Winter 2010
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Summit Addresses Health Care Disparities Issues
The problem of healthcare disparities in the Southland, caused by issues related to poverty, segregation, and access to healthcare, was discussed at a Health Summit recently at Governors State University.
The free event, “Bridging the Gap: Health Disparities” was coordinated by:
- Healthcare Consortium of Illinois
- Crossroads Coalition
- Cook County Health and Hospitals System
- College of Health and Human Services (CHHS)
Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims, 5th District, sponsored the event.
More than 100 participants attended the event, which featured a live address (via phone) from Washington, D.C., by Dr. Brian D. Smedley, Vice President and Director of the Health Policy Institute.
Additional speakers included:
- State Representative William ("Will") Davis, 30th District
- State Representative David E. Miller (29th District), Assistant Majority Leader
- Deborah Sims, member, Cook County Board of Commissioners (5th District)
- Joan Patricia Murphy, member, Cook County Board of Commissioners, (6th District)
- Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
- William T. Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Cook County Health & Hospitals System
- Dr. Stephen Martin, Jr., Ph.D., MPH, Chief Operating Officer for Cook County Department of Public Health
Taking a moment to chat during a break in the day's activities are (left to right) State Representative William ("Will") Davis, 30th District; Dr. Rupert Evans, Sr., MPA, DHA, FACHE, A ssistant Professor and Associate Director of Graduate Programs in the Health Administration Department of CHHS; and Salim Al-Nurridin, Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Consortium of Illinois.
Serving as moderator of the day's events was Salim Al-Nurridin, Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Consortium of Illinois.
Breakout Sessions
Over lunch, attendees had their choice of three breakout sessions to attend, covering the following topics:
- Campaign for Better Health Care
- Workforce Development
- Health Information Exchange
Serving as breakout session presenters included the following.
- Linda Samson, Ph.D., Interim Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies and Dean, CHHS
- Jennifer Artis, Public Affairs Director, St. James Hospital and Health Centers, representing the Crossroads Coalition
- Michael Dobias, Constituent Coordinator, Campaign for Better Health Care/Healthcare Consortium of Illinois
- Dr. Richard Keen, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Cook County Hospital
- Richard Sewell, Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Findings and ideas generated in the breakout sessions will launch further discussion at another healthcare summit to be presented in the spring under the auspices of the the CHHS' research program, "Building Capacity in Health Disparities" (HDR).
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Healthcare Expert Addresses Challenges of Leadership
Addressing a crowd of more than 300 healthcare providers, students, and faculty members at GSU's Performing Arts Center recently, Quint Studer aptly defended his well-deserved reputation as the nation's most popular and well-respected change agent and thought leader working in healthcare today.
 Studer's entertaining and thought-provoking presentation, coordinated by the Health Administration Department of GSU's College of Health and Human Services, was peppered with humorous anecdotes that served to reinforce his key messages.
Studer, former hospital CEO and 20-year healthcare veteran, has been named one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful People” by Modern Healthcare magazine for his work on institutional healthcare improvement. He is the best-selling author of numerous books, most recently, Straight A Leadership: Alignment, Action & Accountability.
As former CEO of Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago and President of the Baptist Hospital, Inc., in Pensacola, FL, Studer led both organizations to the top one percent in employee and patient satisfaction, compared to hospitals nationwide.
Studer’s philosophy is based on the link between high quality service, employee/patient satisfaction, and bottom-line results. According to Studer, a leader’s ability to engage employees' passion for doing purposeful, worthwhile work is key to an organization’s success.
"Employees need to know that the work they do has purpose, is worthwhile and that it truly makes a difference," Studer said.
Unfortunately, sometimes employees lose passion for their work, even before they have a chance to develop the necessary skill set to perform their job.
For those who persevere in the healthcare field, however, the rewards are many.
Throughout his presentation, Studer spoke directly to audience members, many of whom were already actively employed in the healthcare field as nurses or managers.
Studer admits that healthcare "can be a pretty tough field," he said, "and it often doesn't get the credit it deserves. Don't underestimate the difference you make as a healthcare professional," Studer said. "You may not know this, but you make a huge difference in people's lives.
Thanks to the following hospitals who helped sponsor Studer's visit:
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Plan a Vacation Education for Yourself this Year!
Snow might still be on the ground, but it's never too early to start planning your summer schedule.
Once again GSU will offer a broad range of classes during the six-week Vacation Education session.
