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18 SHP Alums share their experiences navigating the new normal of COVID-19 (PG. 6) PERSEVERANCE IN A PANDEMIC PER· SE· VER· ANCE: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, especially in spite of difficulties or obstacles ALUMNI FEATURE 6 Virtual Ways to Connect (PG. 3) 9 Award Winners and Honorees (PG. 5) NEW-NORMAL ISSUE UAB // SHP Impressions of Alumni ExcellenceSNAPSHOTS 2 SNAPSHOTS 2 IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE STORY LETTER FROM THE DEAN 3 Get Engaged New normal means new ways to impact others 4 SHP Excellence Check out recent alumni awards and accolades 5 Alumni Advice Alumni offer words of encouragement 6 COVID-19 Feature Profiles of alumni successfully navigating a new normal Cover and feature photography / #UABUnited graphics courtesy of UAB Photographer/University Relations Hello, Puzzles come in many forms like jigsaw, crossword and Sudoku. And they can puzzle you in many ways like mechanically, mathematically and logically. But those who love the challenge will agree that the best puzzles are the most difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a puzzle in every sense: challenging, confusing, and overwhelming. It is also an onerous puzzle with fragmented sections, disconnected pieces and – at the time of this writing – no known solution. However, if you look at the work of SHP alumni across the U.S. you will begin to see the puzzle picture developing. You will see patterns of people adapting to meet needs of their constituents, adjusting to fill the gaps left by displaced organizations, and taking action whenever and wherever necessary. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Snapshots and are inspired by our alumni who are the missing pieces to the puzzles of life for so many in need. Sincerely, Andrew J. Butler, PhD Dean, UAB School of Health Professions SHP ALUMNI E-MAGAZINE • FALL 2020 33 /uabshp Though social distancing has limited our traditional events and on-campus activities, it hasn’t stopped us from staying connected. In fact, going virtual has expanded our alumni programming opportunities. /uab_shp ◗ Alumni Town Halls: Interactive sessions connect alumni to SHP, where they can ask questions, learn about our COVID-19 response, and our future plans. ◗ HSA Webinar Series: Monthly educational sessions provide pertinent programming on topics that impact health care. ◗ Group Discussions: Genetic Counseling students faculty and alumni gather virtually to share insights. uab_shpuabshp ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT UAB School of Health Professions DON’T MISS OUT: update your contact info at uab.edu/shp/alumni to receive SHP news & more. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Stay up-to-date on all SHP news, webinars & virtual events. ◗ WEBINARS ◗ ENDOWED LECTURES ◗ NETWORKING EVENTS ◗ CLASS REUNIONS ◗ PANEL DISCUSSIONS ◗ TOWN HALLS ONLINE: uab.edu/shp/give PHONE: Answer a student call or dial 205-996-5469 MAIL: Send a check ESTATE: Make a planned gift MATCH: Ask your employer to match your gift HOST Breakfast with Blazers or Ask an Alum GIVE a guest lecture BECOME a preceptor, clinical instructor or mentor PARTICIPATE in 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 STAY CONNECTEDSNAPSHOTS 4 Alumni Accolades Our alumni are consistently recognized for service to their professions and to others — here are some of our most recent honorees. Lakesha Kinnerson (HIM, 2001) Selected to serve on the 2021 AHIMA Nominating Committee. Norman Bolus (NMT, 1989) Awarded Outstanding Committee Member by UAB Faculty Senate. Lisa Altamirano (PT, 1998) Received Marilyn Gossman Award for Outstanding Professionalism by the APTA Alabama Chapter. Chris Eidson (OT, 1999) Received the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Cathleen Erwin (PhD, Admin-Health Services, 2010) Received the 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Academy of Management Division of Health Care Management. Jeannine Cain (HIM, 2011, MSHI, 2015) elected 2021 AHIMA Speaker-Elect, House of Delegates. Dominique Forte (PT, 2015) Received the Emerging Leader Award from the APTA Alabama Chapter. Donna Tope (MSHA Class 48) Named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class of 2020. Jim Shmerling (MSHA Class 14) was named one of Greater Hartford’s Top 25 Health Care Power Players by The Hartford Business Journal. SHP EXCELLENCE SHP ALUMNI E-MAGAZINE • FALL 2020 5 ALUMNI ADVICE SHANEQUA ROSCOE (CLS, 2017) I am so excited that you have decided to join the UAB SHP family! I know that you are excited also and maybe a bit anxious or nervous, but it is one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. You were accepted into your program, because you are more than capable of completing it and doing well. Always remember that. LAMARIO WILLIAMS (BMD, 2017) You’re beginning the next step of your academic career at UAB, an institution with a tremendous amount of opportunities. There will be difficulty in the road ahead, but you’ve already accomplished so much (particularly since you’ve made it to this step in this tumultuous year). If you stay persistent, ease will surely come. Keep ya head up! ERIN KILLEN (OT, 2016) Welcome to the UAB family and to the School of Health Professions. As a recent alumni, I am so excited for you and for your future! During your time at UAB, you will find that you will make memories, friendships, form professional relationships and connections, and obtain the knowledge and information to make you successful in your future career. ANNE HUBBELL (NS, 1987) May your time at UAB