Have you noticed a new workout area behind McDonald Arena?
The workout station, called THRIVE, was commissioned by the kinesiology department at Missouri State University, in collaboration with GameTime. It will be used for research with GameTime and for Missouri State students.
MSU is one of three universities across the country using this kind of equipment for research in partnership with GameTime.
THRIVE is also open for public use.
The station includes a QR code to scan for free workouts.
MSU Care is a free and charitable clinic that serves an underserved, unisured population within the community.
Jaime Gnau, clinical dietician at MSU Care and also clinical instructor of MSU’s dietetics program, talks about her role at the clinic.
“A lot of my work focuses around diabetes, weight management and developing a healthy relationship with food,” Gnau said.
The clinic is a partnership with Mercy, with employees from both institutions working side by side.
Gnau shares about the challenges patients are facing and how she helps them.
“Our patients have a lot of barriers. So as you can imagine, they’re fighting fires every day. They deal with challenges of just meeting their basic needs,” Gnau said.
“As a dietician, it’s really about helping them set achievable goals,” she said. “When you’re not able to pay your electric bill, or you’re not even able to have a house to access, a stove to cook on, to be able to store refrigerated foods – we really are focusing in on what is within your control. Let’s see how we can develop some some small achievable goals that you feel confident you can reach.”
Gnau served on a task force to strategize about the necessary adaptations for services during COVID. Instead of feeling defeated, she is excited to share about some of the new partnerships – primarily one for food boxes.
“If you don’t have a consistent food source while you’re on insulin, it can be very dangerous,” she said.
When she reached out to Ozarks Food Harvest and explained the needs and types of food that would be best, she was in awe.
“They just absolutely came through. We’ve served 30,427 pounds of food since the program began,” she said, and the partnership continues.
For more information, visit msucare.missouristate.edu.
Cassidy McCandless, first year physician assistant (PA) and member of the MSU physician assistant studies class of 2022, has accepted the position of student-member-at-large on the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Board of Directors.
As the student-member-at-large, she will represent PA students nationwide in quarterly meetings. Cassidy was selected for this position from a national pool of accomplished PA students.
“I’m so excited for this opportunity to represent my fellow students nationwide and to learn from leaders in the PA profession about ways our profession can continue to grow,” McCandless said.
McCandless will work with the board on facilitating student participation in PAEA projects. She will assist with strategic planning, serve as liaison to the Future Educator Development Steering Committee and take on other duties assigned by the board.
She will begin her two-year term on the board Jan. 1, 2022.
In 2017, Dallas Massey lost his brother to pneumonia. With an interest in writing, he used that tragedy as an inspiration to write a book.
Growing up, Massey, who’s a per course faculty in the department of biomedical sciences at Missouri State University, had a childhood full of obstacles. But even after being diagnosed with a genetic disease, he and his late brother, Dillon, still found a way to enjoy life through their love for science, and letting their imaginations run wild.
Massey’s writing resulted in his science fiction series, “Fall Prey.” It combines his passion for science and his love for vampire stories.
“When I was younger, the ‘Twilight’ books never appealed to me, and I always wanted to write an even better vampire series,” said Massey, a Seymour, Missouri, native. “I took about six weeks to grieve the loss of my brother, then I began writing.”
The three-part trilogy includes: “Fall Prey: The Hunt,” “Fall Prey: The Attack” and “Fall Prey: The Kill.”
Find Fall Prey: The Hunt on Amazon
The series follows Asher Blackthorn, a young, weary police officer whose brother recently died from complications of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.
Blackthorn’s world turns to chaos after encountering a vampire.
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles. Massey and Dillon were both diagnosed with the disease at an early age.
“Growing up, my brother and I were like normal brothers in that we fought a lot,” said Massey.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in cell and molecular biology from MSU.
“But as our disease progressed, we became best friends.”
Book two of the series is expected to be released in March 2022, with the third to follow in August 2022.
Read more about the “Fall Prey” series.