"We're very pleased to be able to offer such a wide array of college level courses this summer," noted Linda Samson, Ph.D., CHHS Dean and Interim Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies.
"If you're already a student, either here at GSU or elsewhere, what better way to make the summer work for you? And for others, what better time to begin pursuing your educational dreams, or exploring those intellectual urges, than during the relaxed months of summer?"
Some of the courses scheduled to be offered this summer include:
- Restorative Justice
- Trauma and Addiction
Introduction to Stress Management Methods for Teaching Writing Dealing with Chronic Stress, Burnout and Compassion Fatigue for the Professional - Theories of Crime and Deviance
- Beginning Psychopharmacology
- Advanced Business Communications
Students are responsible for checking with their advisors concerning transfer eligibility of credit hours.
Stay tuned for more news about Vacation Education!
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Effective Social Service Delivery for Arab and Muslim Communities — March 5 Forum
The Illinois Field Directors in Social Work will sponsor a free seminar, "Bridging the East with the West: Understanding the Barriers and Challenges Facing the Arab and Muslim Communities for Effective Social Service Delivery," on Friday, March 5, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. in GSU's Sherman Hall.
The event is intended primarily for social work field instructors; students, faculty members and staff are also invited. Four CEUs will be available.
Guest speakers will include:
Sanjna Das, LCSW, Apna Ghar. Based in Chicago, Apna Ghar provides culturally-appropriate, multilingual services, including emergency shelter, to domestic abuse survivors, with a primary focus on the South Asian and other immigrant communities. Bina Mangattuattil, LCSW, Apna Ghar Sister Lisa R. Muhammad, Nation of Islam Dr. Khalilah T. Watson-Muhammad, Nation of Islam (Women and Girls Training and Development Division)
The event will feature presentations in the morning by the guest speakers; a panel discussion with the audience will be held in the afternoon.
While the event is free, space is limited and reservations are mandatory by Monday, February 22, 2010. You can register online. For questions, contact JoAnne Smith at 708.235.2233.
This program is supported by a grant from the GSU Intellectual Life Committee.
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Congrats to Dean's List Students!
CHHS recently recognized 121 undergraduate students who made the Fall 2009 Deans List.
"Once again our students have shown just how truly dedicated and committed they are to their course of study," said Linda Samson, Ph.D., CHHS Dean and Interim Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies.
"The programs we offer are quite challenging, yet our students continually demonstrate an extraordinary amount of discipline, ability, and dedication to their work. I'm proud of each and every one of them."
Dean's List honors come only to undergraduate students who earn a minimum 3.70 grade point average or higher during the trimester and take at least six credit hours during the term.
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Nursing Fellowships Awarded to DNP Students
Two students enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program at GSU have been awarded $10,000 Nurse Educator Fellowship Awards from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
The two fellowship recipients are Cheryl A. Luster-Klemp, MSN, RN, of Homewood, a nursing instructor at South Suburban College in South Holland; and Anne Morgan, MSN, RN, of Orland Park, a nursing instructor at Moraine Valley Community College. Luster-Kemp is a first-year DNP student; Morgan is in her second year of the DNP program. The two GSU students were among 18 recipients selected from a group of 34 nominees.
The two fellowship awardees will be responsible for participating in statewide nursing advocacy programs to help address the nursing shortage in Illinois. They may also be required to consult with the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Center for Nursing regarding statewide nursing issues.
"We're very proud of our two DNP students, who are well-deserving of this fellowship award,” noted Linda F. Samson, Ph.D., Dean of the CHHS and Interim Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies at GSU.
“Cheryl and Anne are examples of the type of nursing leaders we’re trying to create through our DNP program — leaders who continue to move the profession forward in an attempt to meet the changing healthcare needs of our nation.”
The CHHS began offering the DNP program in the Fall 2008.
Created in 2006, the purpose of the Nurse Educator Fellowship Program is to ensure the retention of well-qualified nursing faculty at institutions of higher learning that award degrees in nursing.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education is authorized to make awards to participating institutions on behalf of nursing faculty who have been nominated and selected to receive a Nurse Educator Fellowship Award during Fiscal Year 2010. Awards will be used to supplement the salaries of the nursing faculty selected for the fellowship.
Participation in this program is open to Illinois institutions of higher learning with a nursing program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
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Alpha Eta Society Welcomes Inaugural Members!
The departments of Addictions Studies (ADDS), Communication Disorders (CDIS), Health Administration (HLAD), and Physical Therapy (PT) hosted the inaugural induction ceremony for the Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Eta Society last November.
