Health and Human Services News

Congratulations to the MCHHS 3MT winners

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MCHHS hosted the college Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) on Oct. 31.  

Students were prompted to research an issue that was occurring in their field of study, and then present to a panel of judges in three minutes or less.  

This year’s competition included:  

  • 9 presentations 
  • 5 departments 
  • 21 students  
  • 8 faculty advisors 

The results  

The top four presentations were: 

  • Breanne McLay and Cameron Bruso, School of Anesthesia, Two-Handed Mask Ventilation with Alternative Ventilatory Device. 
  • Sarah Waterman, nutrition and dietetics, Accessing SNAP Benefits at a Midwestern Public University. 
  • Cecelia Peine, Jesse La Fond and Tyler Boyer, occupational therapy, How OT’s Can Address Scamming Among Older Adults. 
  • Cody Haether, Zach Gaarder and Jordan Sandusky, School of Anesthesia, Advanced Airway Techniques. 

“I would like to say a huge thank you to the participants of the 2022 MCHHS 3MT Competition and to Dr. Monika Feeney for organizing the competition,” said Letitia White-Minnis, associate dean MCHHS.  

“I also want to congratulate our winners on their presentations.  It is challenging to summarize an entire research project into 3 minutes, and they each did so in an outstanding way.” 

Achieving success in public health

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In February 2001, the Board of Governors established the Ozarks Public Health Institute (OPHI), a Missouri State University state-wide institute with an aim to address public health issues in Missouri.

“Since the day we started, we have been focused on researching and addressing public health issues in Missouri,” said Dr. Dalen Duitsman, director of OPHI.

“We also help with interventions surrounding a wide range of topics including health disparities, mental health, tobacco, obesity, school wellness, workforce and emergency management.”

Often, staff members at the OPHI get hired by the state and local public health agencies to help them with projects they may be working on.

Last month, three of the staff at OPHI were recognized for their work in public health at the Annual Joint Public Conference with Missouri Public Health Association (MPHA) awards.

About the awards

Jaci McReynolds, OPHI communications, was awarded this year’s Group Merit Award. This award gives recognition to an agency or group who made a significant contribution to public health in Missouri within the past five years.

Jaci received this award for her work as the communication coordinator for the #HealthierMO initiative. This initiative advocates for long-term, systems-level change that will lead to healthier families, healthier communities and a healthier Missouri.

Cassandra Henne, project coordinator, received the Health Professional Scholarship. The $750 Health Professional Scholarship is available for MPHA members who are working on an undergraduate or graduate degrees in a public health related field that will further their careers.

“Cassandra received the Health Professional Scholarship because of the outstanding contributions she has made to OPHI over the last year,” Duitsman said. “She has made a substantial impact on its growth and success.”

Duitsman won the W. Scott Johnson Award. It is the highest honor given by the Missouri Public Health Association. It focuses on the “skill, integrity, devotion to duty and constructive leadership” of the recipient.

“I am so honored to work with the remarkable team we have at OPHI, and to see the number of graduate assistants who have passed through OPHI who now have successful public health careers, and who are contributing their talents and skills to build a healthier Missouri,” Duitsman said.

Learn more about the OPHI

Balancing athletics with academics

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Can student athletes juggle their sports in addition to academics? 

Alyssa Buchheit, cell and molecular biology student with a minor in chemistry and on the pre-med track, always knew that she’d play soccer at the college-level. 

“I’m so blessed to be a student athlete,” Buchheit said. “Instead of having to get a job during the school year, I get to play the sport I love with my best friends.” 

Buchheit shares the cool opportunities she’s experienced because of being on the Missouri State women’s soccer team in this month’s podcast episode. 

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

Understanding the why

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Students enrolled in the doctor of audiology program at Missouri State University are exposed to a unique way of learning.

“Every class in the program allows our students to utilize our research labs to translate conceptual knowledge to hands-on experiences,” said Dr. Wafaa Kaf, professor at Missouri State.

“Our students must know how to evaluate, diagnose and interpret information for their patients. These labs allow them to practice before working in a clinic using evidence-based protocols and guidelines.”

Gaining practical experience

Audiology students have access to state-of-the-art facilities to apply the knowledge they are learning. They also develop the clinical and research foundations needed for a career in audiology.

Some of the focus areas of the research labs include:

    • Amplification research laboratory.
    • Auditory electrophysiology laboratory.
    • Vestibular laboratory.
    • Diagnostic Laboratory: Middle ear, migraine, and tinnitus research

These labs are also a recruitment tool for Missouri State’s audiology program.

“We are very fortunate to have access to these labs,” said graduate student Alyson Morgan. “They allow us to understand not only how to use these different resources to integrate the learned information from classes and reading materials, why and how to apply them before seeing clients.”

Students also must complete a doctoral research thesis/project before graduating, so they apply their knowledge and clinical skills using different test protocols and equipment  to conduct their own research on a topic of their interest in audiology.

Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

Students in the doctor of audiology program also spend valuable time in the on-campus Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, starting in their first semester in the program.

The clinic provides evaluation and treatment for people of all ages in the areas of speech-language pathology and audiology. Additionally, they provide early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Here in our Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, graduate students participate in the testing and management of clients with hearing- and balance- problems as well as other communication disorders.

Learn about our doctor of audiology program