Welcome
For over a century, the University of Texas Medical Branch has dedicated its efforts toward improving the health of society - in Texas and beyond. Today the SHP offers baccalaureate degrees in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Respiratory Care, master's degrees in Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies, and a professional doctorate in Physical Therapy. In addition to designing and implementing innovative ways to deliver instruction to students at distant locations, the school continuously explores opportunities to expand its program offerings and interprofessional learning.
Take The First Step - For more information about getting your education at UTMB, please contact the SHP Office of Academic and Student Affairs by phone at 409.772.3030 or by email at shp.recruiting@utmb.edu.
News
Health Profession News
Months after rehab, knee and hip patients keep improving
-Chicago Tribune, Feb. 17, 2014
A worker tries on a prosthetic leg for a patient at the Center of Advanced Prosthetics in San Jose (Juan Carlos Ulate Reuters, / February 12, 2013)
People who have had a knee or hip replacement reap the benefits of intense rehab months after they've returned home, according to a new analysis. "If you can get patients to a certain threshold level, they can do the rest of the rehabilitation on their own," coauthor Kenneth Ottenbacher told Reuters Health. "In a sense, these patients become their own physical therapists," he said. Ottenbacher directs the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences at UTMB.
TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER NEWS ACCOLADES
Elizabeth Protas, Ph.D., dean of the University of Texas Medical Branch's School of Health Professions in Galveston, has been appointed to a six-year term on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Health-Related Institutions Formula Advisory Committee. The committee is charged with reviewing and advising on formula-funding policies and procedures. Formula-funding is the money provided by the state of Texas to state-supported institutions and is based on enrollment, type of institution, discipline and various other factors as directed by the legislature.
A visit with Dr. James Graham
by Jim and Lynda Guidry Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Guidry News Service recently visited with Dr. James Graham, a member of a University of Texas Medical Branch research team that determined that nearly 12 percent of Medicare patients who receive inpatient rehabilitation following discharge from acute-care hospitalization are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge from the rehabilitation facility.
Listen (11:00)
"Dr. Ken Ottenbacher is the lead on this and he recently got an RO1 (research project grant) to look at readmission rates after post-acute care for patients in in-patient rehab," Dr. Graham explained. "When you look at the Affordable Care Act and some of the changes in health care over the past 10 years or so, post-acute care has kind of been second page news as far as the Medicare and the providers are concerned. But, recently with the growth of the cost, post-acute care proportionately would outpace all other care, for Medicare at least."
Graham said the research addresses a timely issue.
UTMB study examines hospital readmission rates after inpatient rehabilitation
Findings may represent targets for intervention, cost savings
GALVESTON, Texas - Nearly 12 percent of Medicare patients who receive inpatient rehabilitation following discharge from acute-care hospitalization are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge from the rehabilitation facility according to new research published in the Feb. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Before now, there was a lack of research on the frequency and causes of patients returning to hospital after rehabilitation.
The new research reports 30-day hospital readmission rates across rehabilitation impairment categories and examines whether readmissions are associated with patient socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, functional status or facility factors. The authors say this type of data is important because Medicare is in the process of developing new payment models associated with health care reform.
"Currently, Medicare spends $20 billion each year on readmissions of hospitalized older adults," said lead author Kenneth Ottenbacher of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. "The data uncovered in this study is crucial in order to effectively develop new health reimbursement systems that bundle acute and post-acute care to improve quality and contain costs."
SHP Student Represents Physician Assistant Studies as a Texas Academy of Physician Assistants Scholarship Winner
Texas Academy of Physician Assistants Board and members congratulates Sara Swindle on being one of the $1000 scholarship winners. Sara's academic achievements and community involvement are second to none. Texas PAs & her future patients will benefit greatly from her involvement and academic drive.
Scholarship winners will be officially announced during the TAPA Awards Luncheon on Saturday February 22, 2014 as part of the Annual CME Conference at the La Cantera Resort in San Antonio.
SHP is very proud to have Sara representing Physician Assistant Studies!
Congratulations Sara!
Demand for medical occupations in area expected to rise
-Houston Chronicle, Feb. 3, 2014
One of the top 10 occupations in highest demand is physical therapist, with a median salary of $76,310.
Houston's population explosion, along with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the presence of the Texas Medical Center, a large cohort of aging baby boomers, and an aging workforce are impacting growth as well as demand for more people in health care. San Jacinto College is working on a new program with UTMB that reflects the growing demand for trained medical professionals. UTMB is looking to begin a physical therapy assistant-to-doctorate of physical therapy program, and we'll be providing a pipeline of students into that program," said the San Jacinto College dean of natural sciences and health sciences. "We're excited about offering students the opportunity to go from an associate degree directly to earning their doctorate, which is now required of all new physical therapists."
Recent Faculty Publication and Success of People Receiving Foundation Funding - Foundation for Physical Therapy
"Recruitment of Ipsilateral and Contralateral Upper Limb Muscles Following Stimulation of the Cortical Motor Areas in the Monkey," by Montgomery LR, Herbert WJ, and Buford JA, was published in Experimental Brain Research (2013;230:153-164). - See article
Lynette Montgomery, PT, BPhty,was awarded a PODS I Scholarship in 2009 and PODS II Scholarships in 2010 and 2011.
Wendy J. Herbert, PT, PhD, was awarded a Mary McMillan Doctoral Scholarship in 2005, a PODS I Scholarship in 2006, and PODS II Scholarships in 2007 and 2008.
John A. Buford, PT, PhD, was awarded a Doctoral Training Research Grant in 1990.
