Greetings from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences! I'm excited to share our Fall 2024 newsletter. This issue highlights our new Occupational Therapy labs, the Nursing program's annual White Coat Ceremony, research from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and our shared role in the New American Youth on the Rise project, as well as new Public Health Sciences courses in ethical and applied leadership for health professionals. I hope you enjoy reading about this semester's accomplishments by the CNHS community and join me in welcoming our new faculty members.
As the semester wraps up and the winter break draws near, a heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributes to our vibrant community!
Noma Anderson, Ph.D. Dean
Occupational Therapy Program Unveils Smart Apartment, New Labs
The Occupational Therapy program hosted an exclusive community open house in collaboration with the Vermont Assistive Technology Program in December to showcase its new Smart Apartment and labs. As a senator, Patrick Leahy directed $5.75M in funding from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the FY22 Appropriations bill to support the new facilities.
Social Stress Study Supports Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Stuttering Treatment
Funded by an NIH NIDCD R21 Exploratory Grant, Dr. Kim Bauerly studies the effects of emotion on speech-motor control in adults who stutter using a method that introduces social stress via virtual reality. Her findings provide a rationale for identifying, and reducing, social anxiety as part of treatment to improve fluency.
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Offers New Courses in Ethical Leadership
Dr. Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie has created two courses addressing the essentials of ethical leadership and inclusive change management. Ethical Leadership for Health Professions (HSCI 2990) is an online course designed for undergrads, grad students, and professionals, with no prior health studies required. Applied Leadership in Health Equity (HSCI 3450) is an in-person course that introduces strength-based leadership and advocacy.
Catamount Emergency Care Installs 100th Lifesaving Station
The Catamount Emergency Care program, in collaboration with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Initiative for Rural Emergency Medical Services and UVM Rescue, proudly marked the installation of its 100th AED station this fall. But the initiative isn't just working to help save lives during emergencies: it equips UVM students, faculty, and staff to make our campus and communities safer places.
Ten new full-time faculty joined the Departments of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, and Rehabilitation and Movement Science this fall.
This year’s White Coat Ceremony, the tenth annual, included the inaugural cohort of UVM’s new direct-entry master’s degree program, an option for those without a nursing background to enter the profession. In all, 135 second-year undergraduate and 27 direct-entry graduate students received white coats at the event.
CNHS Students' Work Earns Accolades by the American College of Sports Medicine
The University of Vermont is one of only 145 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on its campus. As highly engaged members of both the campus- and greater Vermont community, our Exercise Science students' dedication to promoting lifelong physical activity habits helped UVM earn gold-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program.
Student Leader Recognized by the New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine
Shayenne Tomasik '26 has a passion for anatomy and fitness that runs deep—thanks to her mom's career as a physical therapist and her personal athletic journey. She’s gearing up for medical school and chose exercise science to align with her dream of becoming an orthopedic doctor. She’s been collaborating with Dr. Jeremy Sibold on a research paper exploring the links between exercise, screen time, substance use, and mental health in high schoolers across the US, which earned her recognition as a student investigator finalist by the NE Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.
University’s First SEPA Grant to Guide Future Health Leaders
Paula Deming, Ph.D., M.S., associate dean for faculty affairs and research and an associate professor at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is a principal investigator for the New American Youth on the Rise (NAYR) project. Supported by over $1.3 million from the NIH’s R25 Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), the project's goal is to introduce middle and high school girls from immigrant and first-generation American families in Chittenden County, Vermont, to health sciences careers.
Dr. Boyi Dai Named Chair of Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science
With a focus on injury biomechanics, Dr. Dai has published 80+ peer-reviewed articles and secured over $1M in research funding. His accolades include the 2022 Outstanding Research Award and a 2023 Fellowship with the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports.
The UVM Planetary Health Initiative highlights the vital link between human well-being and environmental health. This initiative will harness UVM’s strengths in research, education, and service to inspire impactful action for people and our planet.
