AHS magazine fall 2003/winter 2004

for uic ahs alumni and friends

filling in the blanks tick-tock crossing borders compare and contrast

flying high A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Friends,

During a year of persistent economic challenge and global unrest, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni continue to accomplish extraordinary achievements. Samples are highlighted in this second issue of AHS Magazine.

Our cover story on alumnus, Mike Keenum (PT ’77) titled “Flying High,” best sums up our collective view of the college’s commitment to educational and research excellence. We are thrilled that our alumni are passionately pursuing their interests with the same level of dedication!

I am pleased to announce our delight that Dr. Annette Valenta has become the permanent

Head and Professor of the Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences (BHIS).

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Valenta and the newly designated Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences!

On behalf of AHS, I invite you to stay connected by keeping us posted on your accomplishments and achievements by dropping a line at [email protected] or UIC College of Applied Health Sciences,

Office of Advancement, Alumni News, 808 South Wood Street, M/C 518, Chicago, Illinois 60612.

We wish you a happy and safe holiday season.

Best wishes,

Charlotte (Toby) Tate, Ph.D. Dean and Professor of Movement Sciences UIC College of Applied Health Sciences AHS magazine

for uic ahs alumni and friends fall 2003/winter 2004

Editor 13 FILLING IN THE BLANKS Lisamarie K. Lukas AHS TEAM SEARCHES FOR CLUES TO DEBILITATING assistant dean for advancement, EXHAUSTION. director of development

Assistant Editor 14 TICK-TOCK Caryn Sanders RESEARCHER LOOKS AT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN assistant director, advancement BIORHYTHMS AND MUSCLES.

Design Cover Story: Norman Design 15 FLYING HIGH Contributing Writers PHYSICAL THERAPIST, ENTREPRENEUR AND PILOT Maricris Briones MICHAEL KEENUM TAKES SICK PATIENTS FROM HOME Lisamarie K. Lukas TO HOPE. Caryn Sanders

Contributing Photography Roberta Dupuis Devlin 19 CROSSING BORDERS uic staff photographer PROFESSOR SEEKS TO CLOSE INFORMATION GAP ON ©2003 University of Illinois GLOBAL DISABILITY. at Chicago. All rights reserved. Published by the Office of the Dean (MC 518), College of Applied 20 COMPARE AND CONTRAST Health Sciences, 808 South Wood UNDERSTANDING RISK FACTOR MARKERS IN DISABLED Street, 169 CMET, Chicago, Illinois 60612-7305. PEOPLE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN DISEASE PREVENTION.

Telephone: (312) 996-6695 OTHER NEWS Fax: (312) 996-4651 1 e-mail: [email protected] ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Web site: www.uic.edu/ahs 3 NEWS YOU CAN USE Views expressed in this 5 publication do not necessarily COLLEGE NEWS reflect the opinions of the editors or the university. 7 MAKING A DIFFERENCE AHS Magazine has been recognized 9 DEPARTMENT UPDATE for excellence in design by the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) and Creativity 33. 21 CLASS NOTES 23 LOOKING BACK

UP TO THE CHALLENGE ATTORNEY TURNED EDUCATOR ACCOMPLISHES PERSONAL GOALS AND BRINGS LIFE LESSONS TO THE CLASSROOM.

Joe Legat (MovSci ’97) has two life philosophies. Just get out and live, and finish what you start. That inspirational Legat’s motivation for his athletic spirit has taken him to great distances and incredible heights. endeavors comes from “wanting In 2000, Legat ran a staggering one marathon a month. Then he competed in the Boston Marathon in April 2002. to prove to myself that I can That summer, Legat rode his bike in 15 days from his current home in Las Vegas, Nev. to his hometown in accomplish my goals, then sharing Waukegan, Ill. Continually thriving on new challenges, his goal now is to run one marathon and climb the my experiences with others.” highest peak in every state. Currently, he has completed 13 of those marathons and climbed 34 state highpoints. Legat’s motivation for his athletic endeavors comes from Those words rang true in 1995 when Legat decided “wanting to prove to myself that I can accomplish my goals, to enroll at UIC in the School of Kinesiology and leave

ht then sharing my experiences with others.” his former life as an attorney behind. “I was interested

g in becoming a physical therapist or athletic trainer i Legat does not believe in spending one’s time unfulfilled. which is why I enrolled at UIC. Once in the kinesiology

