IN THE INTERIM...

PETER CAHN, PhD

Interim Dean, SHRS

In my nine years at the Institute, I have served in several roles: associate provost for academic affairs, director of the Center for Interprofessional Studies and Innovation, and now interim dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. One constant focus has been a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).

Actually, nine years ago, we didn’t use the words we have now for advancing anti-oppression. When I joined what was then called the Diversity Council, we devoted efforts to increasing participation from groups traditionally underrepresented in the health professions. A visiting speaker added another term to my vocabulary. Diversity, she said, is inviting everyone to the party. Inclusion is asking them to dance.

With the establishment of the JEDI office at the Institute, two new letters moved to the front of the acronym. It is important to welcome people from all identity groups and make them feel welcome. “Justice” and “equity” convey that we must also strive to dismantle the systems of power that make it difficult for some people to enter graduate study or receive health care in the first place.

Members of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences have embraced JEDI initiatives as a key component of our mission. They have participated in the equity advocate program to mitigate bias in faculty searches. They have launched mentoring programs for students from minoritized groups. They have revised curricula to incorporate cultural considerations of care. These efforts are not just nice to do; they equip our learners with the skills necessary to promote optimal health.

So, when one of our recent graduates perpetrated a hate crime, it jolted SHRS faculty, staff, and students who have invested so much to counter a long history of racism. We mourn for Ramona Cooper and David Green, the victims of this heinous act. To honor their legacy, we must redouble our commitment to all the concepts that JEDI represents. This tragic and violent deviation from our values does not illustrate the failure of our efforts, but rather how much harder we must work to uproot destructive ideologies.

We will all have to arrive at a personal narrative that makes sense of the senseless murders of Ms. Cooper and Mr. Green. If you would like support in processing your thoughts and feelings, please consider the following resources:

Student/Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential counseling and has provided suggestions for coping after a traumatic event
Assistant Dean for Faculty and Student Success Mike Boutin is available for academic support
The JEDI Office has compiled readings on racism and discrimination.
MGH Spiritual Care has reached out to the Institute to offer its services to faculty, staff, and students

New Occupational Therapy Faculty

The Department of Occupational Therapy is excited to welcome two new faculty, Dr. Kathleen Lyons and Dr. Ariel Schwartz, to the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences this fall.

Dr. Kathleen Lyons will be joining the MGH Institute as a senior scientist and faculty in the OT and PhD Programs this fall. Dr. Lyons comes to the MGH Institute from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center where she was a Senior Scientist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. Dr. Lyon’s extensive programs of research have been funded through multiple agencies, most recently the NCI and PCORI. Her work has centered around participant-driven care in cancer treatment and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on integrating physical and mental health self-management. Dr. Lyons has worked on a number of interprofessional research teams and is a sought-out collaborator / mentor in occupational therapy research and implementation science. She was recently inducted into the AOTF Academy of Research which recognizes individuals who have made exemplary and distinguished contributions toward the science of occupational therapy.

Dr. Ariel Schwartz will be joining the EL-OTD program as an Assistant Professor and member of the full-time faculty. Dr. Schwartz comes to the MGH Institute from Boston University where she completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Ariel is a double terrier, obtaining her Masters in Occupational Therapy, and a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from BU. Her undergraduate degree is from Wesleyan University where she double majored in Disability Studies and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry. Ariel has partnered with many educational and clinical organizations in her research supporting transition age youth with disabilities. She is a strong interprofessional collaborator and her work with young adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities has been disseminated widely in peer reviewed journals, nationally and internationally. Ariel has taught and mentored occupational therapy students at BU and we look forward to welcoming her to campus this fall.

The OT Department is thrilled to have Kathy and Ariel join our OT team and look forward to the SHRS community meeting them this fall!

