Celebration of Scholarly Works

The CHSPH Celebration of Scholarly Works took place at the SIERR building in Spokane on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Research posters and scholarly works were on display, where faculty, students and guests had the opportunity to visit and view scholarly works from Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Public Health. The event was a great success that provided exciting opportunities for EWU authors, students and guests to share and learn about research and community projects produced from CHSPH.

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Department of Physical Therapy Chair Filmed on Popular Public TV Show

Dr. Kimberly Cleary, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, served as a physical therapy guest expert on the Sit & Be Fit show. For its more than 37 years on Public Television, Sit & Be Fit, a non-profit organization, has been committed to encouraging healthy aging and improved quality of life for its audience. Dr. Cleary participated in two separate segments on balance training for older adults. The episodes will be featured on KSPS this spring during the new season of the program.

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The Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) National Physical Therapy Conference

This year, over 12,000 professionals attended CSM, hosted by the American Physical Therapy Association in Boston. Physical therapy students and faculty contributed to CSM with five poster presentations from the research laboratories of Drs. Cleary, Crooks, and LaPier. All presentations went very smoothly, and most were well attended.

Presenter and second-year physical therapy student, Kyanna Bren, noted that the conference was “a great opportunity to learn from those at the forefront of evidence-based practice in physical therapy.” Bren reported: “I really enjoyed attending the various educational sessions provided, and of course, I also had a blast exploring the conference and city with my cohort! Being able to present my research was an extremely rewarding experience.” Bren’s research identified methods of sleep assessment in people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Bren noted that she “was able to discuss findings with others who are treating and researching this condition.”

Second-year physical therapy student, Rachel Park, presented on the effect of sleep apnea on pain and aerobic outcomes within the cardiac rehabilitation setting. Park noted that her experience attending the conference “was a reminder that the profession is a living, breathing being; presenting research there made me proud to be part of something so much bigger than myself.”

Two faculty members, 24 second-year physical therapy students, and four third-year physical therapy students attended the conference in February.

Physical Therapy Student Receives Fellowship Award

Third-year physical therapy student Katarina Sanchez was recently awarded a $5,000 fellowship from the Latino Center for Health at the University of Washington. This fellowship, which includes matching funds through the College of Health Science and Public Health, will provide Sanchez with financial support to advance her career goal of promoting the health and wellness of Latinx communities. Sanchez was one of just 13 graduate students in the state to receive the honor. With support from this fellowship, Sanchez hopes to provide pro bono services for Spanish-speaking laborers throughout the state of Washington.

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American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Conference

Faculty, staff and students from the Department of Physical Therapy attended the Northwest American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conference at the University of Idaho in Moscow, last February. Students presented posters from faculty research collaborations related to running performance metrics and activity monitoring within the context of sternal precautions.

Faculty member Dr. Joel Sattgast presented an educational symposium aimed at providing an evidence-informed guide to answering every runner’s most pressing question, “When Can I Run?” With faculty, staff and students from undergraduate and graduate programs across the nation, the conference provided an opportunity for learning, growth, community and connection. Excitement is already building as EWU prepares to host the 2025 Northwest ACSM conference in Cheney.

Adaptive Climbing

The Department of Physical Therapy teamed up with Wild Walls Climbing Gym in Spokane to host an adaptive rock-climbing program. Athletes of all ages with physical disabilities interested in rock-climbing were encouraged to participate in this program. The program consists of a weekly 90-minute appointment on Thursday afternoons over five consecutive weeks. During the program, second-year physical therapy students, supervised by a licensed physical therapist, complete an evaluation and then work with participants to determine the best adaptive equipment needed to support rock-climbing skills. The team crafts a unique weekly exercise plan to encourage progression of the participant’s strength, flexibility, and climbing technique. Clients who have completed the program report improved overall function and quality of life.