tl Growing up in Waukegan, he was always an active child: (now movement sciences) program, I found that teaching running track, shooting rifles in the Mayors Trophy interested me most.” Legat remembers many excellent League, and playing ice hockey – his true passion. Legat teachers including Don Hellison, Tom Sattler, Peter shared this love of hockey with his father who provided Jansson and Fran Sweeny. He recalls, “They were all ni spo many life lessons carried with him daily. Some words of dedicated and interested in producing quality teachers.” m advice include, “If you are unhappy with what you do for u

l a living, your life will be miserable.” Legat graduated from UIC with a degree in physical

a education, specializing in teaching K-12. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Las Vegas where he has taught high school law, banking and finance, American government, and weights and conditioning. Legat is currently teaching world history for the third year. His teaching technique involves employing a variety of approaches to educate students with innovative ideas. Legat loves his work and finds himself waking up most mornings at 4 a.m. to walk his dog and ride his bike to school.

So what comes next? “At some point, I want to hike about 2,500 miles off the Pacific Crest Trail which goes from Canada to Mexico. I would also like to bike the coastline from Washington to Baja.” Other upcoming adventures will perhaps include building a boat to row around the perimeter of Lake Powell in Arizona although he admits this sounds a little “wacky” even to him.

There is no doubt about one thing. Legat will accomplish whatever he sets out to do both in and out of the classroom.

JOE LEGAT p.1 fall 2003 winter 2004 PATHWAYS › EMBRACING LIFE AHS PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR ONE GRADUATE’S CAREER TWISTS AND TURNS.

As a focused high school student, Lynn Gaudioso enjoyed Gaudioso’s smooth and natural career progression ground science and believed clinical chemistry would be an ideal to a sudden halt. “I found myself commuting 100 miles a route to develop and build upon her strengths. Her first day to get to the new consumer headquarters in New Jersey step began with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory after working in New York City and the company’s world Sciences (MLS) from UIC in 1973, and like almost all her headquarters for 25 years,” she says. When the company classmates, she took a job post-graduation in a hospital lab. offered an early retirement package in 2001, Gaudioso jumped at the opportunity. It didn’t take long to realize the career she had worked so hard for wasn’t what she hoped it would be. “It was a bit of good luck but sure didn’t feel like it at the time,” she says. “I worked for Pfizer for 26 years and “It was a very rigorous course of study, but once I was had invested a lot in the company and they in me. At that actually working, it wasn’t as challenging intellectually. point it felt like, ‘Why wouldn’t they want to use all my In addition, the clinical laboratory departments always accumulated experience?’” reported to a pathologist or physician,” Gaudioso says. During her time at the lab, one of her best friends began Gaudioso had her moments of doubt, but by then she also a credit union for hospital had built an impressive track record employees and recruited Gaudioso and reputation within the industry. ahs

to be treasurer. “Because of that The Healthcare Businesswomen’s / singular event, I began to have Association named her Woman of the u an interest in the business side Year for her work in the industry and of health care, which I never mentoring of younger professionals. considered before then.” Ellen Sonet, a long-time friend and .uic.ed industry colleague describes, “Lynn www Gaudioso soon began a master’s negotiated her way through one of the degree in Health Care Adminis- world’s largest corporations and did tration while continuing to work a spectacular job of it. She has the at the lab. After graduating in 1975, self-confidence and willingness she reassessed her career path to embrace risk, to branch out and once again when she realized that try new things, and not worry about most women in health care how it would compromise her career.” administration were in charge of nursing. It was time to go beyond Because of her skills and reputation,

