Category: SharkBytes

Memorial Tree Honors Biochemistry Professor

Class of 2023 board officers Aneil Tawakalzada, Harsh Patel, Heather Silverstein, Aakangsha Jain, Ruth Antony, Alexandra Gabro, and Ted Frederic pose in front of the memorial oak tree.

In April, students from NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) honored the memory of longtime NSU biochemistry professor Ronald E. Block, Ph.D., M.S., who passed away on March 26, by purchasing and planting an oak tree in front of the Terry Building. The tree planting was livestreamed on social media so KPCOM students could view the event in a COVID-safe manner.

“Dr. Block was a compassionate, brilliant individual who dedicated his life to the KPCOM students,” said second-year student and class of 2023 president Aneil Tawakalzada. “We are grateful for the opportunity to honor his legacy in this meaningful way.”

In addition to the tree-planting ceremony, the students hosted a separate Zoom event all KPCOM students and faculty members could participate in. The event included one minute of silence to honor Block and also provided opportunities for the students and faculty members to share their personal experiences about the popular professor.

“It was an incredible feeling to have our KPCOM community come together to give back to someone who influenced and inspired us all,” said second-year student Harsh Patel, who was instrumental in leading the tree-planting initiative.

 

HCAS Professor is Elected to the Board of Directors of Stonewall National Museum and Archives

James Doan, Ph.D.

James Doan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Stonewall National Museum and Archives, the largest museum of its kind in the world, dedicated to LGBTQ history and culture.

Doan indicated that he is thrilled to be a new member of the Stonewall National Museum and Archives Board of Directors. He further said, “this new position integrates with my teaching and work at NSU.”

Doan’s teaching and research interests include Irish literature and language, folklore and mythology, family history and genealogy, and English language and British literature. He is actively involved in the theatre community in South Florida, having written and directed plays for the Actors Community Theatre (ACT) in Davie. Doan also co-founded the South Florida Irish Theatre with a mission to develop Irish American Theatre in the region.

 

“Fun Food Fridays” Experiential Plant-Based Cooking

The Department of Nutrition in the KPCOM would like to share some highlights from a new elective undergraduate course offered for the first time in the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition program in the winter 2021. BSHN 3400 Plant-based Nutrition introduced the nutritional and health benefits of plant-based eating to human health. Through a hybrid, blend-flex model, students engaged with an innovative curriculum using a contemporary textbook, YouTube videos, debate, interviews, documentaries, and community events. After mid-terms, with sufficient background nutrition knowledge, the entire class agreed to turn one class meeting each week into “Fun Food Fridays.” Students opted into the live virtual cook-along or prepared a video of them giving a vegetarian cooking demonstration.

During the Friday class time, students would lead a cooking demonstration via Zoom and highlight beneficial nutrients and any substitutions that they had made to make it “plant-based.” They also gave suggestions for future changes that they might make.  Some of the items prepared were Chana Masala, Lentils with Quinoa and Tofu, Oatmeal Cookies made with a “flax egg,” Almond Butter Energy Bites, and Drunken Noodles. Of course, the best part was the taste testing. Below are two photos that I took of the recipes I made as the students taught the class.

Above is Chana Masala on the left and Lentils with Quinoa, and Tofu on the right.

Some students chose to make a TikTok video creating Chickpea Cookies, or a PowerPoint presentation presented by student Kendall Hutchinson detailing each step in creating Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles. Here is her picture showing start to finish. Begin on the bottom left corner with the final product on the top right.

A quote from one student, Lia Leone:

“One of my most favorite courses taken in the nutrition program is the plant-based course. Being able to learn about nutritious foods, how to prepare them, and enjoy these delicious recipes with classmates was a treat! I left this course with a full list of nutrient dense recipes that I shared with my friends and family! This course encouraged me to try new things as well as enlighten others on the benefits of incorporating plants into the diet. I’ve learned you can definitely win someone over with a tasty treat!”

