form available at the front desk. Each participant in the study is paid $100. Schaus was a family physician in Maitland for 18 years before he came to UCF four years ago. Dr. Michael Deichen, UCF Health Services' associate director for clinical services; Mary Lou Sole, a nursing professor; Michael Dunn, an associate professor of psychology; Laura Riddle, associate director of Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling Services; and Natalie Mullett, project coordinator, are assisting with the research. /blog/2006/counseling-sessions-may-impact-student-use-of-alcohol-and-junk-food-and-help-reduce-stress/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/karen-dow-and-mubarak-shah-win-pegasus-professor-awards/ Wed, 05 April 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/karen-dow-and-mubarak-shah-win-pegasus-professor-awards/ By Chad Binette and Barb Abney A researcher working to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors and the creator of the Computer Vision lab won the top honors for UCF faculty members Wednesday during the annual Founder's Day ceremony. Karen Dow of theCollegeofHealthand Public Affairs and Mubarak Shah of theCollegeofEngineeringand Computer Science won the Pegasus Professor Awards for 2006. In addition to excelling in their research endeavors, both professors were lauded for mentoring colleagues, working closely with students and for their community service efforts. Shah and Dow are the ninth and 10th winners of the Pegasus Professor Award, the most prestigious honor the university gives to a faculty member. The award, which was first given out in 2000, recognizes sustained excellence in teaching, research and service. Each winner receives a check for $5,000; a statue of Pegasus, the UCF symbol; and a gold medallion engraved with a Pegasus logo and his or her name. Dow, who joined the UCF faculty in 1995, was named the first Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing last year. For five years, Dow has been conducting a study aimed at improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors. The $1.6 million study is funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research and the National Cancer Institute. She also is the lead researcher on a Web-based study about fertility after breast cancer, and she spearheaded the development of "WebONE," an online oncology nursing education project that has benefited nursing students at UCF and around the world. "Her human intervention research has had such positive effect on cancer survivors and their families," College of Health and Public Affairs Dean Belinda McCarthy wrote in her nomination letter for Dow. "She possesses remarkable dedication and strong determination to improve the lives of this vulnerable population."" The Pi Psi Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority supported Dow's nomination because she spoke last fall at a luncheon honoring a sorority member who had died of cancer. Dow told the group about her research findings and advised them on how to detect early warning signs of the disease. "Dr. Dow is an outstanding woman not only because of her accomplishments in research, but because of the type of person she is," sorority members Shanae Hall and Charlyn Stanberry wrote. "Dr. Dow is a caring, compassionate and outgoing individual who is always there to lend a helping hand."" /blog/2006/karen-dow-and-mubarak-shah-win-pegasus-professor-awards/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-student-named-florida-student-social-worker-of-the-year/ Wed, 15 March 2006 00:00:00 Robin Kohn /blog/2006/ucf-student-named-florida-student-social-worker-of-the-year/ By Karen Guin For the third year in a row, aUniversityofCentral Floridastudent has been selected as the Student Social Worker of the Year from undergraduate and graduate students at 12 social work schools in the state. Andrea "Melissa" Coral fromLakeMarywon the award this year from the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. It is the first time in the award's 30-year history that the honor has gone to students from the same university for three consecutive years, according to the NASW Florida Chapter office inTallahassee. Coral is an exemplary student with a 3.9 grade point average in her major. She also spends many hours volunteering for several nonprofit groups and maintaining a statewide Web site for students, said Robin Kohn, faculty coordinator for the undergraduate program in UCF'sSchoolofSocial Work. Coral also has a keen ability to work with others as an advocate for clients and a leader among peers. Coral said her interest in social work developed as a child when she and her family emigrated fromPerutoCanadaand then to theUnited States. She experienced culture shock, periods of financial instability and racism. When she grew older, Coral started working as a volunteer and learned the value of people helping one another. "I learned in the face of adversity that one person can make a difference," she said. As a student, Coral has actively sought opportunities to help those in need. She has volunteered as an assistant at Kids House of Seminole, a facility inSanfordthat provides services for children who are victims of abuse; the after-school literacy program at ESTEEM inWinter Park; the Lisa Merlin House, a residential facility inOrlandofor women who abuse drugs and alcohol; andIslandLakeCenter, an elder-care facility in Longwood. "Melissa has a sincere interest and commitment to the social work profession," Kohn said. "She faithfully upholds our code of ethics and demonstrates the highest degree of integrity." Coral plans to graduate from UCF this May and enter theSchoolofSocial Work's master's degree program in the fall. By doing so, she would follow the lead of Oscar Rivera and Hans Meyer, the statewide Student Social Workers of the Year for 2004 and 2005, respectively. Rivera