Health and Human Services News

Attend TechMOFest 2023

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The MO Better Foundation, Missouri State University’s department of occupational therapy (OT) and Hold Fast Brewing have joined forces to present a “MO Better” Assistive Technology Awareness and Resource Day. 

This informative and fun event will take place from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 9 at Hold Fast Brewing (located downtown at old Fire Station #1). 

TechMOFest hopes to build awareness of the many resources in the Springfield area to help those living with disabilities live life “more better.” 

Show your support for this heartwarming event 

Celebrate, meet local healthcare representatives, vendors and organizations and learn more about advanced technology and recreational equipment in a family-friendly setting. 

The event will showcase many local and regional resource providers of assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication devices, adaptive recreational and entertainment devices, and much more. The event will also feature live music, a food truck, craft beer, raffles and lots of fun activities. 

Dr. Jennifer Yates, OT assistant professor at MSU, will help lead the event. She teaches a master’s level course on assistive technology and environmental adaptations. 

“We’re so excited to be part of this event and provide the opportunity for our students to feature a few projects they’re working on in my class,” Yates said.  

“The MO Better Foundation is wonderful to work with and has partnered with our department on many great causes to help individuals in our local community.” 

Learn more about the department of occupational therapy

Welcome new faculty and staff

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This year, McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) hired 15 new faculty and staff members. 

“I’m excited to welcome another amazing group of faculty and staff to the college. It’s a testament to the faculty and staff that we are able to attract and hire such a great group of individuals,” said Dr. Mark Smith, Dean of MCHHS. 

New members 

 The new faculty and staff will join eight areas of MCHHS:  

Nursing 

School of Social Work 

MCHHS Student Success and Advisement Center 

Physician Assistant Studies 

Research Statistical Training and Technical Support (RSTATS) 

Psychology 

  • Dr. Brad Powers (faculty). 

Kinesiology 

Occupational Therapy 

Learn more about MCHHS  

Occupational therapy professor publishes randomized controlled trial on medication management

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How much do you know about the role of an occupational therapist in a primary care setting?

Dr. Traci Garrison, clinical associate professor for the department of occupational therapy at Missouri State University, recently published research in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT).

She worked with two other researchers to write the “Effect of Occupational Therapy in Promoting Medication Adherence in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”

The article helps to clarify the occupational therapist’s role in medication management.

The research was completed as part of Garrison’s doctoral degree. It provided an opportunity for collaboration with Jordan Valley Community Health Center (JVCHC).

Typically at JVCHC, patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure or type two diabetes are referred to the clinical pharmacist to address disease management.

In Garrison’s study, patients were also randomly assigned to receive occupational therapy to address medication management. The focus was on improving adherence.

“The occupational therapy intervention used motivational interviewing,” she said. “There was an emphasis on health literacy and collaborative examination of the patient’s habits, roles and routines to develop patient-centered strategies.”

Garrison hopes the article sheds light on how occupational therapists can assist in improving medication adherence and be a vital resource on primary care medical teams.

The article is in the third issue of Volume 77 for AJOT, which published on June 13.

Learn more about the department of occupational therapy

Faculty fan-favorites

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Dr. Jennifer Yates, clinical assistant professor at the department of occupational therapy, and Sherri Ramirez, clinical assistant professor at the School of Nursing, are two fantastic members of our MCHHS faculty. 

Let’s ask them some questions! 

What’s been the craziest thing to happen in your classroom?  

Yates: I was introducing virtual reality as a means for therapeutic rehabilitation, but I think I will keep that experience between me and the students. I will say I am definitely not meant for virtual reality. 

Ramirez: I have a class that is very competitive. I love doing a Kahoot or a case study where they try to show they know the information. The names they give themselves in a Kahoot are very entertaining to the class. You never know what they are going to come up with. They also act out scenarios of what patients might do. That can always be interesting. 

Do you have a favorite class to teach?  
Yates posing with her students
Yates posing with her students and a recipient of a custom-made car for OT’s annual Go Baby Go event.

Yates: I love all the classes I teach and I have quite a wide array, but I am particularly fond of my assistive technology course. It’s a very hands-on course. The students participate in many community projects, but my favorite one is a program called Go Baby Go. The students adapt small, motorized vehicles for children with special needs. Most of these children would otherwise not be able to experience this type of mobility through play. Play is a child’s occupation and a fundamental right all children should be able to experience.  

Ramirez: I love teaching the medical surgical nursing class because they are so eager to learn, go to clinicals and take care of patients. They want to “get their hands dirty” and soak up as much information as they can in order to save lives. I can see how proud they are of themselves when they connect the dots of didactic and clinical practice. 

Where are you from?   

Yates: I am originally from Missouri, but I have lived around Nashville, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas, for roughly 15 years before returning to Springfield in 2020.   

Ramirez: I’m a Navy brat and from everywhere. If I had to name my home base, it would be Texas, but I’ve lived in Springfield for the majority of my adult life. 

What brought you to Missouri State?

Yates: I’ve always known I wanted to eventually get back to southwest Missouri. After starting and owning my pediatric therapy practice, I knew the next step I wanted to pursue was teaching and research. Missouri State is my alma mater and it feels like home to be back here.  

Ramirez: I have known many faculty members from Missouri State from my previous hospital nursing positions and they were all impressive to me. They love their students and have a great rapport with the hospital staff.  

Learn more about the department of occupational therapy

What’s your favorite part about working here?  

Yates: The people for sure. I truly love coming to my job every day. The faculty, staff, students and administrators are all the best. We have a wonderful program that is next to none. I cannot say enough good things.  

Ramirez: I have worked at a couple of different nursing programs, and here I felt at home from day one. It doesn’t matter who I’m having a conversation with, the dean of nursing, the director of nursing or the AMAZING administrative staff in the school of nursing. We all have mutual respect for each other. 

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