Health and Human Services News

Join MSU occupational therapy students for a sensory-safe trunk-or-treat

by

For children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other sensory-related difficulties, trick-or-treating can be an overwhelming experience.

That’s why the Missouri State University occupational therapy program and Include Ozarks are hosting a free, sensory-safe, drive-thru trunk-or-treat event on Oct. 30.

Participant details

  • 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Registration required for time slot.
  • Located in Lot 37 (between Bear Park North and Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall).
  • Park in Lot 44.
  • All volunteers will follow social distancing guidelines and wear masks and gloves.

Volunteer details

  • Sign up to decorate your car and pass out candy.
  • Arrive no later than 6 p.m.

Spring 2020 graduate spotlight: Hannah and Julie Anderson

by

The timing was perfect for mother-daughter duo Julie and Hannah Anderson to study speech-language pathology. 

After working in the preschool setting for 13 years, Julie decided it was time to get her degree. At the same time, Hannah was transferring schools and changing her field of study.  

“Mom was researching speech-language pathology as a potential major, and her research is what got me interested,” Hannah said.  

That’s when the fun began.  

Back to school with a built-in study buddy 

Hannah and Julie both started at Missouri State in the communication sciences and disorders program in fall 2017. They graduated together in spring 2020, completing the speech-language pathology track. 

Since they started and finished at the same time, they had most classes together.  

“I really enjoyed having a built–in study buddy,” Julie said. “I had to start studying material quickly when we entered the program, because it had been so long since I was in school. It helped to always have someone there learning the same things as me.”  

Julie also never felt out of place as a nontraditional student.  

“Everyone in my classes, from students to professors, were welcoming and I felt like I fit in,” Julie said. “I even got invited to a classmate’s 21st birthday party.”  

Both give high praise to faculty and staff in the communication sciences and disorders department—Jennifer Pratt, Hillary Mayes, Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate and Dr. Alana Mantie-Kozlowski.  

“They’re super smart women who are really passionate about what they do,” Hannah said. “And when a professional in the field is passionate, it makes you more passionate about what you’re learning.”  

Two women facing away from the camera
Hannah (left) and Julie (right) don their decorated mortarboards.

Post-graduate life: Julie 

After graduation, Julie started work as a speech-language pathology assistant in the Marshfield R-1 school district. She meets weekly with around 50 students who have language or articulation disorders.  

“We do what is called drill and play, which is a back and forth between an engaging game, like Uno, and the speech drills,” Julie said. “I love helping those kids and watching them improve week by week.”  

She cites experiences at MSU that paved the way for her career.  

“We took a clinical observation class where I got to watch how SLPs treat many different disorders, and I got to assist a graduate student with her child client who had an articulation disorder,” Julie said. “Those experiences prepared me to be a teacher of children with these disorders.”  

After achieving her goal of getting a degree, Julie is thankful to be in the position she is in now.  

“I feel like I’m finally doing what I was meant to do,” she said.  

woman sitting at table in classroom
Julie in her Marshfield classroom.

Post-graduate life: Hannah 

Hannah started in the speech-language pathology graduate program in summer 2020. She plans to work with children as an SLP.  

“The good thing about this field is that I can work in a lot of different settings,” Hannah said. “But right now, my heart is set on helping kids.”  

woman standing against a wall
Hannah in her SLP graduate school scrubs.

COVID-19 altered her graduate school experience, but she still sees the value in what she’s learning.  

“We are working with clients over teletherapy, which is a COVID alteration,” Hannah said. “But, I am applying all the information I learned during undergrad, and I feel like I’m really preparing for my career.”  

She does miss going to school with her mom, but found a way to continue intertwining their experiences.  

“I come home and tell her about what I’m learning in class, knowing that she can take that knowledge and use it in her classroom,” Hannah said. “And when I have a child client, I can go to her for advice. We’re still learning from each other every day.”  

Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic clocks successful summer online

by

March 17, 2020 is a day many MSU students and faculty won’t soon forget. In the middle of spring break, the university moved the remaining semester fully online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic, online instruction meant in-person therapy sessions with clients wasn’t an option.

So, they got to work.

