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SNAPSHOTS UAB School of Health Professions • Impressions of Alumni Excellence • Spring 2019 E-Magazine GET INVOLVED SHP ALUMNI FEATURE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION ALUMNI IN ACTION TRAILBLAZERS ISSUE /uabshp UAB School of Health Professions /uab_shp /uabshp /uab_shp Join our GLOBAL CONVERSATION on your favorite MEDIA OUTLET. ➤ Doctorre McDade, (first cohort in MS in Healthcare Simulation) wins the Student Division of the UAB Graduate School’s Say it In 6 competition. ➤ For the latest news visit: uab.edu/shp/news The Versatility of Practitioners It is always interesting to see buzz word descriptions finally catch up with the great work of our alumni. Take Amanda Phillips for example – converting cars for children to use is today’s “life hack”; or Rusty English – who became a “value proposition” himself; or Jennifer Taylor Agricola – with “transformative” work for a Ugandan orphanage; or Gigi Carter – causing “disruption” with her plant-based workplace efforts or Chris and Megan Davis taking “functional fitness” beyond client expectations. But if you look beyond the catchy phrases and you drop the labels you see one word that defines each of these, as well as the majority of School of Health Professions’ alumni – versatility. In this issue of Snapshots we look at the ability of our alumni to successfully and simultaneously adapt, solve complex problems, and accomplish a variety of goals. We hope their stories inspire you, the way they’ve inspired us. SHP NEWS ➤ Andrew J. Butler, PhD, MPT, MBA, named SHP dean. He comes to UAB on July 1 from Georgia State University. ➤ MSHA is the new #1 in U.S. News & World Report rankings for Best Grad Schools in Health Care Management. { SNAPSHOTS } Impressions of SHP Alumni Excellence • Spring 2019 2call for Visit uab.edu/SHPAlumniAwards to nominate our best and brightest alumni — deadline is October 15. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI • YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT • ALUMNI SERVICE 2019 SHP ALUMNI AWARDS DON’T MISS OUT: update your contact info at uab.edu/shp/alumni to receive alumni news & more. Go. Give. Serve. Your SHP education is the foundation that built your future. Today, the place that helped build your future offers many ways for you to help build others’ futures. MAY 8: Graduate Programs in Health Administration Alumni Reception – Knoxville, TN MAY 11: National Alumni Society Run – Birmingham, AL MAY 19: PA Reception, AAPA - Denver, CO JUNE 7: DSc 10th Anniversary - Birmingham, AL JUNE 20: UAB Excellence in Business Top 25 - Birmingham, AL ONLINE: uab.edu/shp/give PHONE: Answer the call from a student in the Annual Giving Office or call us at 205-996-5469 MAIL: Send a check ESTATE: Leave a legacy with a planned gift MATCH: Ask your employer to match your gift HOST Breakfast with Blazers GIVE a guest lecture BECOME a preceptor or clinical instructor BE a mentor WRITE welcome notes to incoming students PARTICIPATE in one of our many service opportunities See all upcoming events! Visit our event page: uab.edu/shpevents Make a difference! Contact Katie Adams: katiedav@uab.edu Get involved today! Contact Amanda Sherman: asherman@uab.edu GET INVOLVEDGIVE BACKSERVE OTHERS SHP ALUMNI E-MAGAZINE • SPRING 20193Alumni Excellence Our alumni are consistently recognized for service to their professions and to others — here are some of our most recent honorees. SHARE YOUR SUCCESS: Tell us about your honors & achievements. shpalumni@uab.edu • 205-975-8415. Jana Cason, OT 1988 , received the AOTA Emerging and Innovative Practice Award Peter Yen, ExecMSHA Class E52 , was awarded as Preceptor of the Year for the Physician Assistant Studies program Kidada Hawkins, MSHA Class 41 , was named as an African American Leader in healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review Candice Saunders, MSHA Class 24 , was selected as a Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women Leaders Melissa Donaldson, MS, RD, LD, SNS received the 2019 Outstanding Preceptor Award from the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP) group and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Ashley Parish (DPT, 2013) Ryan Babl (DPT, 2010) Dana Daniel Blake (PT, 1995) Brent Congo (PT, 2001) Michael DuBois (DPT, 2014) Dominque