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NEWS ARCHIVES 2008 |
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NOVEMBER |
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TULSA RUN and ROUTE 66 MARATHON RUN
OU Physical Therapy students and faculty, in collaboration with the Department of
Family Medicine, provided soft tissue manual therapy and education about proper stretching and running mechanics at the finish lines of the Tulsa Run and the Route 66 Marathon. Over 85 student volunteers from the first, second, and third year classes from both campuses helped to ease the aches and pains of over 425 runners at both events.
Third year physical therapy student Rachel Lewelling explains the finer points of soft tissue manual therapy to first year physical therapy student Joshua Kelley.
First year physical therapy students Cora Demott (left) and Kelly Kuhlman (right) ease the discomfort of tight calf muscles brought on my many miles of running, under the watchful eye of second year physical therapy student Kristy Wyatt.
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OCTOBER |
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SENIOR FALL FAIR
The Senior Fall Fair was again a success! It was held on Saturday, October 25th at North Park Mall. Virginia Harbour, DPT has organized this annual event to provide fall risk assessments to the public. Cynthia Davis, SOT-3, and Laura Rauh, SPT-3 demonstrated their expertise performing fall risk assessments, supervised by clinical faculty Carolyn Craven, PT. Our students’ personal and professional commitment to volunteer in a community health event, despite numerous demands on their time, was appreciated and their expertise was noticed and valued by the other therapists and by the seniors they were assessing. For photos and additional information about this event please visit http://dontfalldownoklahoma.com.
Fall Prevention Fair October 25
For most people, a slip or trip that leads to a fall
may equate to little more than embarrassment, but
for seniors, falls are a matter of life or death.
Many times, all the king’s doctors can’t
put an elderly loved one back together again.
A health fair will address this major public health
problem Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at North Park Mall (south end). The mall is located
at 122nd and North May Avenue in Oklahoma City.
Seniors along with adult children and grandchildren
of the elderly are encouraged to attend. Attendance
will help reduce fall risk!
The event will feature comprehensive fall risk
assessments, which include review of medications;
adaptive equipment; medical history and balance,
sensation and blood pressure tests.
“Our goal is to make sure every senior—and
everyone caring for a senior in Oklahoma City knows
that a fall can seriously injure an older adult,” said
Dr. Virginia Harbour, Administrator for Elite Home
Care and an expert in fall prevention. “I
have seen firsthand the devastation preventable
falls can cause to individuals and their loved
ones. We have to do more to raise awareness in
our community. Falls are preventable.”
Visit Offical Website
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OCTOBER 2008 |
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Jeannette Gimenez Holmes Physical Therapy Scholarship
Jessica Vaughn, 3rd year PT student was the first recipient of the Jeannette Gimenez Holmes Physical Therapy Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship was created in memory of Troy Holmes’s wife, Jeannette Gimenez-Holmes, PT. Congratulations Jessica!
October Student 2008 Health Care Employers Scholarships Recipients:
Paige Bryan, Occupational Therapy program
Amanda Coble, Physical Therapy program
Jonna Walden, Occupational Therapy program
The scholarship program was funded by health care employers participating in the College of Allied Health Career Fair 2008. Great job students!
2008 Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Association Occupational Therapist of the Year
Congratulations to Toby Hamilton for being recognized as the 2008 Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Association Occupational Therapist of the Year! She received this award on October 3, 2008 during the OOTA annual conference awards ceremony.
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AUGUST 2008 |
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Growth in Teamwork Fitness in Training
Physical therapy students Julie McMiller, Jamie Steinbrook, and Jennifer Mogg displayed their GIT-FIT (Growth in Teamwork Fitness in Training) program at the Summer Health Institute on August 5th. The Summer Health Institute is a health forum sponsored by the Schools for Healthy Lifestyles (a non-profit organization that promotes healthy lifestyle choices in Oklahoma through preventive, community-based school health education programs for students, their families, and faculty). The GIT-FIT program’s mission is to promote play and active lifestyles in Willow Brook Elementary students by facilitating physical activity and purchasing playground equipment. Physical therapy students spent the year exercising and playing with the students and supported the school by painting the playground and buying outdoor equipment for the students to enjoy.
College of Allied Health Student Association Scholarships
Congratulations to the following students who are the 2008-2009 recipients of the $500 College of Allied Health Student Association Scholarships:
- Neala Ball, Master of Occupational Therapy Program
- Paige Bryan, Master of Occupational Therapy Program
- Angela Jefferson, Master of Physical Therapy Program
- Shelli Novotny, Master of Occupational Therapy Program
- Jonna Walden, Master of Occupational Therapy Program
These students were chosen based on active participation and leadership in student governance, outstanding professional and community service, and exemplary academic achievement. |
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JUNE 2008 |
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Congratulations to the Marquette-Challenge Committee for raising $3,000.00 in this year’s drive to support research in the Physical Therapy Foundation of the American Physical Therapy Association. The committee which consisted of members from the Student Physical Therapy Association within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences included: Ben Vandaveer, Chelsea Brown, Laura Rauh, Amanda Von Raesfeld, Carolyn Thomas and Jennifer Jones.
