As Rutgers researchers launch an important clinical study tracing the spread and consequences of COVID-19 in health care workers and non-healthcare workers, our Physician Assistant students are working right alongside them. In addition to swabbing throats and learning how to gain informed consent, some are earning credits needed to graduate.

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A Rutgers survey of community-based mental health providers highlights the adaptions being made for continuity of service. The survey was conducted by Ken Gill, associate dean and chair of the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, and Aaron Levitt, faculty member. It appears in Rutgers Today, Health Digest, NJ Patch, Futurity and Giving Compass.

Jessica Bennett, a doctoral student in Clinical Nutrition, reflects on how the pandemic has changed how she practices in her clinical rotation:

"COVID-19 has brought many challenges but also some nutrition counseling wins for my patients and myself. Telemedicine visits have been a great way to continue to provide care to high-risk patients or those who felt uncomfortable leaving their homes. Getting a glimpse into their homes has helped me provide more meaningful care. They can literally show me how far away the kitchen is from their home work area and what’s actually in the refrigerator or cabinet. The patients seem more relaxed and more open to discussing their stressors, challenges, and eating behaviors. This experience has helped me be a better dietitian."

Doctor of Clinical Nutrition student and clinical dietitian Shelby Yaceczko is part of a COVID-19 nutrition work group at Keck Hospital of USC that has created nutrition support protocols now being used at Sodexo-affiliated hospital systems nationwide.

The protocols for ICU and medical-surgical patients include overall nutrition, gravity feeding, prone positioning and tube feeding, and micronutrient therapy. They were developed using available evidence and clinical experience from a number of institutions in high-COVID areas.

“I am happy to have been part of a nutrition plan for the COVID surge that I hope will impact many lives,” said Shelby, who anticipates graduating in fall 2022.

Respiratory therapist and SHP Professor Al Heuer shared what it was like during the peak of the pandemic, when he treated critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU of a Morris County Hospital:

“Managing COVID patients on ventilators and seeing too many of them die alone, removing breathing tubes – I’m a pretty emotional guy and sometimes there’s nothing I can do except express my condolences. Our patients are sick and not just with respiratory failure, but kidney, liver, cardiac involvement. I’m wearing an N-95, which is in short supply and is showing wear and tear. If you don’t have a hood, you’re not getting one. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, but this is what I do. This a calling. And I know in my heart of hearts, I am doing my best.”

Learn how to install and use Box in a session offered by IT on Wednesday, May 6 at 2 p.m. Rutgers students, faculty, and staff have the ability to use Box as a tool for sharing and storing files in a cloud. New Box accounts can be created using a Rutgers email address.  Please register to get the Zoom link to join the session.

Are you searching for remote proctoring solution s for your online exams? Proctortrack tool, which is integrated into Canvas, might be the tool that you need. It uses webcams to track student activity during test-taking and flags any suspicious activity for your attention. Register for the demo session on Thursday, May 7 at 1 p.m.

Now is your chance to apply for these 2020 scholarship opportunities:

For more information and to apply, please visit the SHP Scholarship webpage .