Forte (DPT, 2015) Fred Gilbert (DPT, 2015) Toshio Sidney-Ando Leeper (DPT, 2012) Kimberly Monk (DPT, 2010) Elizabeth Moore (DPT, 2013) Josh Smith (DPT, 2015) Aaron Weeks (DPT, 2014) Caroline Sarratt, MSHA Class 45, Florida ACHE Chapter Lee Ann Benson, MSHA Class 39, Tennessee ACHE Chapter Katie Carpenter Sturhr, MSHA Class 44 , Alabama ACHE Chapter ACHE Early Careerist Healthcare Executive Award PT Alumni who earned Specialist Certifications ALUMNI RECOGNITION 4Alumni in Action Oh the places our alumni go! No place is too far or too close for our alumni to get together. Anjali Upadhyaya (MSHA Class 52), Corey Lovelace (HCM 2011; MSHA Class 47), Carolyn Hunter (MSHA Class 48) LVR alumni share memories and laughs following the conference held at UAB. OT alumni “laissez le bon temps rouler” at our reception in the Big Easy. SHP Junior Advisory Board Annual Retreat to connect and brainstorm new ideas for the coming year while having a little fun. Physical Therapy alumni and faculty at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting Health Services Administration alumni and friends at the annual HIMSS Conference. Health Services Administration alumni gathered to connect over dinner. JAB Retreat — Birmingham, AL CSM — Washington, DC HIMSS Networking Luncheon — Orlando, FL HSA GPHA Networking Reception — Washington, DC ACHE Reception — Chicago, IL AOTA Annual Conference — New Orleans, LA Envision Conference — Birmingham, AL ALUMNI RECOGNITION SHP ALUMNI E-MAGAZINE • SPRING 20195The path to success is never a straight road – career tracks can encounter potholes, detours, and crashes. We introduce you to SHP alumni who navigated obstacles and leaned into curves and ultimately traveled to a non-traditional health care victory lane. BLAZING NEW TRAILS ALUMNI FEATURERUSTY ENGLISH (MSHA Class 40, 2007) Navy Appropriations Legislative Liaison for the Defense Health Program R usty English is presently the Navy Appropriations Legislative Liaison for the Defense Health Program (DHP) and Military Personnel, Navy (MPN) portfolios. “I’ve always believed that you shouldn’t go to work to make a living, but to make a difference.” English, alumnus of the M.S. in Health Administration program (Class 40), is not like most people. For most people, you mention the U.S. Navy and visions of aircraft carriers or Top Gun or seeing the world come to mind. For English – who vividly remembers the passenger plane hitting the World Trade Center second tower – something else came to mind. “While there were many factors that led me to Navy Medicine, one rises above the rest – The Desire to Serve,” said English. “All of us in health care made a choice to serve people; I wanted to serve our sailors, Marines, and their families who made the choice to serve our Country.” He is not surprised the MSHA program was recently ranked #1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in the category of Best Grad Schools in Health Care Management. English says UAB’s education is top notch, but only one dimension of the benefit. He pointed out that the program goes beyond the classroom with rotations, a strategic management project, and a fellowship that prepared him “to immediately bring experience to the decision-making table, and add value to the organization from day one.” English graduated the MSHA program in the spring of 2007 and reported to duty at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) that summer. He calls the experience he gained as a business manager and administrative officer “phenomenal”, but says it was the mentorship he received that will always stand out. And because of that, it is his first – and best – advice to everyone. “Have mentors - several of them, and never hesitate to bounce things off of them. Have the courage and humility to challenge your own views, and welcome criticism – it builds transparency and trust,” said English. “Then pay it forward – take care of those around you, and always – no matter how busy you are – develop your team, and make time for your people.” At each tour stop, English was giving more responsibility including being the Comptroller and Director for Resource Management (CFO) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His active duty service culminated as part of the Continuing Promise 2015 Mission, when the USNS COMFORT (one of the Navy’s hospital