Introducing the Center for Recovery, Physical Activity and Nutrition, formerly the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences, in the School of Health Professions (SHP).
The Center for Rehabilitation Sciences, established in 2001, is currently directed by Dr. Kenneth J. Ottenbacher and administered through the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences. The Center includes 34 core faculty representing various schools, departments, centers and institutes across UTMB. The Center has contributed to building a research infrastructure associated with disability, recovery and rehabilitation over the past decade and works collaboratively with the Sealy Center on Aging and the Departments of Internal Medicine, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Surgery, among others. The Center also collaborates with the Transitional Learning Center (TLC) in Galveston and co-sponsors the annual Galveston Brain Injury Conference. The success of the Center's research programs is reflected in the SHP's current ranking as 8th in NIH funding among similar U.S. schools as reported by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
Rehab Sciences Administrator Receives Certification
Beth Cammarn, Administrative Manager for the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences and Administrator for the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences, recently received certification from the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC). Designation as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) means that an individual has met the requirements of the Council's eligibility and demonstrated the level of knowledge necessary for a person to be a professional research or sponsored programs administrator. Beth has 12 years experience in research administration and currently manages several major programs including PhD and postdoctoral training, junior faculty career development, and a program focused on large database research. She has been a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators since 2002 and has served on a number of committees within her region. She has also served on several university committees related to various functions of research administration.
School of Health Professions Dean, Dr. Elizabeth Protas (front), pictured with recipients of the SHP Dean's Competitive Academic Scholarship Award at the recent SHP Student Scholarship Luncheon.
SOM and SHP Recognize Alumni at Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheons
For generations, UTMB alumni and benefactors have invested in the future of healthcare by supporting scholarships for many deserving students. The School of Medicine and the School of Health Professions recently held their annual scholarship awards luncheons to bring together benefactors who passionately share UTMB's vision and the scholarship recipients who benefit from their generosity.
Several alumni have established scholarship awards in their respective schools as a way to give back to the university and to support UTMB's efforts to attract and educate the best and brightest students to become tomorrow's leaders in the practice of healthcare.
Hector P. Garcia M.D. 2013 Cultural Competence Award
by Joanne Salt
First-year School of Health Professions student, Ariel M. Morrow was the recipient of the Hector P. Garcia M.D. 2013 Cultural Competence award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates commitment to providing quality health care to all by incorporating cultural knowledge and skills in service to others.
Dr. Hector P. Garcia graduated from the medical branch in 1940 and went on to serve as a decorated hero in World War II. On his return, he founded the G.I. Forum, which became one of the nation's leading civil rights organizations. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and was appointed to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In 1984, he was the first Mexican-American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor, awarded by President Ronald Reagan.
Dr. Fingerhut inducted into the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers
Congratulations to Dr. Fingerhut on her induction into the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers. Dr. Fingerhut has been on our OT faculty since 2004 and in that time has made a significant impact on our educational mission. She has been one of the lead faculty on the STAIRS grant, along with Dr. Chris Baker and Dr. Dana Wild. This project provides specialized expertise for physical and occupational therapists to work with children and young adults with special needs. Dr. Fingerhut has distinguished herself by her dedication to educational excellence.
Dean Protas hosts the annual meeting of the Southern Association of Allied Health Deans
On October 2-5, 2013, Elizabeth Protas, dean of the School of Health Professions hosted the annual meeting of the Southern Association of Allied Health Deans at Academic Health Centers at the Tremont House. In attendance were Noma Anderson, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Andrew Balas, Georgia Regents University, Raul Caetano, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, James Cairo, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Ruben Garcia, University of Puerto Rico, Douglas Murphy, University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Shirley Richmond, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Kevin Rudeen, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Lisa Saladin, Medical University of South Carolina, Robin Satterwhite, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Sharon Stewart, University of Kentucky, Richard Talbott, University of South Alabama and Stephen Thomas, East Carolina University.
After a business meeting on Thursday morning, the group came to campus to tour the labs in SHP, Old Red, the Respiratory Care SIM lab and 1003 Market Street. They also got a birds-eye view of the Jennie Sealy Tower.
Education Technology Information
Microsoft Lync - This page contains information, installs, video tutorials and documents for Lync with UTMB.
Blackboard - This page contains announcements, information and more for UTMB Blackboard. Including SP 11!
Respondus - This contains the latest exam building software, lockdown browser and additional help info for Respondus.
VoiceThread - Creating a presentation - This document will help walk you through creating your Voicethread presentation utilizing your PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoint slides, record audio directly to slides, add audio files, add video files, etc.
VoiceThread - Viewing - This document will show how to view presentations in Blackboard created by VoiceThread.
Tegrity - Introduction for Instructors - This video will give an introduction and walkthrough of Tegrity. Tegrity for UTMB is located at https://tegrity.utmb.edu/.
Tegrity - Getting Instructors Started - This webpage contains instruction that will help get you started on making a Tegrity recording.
Tegrity - Update Enhanced Editor - This video contains information on enhanced updates to the Tegrity editor.
TurningPoint 5 - Download Instructions - This document will gives instructions for downloading and running TurningPoint 5. Especially the Non-Install PC Version that can be put on a flash drive and used to play your presentation from any PC.
More Ed. Tech. links coming!
Help Information
Orientation PowerPoint - This PowerPoint contains all Academic Computing information that was presented in the orientation.
UTMB Wireless Access - Contains (UTMBa) Wireless Instructions.
iSpace (Xythos) - This PowerPoint contains various information on iSpace.
More help information coming!
SAVE THE DATE:
March 8, 2014