SHRS Dean's Office

Peter S. Cahn, PhD

Interim Dean, SHRS

pcahn@mghihp.edu

617-724-6138

Mary Ellen Ferolito

Asst Dean of Operations

mferolito@mghihp.edu

617-724-4841

Emile R "Mike" Boutin, Jr, EdD

Asst Dean for Faculty & Student Success

eboutin@mghihp.edu

617-726-8021

SHRS welcomes first cohort of SLPD Students

By Bridget Perry, PhD, CCC-S

The Clinical Doctorate in Speech Language Pathology (SLPD) program is looking forward to welcoming its first cohort of 14 students on September 8th. The program, which is delivered primarily online, is designed to prepare certified speech-language pathologists with a strong desire to advance their clinical practice and leadership skills to assume advanced professional roles both within the field and within interprofessional teams. In preparation for its launch, the program recently welcomed two new faculty members, Elizabeth Rosenzweig, Ph.D., CCC-SLP and Megan Schliep, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, and a program manager, Rebecca White, to the team. Students will be joining us from six states including Texas, Illinois, Utah, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Two current CSD faculty members, Jennifer Mackey and Lisa Moran, will be also be entering the program as SLPD students. The program has two points of entry, so we are looking forward to reviewing applications for the Summer 2022 Cohort while the Fall 2021 Cohort gets up and running.

Reflections on the Inaugural GC Graduation

Maureen Flynn, MS, CGC, MPH

The MGH Institute has achieved another milestone – the inaugural cohort of M.S. Genetic Counseling students graduated in May 2021!

When I started at the IHP in 2016, I had wonderful and high expectations for this Program and of our students. And yet, the students truly exceeded every expectation that I had. They chose to complete their training at a newly established Genetic Counseling Program; their boldness and confidence in paving the way will undoubtedly carry them through their entire professional lives. I know that they will be great leaders in the genetic counseling field, because they demonstrated leadership during graduate school. They pivoted from starting their graduate training in-person to completing the remaining majority virtually, all the while maintaining strong relationships and community during a global pandemic.

It is also particularly rewarding to now follow their accomplishments post-graduation. A high percentage of our alums had their Capstone research projects selected for platform presentations at our national conference (NSGC) this fall, with many more abstracts accepted for poster presentations. I have been receiving notes from their new colleagues about what a pleasure it is to have an IHP alum on their team. And an e-mail exclaiming “I passed!” after an alum takes their board examination is another cause for celebration.

To be an educator is a privilege. While the multitude of administrative roles and accreditation workload can be draining, any interaction with a student fills my tank. I teach a course during their first semester and a course during their final semester; this continuity of engagement with them is very rewarding. Serving as a faculty advisor and hosting many individual meetings with students allows for personal connections and professional development conversations. I was recently told in a mentor goal-setting discussion that my face lights up when I talk about students; it feels really gratifying to know that.

It is also a privilege to work with faculty and staff who are so earnestly and passionately committed to students and their training. I have always known the importance of surrounding oneself with amazing, smart, and supremely talented colleagues, and I am so grateful to our GC team, particularly Gayun Chan-Smutko, Allison Cirino, Sanae Maouhoub, and Ann Seman. While we all worked long and hard to reach inaugural graduation, it still feels like it happened in the blink of an eye. But now, we have the pleasure to officially reference former students as colleagues!

PPOTD and SLPD Programs Welcome New Program Manager

Our new PPOTD and SLP-D programs enthusiastically welcome Rebecca White to the IHP in her new role as Program Manager. Rebecca joins us from Boston University where she served in a similar role in the School of Law for the past four years. She lives on the South Shore with her husband and daughter, Lena. To learn more about Rebecca, please visit her “Community Profile” Padlet.

Prior to joining the IHP community, Rebecca worked at BU School of Law and George Washington University.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Rebecca has lived in Pittsburgh, Pa, Washington DC, and Arlington, VA.

Rebecca graduated with a BA in Anthropology and Geography from GWU and a Master of International Development, focusing on environmental sustainability, from the University of Pittsburgh.

Welcome, Rebecca!

