Greetings, see what’s new, find out about the latest programs, awards and research initiatives. |
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Marieb College celebrates 10th anniversary |
February 24, 2022 marked the 10th Anniversary of Marieb Hall and the 5th anniversary of the naming of Marieb College of Health & Human Services after the remarkable Dr. Elaine Nicpon Marieb. To honor the late Dr. Marieb’s legacy, the College of Health & Human Services hosted the Marieb Day Showcase Celebration. The event was attended by faculty, staff,students and community partners in SWFL.
Attendees experienced the second annual Anatomical Art Show exhibit hosted by the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Some unique programs that were highlighted at the event included:
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Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an emerging practice area in Occupational Therapy (OT) (Fine, 2015). The FGCU OT program has developed a robust AAT program that offers specialized education on the human-animal bond, expertise in animal handling and application in various rehabilitation contexts (by a range of professionals).
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Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC), an American College of Sports Medicine physical activity promotion program that uses referrals from campus wellness partners to campus recreation for physical fitness consultations, assessments, training session and mentors.
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SEE Me Playgroups – Social Emotional Education therapeutic playgroups are community-based parent and child playgroups aimed at promoting early learning, providing parents with a sense of competence, and allowing socialization opportunities for parents and children.
- The Comparative Healthcare Systems study abroad experience will provide students with the opportunity to explore healthcare through a comparative lens, by comparing and contrasting European healthcare systems with the U.S. healthcare system.
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Home Base, is a free program "designed to help veterans to helps improve their physical health and well-being through supervised physical exercise, education about healthy eating, living, sleep hygiene, stress management and the health benefits of physical activity," according to the Home Base website.
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Shady Rest Foundation devotes funds
to promote careers in eldercare
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Students pursuing degrees in health fields that focus on older people are receiving assistance from a foundation that once offered that help itself but is now passing the torch to a new generation of caregivers. Shady Rest Foundation is the entity that oversees the funds from the sale of a facility run by Lee County to care for low-income seniors. The county eventually turned the care center over to a non-profit corporation and, years later, sold the facility and the land on which it sat near Page Field in south Fort Myers.
Today, the officers of Shady Rest Foundation have chosen to use the money from the sale, in part, to fund scholarships for students who plan to go into healthcare for older adults. The $3 million donation the group has made will go a long way toward assisting FGCU students in the pursuit of that goal with the creation of two endowments. This most recent gift builds upon last year’s generosity of $1 million for current support of these students.
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617 Marieb College students recognized
for their outstanding grades
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Congratulations to our Marieb College of Health & Human Service students who made either the Dean's List or President's List for the Fall 2021 semester.
Four hundred and twenty-two (426) students made the Dean's List by holding a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99 at the end of the semester.
One hundred and ninety-one (191) students made the President's List by holding a perfect 4.0 GPA at the end of the semester.
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FGCU Day 25th Anniversary
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Marieb College hosts over 20 interactive events
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On Saturday February 12, 2022, the FGCU community came together to kick off the university’s 25th Anniversary!
Marieb College students, faculty and staff were actively involved in showcasing the College of Health & Human Services with over 20 interactive events. They ranged from various lab tours, an interactive exhibit hosted by the Department of Health Science, play therapy facilitated by the Department of Counseling and movement breaks led by Exercise Science students. The college’s interim dean, Dr. Shawn Felton, even participated in the pancake cook off event with other university leaders.
The event was one of the biggest in the university’s history with over 4,000 people in attendance. FGCU Day was open to the local community and even had attendees from outside the SWFL region including out of state. |
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Social work grad helping break new ground
in emergency management
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Like many young adults deciding on a college major following the immense popularity of television shows such as “Bones,” “Criminal Minds” and the ubiquitous “CSI” series, Caroline Briones enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University intending to go into the profession of forensic science.
But Briones changed that plan following a heart-to-heart conversation with a Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sister, a social work major who had just won the Marieb College of Health & Human Services Undergraduate Student of the Year Award. Today, armed with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, and after a life-changing study trip to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, Briones is at the forefront of a movement to incorporate social workers into fire departments and other emergency management agencies.