her comfortable bounds. LYNN GAUDIOSO former colleagues approached Gaudioso for consulting roles while she was still “Most people who have accumulated highly-technical in her last months at Pfizer. She parlayed the pro bono skills think there’s no place else to go, but there are work into her own consulting business, Ivanhoe Strategies, transitionary jobs that allow you to do other things,” which continues to go strong today. “No matter what says Gaudioso. For her, it was at the pharmaceutical your life phase is, I’ve found you can be as employed giant Pfizer where she worked with Clinical and Scientific as you want to be,” Gaudioso says. “People generally Affairs to monitor new drug studies in preparation for underestimate their skills, what they can do for people, FDA applications. “I used the skills I had gathered in the and how they can help. In any industry today, you have hospital lab and health care administration to go from to expect change and be flexible.” a moderately-sized hospital in the suburbs to a large pharmaceutical company in New York City.” While Gaudioso’s career has evolved over the years, a degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences is where it GOING PLACES first began. “What I got from UIC was a really strong Gaudioso quickly observed that the action at Pfizer was foundation in skills and a vocabulary that allowed in marketing and finance and returned to school again, me to move to jobs in all aspects of the health care this time for her MBA. The degree opened numerous field,” she says. “It definitely provided the platform doors as she propelled through company ranks for off which I could do a triple somersault dive.” 25 years. She was Vice President of Worldwide Business Development for the Consumer Healthcare Division of Pfzier, the unit responsible for products such as Ben Gay and Visine, when Pfizer acquired another pharmaceutical giant, Warner-Lambert, in 2000.

p.2 fall 2003 winter 2004 CAMPUS CASUALS SHOW YOUR SPIRIT.

Show your UIC pride with this exciting new line of custom Order by phone: merchandise with your choice of more than 12 logos and 1-800-249-2582 over 300 products. Be sure to mention Applied Health Sciences › Large selection of sportswear when you call. and specialties. › High-quality products. Order online: › Ships within 24 hours. www.campuscasuals.com/uicalumni ou can use s y new

CHICAGO MEN’S BASKETBALL TAKES ON URBANA AT THE UNITED CENTER RED VS. ORANGE AND BLUE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

AHS alumni have a special opportunity to see the To purchase tickets, please call (312) 413-UIC1. Mention UIC Flames men’s basketball team take on the UIUC that you are an AHS alum to receive special lower-level Fighting Illini at the United Center on December 30, seating and a pre-game gift courtesy of AHS (make sure 2003 at 7:00 p.m. A pre-game party for UIC alumni to stop by the AHS table at Moretti’s). Tickets for the game will be held at Moretti’s, 1645 West Jackson Street, are $40 and $20 for the pre-party. The pre-party includes before the big game. all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and draft beer.

This long-standing University of Illinois Join us for this great holiday outing – show your tradition of athletics was originally alumni spirit – cheer on the Flames to victory! played every year but was changed to a schedule of every three years If you need more detailed information, in the ’98-’99 season. The schedule please call Caryn Sanders, AHS Advancement, change occurred one year after Head at (312) 413-0197. Coach Jimmy Collins joined UIC to take the Flames to their first-ever Go Flames! NCAA appearance.

p.3 fall 2003 winter 2004

CAREER TRACKS UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER OFFERS GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR ALUMNI LIKE YOU.

In today’s tight economy, employees in all fields find it a struggle to further their careers or switch gears entirely. “We work with all areas of career The University of Illinois Alumni Career Center is there to provide assistance. management, from self-assessments

Far more than just an office with binders full of job and skill inventories to negotiating listings, the award-winning career center is one of the most comprehensive employment and career manage- salaries and how to manage your ment services for alumni in the country, according to Mary Anne Buckman, vice president, University career once you’re on the job.” of Illinois Alumni Association, Alumni Career Center.

“We work with all areas of career management, from MARY ANNE BUCKMAN, VICE PRESIDENT self-assessments and skill inventories to negotiating salaries and how to manage your career once you’re on the job,” she adds. LOTS OF RESOURCES Alumni who have used the career center consistently Any extra help can be a big plus for job searchers. Just say the service they valued most was its career advising ahs

a few years ago, at the peak of the economic boom, the capacity. Trained advisers work closely with alumni / career center routinely received about 6,000 unsolicited to help develop strategies for changing careers, learn u job postings per month. These days, that number is closer techniques to focus their job search, review professional to 1,200, and the quality of the postings is much lower. correspondence like resumes, and fine-tune their skills But people are still getting jobs, Buckman emphasizes. in networking and interviewing. .uic.ed “Even in the worst market, people go in and out of jobs,” www she says. “With persistence and hard work, people can One such person is Henry Izaguirre (LAS ’90, CBA ’98). still land positions.” “It gives you an overall strategy as you tackle all the issues related to your job and career management The career center works exclusively with alumni from needs. You could come out of there with a complete all University of Illinois campuses: Chicago, Urbana and list of tasks to launch a successful job search campaign.” Springfield. And while most people think of a university- affiliated career center as just one more job bank to mine, Despite the specialized nature of applied health sciences Buckman says the center’s extensive employer database professions, the process of finding and pursuing actually is the “least important thing we offer.” a satisfying job remains the same across industries. “What we offer for specialized occupations is generic, but we have deep knowledge of the job search process and our ability to coach someone through it,” Buckman says. “A job search has its emotional ups and downs, and we can help anyone at any level who is switching careers or looking for a job.”