A total of 25 students, alumni, and faculty were inducted into the new chapter of this organization, which is the National Scholastic Honor Society for allied health students. The chapter's name of Gamma Psi (pronounced sigh) Upsilon was chosen to correspond with GSU's acronym.
Faculty Inductees
Alumni Inductees
Juliette Gainer, CDIS Carrie Goodnight, CDIS Timaka Wallace, ADDS
Graduate Student Inductees
Manuel Beltran, HLAD Neeketta Dotson, HLAD Jacqueline Evans, HLAD Edward Fitzgerald, ADDS Emily Harn, PT James Jung, HLAD Cheryl Luif, PT Megan Schneider, PT Robert Siminski, HLAD Teniece Thurston, CDIS Colleen Wray, ADDS
Undergraduate Student Inductees
Following the ceremony, inductees and their family members and friends enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and beverages in the Faculty Office Center atrium. Several inductees are featured in the following photos:
William Yacullo, Ph.D., (far left), chair of the Department of Communication Disorders, and Geneva residents Ed Strugalla and his wife, Barbara. Strugalla recently completed his coursework for a BHS degree in Communication Disorders, and is now working on his MHS degree.
Timaka Wallace of Chicago (left), a Master of Health Science (MHS) graduate in Addictions Studies, and her daughter.
Manuel Beltran (second from left) of Elgin, a Master of Health Administration (MHA) student, and his family.
Master of Health Administration (MHA) student James Jung (left) of Mount Prospect, with Kyusuk Chung, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Health Administration.
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CDIS Students Gain Valuable Hands-On Experience
Students in the Master of Health Science (MHS) in Communication Disorders (CDIS) program had the opportunity to obtain some valuable experience recently when they conducted speech-language-hearing screenings for the children enrolled in GSU's Family Development Center (FDC).
Six CDIS students participated in the screenings.
Prentice Johnson Sunday Mueller Mary Noone Amell Ramadan Katie Walsh Linda Wright
Approximately 40 children were screened; the remaining children enrolled at the Family Development Center received their free speech-language-hearing screenings later in the month.
Faculty supervisors for the screenings were:
Katie Walsh (left), graduate Communication Disorders student, works with young Sydney Zuckert from the Family Development Center.
Linda Wright (right), graduate Communications Disorders student, has the attention of young Shian Hendricks of the Family Development Center.
Graduate Communications Disorders student Mary Noone (far left) reads a story to (left to right) Chance Lorde, Chad Rutter, Brianna Ebbin, Nicholas Haywood, and Nyera Williams from the Family Development Center.
 According to Catherine Balthazar, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders (CDIS), "our students gained valuable hands-on experience in utilizing common screening tools and procedures, and working with children."
"There's nothing like actually talking to a preschooler to hone your skills in observation, assessment, and behavior management," Dr. Balthazar said.
"Professionals who assess children have to be knowledgeable and flexible, in order to deal with the quirks and variations of each individual child. They have to learn how to keep a child directed toward the assessment tasks, all while engaging them in a friendly and age-appropriate conversation. These screenings were a terrific tool for learning these lessons."
As an added bonus, students gained clinical hours that they could put towards their required 400 hours for national certification.
 According to Carol Morrison, Executive Director of GSU's Family Development Center (FDC), parents appreciate the services provided to their children.
"As a division of the College of Education, we always welcome collaborations that are mutually beneficial to the children receiving our services and to GSU students," Morrison noted. "Parents always appreciate having professionals that they can talk to for detailed and current information and advice."
Dr. Balthazar believes it makes "good sense to utilize the resources of university programs like ours to support the needs of children and families at the FDC." Everyone benefits.
"The preschoolers received thorough speech, language, and hearing screenings from qualified personnel at no cost to the FDC or the families, and the students in the Communication Disorders graduate program received individualized training and supervised experience," Dr. Balthazar said.
Morrison also pointed out that the services provided by the CDIS students occurred early enough in the year so that Family Development Center staff members will be able to make necessary referrals for follow-up services—allowing the children to get treated faster if they do, indeed, have a problem.
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Largest OT Graduating Class Hosts Pinning Ceremony
A grand total of 28 Occupational Therapy students — the largest class ever — earned their Master of Occupational Therapy degrees last weekend at GSU's February 6 Commencement Exercises.