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Counseling in Southwest Florida |
October 31 marked two years since the Student and Community Counseling Center (SCCC) opened on the FGCU campus. The building houses Marieb College’s Department of Counseling, the Community Counseling Center (CCC) and Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).
The CCC offers some of the most affordable mental health counseling in Southwest Florida. Services are offered on a sliding scale, either virtually or in-person, with appointments typically lasting 45 to 50 minutes. Counseling services include relationship, group, family, individual, couples, school consultation and play counseling.
CAPS, a center fully accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services, Inc., provides services to currently enrolled students. As the main source of mental health support and therapy services on campus, it provides various resources for students, including psychiatric services, case management outreach programs, crisis intervention, suicide prevention programs and nutritional counseling, among other things.
The Department of Counseling offers CACREP-accredited graduate-level programs for students. They can earn a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling. |
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Inaugural Nurse Anesthesia White Coat Ceremony |
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There was not a dry eye in the house at the inaugural Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia (DNP NA) White Coat Ceremony. The ceremony was initially planned for August 2021, however it was postponed due to Covid-19. Dr. Virginia Londahl-Ramsey, DNP NA Assistant Program Director stated that even though she was disappointed that the ceremony did not take place in the fall, she felt that the January 27th, 2022 ceremony was even more meaningful for the students after being in clinicals for five months. This ceremony allowed the nursing students to embrace leadership and celebrate becoming advanced providers.
The monumental event for the DNP NA Class of 2023 cohort consisted of the presentation of white coats by DNP NA Program Director Dr. Rosann Spiegel along with Dr. Londahl-Ramsey to 24 students. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Loureen Downes, the Director for the school’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. Students also received a pin and recited the Oath to Compassionate Patient Care, which promotes the advocacy and protection of patient health, safety and rights.
One of the most special moments of the ceremony was when the DNP NA students surprised Dr. Spiegel by presenting her with a bronze plate with an eagle to show their appreciation.
The ceremony was made possible by a grant from the Gold Foundation. The organization established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993 to “highlight the importance of humanism in all care of patients.” Moving forward, the students will now advance to their specialty roles, which include cardiac anesthesiology, spinal taps, epidural and pediatric anesthesiology.
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Outstanding FGCU BSN NCLEX-RN Pass Rate for 2021 |
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When benchmarked by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the BSN Program pass rate at FGCU is the highest of the State University System BSN Programs once again.
The School of Nursing Director, Dr. Ann Nolan, extended her congratulations to Dr. Kelly Goebel, BSN program director, along with all faculty and staff who worked to achieve this result. Dr. Nolan stated that "the effort put in to maintain program standards especially considering COVID has been outstanding."
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An Interdisciplinary Approach to Autism Research |
The University Library and Office of Scholarly Innovation & Student Research hosted the FGCU Community Autism Network for their FGCU Scholar Series on February 23, 2022. The presentation took place at the library and was open to faculty, staff and students. Dr. Ann Tillman (Counseling), Dr. Ellen Donald (Occupational Therapy) and CAN director Dr. Annemarie Connor (Occupational Therapy) spoke about an interdisciplinary approach to autism research. The CAN team consists of faculty representing multiple facets across the university including: the College of Health & Human Services, the College of Education and the College of Arts & Science.
Since its inception in 2021, CAN provides training and opportunities for members of the autism community, service providers, family members, faculty and students. The next opportunity will take place on FGCU’s campus on Saturday April 9, 2022. The Promising Pathways conference will feature Dr. Temple Grandin, a prominent author and an outspoken proponent of autism right and neurodiversity movements.
**OT & PT professionals have the opportunity to earn 6 CEUs by attending the free conference.
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCE |
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Class of 2022 White Coat Ceremony |
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FGCU’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies hosted its White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2022 on Friday, November 12, 2021. The ceremony that took place at the Cohen Student Union Ballroom honored the advancement of 19 students through the presentation of white coats.
The ceremony consisted of remarks from Founding Program Director Robert Hawkes and MPAS Class president Caroline Imiolek. Associate Medical Director Dr. Herman “Joe” Barthel addressed the cohort in his keynote speech.
The white coats were presented by Visiting Assistant Professor Danielle Bell, Robert Hawkes, Assistant Professor Katheryn Knutson, Associate Program Director Kristina Mullins, and Clinical Director Amy Steinhour. The class of 2022 then recited the Declaration of Geneva Physicians’ Pledge by the World Medical Association. This was the third MPAS cohort to receive their white coats.