Certainly, the addition of food and the live cooking activity made learning memorable and fun. The end of the course concluded with topics such as animal welfare, farming, the environment, and sustainability. For more information about this course or the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, which also offers a minor, please contact Dr. Ioana Scripa at iscripa@nova.edu.

Osteopathic Duo Named Champions of Humanistic Care

Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., M.S., M.S., dean of NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Sandi Scott-Holman, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine and director of NSU’s Student Medical Center, were recognized as Champions of Humanistic Care by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

More than 200 physicians, nurses, and health care team members were selected by their health care institutions to receive this recognition for exhibiting compassion and courage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Champions of Humanistic Care honorees will be recognized at the Gold Foundation’s virtual gala on June 10.

“Nurses, doctors, and care teams have shouldered an incredible burden for more than a year now, caring in uncertain and harrowing conditions, when their own safety was at times at risk, and when the normal support systems were dismantled,” said Richard I. Levin, M.D., president and CEO of the Gold Foundation. “They have stood in for family members who could not be in the room, they have adapted again and again, and through it all, they have brought their own humanity to bear in caring for patients. It is our honor to recognize their critical contribution of humanism in health care during this ongoing crisis.”

HCAS Communication Major and Faculty Member Present at Florida Scholastic Press Association Annual Conference

On Friday, April 23, Megan Fitzgerald, Ph.D., associate professor and program director for the B.A. in Communication program, and Flor Mireles, senior communication major and copy editor of NSU’s student-run newspaper, The Current, presented at the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s annual conference. 

The theme of this year’s virtual conference was “Outside the Box.” Their presentation, “Let’s Get Social: Building Your Newspaper’s Social Media Presence,” focused on the importance of building a social media presence for school newspapers. In an ever increasing digital world, even traditional print newspapers can benefit from social media when used effectively. Their presentation discussed best practices, including developing a brand, audience engagement and creating a style guide. Over 35 journalism students, educators and advisors attended the Zoom session.

For more information about the communication major and its journalism concentration, offered through the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, visit https://hcas.nova.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/communication.html

Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences Living with Low Vision Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Event

 

Raquel Van Der Biest, B.S., OTR/L, CLVT, occupational low vision therapist, and Miami Lighthouse Academy student work on fine motor skills.

 

On March 13, 2021, Miami Lighthouse and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) brought occupational and physical therapists from around the United States together for an engaging continuing education seminar on living with low vision.

For the past 13 years, Miami Lighthouse has educated professionals in the fields of occupational and physical therapy on low vision. In 2021, NSU collaborated with Miami Lighthouse to continue this tradition.

Participants logged in via Zoom for a day of innovative presentations on topics­ – Orientation and Mobility/Fall Prevention, Cortical Visual Impairment, and Adaptive Aids for those living with low vision; additionally, a panel of teachers of the visually impaired shared their expertise on how to educate children with visual impairments and the strategies they use in the field. Nova Southeastern University’s optometrists – Hua Bi, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, gave an informative presentation on visual processing within the central nervous system and Samantha McIntosh, O.D., provided a presentation on common eye conditions/diseases and their effect on function.

Participants remarked that the day was informative, engrossing, well organized and they would look forward to participating in future continuing education unit (CEU) events.

Outcomes

  1. 100% of CEU seminar participants reported being either very satisfied or satisfied with the organization of the conference.
  2. 98% of CEU seminar participants reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the relevance of the topics chosen for the conference.
  3. 98% of CEU seminar participants reported being either very satisfied or satisfied with the relevance of conference to their current work.
  4. 98% of CEU seminar participants reported that the content of the seminar matched the course objectives.
  5. 98% of CEU seminar participants reported satisfaction with the extent they acquired information.
  6. 100% of CEU seminar participants were satisfied with the expertise of the presenters.
  7. 98% of CEU seminar participants were satisfied with the information they acquired during the seminar.
  8. 98% of CEU seminar participants were satisfied with their ability effectively work with low vision clients.