A popular tool is the new online directory of more than 40,000 University of Illinois alumni who will provide information about their fields and occupations. People who use the directory generally receive a 50-percent response rate, making it an invaluable resource for that other job-search must: networking. “Everyone is uncomfortable about networking, but no matter what your occupation, about 80-90 percent of jobs come through that approach,” Buckman adds.

While more than 80 percent of the alumni who utilize career center services live in the Chicago area, it also serves those in other cities through phone and e-mail. If you’re interested in accessing services or databases, you must be a member of the University of Illinois

LEFT TO RIGHT ARE CLAUDIA DELESTOWICZ, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, Alumni Association. For more information, please visit CHRISTIAN COLLINS, CLIENT CONTACT SPECIALIST, MARY ANNE www.uiaa.org/careers or call (312) 575-7830. BUCKMAN, VICE PRESIDENT, JULIE HAYS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, ALUMNI CAREER CENTER. p.4 fall 2003 winter 2004

DOORS OPEN TO AHS STUDENT LOUNGE NEW SPACE GIVES STUDENTS ROOM TO CONGREGATE AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

The new AHS student lounge – a vibrant space where students can go to study, socialize and relax – opened “We wanted to create a multi- in September on the 8th floor of the AHS Building at 1919 West Taylor Street. The lounge includes two functional environment where rooms and a copy center, and it accommodates more than 250 students. It was co-funded with gifts to students could relax, study the college’s annual Fund for Excellence campaign, comprised of generous donations from alumni and alone or in groups, and network friends, and the Office of the Dean. with each other and faculty.” Initially, the student lounge was proposed by the 2002-

2003 AHS Student Council led by then President Syreeta JUNE WENCEL-DRAKE, EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DEAN Robinson (HIM ’03). Robinson and her fellow council members envisioned the lounge as a “relaxing place for students to socialize, conduct student organization s meetings and post upcoming events.” The student government wrote a detailed proposal and submitted the request to Dean Charlotte Tate, who gave her wholehearted endorsement, agreeing to move forward with the project last November.

Executive Associate Dean June Wencel-Drake and Executive Assistant to the Dean Joelle Livermore college new spearheaded the effort to turn the students’ vision into reality. “The Office of the Dean had a bigger vision than the original proposal,” states Wencel-Drake. “We wanted furniture and furnishings that would mix and match and were sturdy but not institutional looking. We wanted to create a multi-functional environment where students could relax, study alone or in groups, and network with each other and faculty.”

Wencel-Drake and Livermore set out to renovate the rooms. This included installing new ceilings, flooring and lights as well as selecting office-quality furniture, fabrics and attractive framed artwork.

Student response to the new lounge has been overwhelming. “It makes me feel like students are more valued because of the investment that was put into making it look great,” says occupational therapy student Tonia Sanford. Anna Ha, a health information management student concurs, “The lounge gives us a better chance to meet and interact with students from different departments within the college.”

Wencel-Drake explains that future upgrades include additional artwork and area rugs, and the new lounge sends a positive message to students. “We value our students and wanted their space to reflect the high- quality education that we are providing,” she adds.

If you are interested in making a gift to support the enhancement of the learning and living environment for AHS students, please contact Lisamarie Lukas, AHS Advancement, (312) 996-8237.

p.5 fall 2003 winter 2004

BIOMEDICAL VISUALIZATION TAKES FIELD TRIPS

QUINCY ART CENTER TO EXHIBIT 82 YEARS OF UIC MEDICAL ART The Quincy Art Center, named the top Illinois art museum The work of current faculty, alumni and students will outside of the Chicago area, will feature an exhibit on the also be included. The exhibit will provide retrospection 82-year-old Biomedical Visualization (BVIS) program. The from watercolor to virtual reality, featuring sculpture, display can be viewed from January 17-February 17, 2004. prosthetics, animation and video.