Physical Therapy Legislative Impact Week

This January, EWU physical therapy students attended the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Legislative Impact Week (LIW). During LIW, students, physical therapists, APTA board members and state representatives met to address critical issues within the field of physical therapy. This year, LIW focused on a bill that sought to address the effects of price inflation in private-sector physical therapy by increasing reimbursement for physical therapy services, thereby increasing patient access to physical therapy. The bill’s urgency is especially significant, as physical therapy private practices have seen a 42% increase in cost and 15% decrease in reimbursement, with 33% of clinics operating in the red and 21% of physical therapists leaving the workforce over the last 4 years. Physical therapy students Jacob Hangartner and Conner Moyer described the importance of being involved in LIW to ensure the accessibility of physical therapy services for future patients. An additional opportunity for student involvement in APTA to advocate for the profession, beyond LIW, includes participation in a Student Special Interest Group (SSIG). The SSIG includes a meeting, every third Thursday, at 7 PM PST via Zoom. Students interested in participating should contact EWU APTA Liaison, Dr. Jenny Jordan (jjordan22@ewu.edu).

Physical Therapy Licensure Examination

Out of over 250 accredited physical therapy programs in the United States, EWU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is one of only four programs nationwide with a 100% first-time pass rate on the national physical therapy licensing exam (NPTE).

Congratulations to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for their top nationwide student performance on the NPTE!

Wellness & Movement Sciences (WAMS): New Lifestyle Medicine Degree Offered by EWU

The Department of Wellness and Movement Sciences is offering a new and exciting Bachelor of Science (BS) in Lifestyle Medicine. The BS in lifestyle medicine allows students to pursue a degree path that looks holistically at health and well-being. Six pillars of health outlined by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) provide the foundation of the lifestyle medicine degree – (1) a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, (2) physical activity, (3) restorative sleep, (4) stress management, (5) avoidance of risky substances, and (6) positive social connections. Students with career goals in public health, health care, and wellness should consider pursuing the BS in lifestyle medicine. This spring quarter, LMED 201: Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine will be offered for any students interested in learning about lifestyle medicine. Please contact program director Chris Cindric, at ccindric@ewu.edu, or view the BS in LMED web page for more information.

Wellness & Movement Sciences (WAMS): Exercise Science Club Attends American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Northwest Conference

Eighteen EWU Exercise Science Club student members and four faculty members attended the ACSM Northwest conference this February at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Three students and three faculty showcased their research in either a poster or verbal presentation. In addition, four teams of students (12 total) competed in the student knowledge bowl, a Jeopardy-style game testing sports medicine knowledge. One of EWU’s teams placed fourth out of 20 teams. EWU students and faculty earned positions on the ACSM Northwest Executive Board. At the conference, Dr. Katie Taylor began her tenure as president of the chapter, Dr. Kristyne Wiegand was elected as president-elect, and Yazmean Inman was elected as regional student representative. Finally, it was announced that ACSM Northwest Conference 2025 will be hosted by EWU, which is an exciting opportunity for the EWU’s programs and the institution as a whole.

Eastern Washington Area Health Education Center (EWAHEC) Hosts “On Track Academy”

On January 26, Eastern Washington Area Health Education Center (EWAHEC) Scholars Jenna McDonald, Emilie Crawford, and Madison Cloninger hosted an event for high school students at On Track Academy. The day began with a Kahoot game that helped to familiarize students with medical terminology and learn about different healthcare career options. Students then had the opportunity to play with “glow germ,” which showcases the importance of handwashing, by illuminating the germs present on an individual’s hands. Students practiced the process of donning personal protective equipment (PPE), where they learned how to put on the necessary equipment to keep themselves and patients safe from pathogens. While dressed in their gowns, students then got to practice suturing chicken breasts — which many mentioned as their favorite part of the day. After suturing practice, students injected sterile water into the chicken to practice giving injections. EWAHEC hosts events to promote health and wellness in underserved populations, as well as encourage rural students to consider careers in medicine.

Outreach to International Students Teaching New Methods of Research

Nicholas Swope, professor in public health, recently broadened the learning horizons of psychology students in Bali, Indonesia. Professor Swope discussed traditional qualitative research techniques of interviews and focus groups, then lectured and had students informally try newer methods, including Photovoice. Photovoice originated in public health and participatory research and is designed to spark change. This powerful tool weaves the visual method of photography together with a narrative to give greater context and depth to human experience. Displays of Photovoice at community exhibitions have been successful in raising awareness of various health topics. Students’ excitement was palpable as they viewed various Photovoice projects and informally engaged in the technique. They shared research articles and held lively meaningful discussions surrounding ethics, empowerment of the researchers, and impact of the technique. The exchange successfully motivated students to explore newer innovative methods in qualitative research.