ships) deployed to Central and South America for 6 months on a global health engagement mission. “For the medical engagements, we would set-up and operate surgical and medical sites, at times seeing over 1,800 patients per day,” said English. “Many of those memories are still vivid today including one in Buenaventura, Columbia. Our Medical Team of about 100 people, turned the corner approaching the site and a crowd estimated in excess of 3,000 people broke out into cheering and waving thousands of hand-held American flags. It was an incredibly rewarding and emotional moment.” These are events English never would have experienced had he taken the traditional route as a hospital administrator. And that is his final piece of advice – create your own path and your own future. “Don’t chase other people’s definition of success. Take the time to develop your personal vision – know what makes you happy, and “get after it”! SHP ALUMNI E-MAGAZINE • SPRING 20197J enny Taylor Agricola is an occupational therapist and the lead SCI therapist at Spain Rehabilitation Center as well as the founder and director of Our Hope International. “Our Hope impacts people. The children’s lives are different because of Our Hope and those who visit the orphanage leave changed because of the joy of helping a child be healthy and well.” As an undergraduate student, Jenny Taylor Agricola was completing observation hours while exploring what she wanted to do. While observing occupational therapists, she watched them work with a patient who wanted to be able to type on a keyboard again so they could return to work. “I loved the functional aspect of this,” said Agricola. “As an OT, you work on specific tasks that an individual wants to accomplish.” In so many ways, Agricola’s statement is about more than just her career choice – it is about the essence of who she is as a person. In 2011, while on a mission trip in Uganda, she visited Home of Hope – a home for children and an orphanage for special needs children. “I met the director, Edith Lukabwe, and the 25 amazing children living there at that point and I knew I wanted to do more after the trip ended,” said Agricola. Shortly after she returned, Agricola founded Our Hope International with fellow UAB OT alumna Leslie Simms (MSOT 2006; LVR Certificate 2007) and husband Ryan. From humble beginnings in 2011, the organization has grown to include a 10-member board and a 16-member junior board. Even more impressive, the Our Hope International has more than doubled the number of children they serve, with 66 children at Home of Hope today. Though it sounds simple and easy, she says it was at times difficult and challenging, yet totally rewarding. “The biggest challenge was learning and understanding the culture. I had to figure out the best way to approach tasks and I had to resist the urge of just wanting to fix things,” said Agricola. “It was important for me to foster relationships more than push my thoughts and ideas. I had to understand what was feasible. I could share my knowledge, skills, activities, etc., but if they weren’t able to keep up the momentum then it wouldn’t be helpful.” Over the years she has witnessed countless memorable moments – so many that she says it is hard to choose one that is the best. However, one of her favorites is when her husband (then fiancé) Corey visited Uganda for the first time. “Everyone welcomed him with open arms,” says Agricola. “And at our wedding, the group of women who have traveled with me to Uganda and Edith danced in traditional gomesi dresses and this solidified my view that Our Hope is a family.” Her best advice to someone seeking a non- traditional path: “Find a mentor, someone who has been there and who has done similar work. Most of all, follow what you feel you are led to do and take it one step at a time.” JENNY TAYLOR AGRICOLA (MSOT, 2006; LVR, 2007) Lead SCI Therapist, Spain Rehabilitation Center Founder, Our Hope International • ourhopeinternational.com 8“Our Hope impacts people. The children’s lives are different because of Our Hope and those who visit the orphanage leave changed because of the joy of helping a child be healthy and well.” Agricola’s organization has grown to include a 10-member board and a 16-member junior board. Plus, the number of children served has grown from 25 to 66. UAB OCCUPATIONAL THERAPYNext >