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PA scholarship recipients meet donor at annual scholarship luncheon |
FGCU Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship student recipients, Sabreen Yousef and Caroline Imiolek had the chance to thank their donors, Dr. Lewis and Mrs. Lily Broslovsky on Friday at the annual FGCU President's Scholarship Luncheon! Their generosity has enabled these students to gain an education and realize their dreams.
Pictured left to right: Sabreen Yousef, PA-S; Dr. Lewis Broslovsky, PA Adjunct and donor; Caroline Imiolek, PA-S; not pictured, Mrs. Lily Broslovsky.
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Human simulators help FGCU students learn how to treat COVID |
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Students at Florida Gulf Coast University are getting a hands-on experience learning how to diagnose and treat COVID-19.
Through human simulators purchased from a Sarasota company, CAE Healthcare, FGCU students are able to learn more about how to recognize COVID.
"The simulators can make sounds. They have pulses. Their eyes move. They can talk to the patients. They have all of the cardiac and respiratory changes, so the students can listen to the mannequin to the simulator breathe. They can hear the various lung sounds," explained Robert Hawkes, director of the Physician Assistant Program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
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DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SCIENCES |
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Dr. Lynn Jaffe Receives 2022 AOTA Retired Educator's Commendation |
Congratulations to Dr. Lynn Jaffe, Occupational Therapy Program Director, for being selected to receive the 2022 American Occupational Therapy Association's Retired Educator's Commendation. Dr. Jaffe retired in February 2022 after serving as FGCU's Occupational Therapy program as Program Director for the last seven years.
Marieb College hosted a retirement celebration in her honor to celebrate the strides she has made with the university's Occupational Therapy program. Dr. Jaffe was nominated and subsequently awarded Emeritus status given to faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship and service and a commitment to FGCU's mission.
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Senior draws on interest in medical illustration to shape unique career |
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Rehabilitation Sciences Alumnus wins Soaring Eagle 2022 Award |
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Last summer, FGCU senior Kaitlyn Arace caused a stir at her neighborhood Starbucks.
Skeletons don’t appear every day at the local coffee shop, but Arace got used to the stares as she wheeled in a 5-foot-7 skeletal replica borrowed from a friend majoring in forensic science. She’d order an espresso at the counter, choose a table in the corner and arrange the skeleton for optimal lighting. When everything was just right, she’d pull out her sketch pad and get to work, hardly noticing the looks from other customers.
Once in a while, someone would stop by her table. “You must be a medical student,” they’d say. Arace would shake her head, no. “I’m a medical illustrator.”
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The Soaring Eagle Award is presented annually to acknowledge alumni for "outstanding achievement or service in their professional or volunteer life".
Robert Sorenson is a graduate of the 2012 class of the Human Performance Program (now Exercise Science). When Sorenson applied to FGCU, he may not have known the impact that his education would have on his future. Looking back, Robert told us, "I would not be in the position that I am now without my education through FGCU's Human Performance Program."
Sorenson learned in the program that he has a passion for helping individuals age actively, and has gone on to earn a master's degree in gerontology and is currently working toward a doctorate of education in health Professions.
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Brooks, L., Medina, R., Pitts, C. J., Dahlem, C. H. (Gina), Downes, L., & Beard, K. V. (2022). Building a culturally responsive workforce: Faculty of color in nursing education. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.12.019
Ebersole, D., Sabella, R.A., Shaul, D. (2022). Building bonds. ASCA School Counselor.
Sabella, R.A. (2021). Where is wellness? Look back. ASCA School Counselor
Spiegel, R., Kendig, S. (2023). Moving Toward Accountable Care: A Policy Framework to Transform Healthcare Delivery and Reimbursement. In K. A. Goudreau & M.C. Smolenski (Eds.), Health Policy and Advanced Practice Nursing: Impact and Implications, 3rd Edition. Springer Publishing Company, LLC., New York.
Tilman, A. L. (2021, December). Counter point: The primary therapeutic relationship comes first. Point-Counter Point-The Middle Ground. Play Therapy.
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