Dental Hygiene Hosts Career Fair

In February, senior dental hygiene students participated in a department career fair with local and statewide dental offices. Many of the dental clinics that attended brought alumni of EWU’s dental hygiene program to highlight their practices to the graduating seniors. Students in the dental hygiene program met with potential employers, explored career options and networked with leaders in the field. This was a high-energy, fun and supportive event to connect students with local and statewide career opportunities and clinicians.

EWAHEC CHSPH Students Volunteer at Teddy Bear Clinic

On February 10th, the Eastern Washington Area of Health Education Careers (EWAHEC) along with a group of occupational therapy, nursing, dental hygiene, and communication science students came together in partnership with PBS to run a Teddy Bear Clinic for preschool and elementary-aged students. This event provided children with the opportunity to become comfortable with healthcare appointments and allowed them to treat their own “patient” – a teddy bear. Children documented the teddy bear’s condition and learned how to listen for heart rate and respirations using stethoscopes. EWU students in health science disciplines assisted the children in charting, taking note of vital signs, and weighing and measuring their stuffed animals. Children, their families, and the EWU student volunteers reported that the event was a great community learning experience.

Nursing Program Grand Opening

This year, Eastern Washington University launched its very own Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), welcoming its first cohort of 40 nursing students to the Spokane-based program. The program is housed in the SIERR Building in the University District, near EWU’s other healthcare programs. The BSN program aims to prepare more nursing students for entrance into the field, who can meet diverse healthcare needs and treat patients across the region. EWU’s BSN program strives to provide educational, direct experiences to help cultivate excellence within their discipline, as well as create life-long learners dedicated to providing holistic care for their patients across a variety of healthcare settings. Though the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 application cycle is now closed, prospective nursing students for the Fall 2025 semester should look for the next application cycle to open December 1, 2024.

Occupational Therapy Students Run Pediatric Mock Clinic

During this past spring semester, second-year occupational therapy students treated clients in a mock clinic at Joya Child and Family Development Center. The mock clinic allowed students to apply practical skills they have learned through their coursework, such as conducting an evaluation, planning interventions and managing full therapy sessions. Students collaborated with clients and their families for six sessions. The first session was an evaluation, followed by four treatment sessions, and finishing with a discharge session. A home program handout was designed and provided to the families to teach interventions and activities that could be implemented by parents or caregivers. Many families expressed their appreciation for the mock clinic and the positive impact the experience provided their children. Regarding her experience at Joya, one student said it was nice to “get a taste of what it is like to meet with clients, make goals, implement interventions, and see progress in action.”

Occupational Therapy Students Volunteer at Riverview Retirement Community

Second-year occupational therapy students had the opportunity to collaborate with individuals in the Riverview Retirement Community during “OCTH 533/535: Occupational Performance and Older Adults.” Students developed a variety of group protocols to run with the residents, including a book club meeting while making bookmarks, decorating vases, creating paper flowers, completing jigsaw puzzles with tea, and engaging residents in reminiscence therapy. Many students discussed later what a terrific opportunity it was to engage with the residents at Riverview and learn more about their life stories.

Public Health

Dr. Daryl Traylor is a professor in the College of Health Science and Public Health who teaches in the Master of Public Health program. He has not allowed the recent Supreme Court decision to prohibit utilizing diversity as a criterion for acceptance into higher education programs — nor a court decision to allow insurance companies to use religion as a reason to deny services — to detract him from a passion for improving diversity and inclusion. He is the lead author for a recently published (2023) review article titled Unmasking Structural Racism in Medical Education: Advancing Equity for Under-Represented Minority Students published in Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences. Dr. Traylor and co-authors cite studies identifying persistence of structural racism in many aspects of medical education. Examples of structural and personal racism include persistence admission processes whereby equally qualified people of color are less likely to obtain interviews, experience a lack of appropriate diversity in mentors, and persistence of false racist medical concepts of physiology that continue to be inappropriately applied to African Americans. Dr. Traylor and his co-authors propose various solutions including increasing diversity among mentors, addressing implicit race bias in admissions programs, increasing education geared toward cultural competence. Dr. Traylor also wrote a blog post in Pulse, regarding the unethical nature of a policy to use religion as a valid reason to deny PrEP prophylaxis, as this policy disproportionately affects minorities. Dr. Traylor is working on creating a pipeline program to help underrepresented minorities gain acceptance into medical schools.