and Meyer earned their bachelor's degrees at UCF and are currently students in the university's master's degree program in social work. "The school is extremely proud of these students," said Mary Van Hook, director of theSchoolofSocial Work. "All three have combined academic excellence with a commitment to the service and social justice values of the social work profession." In recognition of March as National Social Work Month, members of the Central Florida Unit of the NASW Florida Chapter will hold a celebration to recognize the accomplishments of Coral, other social work students and practicing social workers. And at the end of the month, the group will travel toTallahasseeto bring social work issues to the attention of state legislators. /blog/2006/ucf-student-named-florida-student-social-worker-of-the-year/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/ucf-health-sciences-major-supports-growing-national-interest-in-other-health-care-careers/ Thu, 09 March 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/ucf-health-sciences-major-supports-growing-national-interest-in-other-health-care-careers/ By Karen Guin In keeping with a national trend, a growing number of undergraduates at the University of Central Florida is seeking preparation for careers in health care other than the traditional areas of medicine, dentistry and nursing. The students have found that the university's major in health sciences provides the background necessary to pursue a broad range of career options. "When I started at UCF, I wasn't sure what career path I wanted to take, but I knew I wanted it to be in health care," said senior Tammy Useman from Orlando. "So I selected the health sciences major. I knew that whatever avenue I took, the major would be applicable."" After taking courses in her major and observing occupational therapists work with two family members, she decided to specialize in occupational therapy. When she completes her bachelor's degree in health sciences in May, she will be well-prepared to enter a graduate program in occupational therapy, a step that is now essential to become a board-certified practitioner. A revised allied health programs curriculum that will begin this fall requires the basic sciences courses in biology, chemistry and physics that are prerequisites for clinical health science programs such as occupational therapy, physical therapy and physician assistant. And it offers an enlarged set of electives that allows students to tailor the program to their specific interests in health. For example, students can use the major to prepare for graduate study in areas such as public health, environmental health, nutrition and exercise physiology. Enrollment in the health sciences major at UCF has grown from 55 students when it was first offered in 1999 to 190 in fall 2005. Diane Jacobs, professor and chair of the Department of Health Professions, anticipates considerable growth in enrollment as incoming students are told that the revised major will prepare them for graduate-level study in both clinical and non-clinical areas of health care. "There is a trend in some disciplines, such as physical therapy, to require more advanced degrees than previously required," Jacobs said. "You used to just need a bachelor's degree. Now a master's degree is required."" Many students are attracted to careers in health care because they know it's a growing industry with good employment opportunities, according to Jacobs. She points to data released by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation that predicts a high demand for allied health professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists and physician assistants, over the next seven years. "We've responded to a growing interest in health care that's occurring nationwide," Jacobs said. Students are also drawn to the excitement of scientific advancements in diagnosing and treating diseases. Some also view a career in allied health as a chance to work in a respected health-related profession without having to go to medical school. And for most students, including Useman, a career in health is appealing because if offers an opportunity to help other people. For more information, go to www.cohpa.ucf.edu/health.pro/index.cfm . /blog/2006/ucf-health-sciences-major-supports-growing-national-interest-in-other-health-care-careers/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/center-to-demonstrate-assistive-technologies-to-residents-with-disabilities/ Wed, 18 January 2006 00:00:00 Jennifer Kent-Walsh, Jane Lieberman /blog/2006/center-to-demonstrate-assistive-technologies-to-residents-with-disabilities/ Central Florida residents with disabilities will be able to learn about and test the latest assistive technology devices at a new demonstration center at the University of Central Florida. The Atlantic Region FAAST Assistive Technology Demonstration Centerwas recently established at UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic in the Central Florida Research Park in Orlando. It will serve residents with disabilities in Brevard, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties who had to travel long distances to other centers in the state before the UCF center was established. Specialists at the center will provide demonstrations of equipment and computer systems designed to improve the daily lives of individuals with special needs. They will also assess each person's needs, identify devices that provide appropriate help, assist in obtaining the devices and provide training. "Estimates indicate that one in five Americans has a disability, and most individuals with disabilities can benefit from some form of assistive technology," said Jennifer Kent-Walsh, assistant professor of communicative disorders and center coordinator. Yet the availability of assistive technology devices is fairly limited