Pictured on the left is the President of the OUHSC PT Student Chapter of the APTA, Carolyn Thomas, who accepted the award of “Honorable Mention” for the students’ fundraising activities. Pictured on the right is Rich Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA President of the Foundation for Physical Therapy. The Chapter is one of 19 academic programs to receive this recognition. |
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APRIL 2008 |
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1ST ANNUAL ERTL SYMPOSIUM APRIL 18 - 19, 2008
Pictured left to right: Jan Ertl, MD; Christian Ertl, MD; Carol Dionne PT, PhD, OCS, Cert MDT; William Ertl, MD; Marti Ferretti,
PT, MPH, FAPTA; Joseph Ferretti, PhD, Provost
BIG EVENT
Several Department of Rehabilitation Sciences students participated in the Big Event in April 2008. The Big Event is a day of volunteering in the community in which students from OU Norman, OU Tulsa Schusterman Center and OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City all participate. This year several PT and OT students volunteered at a local Oklahoma City school, Willow Brook Elementary School by painting the school playground with sports shapes and touching up the paint on benches and basketball goals. Photos coming soon!
REBUILDING TOGETHER
The occupational therapy class of 2010 joined Rebuilding Together in April to make recommended home modifications for an Oklahoma City resident. They participated in a wide array of activities such as installation of grab bars in the bathroom, painting wood siding, installing new doors, and installing a new bathroom vanity. It was a great opportunity to not only learn about making home modifications, but also to give back to the community.
AOTA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Shannon Fischer, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Student Delegate for OUHSC, attended the AOTA's national conference in April in Long Beach, California. While there she learned about some of the inner workings of AOTA as well as what it means to be a member of AOTA. She also had the opportunity to attend several educational sessions with her future colleagues and fellow students from all over the country.
DEGRACE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AUTISM SPEAKS
Congratulations to Dr. Beth DeGrace who was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Autism Speaks: Walk Now for Autism kick-off luncheon held at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City, OK. Dr. DeGrace presented a lecture titled, “Walk Now for Autism: Be the Momentum” to over 500 people.
OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON
The memorial run this year featured the Department of Rehab Sciences very own “Team Rehab” relay teams including the “Geeks and Geezers” relay team. MPT class 2009 Jai Raney and Laura Rauh participated along with Dr. Carol Dionne and Mr. Don Stover.
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CONGRATULATIONS
TO.... |
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Congratulations to the three faculty member who received awards during the College of Allied Health's spring faculty meeting!
Mary Isaacson: Outstanding Faculty Member in Teaching Award (less than 5 years)
Vince Lepak: Outstanding Faculty Member in Teaching Award (more than 5 years)
Carol Dionne: Outstanding Faculty Member in Service Award (less than 5 years) |
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NEWS |
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 Thelma “Thel” Pedersen, who died on
November 4, 2007 at age 99, founded the University
of Oklahoma’s College of Physical Therapy
in 1954. After twenty-two years of service she
retired as Professor Emeritus in Physical Therapy,
an accomplishment she truly appreciated the rest
of her life.
Miss Pedersen established the physical therapy
curriculum at the University of Oklahoma in 1954.
She served as Department head through 1976. During
her tenure, 398 physical therapy students graduated
from the program. In addition to her academic
responsibilities, Miss Pedersen served as Director
for the Department of Physical Therapy of University
Hospital and Children’s Memorial Hospital
until June 1973. She was a member of the Amputee
Clinic Team for several years at University Hospital.
Miss Pedersen was a member of the Board of Directors
of the American Physical Therapy Association
(APTA) (1961-1964), APTA-OVR Institutes Planning
Committee, the Governor’s Advisory Committee
for Statewide Planning for Vocational Rehabilitation,
Comprehensive Health Survey Committee, Regional
Medical Program Stroke Committee, Board of Governors
of the State Arthritis Committee, Advisory Committee
for United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma and a member
of the State Task Force to the White House Conference
on Aging. She is listed in Who’s Who of
American Women. She was recognized by the APTA
for her many contributions with the Lucy Blair
Service Award. In 1980 the Oklahoma Physical
Therapy Association selected her as a recipient
of the Chapter Founders Award for outstanding
contributions to the profession in Oklahoma.
During her retirement, she was an active volunteer
in many community service programs.
Thel Pedersen’s contributions will forever
be memorialized not only by her family, friends
and colleagues but also by the dedication of
her name to the new laboratory which will be
located in the new College of Allied Health building.
She will also continue to be known by those who
benefit from the scholarship fund that was established
in her name.
Contributions may be made to the Thelma Pedersen
Physical Therapy Fund, payable to the OU Foundation,
100 Timberdell Road, Norman, Oklahoma 73019. |
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Backpack Awareness
Day 2007
National School Backpack Awareness
Day took place on Wednesday, September
19th. First and second year Occupational
Therapy students from the University
of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
and a few area clinicians helped local
students kick off the school year with
interesting safety tips and fun backpack
games. Read more...
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1987 graduate of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences receives University of Oklahoma Regents’ Alumni Award in ceremony on Norman campus on May 13, 2008. 
The annual Elam-Plowman lecture was held on May 2, 2008 with honorary speaker Anthony Delitto, PhD, PT, FAPTA. Dr. Delitto is Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburg. His topic was entitled, “Exploring Critical Links: Patient Outcomes, Clinical Performance and Reimbursement.” 