The CHSPH semi-annual newsletter is produced by the student-led CHSPH Newsletter Committee. Special thanks to student members Alaina Hines, Rachel Peters, Keith Shulman, and Jocelyn Simpson for their efforts in collecting and coordinating these stories, and for faculty reviewers for their final review.

The CHSPH Celebration of Scholarly Works took place at the SIERR building in Spokane on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Research posters and scholarly works were on display, where faculty, students and guests had the opportunity to visit and view scholarly works from Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Public Health. The event was a great success that provided exciting opportunities for EWU authors, students and guests to share and learn about research and community projects produced from CHSPH.

A special thank you to faculty and/or judges: Drs. Donna Bachand, Ann Wetmore, Kaylynn Garrison, Wendy Holmes, Lorie Speer, Laurie Morley, Brian Donahue and Lindsay Williams for their time and expertise in reviewing and scoring all submissions. Thank you to the event planners and organizers, Interim Dean David Bowman, Assistant Dean Brian Donahue, Special Assistant to the Dean Ann Wetmore, College Financial Officer Rose Knight and Executive Administrative Assistant to the Dean Michele Thompson, for their dedicated efforts in making this event possible. Finally, a special thank you to the following individuals and their teams for all their support and hard work: Brent Seeberger and the EWU trucking team; Samantha Stragier from event planning; Aaron Brenton, interim executive assistant; Leslie Swannack, administrative assistant; Partners at Emerald Initiative; Emily Crawford and Jenna McDonald from AHEC, and Greg Eastman from CMSD.

Congratulations to the Celebration of Scholarly Works Award Winners!

Education Impact Award: Samantha Siems from CSMD; Project Title: School-Based Speech Language Pathologists’ Confidence of Return to Learn Protocol in Childhood Concussion.

Critically Appraised Topics: Shannon Gillespie, Katherine Ayerdis, Shannon Posey from OCTH; Project Title: The Impact of Music on Agitation in Dementia Patients: A Critical Appraisal.

Dean’s Award: Krista Unangst, Sonja Henderson, Jessica Jadin from OCTH; Project Title: A Holistic Approach to Education: A Focus Group.

Provost’s Award: Taya DeFrance, Maria Rios, Helen Robinette from OCTH; Project Title: Occupational Therapy and Dating for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review.

Undergraduate Scholarly Work Award: Kataryna Deaton, Carlee Kopp, Vanessa Mendez, Megan Yorlano from DNHY; Project Title: Oil Pulling: Do or Don’t?

Work in Progress Award: Leah Walters from PHHA; Project Title: Nutritional Health Relationships between Cats and their Owners.

Faculty Research Award: Joel Sattgast, Brittany Grant, John Fox from PHTH; Project Title: Knee Mobility Demands Minimally Impacted Following Step Rate Changes in the Recreational Runner.

Graduate Scholarly Work Award: Kelsey Gonwick, Alyssa Gonzalez from CMSD; Project Title: A National Survey of General Ed Elementary Teachers Knowledge and Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration with SLP’s.

Interprofessional Impact Award: Marissa Ribeiro from CMSD; Project Title: A Survey of AAC Preservice Training for SLP, PT, OT, and Nursing Students for Future Work with Patients with Complex Communication Needs: An Interprofessional Educational Opportunity.

President’s Award: Sydney Brownlee, Alaina Hines, Taylor Kenney, Lindsay Smith from OCTH; OT’s Role in Treating Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Community Engaged Project.

The College of Health Science and Public Health is proud to present the Fall 2022 newsletter. The newsletter was designed and created by a team of CHSPH students in collaboration with faculty and staff. We are excited to share stories from the College and hope that you enjoy this issue.  We welcome your feedback and would love to hear from you! Contact us as chsph@ewu.edu with story ideas or suggestions!

EWU dental hygiene was very well represented at the 2022 Annual Session of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association meeting in Louisville, KY. Student advisor Sarah Jackson MSDH, RDH took 7 recent graduates  and 2 seniors from the BSDH program. Ruth Paszkeiz presented undergraduate research. Our recent MSDH graduate Emily Penberthy presented her research on Confidence of Statistics in undergraduate dental hygiene students. She won 3rd place in the Dentsply/Sirona competition.

Way to promote dental hygiene and Eastern Washington University!