and splintered, she explained. While school-age children may have access to some devices and services through their school districts and elderly adults may have access through some agencies, there are few places that provide comprehensive services and support. "The new center will provide access to assistive technology for all types of disabilities and all ages," Kent-Walsh said. "We will service clients from across the lifespan: infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children and adults." UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic was selected as the location of the new center because the clinic already has a broad inventory of computers and equipment designed to help people hear, speak, read, write, eat and swallow. It also has several specialists with expertise in assistive technologies, such as Kent-Walsh. The center has added a speech-language pathologist who is expanding services for individuals with communication-related assistive technology needs and an occupational therapist and physical therapist who will work with individuals with disabilities involving activities of daily living and mobility and body positioning. The new center is the fifth regional demonstration center to be established with funding from the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST), a nonprofit organization based in Tallahasseethat promotes the use of assistive technology and is supported by both state and federal monies. The alliance gave UCF a grant to help create its center and the new center will be eligible for additional funding for at least four more years. Other regional demonstration centers are located in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami. "FAAST has wanted to establish a regional center in Orlando for some time," said Jane Lieberman, chair of UCF's Department of Communicative Disorders. "Now residents of eastern Central Florida won't need to travel so far to take advantage of the unique services and support offered by these centers." UCF communicative disorders, physical therapy and education students will also benefit from the new center. Lieberman said they will have the opportunity to learn about assistive technology by observing and assisting the center's specialists. "It's rare for a university clinic in communication disorders to provide such extensive service and training in assistive technology," she said. "The new center will enable us to establish a niche in the field, attract students who are interested in this specialty area and offer critical services to the community." The Atlantic Region FAAST Assistive Technology Demonstration Center is located at 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 155, in the Central Florida Research Park, adjacent to the UCF campus in East Orlando. For further information about the center, contact the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic at 407-249-4770. /blog/2006/center-to-demonstrate-assistive-technologies-to-residents-with-disabilities/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2006/nursing-offers-basic-undergraduate-program-in-daytona-beach/ Wed, 04 January 2006 00:00:00 /blog/2006/nursing-offers-basic-undergraduate-program-in-daytona-beach/ By Karen Guin The School of Nursing will offer its basic undergraduate program in nursing at UCF's regional campus in Daytona Beach, beginning next week. Until now, the school has offered a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program at UCF Daytona Beach for students who already have a registered nurse (RN) credential. By adding a clinical component to the existing RN to B.S.N. program, the school is now able to offer its basic B.S.N. program there for students without an RN. "I am grateful to the university for its support in enabling students from the greater Volusia County area to attend UCF without traveling to Orlando," said Jean Leuner, director of the School of Nursing. There were more than 80 applicants for 24 openings in the first basic B.S.N. class at UCF Daytona Beach, which is located on the Daytona Beach Community College campus. To accommodate these students, the school has added a nursing skills laboratory, classrooms and faculty offices to the extensive resources already present. They will attend classes offered both face-to-face and through interactive television. All basic B.S.N. students participate in a community-based curriculum and are assigned to a Community Nursing Center, where they gain clinical experience while working with clients across the lifespan, Leuner explained. "For our Daytona Beach students, a Community Nursing Center has been developed at the Volusia-Flagler Coalition for the Homeless in Daytona, and a second will be located at the First United Methodist Church in DeLand," she said. "Clinical nursing practice experiences will also be provided in Volusia County hospitals and health-care agencies." /blog/2006/nursing-offers-basic-undergraduate-program-in-daytona-beach/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/new-educational-roles-in-language-and-literacy/ Thu, 22 December 2005 00:00:00 /blog/2005/new-educational-roles-in-language-and-literacy/ By Karen Guin With support from a new $784,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, graduate students in communicative disorders can enroll in a new literacy-focused curriculum in school speech-language pathology, beginning in spring 2006. This novel training experience, which includes courses in reading and writing and a school-based practicum and internship, will prepare students to obtain certification to practice in both school speech-language pathology and reading. There is a state and national shortage of school speech-language pathologists, according to Wayne Secord, professor of communicative disorders and principal investigator for the grant. "This new program will enable us to graduate