Health and Human Services News

Bringing clinical services together under one roof

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This spring, the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) opened a new Collaborative Care Clinic in Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall on Jan. 26.

It unites several existing services in a single, renovated facility designed to support both education and community service. The grand opening celebration will take place Feb. 20. 

Collaboration and student learning 

The clinic strengthens interprofessional education while continuing to deliver affordable health services to the public. 

“This new facility allows us to bring services together in one collaborative space while expanding supervised, hands-on learning opportunities for our students,” said MCHHS Associate Dean Dr. Letitia White-Minnis. “At the same time, it reinforces our role as a community partner by providing high-quality, accessible care.” 

The renovated space spans about 17,000 square feet and occupies more than half of Kampeter Hall’s first floor. It repurposes the former Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic space and adds additional first-floor space to expand the footprint, creating a shared, modern clinical facility. 

A one-stop clinic 

The clinic will offer: 

  • Counseling services  
  • Speech-language pathology diagnostics and treatment  
  • Hearing and balance testing  
  • Hearing aids and learning diagnostic services 
  • Psychological and learning diagnostic services 

Each service operates in a dedicated clinical area with a shared patient waiting room, centralized check-in and coordinated staffing. 

“By bringing everything into one location with shared systems and staff, we’ve made care easier to access for students, faculty and the broader Springfield community,” said Ian Alaimo, director of information technology and operations for MCHHS.

Graduate students from speech-language pathology, counseling, audiology and psychology will provide services under direct faculty supervision. The clinic is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to individuals of all ages and is available to both the campus and the larger community.   

Learn more about the Collaborative Care Clinic

Celebrating the next generation of health care professionals

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The McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) proudly celebrates its students’ achievements. 

Nearly 400 students will graduate this December. Many participated in department or school ceremonies, where they were hooded, pinned and/or received a white coat. 

“William Shakespeare once said, ‘It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.’ This reminder feels especially meaningful as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. 

She added that each graduation ceremony reflects a moment of transition.  

“On behalf of the MCHHS, I want to congratulate all students celebrating important milestones, whether it be a white coat ceremony, a pinning ceremony or graduation. These achievements reflect your dedication and hard work. We look forward to the positive impact you’ll make in your profession and the communities you serve.” 

These ceremonies mark key academic milestones for students at different stages in their programs. Hooding and pinning recognize progress toward degree completion, while white coat ceremonies represent the transition into clinical rotations.  

The programs 

Occupational Therapy  

Nursing 

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) 

  • Twenty-six SLP students were pinned this December. The ceremony recognizes their readiness to begin clinical rotations ahead of spring graduation. 

Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) 

  • Thirty-three PAS students received white coats as they transitioned into clinical training, while another cohort of 33 students graduated this fall. 

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) 

  • DNAP CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) students celebrated their program completion at a graduation ceremony, with 21 graduates this year – 15 in August and six in December. 

Counseling program 

Psychology 

MCHHS remains committed to supporting students as they move from classroom learning into professional practice. These new graduates and trainees will strengthen communities and contribute to the future of the health and human services workforce. 

Explore MCHHS programs

Shining a spotlight on student research

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Innovation, discovery and a spirit of exploration were on full display at this year’s McQueary College of Health and Human Services’ (MCHHS) 29th Annual Student Research Symposium.  

The event took place on April 24 in the Plaster Student Union. It featured 53 abstracts with contributions from 147 student researchers across undergraduate and graduate programs. 

Participants represented a wide range of disciplines, including athletic training, biomedical sciences, dietetics and nutrition, exercise science, physical therapy, psychology and speech-language pathology. 

“Our Student Research Symposium is a long-standing tradition that highlights our commitment to academic excellence,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. “The symposium provides students with valuable opportunities to share their research findings, engage with faculty mentors and other community members and contribute to knowledge that advances their field of study.” 

The research projects presented explored current issues across the health and human services spectrum. They included injury prevention, women’s health and performance, nutrition education, clinical innovation and the application of emerging technologies in health care. 

The symposium also recognized the dedication of faculty mentors, whose encouragement and insights help students turn their ideas into impactful research.  A special recognition goes to the MCHHS Student Research Symposium Committee for organizing and sustaining this important academic tradition. 

Learn more about MCHHS

Exploring the art and science of dementia care

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Over the recent spring break, a group of Missouri State University students and faculty traveled to the Netherlands to explore a person-centered approach to aging and dementia care. 

From hands-on lectures to cultural tours, the program blended art, science and human connection – all inspired by the groundbreaking The Hogeweyk® Dementia Village near Amsterdam. 

An eye-opening experience 

The week-long interdisciplinary study abroad program took place from March 15-21. 

Jennifer Pratt, clinical professor of communication sciences and disorders (CSD), and Dr. Traci Garrison, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy (OT), led this program. 

Twelve undergraduate and graduate students from CSD, gerontology, health sciences, nursing and pre-OT participated in the program. They prepared through weekly pre-departure sessions, guided readings and guest lectures. 

The program itinerary blended academic lectures with cultural exploration. Pratt and Garrison expressed sincere gratitude to Missouri State’s office of education abroad and McQueary College of Health and Human Service for supporting and funding this program. 

“We designed this program to show students what’s possible,” said Pratt. “We wanted them to look at dementia not just through a medical lens, but through the lens of quality of life.” 

Students got the chance to visit the internationally recognized The Hogeweyk®. Unlike traditional institutional models, The Hogeweyk® empowers individuals with severe dementia to live as normally as possible in a secure community setting. Residents live in shared homes based on lifestyle interests, with access to grocery stores, cafés and open green spaces. Their focus is on living well, right until the end.

The Dutch model emphasizes that dignity, autonomy and well-being are just as essential as medical treatment – a philosophy that deeply resonated with students.  

“Learning through travel is just something the classroom cannot replicate,” said Pratt. 

A new perspective on care

MSU students explore historic Amsterdam during their education abroad experience.
MSU students explore historic Amsterdam during their education abroad experience.

According to Garrison, this study abroad program emphasized more than treatment.

“It encouraged students to consider how care environments can empower people to live fully, no matter their diagnosis.”

Students also learned from leading experts at the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Aging and Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience about the science behind dementia. At the institute, the group toured a brain bank and explored the latest dementia research, making classroom theories come alive. 

“We studied something we see every day, but in a completely new way. It challenged us to rethink traditional care approaches,” said Natalie Hampsten, a senior CSD major. “It opened my eyes to what care really looks like when you center it around people.” 

Abby Rudd, a senior gerontology major, was struck by The Hogeweyk’s® philosophy.  

“They taught us to focus on possibilities, not disabilities. That mindset changes everything,” she said. 

Besides the learning opportunities, the program offered cultural immersion. Students explored Amsterdam’s history through walking tours and visits to the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. These experiences contributed historical and emotional depth to their academic exploration, encouraging empathy and reflection. 

“This was my first time studying abroad and visiting the Netherlands and it was amazing!” said Hannah Todd, a speech-language pathology graduate student. “What I enjoyed most was how the program blended Dutch culture with dementia care in such a meaningful way.” 

A focus on compassion and empathy 

For Karly Soden, a Doctor of Nursing Practice student, traveling to a new country, learning with new people and seeing dementia care through a global lens was an unforgettable experience.  

“It shifted my perspective of human connection and its importance in health care,” she said. 

In class or on the streets of Amsterdam, students learned that true care means honoring lives, not just managing symptoms. Their experiences brought theory to life and reshaped their understanding of compassion in practice. 

“Students didn’t just learn about dementia,” said Garrison. “They learned to think differently, lead with empathy and carry those values into their future careers.” 

Explore degree options in MCHHS