Eleven years after leaving his dangerous, crime-ridden hometown, 22-year-old Carlos Valdovinos, EWU senior in the Dental Hygiene Program, is thriving. He is studying for national board exams, gearing up for graduation and looking forward to a future of making a difference by providing direct care to patients.

Not long ago, as a high school student, his sister Angeles encouraged him to enroll at the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center to earn a certificate in dental assisting. While earning that certification, Carlos realized that assisting was the wrong job in the right profession and began exploring other possibilities.

“As soon as I saw what a dental hygienist does and how big of an impact I could bring to a diverse patient population, I just fell in love with hygiene,” says Carlos, who enjoys coaching people on the importance of oral health to overall health.

When Carlos toured Eastern and learned more about the Dental Hygiene Department, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, he applied right away. In addition to offering a bachelor’s degree in his chosen field, the campus just felt right. “I liked the environment, and I liked the diversity and the overall positivity of the school,” he recalls.

Eastern’s admissions team connected him with scholarship support, says Carlos, adding, “I would have never been able to get my education if it had not been for the donors who helped me financially.”

Eastern proved to be the perfect choice for the first-generation student from Coalcomán Michoacán, Mexico, who pursued opportunity and stayed the course through harder times than most can imagine.

When Carlos was 11 years old, his parents sent him to live with his older sister, Jovita, in Yakima, Washington. They made the tough decision because their community, a city with a beautiful culture located in central-western Mexico, was overrun by drug cartels. Shakedowns, kidnappings, murders and corruption were becoming more common, affecting individuals and families living in the area.

“It was pretty common for us as kids to see big trucks coming down the road loaded with guns and men, or multiple funerals all over for unknown reasons” he says, adding, “There was just violence all around us.”

Throughout his four years at Eastern, news from home reflected the deaths and disappearances of his childhood friends. He also lost family members along the way. All the while, and throughout a pandemic, he longed to return home to help.

“I’ve had moments where I just feel down and I feel like I don’t belong here. There was always a feeling of uncertainty. And, I really miss my family because of a lot of other things that are going on,” Carlos says.

He credits Lisa Bilich, professor and chair of the Dental Hygiene Department, and other faculty and staff with offering unwavering support: “The faculty here have helped me calm myself. [They] reminded me why I am here, the friendships I’ve made here and all important things that have happened along my journey which led me here – and to just keep moving forward.”

The dental hygiene team helped Carlos find his way academically, too. Carlos, who learned advanced math as a fifth-grader in Mexico, sometimes faced challenges with reading and test-taking as an English-as-a-second language student. Bilich and the team connected him with a mentor and a study group. As always, Carlos worked hard alongside classmates and embraced opportunities.

At the EWU Dental Hygiene Clinic, Carlos and nearly 80 other students provide care for less advantaged members of the community. Carlos honed remarkable provider skills there – earning praise from patients of all ages. He also developed a passion for restorative care. His leadership abilities emerged, and Carlos now serves as president of the Student American Dental Hygiene Association (SADHA).

On May 6, Carlos will make family history as he becomes the first among his 10 siblings to graduate from college. His proud mother will journey from Mexico to attend the commencement and congratulate her son after many years apart.

“I decided to pursue an education to hopefully change the future for other generations,” Carlos said. “I feel like I am a positive role model for my family and friends. My biggest hope is that more will decide to find their true passion that will change the course of their lives for the better. ”

If you’d like to explore options for supporting scholarships for hardworking students in this program, please visit the Dental Hygiene Giving Opportunities webpage.

The dental hygiene department is very proud of the hard working students who dedicate themselves to becoming oral health professionals. Congratulations Jessica on the prestigious scholarship!

On May 7, 2021 the Class of 2021 showed how to do it right! Congratulations to an amazing class who graduated in the middle of a pandemic!

On September 14, 2020, the Spokane City Council voted 6-1 on a contract to begin community water fluoridation. Smile Spokane, a local network of organizations, helped the campaign to negate inequities in oral health in the City of Spokane. Community Water Fluoridation is counted as one of the largest public health success stories in the last 70 years. The Dental Hygiene Department is proud of working with many great organizations to help this pass.

Welcome to Water Fluoridation Spokane!

Arcora Foundation has provided a $43,255 grant to replace aging equipment. This will allow the clinic to provide services when the clinic can open. A big thank you to Arcora!