Sign outside door that reads "Speech-language-hearing clinic"
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Clinic in the Professional Building provides evaluation and treatment for all ages in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Finishing spring 2020

Many speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students clock clinical hours here. Practice in a real environment with actual clients, as opposed to simulated labs, accounts for more than 75% of their hours.

It was imperative, for students and patients, the clinic resumed operation as soon as possible.

“We wanted to be able to provide that community again,” said Lauren Jones, director of the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic.

For the remainder of the semester, students used their limited simulation allowance to clock clinical hours, while faculty and staff ran the race to restructure the clinic for the summer.

Transitioning online

The move to a fully online clinic was multi-faceted.

The transition included switching student logins to multi-factor authentication to protect patient files accessed from outside the university. It was not an easy task.

“The team in information security helped push that through,” Jones said. “They advocated for us, and that was huge.”

After licensing Zoom accounts, securing information and making it accessible from home, the clinic logged on for teletherapy.

Close up of hands instructing on a piece of paper
Before COVID-19, students in the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic worked with patients one-on-one.

Summer 2020

For Jennifer Pratt, clinical associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, moving online worried her at first. She works primarily with stroke patients who have difficulty processing new information.

“I couldn’t envision how it was going to work without being right there with them,” Pratt said.

But Pratt’s meetings went better than she hoped.

“The clients adapted. They were comfortable in their homes. They were very productive with their work on the sessions,” Pratt said. “There were so many positive aspects of it, and it opened my eyes to a different way of delivering services and teaching our students.”

Students reinforce the success of the summer semester.

Before moving to teletherapy, students worked with patients one-on-one, with a supervisor watching from another room. On Zoom, they lead sessions in small groups.

Amber Holko, an SLP graduate student, loved the newfound collaboration with her peers.

“It was the most positive and constructive group assignment I’ve ever done,” Holko said. “We all gave 110% because we knew our assignment had a direct effect on our patients.”

Changes for the better

While group therapy is a temporary change for the clinic in the age of COVID-19, some changes may stick around.

Teletherapy is increasing in demand. Jones hopes the clinic can continue to offer the experience to students and patients, even after COVID-19.

“This situation opened our eyes to the importance of meeting the needs of our patients,” Jones said. “When the COVID situation improves, we’ll bring people back on site, but we are looking at offering more hybrid models in the future.”

Overall, the experience and the changes pair often with one word: positive.

“My takeaway from this time is asking, ‘Would we have done this if we hadn’t been forced?’” Pratt said. “It’s exciting to think about our opportunities for the future, and to see something good come out of this.”

MCHHS student organizations spotlight: Student Nurse Organization

by

Nursing school is a big commitment. The Student Nurse Organization (SNO) at MSU wants to make sure no one goes through nursing school alone.   

SNO’s mission: To empower future nurses by promoting community engagement through service events and providing a system of support through the undergraduate nursing experience.  

“We hope members take away that nursing is a community-centered profession,” said Madelyn Cooper, SNO president. “We hope they graduate with a sense of compassion and care for all members of the community.” 

SNO members practice community engagement through different service ventures, like making care packages for Harmony House, meeting with nursing home residents and donating to local food banks.  

SNO during COVID-19 

In the time of COVID-19, SNO looks different but is still available to provide a community for nursing students. 

“Right now, we are choosing service events that minimize exposure as much as possible,” Cooper said. “We are encouraging members to utilize resources that allow community service to be done from home.” 

All meetings will be held over Zoom.  

Want to join? 

The first meetings of the fall 2020 semester are Sept. 3. Zoom links are on SNO’s Campus Link.  

  • Current nursing students meet at 1 p.m.  
  • Pre-nursing students meet at 4 p.m. 
  • For more information, join the SNO group on Facebook and follow SNO on Twitter.  

Learn more about SNO

COVID-19 and physical education: Working it out

by

Sean Nevills, physical education and sports management alumnus, is ready to help schools across America work around COVID-19.

At the start of August, he was appointed project director for the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America‘s COVID-19 project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control.

In his role, a year-long cooperative agreement, Nevills will lead efforts to create resources focused on distance learning, trauma-informed practice, teacher self-care and cultural sensitivity in physical education.

Listen to Nevills discuss more about his new role with Missouri SHAPE’s Chris Stehle.