G Harbor Reflections
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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON A PUBLICATION OF THE C OLLEGE OF N URSING AND H EALTH S CIENCES (CNHS) HarborHarbor ReflectionsReflections Volume 3 I Number 1 I Summer 2007 From GoKids Boston—Up and Running! the Dean By Maria Shea, Director of GoKids Boston Opportunity Knocks at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Summer is a time of great weather, beauty, relaxation, renewal—and, of course, a time when we all root for another Red Sox pennant. At UMass Boston’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), the season is also filled with promise for a new academic year and more opportunities to expand our profile as a vibrant center of higher learning. This edition of Harbor Reflections Chancellor J. Keith Motley, Sandy Fenwick, COO of Children’s Hospital, Michael F. Collins, Dean Greer Glazer, and Provost Paul features articles about a number of Fonteyn cutting the ribbon for the grand opening of the GoKids Boston Center. exciting new CNHS projects: GoKids Boston, a collaboration with the world- class Children's Hospital of Boston; our oKids Boston (also known as the serves youth with a wide variety of medical conditions new Center for Clinical Education and Interdisciplinary Youth Fitness Research and (e.g., diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer, and congenital Research (CCER), a state-of-the-art Training Center), an exciting new world-class heart disease) or other physical or intellectual concerns, facility equipped with simulators as G facility located at UMass Boston, was formed as well as healthy children and teens who want to learning tools; and our partnership to advance the science and clinical practice of improving improve fitness and young athletes who wish to achieve with Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer physical activity and health in youth. Its primary goal is to peak sports performance. GoKids Boston brings together Center (DFHCC) to launch a fast-track provide participants with personalized instruction and faculty researchers and clinical investigators from multi- baccalaureate-to-PhD program. This support to become more physically active, improve fit- ple institutions and disciplines to collaborate in comple- installment also provides news about ness, eat nutritiously, and gain self-confidence. Consistent mentary areas of research focused on developing, test- our illustrious alumni, our faculty’s cut- with the university's urban mission, the facility's empha- ing, and disseminating evidenced-based strategies to get ting-edge research, significant awards sis is on reducing health disparities in underserved fami- children more physically active at home, in school, and in for research and student funding, and lies. GoKids Boston consists of the latest technologies in the community. With a focus on studying the link the latest developments from our the field, including “exergaming,” which combines new between physical activity, health, and weight control, Nursing and Exercise and Health interactive video games with player movement to devel- GoKids Boston promises to provide needed research Sciences (EHS) Departments. Special op motor skills and physical fitness in a fun and engag- about how to effectively prevent or reduce obesity and its thanks to all of our faculty and staff ing way. Strategically combining fitness technologies with many co-morbidities. evidenced-based behavioral strategies (e.g., self-monitor- Equipped with the latest technology in exercise instruc- ing, goal setting, and positive reinforcement) to promote Continued on page 2 tion, research, and education, the 5,300-square-foot cen- lasting changes in healthy habits, for both the children ter provides a “living laboratory” for students in a variety and their caregivers, is a unique aspect of GoKids of health and education disciplines, including exercise sci- Boston's broad community-outreach capacity. ence, nursing, education, and psychology. Undergraduate GoKids Boston was developed in collaboration with the and graduate students earn course credit while working world-renowned Children's Hospital Boston. The collabo- in the center. GoKids Boston has also begun to develop ration, as well as partnerships with community health an outreach program with the Boston Public School centers in and around the city and with the Boston Public System. One example is a peer mentoring and leadership School system, offers an entirely new resource that helps improve healthy lifestyles in kids and adolescents. It Continued on page 7 CNHS NEWS Introducing the Center for Clinical Education and Research he College of Nursing and Health environment and enhance their self- Sciences' new Center for Clinical confidence and performance when Education and Research (CCER) is a clini- they are working with actual T cal teaching center for students designed patients in actual clinics. It will to simulate actual patient situations. No classroom incorporate the following compo- can substitute for an emergency room, and no case nents, which will benefit both the study is as immediate or has as much impact as the Nursing Department and the real thing. The CCER provides students with a pow- Exercise and Health Sciences erful and effective learning tool—a laboratory that Department: will enable us to simulate patient situations with •A “smart” classroom for 24 real-world equipment and scenarios that teach stu- students, with a demonstration dents to make quick decisions that can mean life or area and nursing station death. Simulation offers the opportunity in high-risk, low-frequency clinical situations for students to gain •An exercise and health sciences •A clinical simulation/competency testing room and a experience to improve patient safety and strengthen teaching center with a “smart” classroom for 18 clinical simulation and med room, both with video- patient care. students and an exercise and fitness testing area taping capability The CCER, scheduled to open in spring 2008, will •Three exam rooms with videotaping capability, three enable students to practice evidence-based nursing exam cubicles with exam tables, and all necessary •A tutorial/study group room and a computer/AV care and exercise science in a risk-free, hands-on diagnostic equipment viewing lab •An enclosed, fully equipped ICU room that •An AV control room, storage areas, and a reception allows advanced simulation activities for area students and licensed professionals The aim of the CCER is to develop and nurture knowl- •A maternal child health cubicle that can be edgeable, competent, and compassionate nurses and converted into a birthing unit, pediatric exercise and health sciences professionals who are bedside, or homecare setting interested in lifelong learning and who will positively impact the health and well-being of their patients and •Six patient bedside cubicles with headwalls clients. The facility promises to be a significant for oxygen, suction, monitors, ceiling lifts, resource for our students, health care professionals, and IV equipment (simulating an acute- and the wider community for years to come. N care patient room) Dean’s Message …Through Collaboration Continued from page 1 Collaboration among the faculty of the Departments of Nursing and Exercise and who did the outstanding work that resulted in faculty member, Scott Crouter, joins us after doing Health Sciences results in multidisciplinary these stories. post-doc work at Cornell University. research projects that focus on the widely Our College has other good reasons to expect an out- Across the nation, the potential of the College of assessed national needs, such as obesity and standing 2007-08 academic year. Funding for research Nursing and Health Sciences is being recognized. For healthy lifestyles. We are uniquely positioned and training has increased significantly: We are now example, the External Advisory Board for our DFHCC- to tackle the very real problems facing the at more than $2 million in funding, which allows us to UMass Boston project began its site visit report as health care profession and the general state support more students, conduct large-scale research follows: “The UMB and DFCI Fast Track BS-PhD of health among the population, including projects, and hire faculty who show great promise. Program has the potential to become the signature the provision of skilled nursing care, the Despite a current nursing faculty shortage, we have doctoral program in the region.” education of knowledgeable practitioners, successfully recruited three outstanding full-time, the creation of health policy, and the tenure-track nursing faculty with PhDs: Thomas The lazy days of summer are waning. At the same preventative and therapeutic benefits of Connelly (UMass Amherst), Haeok Lee (University of time, we look forward this coming year to fulfilling exercise and fitness. CNHS has become a California), and Laura Hayman (University of the promise of our opportunities for students, model for similar programs nationwide. Pennsylvania). Prof. Hayman will begin as our first faculty, staff, alumni, and partners—across the Associate Dean for Research in September. A new EHS Commonwealth and beyond. N 2 CNHS EVENTS CNHS Convocation and UMass Boston Twentieth Annual Research and Commencement: June 1, 2007 Scholarship Day: May 17, 2007 The spring 2007 College of The University of Nursing and Health Sciences Massachusetts Boston, College convocation ceremony was held of Nursing and Health Sciences on Friday, June 1. There were and Sigma Theta Tau 146 graduates for the ceremo- International, Theta Alpha ny, including 87 undergraduate Chapter