hundreds of instructional leaders in the next few years to meet this urgent need," he said. /blog/2005/new-educational-roles-in-language-and-literacy/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/sharing-the-holidays-with-those-in-need/ Wed, 30 November 2005 00:00:00 /blog/2005/sharing-the-holidays-with-those-in-need/  By Karen Guin "Finger paints," "A poem book for teens" and "Shoes (any size)" - all are among the wish-list items that have adorned "Angel Tree" displays in the college this fall. Each year, the colorful displays are created by social work students from the B.S.W. Student Association to solicit holiday gifts for children, adults and families in need in the Orlando area. Generous members of the college community select the cutouts, purchase the items and give them to the students to wrap and deliver to selected charitable organizations. "This is not something our students do for credit or service learning," said Mary Van Hook, interim director of the School of Social Work. "It's what social work is all about: helping members of the community and eliciting help from others." This year's Angel Tree gifts will be delivered to Harbor House, a refuge for victims of domestic violence in Orange County; CHARLEE Family Care Services of Central Florida, a facility for abused, neglected and abandoned children; the Hug-Me Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, a program for those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS; and the BETA Center, a parenting education program for teen mothers and at-risk families. Children from the Hug-Me Program will also be treated to a holiday party planned by students enrolled in "HIV Disease: A Human Concern," a service-learning course taught by Sharon Douglass, associate professor of cardiopulmonary sciences. The annual event, now in its fourth year, has been held at churches in the past, but this year's party will be held at the Rosen Center in Orlando. According to Douglass, the students have planned arts and crafts projects and arcade games for the children. They've also arranged for a visit from Santa. "Each child will receive a gift selected especially for them," she said. "I can't wait to see their faces." Other holiday charitable activities in the college include: A holiday-card project sponsored by social work graduate students from the M.S.W. Student Association. The students have been soliciting donations of­ holiday cards, which they will sign and deliver to facilities with a large number of elderly residents. Toy donations by faculty and staff members from the School of Nursing to the Children's Home Society of Florida in Orlando, which provides a variety of social services to children and families. Pre-Thanksgiving meals prepared by members of the UCF Chapter of the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association for children and families at the Ronald McDonald House of Orlando and for clients with neurological impairments at the college's Communication Disorders Clinic. /blog/2005/sharing-the-holidays-with-those-in-need/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/survey-shows-refusal-to-evacuate-and-complacency-remain-problems-during-hurricanes/ Wed, 30 November 2005 00:00:00 Naim Kapucu /blog/2005/survey-shows-refusal-to-evacuate-and-complacency-remain-problems-during-hurricanes/ By Chad Binette After the state had been battered by three hurricanes last year, many residents ignored the threat of Hurricane Jeanne and refused to leave their homes in evacuation zones, county emergency managers reported in a survey released today by a University of Central Florida researcher. While the earlier storms helped to make residents more aware of the potential dangers from hurricanes, emergency managers also reported noticing more complacency as some residents grew weary of repeated hits. As the 2005 hurricane season concludes this week, the researchers hope that their findings will help emergency managers better understand public reactions to hurricanes as they prepare for 2006 and try to avoid a repeat of the chaos that surrounded Hurricane Katrina. Thirty-one percent of the emergency managers who were surveyed indicated that many residents did not heed evacuation orders before Hurricane Jeanne. While 31 percent also reported that many residents ignored evacuation orders before Hurricane Charley, that number dropped to 15 percent and 16 percent respectively for hurricanes Frances and Ivan before increasing sharply for Jeanne. Also, 37 percent of emergency managers who were surveyed indicated that residents' use of hurricane shelters was "significantly below expectations" for Jeanne. That number was only 18 percent for Charley, 28 percent for Frances and 12 percent for Ivan. Sixty-six emergency managers inFloridafilled out the UCF surveys. Most worked for counties, while a handful worked for the state Division of Emergency Management or four cities that operated their own emergency operations centers. The survey had a response rate of 92 percent. "Emergency communication strategies must be an essential part of an overall emergency management policy that directs the flows of financial resources, labor, equipment and information," said Naim Kapucu, an assistant professor in UCF's Department of Public Administration who analyzed the survey results. During hurricanes, we often see a lack of information, rumors and misinformation. The consequences can be dire, as illustrated by the case of Hurricane Katrina. Residents were apparently confused, agitated and resistant to an orderly rescue effort. Emergency managers must vigilantly work to keep their residents informed and apprised of the seriousness of the situation." The survey results suggest room for improvement in delivering emergency messages in Spanish. While 37 percent of respondents indicated that providing emergency communications in Spanish was