lead to the unfolding of your future in unimaginable ways, as it did for me! I was seeking to advance my knowledge and gain practical experience in preventive medicine and I was led to UAB, specifically to the MS program in clinical nutrition. Know that you are welcome! Words of Encouragement Fall semester looked different — orientations were online, classrooms were social distanced and everyone wore masks. SHP alumni, steadfast as always, share encouraging words of support for our students. COVID-19: Navigating A New Normal All collage photos courtesy of UAB Photographer/University RelationsLAUREN BERETICH ● FRED GILBERT ● CHRIS HEDLICH ● CAMERON INGRUM ● WENDY JENKINS BRITTANY JONES ● WENDY KIEPEK ● KAREN KOCH ● CAROLINE MARTIN SHELBY MAY ● JONATHAN PILGRIM ● KATIE REES ● DANIELLE REVOYR ● DHARA SHAH ELLEN STRUNK ● UMA SRIVASTAVA ● SHAWN ULREICH ● DISHON WILLIAMS SHP Alumni adeptly adjust to meet the needs of this pandemic — advancing technology, rehab/therapy, patient care, community outreach, nutrition, and leadership.SNAPSHOTS 8 TECHNOLOGY I was able to use the simulation debriefing language skills, making me a much more effective leader than I would have been. T here are so many sayings about adapting to disruption like, rain and growth, lemons and lemonade, inconvenience and opportunity. But if there is anyone who truly understands change, it is Shelby May (MSHS, 2019) who was born in Delaware and attended 17 different schools prior to graduating high school in Mobile, Alabama. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, May and her team at the UAB Office of Interprofessional Simulation had to change everything. They needed to continue to expose health care professionals to delicate situations without exposing them to a potentially deadly virus. “We adapted much of what we do to digital in order to continue providing simulations that allowed our health care providers to train safely for patient care,” said May. “We established virtual simulations via Zoom for The Poverty Simulation and The Opioid Simulation. We converted all simulation evaluations to online, which meant extra training for the entire staff.” The requests received have changed dramatically as well. May says there are more requests for procedural simulation and more requests for personal protective equipment (PPE) safety testing where they have helped with the new hire swab testing training for UAB’s many COVID-19 testing centers. Also, there was an immediate spike for virtual immersive simulations for students who were not able to go on campus due to coronavirus restrictions all across the U.S. May says her biggest reward has been the ability to directly impact those affected by the coronavirus. Coming up with safe ways to conduct the program shows the tremendous benefit of simulation for health care providers and learners. She recognizes deeper parallels in simulation and reality as simulation allows professionals a safe learning environment, which focuses on patient safety and work safety. The pandemic has caused everyone to pivot in how they work. For May, it has caused her to pivot the lessons she learned while earning her MS in Healthcare Simulation. “I thought I would use the debriefing skills obtained in a learner-facilitator capacity — which I have — but I have also used them in meetings while discussing new implementations. Change can be hard and brings up the need for difficult conversations. I was able to use the simulation debriefing language skills to navigate these conversations, making me a much more effective leader than I would have been without the UAB SIM program.” And that is her advice to the next generation of health care leaders – embrace and look for ways to change and adapt. She sees simulation as an opportunity to look at the big picture of how health care can and should be. “Go into simulation with an open mind and try to learn as much about every aspect of the field as you can. You may be surprised by what you fall into and what you really enjoy. There is a lot of room for intellect and creativity in simulation.” ■ SHELBY MAY (MSHS, 2019) Program Manager, UAB Office of Interprofessional Simulation Birmingham, AL SHP ALUMNI E-MAGAZINE • FALL 2020 9 TECHNOLOGY WENDY KIEPEK (MSHI, 2000) IT Executive Director, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN T he pandemic underscored the importance of health informatics in care and outcomes. Wendy Kiepek (MSHI, 2000), IT Executive Director at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and her team quickly adapted their work —leading the COVID assessment center, creating a COVID service-line, and in clinical expansions. “We prepared for large increases in hospital admissions, rapidly expanded telehealth capabilities, and facilitated remote work by non- clinical employees,” said Kiepek. “Our teams collaborated with business leaders across the enterprise to identify the most critical needs and we responded in an agile way to provide technology solutions to address multiple scenarios. Our system enhancements, software distribution, and training to support COVID-19 care have been extensive.” ■ ACTIONS: ◗ Leveraged communication tools to notify patients in real time of their test results. ◗ Used technology to enable clinicians to safely communicate with COVID-19 patients. ◗ Deployed dashboards to accurately monitor COVID-19 response resources. OUTCOMES: ◗ Increased bed capacity, preventing overwhelmed surge in COVID-19 patients. ◗ Reduced probabilities for infection spread through facilities and employee population. ◗ Sustained focus on positive patient experience during uncertain time.Next >