SHP Spotlight
February 2021
Clinical Trial Workforce Development Effort Boosts COVID-19 Vaccine Trials
Their task, as part of a multi-million federal grant initiative, is to establish workforce development training to accelerate a quality clinical trial process and translate research into patient care and treatment more quickly.

Their work was put to the test sooner than they ever anticipated in the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine.

Barbara Gladson, Ph.D., associate dean for Academic Affairs at SHP and co-lead of NJACTS' workforce development team, shares how  the grant program is enhancing education and training for the clinical research professionals, and how it prepared the workforce for the quick deployment of vaccine trials.

Carrie Esopenko Awarded $3 Million Grant
Congratulations to Carrie Esopenko, PhD, who received a $3 million RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health for research on the cognitive, psychological, and neuroimaging signatures of head trauma in female survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, or stalking by a current or former intimate partner is a significant public health concern. Approximately one in three women will experience IPV in their lifetime, and research suggests that 40-90% of them report head, face, and neck injuries. This multi-site study led by Rutgers University, with Penn State University, University of Utah, and Harvard University/Brigham Women’s Hospital, leverages the collaborative power of the Enhancing NeuroImaging and Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) IPV Working Group and will develop a study cohort to be followed long-term.
Antonina Mitrofanova Publishes Breast Cancer Treatment Study in EBIO Medicine
In a recent study, Rutgers researchers explored the therapeutic response to a breast cancer treatment drug by using a computational framework to predict treatment resistance based on behavior of molecular pathways. Antonina Mitrofanova, PhD, assistant professor in Health Informatics at Rutgers SHP, is the senior and corresponding author of the work and shares more in a Q&A about the findings, which were published in the November 2020 issue of EBioMedicine. Along with Antonina, other authors of the work include Sarra M. Rahem and Nusrat J. Epsi, and Frederick D. Coffman, all in the Department of Health Informatics.

Sandra Kaplan Manuscript Wins Toby Award
A paper on clinical practice guidelines for physical therapy for children with developmental coordination disorder has been selected as the best paper published in 2020 in the Pediatric Physical Therapy Journal. Co-authored by Sandra Kaplan, DPT professor, the research paper won the Toby Long Award for the best manuscript not adapted from a thesis or dissertation. The clinical practice guidelines provide evidence-based management strategies for PTs dealing with children with this neurodevelopmental disorder.

Scott Parrott is Co-Investigator in HIV Study
Scott Parrott, professor in health sciences and director of Methodology and Statistics, is co-investigator on an RO1 research award received by Dr. Stanley Weiss at NJMS. The award is from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the title is “Outcomes in Demographically Diverse Long-term Drug Abuse Disorder Cohorts at Known High HIV Risk."  Scott started working on the project on Jan. 1. The goal of the study is to advance the understanding of the long-term clinical epidemiology of health outcomes among drug users who are at high risk for HIV.
TeleMed Keeps Student-Led PT Clinic in Operation
With the onset of Covid-19, the faculty and student board members of the Rutgers Newark Community Participatory PT Clinic (CPPTC) worked extensively to implement telehealth to serve their patients and communities. It was not an easy feat, and its success is thanks to the hard work of faculty advisors, student board members, and student volunteers who put in the time and effort to make telehealth work. Kudos to the DPT Programs at Widener and Temple universities who already had telehealth implemented and provided guidance. During the fall semester, 25 volunteers provided 20 telehealth sessions. The clinic is continuing telehealth in the spring semester. Well done all!
It's Time: 2021 Awards of Excellence Nominations are Open for Faculty, Students, Alumni and Volunteers
Nominations for awards recognizing students, faculty, volunteers, and alumni for outstanding work are now being accepted. The first deadline is Feb. 15 - so don't miss the chance to recognize an outstanding colleague or student, or nominate yourself. Nomination forms can all be completed online.

Upcoming Events
February Tech Talks: 2-Factor Authentication, Graphics Tools, Phishing
Feb. 2 at noon -Duo for Two-factor Authentication
Duo will be mandatory for Connect accounts beginning Feb 3. Attend this Tech Talk if you have questions on setting up or using Duo for two-factor authentication. Please register.

Feb. 3 - ExamSoft overview and Q&A Learn more about this educational assessment technology. Please register.

Feb.10 at 1 p.m. - Graphics Tools
Learn several easily available tools for editing images and designing graphic elements. Please register. Please register.

Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. - Box
Our transition to Box is almost complete. If you need assistance with setting up or using Box, please attend this Tech Talk. Please register.

 
Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. - Beware of Phishing
We will go over ways of safeguarding yourself against phishing scams. Please register.
See Our Virtual Workshop and Speaker Series for February
Don't miss opportunities to learn about student doctoral work and teaching innovative strategies. All are from 1-2 p.m. Emails will be sent out a week in advance with the Zoom link.

On Feb. 4, doctoral student Jason Stevens presents "Exploring the Perspectives of Stakeholders on the Role and Impact of Registered Dietitians with the Advanced Practice Certification in Clinical Nutrition."

On Feb. 11, Ph.D. candidate Michael D’Agati presents on "Lumbosacral Thrust Joint Manipulation for Immediate Improvement in Hip and Knee Muscle Strength and Squatting in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain."

On Feb.18, Ph.D. candidate Kevin Readdean examines "Integrated Primary Care Behavioral Health Systems in College Health Centers."

On Feb. 25, faculty Joachim Sackey, MS, PhD and Hamed Samavat, PhD, MSc, present on teaching applied statistics virtually to nutrition clinicians.

Announcements
PA Student Jasmine Flowers, Champion of Diversity in the Profession, Awarded Scholarship
Jasmine Flowers, physician assistant student, was selected as a recipient of 2021 Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Scholarship Award. In her nomination form, she was described as a leader and positive force. She was one of the first to volunteer for the Committee for Inclusion and Diversity, working to raise awareness of health care disparities She helped organize a program-wide Black History Month event and is working with faculty and staff to evaluate the curriculum and make recommendations on issues of racial equity in medical education. She aided in writing a proposal to expand the dermatology curriculum to
be inclusive of darker skin tones. After the George Floyd killing, she wrote an essay that was professional, confident, and unapologetic yet vulnerable. The scholarship recognizes outstanding medical and healthcare students in New
Jersey. Congratulations to Jasmine!
Calling All Students: Get Ready to Apply for SHP Scholarships Beginning on Feb. 3
Each year, SHP awards scholarships to qualified applicants who demonstrate academic and professional achievement in their program and fields.
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Although SHP offers competitive tuition prices and a wide range of financial assistance, we understand that some students still need to cover gaps when paying for their education. Scholarship support lets students focus on what will move them toward future success

Scholarships are available for both new and continuing students. Mark your calendar - on Feb. 3, you can begin applying for the 2021/2022 SHP General Scholarships.

Have news to share? Submit to marcomms@shp.rutgers.edu