important, 40 percent said they did not communicate updates in Spanish. Fifty-eight percent of respondents said tailoring warning messages to elderly residents, children or other special populations is important, while 20 percent said they do not tailor messages to those groups. The surveys demonstrate that, based on the perceptions of emergency managers, public complacency about the storms increased even as residents' awareness of the dangers that hurricanes pose increased. Sixty-eight percent of emergency managers agreed the public was knowledgeable about the dangers of hurricanes when Hurricane CharleUCF and Evan Berman ofLouisianaStateUniversity, and formerly of UCF, y struck in early August. The percentage increased to 89 percent by the time Hurricane Jeanne hit the state in late September. However, 19 percent of emergency managers said they believed residents were complacent about threat warnings and advisories when Hurricane Jeanne hit, while only 6 percent said they believed residents were complacent at the time of Hurricane Charley. The surveys are part of a broader effort by Kapucu and his colleagues to review emergency managers' and residents' responses to hurricanes and to suggest improvements for the coming years. Researchers also are reviewing State Emergency Response Team situation reports, which outline state responses to hurricanes, and newspaper coverage from around the state. In addition to Kapucu, public administration professors XiaoHu Wang of administered the surveys. Graduate student Sarah Sprouse also assisted with the research effort. /blog/2005/survey-shows-refusal-to-evacuate-and-complacency-remain-problems-during-hurricanes/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/ucf-aids-volusia-county-in-smart-growth-project/ Tue, 25 October 2005 00:00:00 Wendell Lawther, Jay Jurie, Marilyn Crotty /blog/2005/ucf-aids-volusia-county-in-smart-growth-project/ By Sara Cooper Faculty members and graduate students from the Department of Public Administration and staff from the Florida Institute of Government at UCF recently assisted with the Volusia County Smart Growth Initiative. Associate Professors Wendell Lawther and Jay Jurie, along with five graduate students in the Master of Public Administration program, provided technical assistance to the Volusia Smart Growth Implementation Committee. The committee was facilitated by Marilyn Crotty, director of the Florida Institute of Government at UCF, and Rafael Montalvo, associate director of the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium. Smart growth is intended to reduce urban sprawl, help the environment and enhance quality of life, all of which are concerns for Volusia County, located along Florida's northeast coast. In 2003 the Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD) sponsored a series of smart growth summits to educate the community on how to accommodate growth without diminishing quality of life. The summits led to the appointment of the Smart Growth Implementation Committee composed of individuals representing cities, county, private sector, environmental and agricultural interests in Volusia County. Four work groups were established to study different aspects of smart growth: development and redevelopment, agriculture, environment and economy. From fall 2004 through spring 2005, each work group met with the facilitators, students, and faculty members from UCF to identify issues and questions important to smart growth. Intensive research completed by UCF helped uncover success stories found in areas similar to Volusia County and was presented to the work groups through presentations and white papers. "This highly visible community process could serve as a model for the state and nation as an appropriate way to address the impacts of growth," said Lawther. The project is one of many partnership efforts between the College of Health and Public Affairs and Central Florida communities. "This project was an example of a successful collaborative process and is currently in the process of being implemented," said Crotty. Click here to view the final report that was presented to the Volusia County Council in August 2005. /blog/2005/ucf-aids-volusia-county-in-smart-growth-project/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/ucf-researcher-to-be-recognized-as-first-endowed-chair-in-oncology-nursing/ Tue, 16 August 2005 00:00:00 /blog/2005/ucf-researcher-to-be-recognized-as-first-endowed-chair-in-oncology-nursing/ By Karen Guin Karen Dow, a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Central Florida, will be recognized as the first Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing at a reception at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the Orlando Art Museum. The reception will honor Dow's new appointment and her more than 30 years of work to improve the care of patients with cancer. The endowed faculty position is one of only five in oncology nursing in the nation. "Karen's tremendous dedication and compassion have positively impacted the lives of people around the world," said Nursing School Director Jean Leuner. "Her appointment to the Kahli chair will help further her important work."" Most recently, Dow has focused on improving the quality of life for cancer survivors and their families. She sees her new appointment as an opportunity to expand her work on cancer survivorship. "I am very honored to be named as endowed chair,"  Dow said. "I look forward to collaborating with other researchers and clinicians and to mentoring new researchers to help improve the lives of cancer survivors."" Dow began her clinical career inBoston, where she was the first to document the needs of younger women with breast cancer, including their need for more meaningful information. She has gone on to make many outstanding contributions in support of breast cancer education for both