New Faces in SHRS

Kathy Lyons, ScD, OTR

OT Faculty

Aimee Perron, PT, DPT, NCS

PT CPD Liaison

Elizabeth Rosenzweig, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT

SLPD faculty

Ariel Schwartz, PhD, OTR/L

OT Faculty

Rebecca White

PPOTD and SLPD Program Manager

PT Collaborates in Pediatric Rare Disease Research with MGB

Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Elise Townsend, PhD, DPT, PCS conducts pediatric rare disease clinical research with co-investigators from MGH Departments of Neurology and Neurogenetics, and the MGH Center for Rare Neurological Diseases. Together, she and PhD RS doctoral student Dr. Michael Kiefer, DPT are collaborating with Dr. Florian Eichler, MD and patient advocacy groups to quantify functional status and variability in motor function in leukodystrophies across childhood, and establish a disease-specific rating scale for GM2 Gangliosidosis (Tay-Sachs Disease) that could be applied to future clinical trials. The team has launched several studies this year, including a phase 1-3 safety and efficacy drug trial evaluating motor function in Alexander disease and phase 1-2 gene therapy trials in infantile and juvenile GM2 Gangliosidosis (Tay-Sachs or Sandhoff Disease). Dr. Townsend relays, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Dr. Eichler and his team to provide expertise in pediatric motor function assessment and support the design and conduct of groundbreaking clinical trials aimed at improving survival and function in infants and children with rare genetic diseases.”

Donna Applebaum awarded Lucy Blair Service Award

Donna Applebaum, DPT, assistant professor of physical therapy and director of clinical education in the Physical Therapy Department, was named the recipient of the 2021 Lucy Blair Service Award by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The award, which honors the legacy of pioneering physical therapist Lucy Blair, is given to those with exceptional contributions, including leadership and service, to the APTA. Donna is an active member of the APTA and dedicates time to serve the physical therapy profession in many ways but specifically in advancing clinical education. She currently Chairs the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) Membership Review Task Force and is working with the APTA Education Leadership Partnership to develop a long-term strategy to advance PT education. Donna will be recognized for this achievement at the APTA Centennial Celebration in September.

Genetic Counseling Program Pilot of Faculty Advising

Recently, the IHP rolled out its newest version of the Faculty Advising Manual. In order to provide our SHRS programs with resources to support their efforts as faculty advisors, Mike Boutin, Asst Dean for Faculty and Student Success, proposed the use of three documents to align our practices with the intention and philosophy of the Faculty Advising Manual: an SHRS Individual Advising Form, a Group Advising Form, and a Suggested Touchpoints list.

These documents have been reviewed by our JEDI Office, who provided invaluable feedback, along with feedback from other stakeholders.

The Genetic Counseling program has agreed to pilot the use of these documents and to provide feedback on what has worked and what needs revision. We hope to be able to provide feedback from the pilot in the spring. Thanks to Maureen Flynn, Guy Chan Smutko, and to the GC faculty for their willingness to work on refining these resources!

Baby Day on Fri, Oct 29

Child Development Day (aka Baby Day) is going virtual - again! We are looking for children 6 months-3 years old and their parents/caregivers, on Friday, October 29th.

Three virtual shifts available:

· 8:00–9:00 a.m.

· 9:15–10:15 a.m.

· 10:30–11:30 a.m.

If you are interested in taking part in this virtual event, please RSVP to RSVP to Mary Ellen Ferolito by Friday, September 24^th with your name and your child's name and date of birth. Please indicate your shift preference. If you and your child could participate in two sessions, or if you have multiple children who could do different sessions, please let us know.

”Education is the most

powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

— NELSON MANDELA

Comments about our newsletter?

Mike Boutin: eboutin@mghihp.edu

IN THE INTERIM...

Maureen Flynn, MS, CGC, MPH

New Faces in SHRS

Elizabeth Rosenzweig, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT

”Education is ﻿the most

”Education is the most