The Class of 2009 held their graduate pinning ceremony recently, featuring an address by class speaker Stephanie Noreiko. Serving as guest speaker was Caren Schranz, MS, OTR/L. Catherine Brady, Ed.D., OTR/L, Assistant Professor and Fieldwork Supervisor in the Occupational Therapy Department, conducted the presentation of Pi Theta Epsilon honor cords to seven students, in honor of their academic achievements. Students, family members, friends and faculty gathered for a reception following the ceremony.
Joining in the celebration of the OT Class of 2009 are (left to right), Dr. Elaine P. Maimon, President of GSU; Dr. Beth Cada, Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy; Dr. Linda Samson, Dean of CHHS; and Caren Schranz, MS, OTR/L, guest speaker for the ceremony.
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CHHS Professors Earn Grant Funding
Catherine Balthazar, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Communications Disorders, received funding from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for her research on building complex sentences among school-age children with oral and written language disorders.
 Roberta Kuchler O'Shea, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, received funding for a Conductive Education Research Lab from the Coleman Foundation.
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CHHS Faculty Members in Print
.JPG "Joseph West") Joseph F. West, MSc, Sc.D., University Lecturer in the Department of Health Administration, recently published a book, Trod the Stony Road: A Young Man's Journey from the Mississippi to the Charles.
Dr. West's book is an autobiographical story of transformation from despair into hope.
A native of East St. Louis and Chicago's West Side, Dr. West is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; he holds both a Master of Science and a Doctorate of Science from Harvard University. Dr. West's book is available through Amazon.com.
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According to the premiere issue of WHAT'S HOT, a new newsletter of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), minority aging research is a "hot" topic. But certain ethnic minority populations — such as older adults who are emigrants or descendents of emigrants from Arabic countries — remain under-researched. Until now, that is.
 Elizabeth Essex, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Associate Director for the Institute of Aging in the CHHS, presented her findings from her research on the needs of Arab American older adults at November's 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the GSA in Atlanta, GA.
The GSA newsletter devoted an entire page to the abstract from Dr. Essex's presentation, "Exploring the Needs of Arab American Older Adults." Working with Dr. Essex on this qualitative research study were Najma M. Adam, Ph.D., GSU Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate Wassim Moukahal; and University of Chicago graduate student Suhad Tabahi.
For additional information about this research project, see the story on pages 10-13 in Make Someone's Life Better, the magazine produced by the CHHS.
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 Mark Sanders, University Lecturer in the Department of Addictions Studies, will have a story published by HCI Books, the publishers of Chicken Soup for the Soul, in a new book entitled, The Ultimate Christian Living.
Sanders' story relates how he conquered burnout as a young social worker. The book will be in stores nationally in March 2010.
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 A forthcoming issue of the Journal of the National Medical Association will feature a paper on "Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Utilization of High-Technology Hospitals."The authors include Tae Hyun ("Tann y") Kim, Ph.D., (left) Assistant Professor of Health Administration at GSU; Linda F. Samson, Ph.D., Interim Vice-Provost for Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the CHHS; and Ning (Linda) Lu, Ph.D., MPH (right) Associate Professor of Health Administration.
 Shirley K. Comer, RN, MSN, JD., University Lecturer in the Department of Nursing, will have an article on the ethics of conducting educational research on one's own students in the April issue of the Journal of Nursing Law.
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Upcoming CHHS Degree Program Information Sessions
The Department of Social Work will host an information session for the Master of Social Work (MSW) program on the following dates at GSU:
Thursday, February 11, 2010, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Hall of Honors
Reservations are not required. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kelly Robinson at 708.235.3997, or k-robinson@govst.edu.
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The Department of Nursing will host an Information Session for the Bachelor's (BSN), Master's (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs on Friday, March 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The session will be held in the first floor atrium of GSU's Faculty Office Center (FOC), also known as the G building, located at the far east end of the campus.
Campus Map
To RSVP for this Information Session, please contact Nursing Program secretary Vanyette Exton at 708.534.4040, or v-exton@govst.edu.
For further information about any of the nursing programs offered through the CHHS, contact Linda McCann, M.A., M.P.A., Academic Advisor, at l-mccann@govst.edu, or 708.534.4035.
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The Department of Occupational Therapy will host information sessions for the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) degree programs on the following dates at GSU:
- Saturday, April 24, 2010—Room G127
- Saturday, September 18, 2010—Room G127
The information sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration, followed by the program, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. All sessions will meet in Room G127.
Reservations are not required. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Mary Tracy at 708.534.7293, or m-tracy@govst.edu.
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