Pre/Post Test

  • 100% program participants improved in their pre/post

For additional information please contact, Helene Lieberman, M.S., OTR/L, clinical instructor, at 954-262-1216 or 954-262-4186, or Carol Brady-Simmons, COMS, chief program officer, at 786-362-7480.

 

 

 

 

School Resource Officers Learn About Supporting Students with Autism

 

The UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) strengthened its partnership with law enforcement agencies and Broward County Public Schools this month. With support from the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), over 100 School Resource Officers spent World Autism Day, April 2, learning about autism and practical ways to effectively support autistic students in the schools they serve. Officers gained information on how to recognize, respond, and manage risks involving individuals with autism from Autism Safety 101. Future training events will focus on patrol officers who serve the Broward community.

UM-NSU CARD provides free autism support services to any individual, business, school, municipality, or community agency affected by autism. For more information, contact

954-262-7111 or card@nova.edu. You can learn more about UM-NSU CARD at their website, http://umcard.org/.

HCAS Doctoral Alumna is Named First Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Eastern Mennonite University

 

 

Jacqueline N. Font-Guzmán, J.D., Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) has been named the first Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Eastern Mennonite University. Font-Guzmán started this new position on April 1, 2021. Her responsibilities include serving as chair of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, sitting on the President’s Cabinet and the Provost’s Council, leading and supporting faculty, students, and staff in long-term strategic initiatives, and building networks and relationships across the university and the greater community.

When asked about her education at NSU, Font-Guzmán said, “As I take on my new role at Eastern Mennonite University, I am certain that the conflict engagement skills that I learned during my studies at NSU will be instrumental in successfully advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Prior to starting her new position, Font-Guzmán was the Director of the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program and faculty at Creighton University. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Carlos III University School of Law in Spain and was an NSU Distinguished Alumna. She has been a Visiting Professor at Southern Methodist University and the University of Puerto Rico Law School.

In addition to her NSU degree, she has a law degree from the Interamericana University in Puerto Rico, a Master of Health Care Administration from St. Louis University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Coe College.

Education Alum Publishes Criminal Justice Book Chapter

Monekka Munroe, Ed.D.

Monekka Munroe, Ed.D., graduate of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ) authored the book chapter, The Acceptance of Rape Cultural and Sexual Violence Against Black Girls in Athletics and Entertainment, in the criminal justice textbook, The Disparate Treatment of Black Youth in the Juvenile Justice System.

Munroe brings awareness about an issue that is often overlooked, disrespected, and swept under the rug. In this chapter, she brings attention to the many atrocities that cause Black Girl Magic to be hidden behind walls of guilt, shame, self-doubt, and addiction.

She currently serves as a criminal justice department chair in Richmond, Virginia. The focus of her current research is childhood trauma’s impact on the left cerebral hemispheric brain development. Munroe created two new criminal justice courses to add to the curriculum in Virginia. The first course, Childhood Trauma and Adult Criminality was developed to discuss various types of traumatic experiences and how those experiences can lead to criminal behavior and ultimately, incarceration. The second course is Epigenetics and Criminal Behavior, the study of how an individual’s behavior and environment cause DNA modifications.

Munroe earned Doctor of Education with FCE&SCJ in 2016.

Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences Associate Professor Publishes Assessment

Gustavo Reinoso, Ph.D., OTR/L, associate professor, Department of Occupational Therapy at the Tampa Bay campus.

Congratulations to Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences own, Gustavo Reinoso, Ph.D., OTR/L, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy Entry level O.T.D. program at the Tampa Bay campus. He is an author of a newly published assessment!

The Structured Observations of Sensory Integration – Motor (SOSI-M), which is a nationally standardized assessment measuring discrete aspects of vestibular processing, motor planning and postural control. Included in the assessment is a supplementary behavioral observation tool called The Comprehensive Observation of Proprioception (COP-R).

For more information, please visit https://www.academictherapy.com/detailATP.tpl?eqskudatarq=2281-1. 

 

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