patients and nurses. Since joining the UCF faculty in 1995, Dow has developed and implemented WebO.N.E, an Internet-based oncology nursing educational program for nurses around the world. She has also authored or co-authored four textbooks and written more than 100 articles and book chapters. Dow, an accomplished nurse researcher, is testing the effects of a behavioral intervention for breast cancer survivors with support from a $1.6 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research and National Cancer Institute. She is also developing, implementing and evaluating the effects of an Internet-based support and education program for young women with breast cancer concerned about fertility with a $250,000 grant from The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Dow's expertise in oncology nursing was recognized nationally with her appointment to the President's Cancer Panel, Special Commission on Breast Cancer. More recently, Gov. Jeb Bush appointed her to the Florida Biomedical Research Council.­ Dow has received many national research, education and achievement awards, including the 2004 Excellence in Breast Cancer Education Award from the national Oncology Nursing Society. The Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing was established in March with the donation of $600,000 by Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park. The gift is eligible for a state match that would result in an endowed fund of more than $1 million. Other endowed faculty positions in oncology nursing are located at the University of Texas, University of Arkansas, University of Florida and University of South Florida. DETAILS: Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing reception, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, Orlando Art Museum, 2416 N. Mills Ave. UCF President John Hitt and other key administrators will address the guests, who will include former UCF President Charles Millican and health-care leaders from the local community. If you are interested in attending the event, please contact Jennifer Roth Miller at 407-823-2723 or jeroth@mail.ucf.edu . /blog/2005/ucf-researcher-to-be-recognized-as-first-endowed-chair-in-oncology-nursing/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/health-information-management-students-recognized-at-statewide-convention/ Tue, 09 August 2005 00:00:00 /blog/2005/health-information-management-students-recognized-at-statewide-convention/ By Karen Guin The achievements of two students from UCF's Program in Health Information Management (HIM) were recognized recently at the Florida Health Information Management Association's (FHIMA) annual meeting, held July 25-28, 2005, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando. Colleen O'Sullivan, an August 2005 graduate of the HIM program, received FHIMA's annual Outstanding Student Award. As a student at UCF, she served as president of the Student Health Information Management Association, completed several internships and held a job while maintaining a 3.7 grade point average. This summer she was a management intern at Florida Hospital in Orlando, where she was offered a position as an information systems coordinator. O'Sullivan also received the HIM program's Outstanding Student Award during its student recognition ceremony this month. Byron Pitts, a senior in the HIM program, received an Educational Scholarship Award during the conference. The scholarship provides funds for educational purposes and is awarded based on scholastic and leadership ability, as well as professionalism and potential contribution to the profession. Holly Woemmel, who graduated from the HIM program in 1990, addressed the conference attendees as FHIMA's new president for 2005-2006. She is currently employed as director of client management for Outsourcing Solutions, Inc., in Jupiter, Fla. The company provides transcription and medical coding services to health-care providers. Woemmel is also an adjunct faculty member at UCF teaching a course in medical terminology for the HIM program. /blog/2005/health-information-management-students-recognized-at-statewide-convention/ http://www.cohpa.ucf.edu/blog/2005/criminal-justice-seminars-to-cover-suburban-crime-and-mental-health-issues/ Wed, 15 June 2005 00:00:00 /blog/2005/criminal-justice-seminars-to-cover-suburban-crime-and-mental-health-issues/ By Karen Guin Residents are invited to enroll in two seminar programs offered this summer by the University of Central Florida's Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and Division of Continuing Education. "Crime in Suburban America" will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, June 27, through Friday, July 1, in Room 104 of the Classroom Building on the Orlando campus. The fee is $200. This weeklong program will focus on the response of police officers and investigators to criminal problems encountered in suburban communities in the United States. National and regional experts will discuss topics such as gang violence, sexual predators, identity theft, drug investigations, undercover operations, suicide investigations and domestic violence. "Officer Needs Assistance" will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, August 5, in Health and Public Affairs Building I, Room 112, also on the Orlando campus. The fee is $75.  This one-day program will focus on mental health issues facing law enforcement officers, including stress and burnout, as well as officer suicide. John Sullivan, a former police officer and federal agent with 30 years of experience, is the primary speaker. Both programs may be taken for continuing education units or undergraduate or graduate course credit. For more information or to enroll in either seminar program, visit www.ce.ucf.edu and select "Credit Courses." /blog/2005/criminal-justice-seminars-to-cover-suburban-crime-and-mental-health-issues/