Roughly one-third of the exhibit will include the works The museum rests on a historic estate in the scenic of Tom Jones, founder of UIC’s medical illustration Mississippi River community of Quincy in western Illinois. program in 1921 and co-founder of the Association The works are being considered for galleries at Illinois of Medical Illustrators. Other historic pieces from State University, the University of Illinois-Urbana and the UIC collection include those by Willard Shepard, at a medical society headquarters in downtown Chicago Ralph Sweet, William Didusch, Charlotte Holt, Al Teoli, with dates to be determined. Please call Scott Barrows, Bob Parshall, A. Hooker Goodwin, William Schwarz, BVIS program director, for information at (312) 996-8344. Carl Linden, Jane McConnell, Russell Drake and others.

BVIS STUDENTS WILL ASSIST IN DESIGNING HOSPITAL OF TOMORROW Students in the BVIS graduate program recently attended a presentation at the new Edward Heart Hospital in the ahs

Chicago suburb of Naperville, Ill. The graduate students / are helping to design layouts of floor plans, information u kiosks, animations and interactive programs for iMacs and large plasma screen televisions. As the first heart hospital in Illinois, the hospital’s Medical Director .uic.ed Dr. Vincent Bufalino presented a new medical facility www that looks more like a five-star hotel. It features cherry paneled walls, spiral staircase, fine art collection, wellness water garden, pet therapy suites and even a harpist. All that plus world-class technology and patient care.

The Edward Heart Hospital has taken years to design with an integral part dedicated to patient education and information. The complex is connected by wireless communication pods and cyberbars which are locations throughout the hospital where visitors can retrieve e-mail or surf the web. Instant patient informatics, diagnostic images and visual communication are available to clinicians throughout the hospital. Dr. Bufalino explained that typically, print materials and web sites do little to influence necessary changes in patient behavior and to provide a complete understanding of cardiovascular disease. He challenged students and faculty to create new ways to accomplish these goals. EDWARD HEART HOSPITAL

Calling on students to “think Disney” and dream big, The medical facility features the newest-generation BVIS Program Director Scott Barrows is confident patient scanner developed by General Electric called that UIC’s creative faculty and students will rise to the Imatron. In minutes, it creates a fully-functioning, occasion. The program is implementing many cutting- animated 3D-color model of a patient’s vascular system. edge technologies such as virtual reality, animation, Edward Heart Hospital serves as a primary testing media interactives, sculpture and the second-generation site for General Electric, Siemens and Philips equipment. Internet. Designing for the new hospital will be a new Currently, more than $300 billion is spent each year experience for many. Some ideas may even influence on cardiovascular imaging. Providing BVIS students with the physical structure of a new addition to serve this new data will open many doors and provide exciting as an exploratorium – a combined museum, library, new applications for advanced biomedical imaging. information center, media center and social gathering place that makes learning and exploring fun.

p.6 fall 2003 winter 2004

PLANNING AHEAD LEAVES LEGACY WORK WITH YOUR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS TO BENEFIT TOMORROW’S STUDENTS.

AHS often receives calls from alumni and friends seeking of Illinois Foundation are, of course, administered to create a legacy of excellence for tomorrow’s leaders in in accordance with the expressed wishes and desires allied health sciences. Private support for our educational of the donor. Unrestricted bequests to benefit AHS have mission is more critical than ever as federal and state the greatest flexibility because the gift can be used for funding budgets shrink. Often times, these inquiries the greatest needs at the time it is received. involve the opportunity to make a visible impact by giving the gift of higher education through a “planned gift.” When naming the college as a beneficiary in a will or trust, or as a beneficiary of a contractual arrangement Planned gifts are the result of careful consideration that (e.g. insurance policy or retirement account), integrates a donor’s charitable gift into his or her overall the following legal identity should always appear: financial, tax and estate planning objectives to maximize “University of Illinois Foundation, an Illinois benefits for both the donor and UIC. Planned gifts typically not-for-profit corporation, to provide support for come from a donor’s assets rather than income and can excellence in the College of Applied Health Sciences be outright gifts, deferred gifts or a combination of the (and Department of , if applicable) at the two. Estate planning is the process of developing with University of Illinois at Chicago.” your attorney, accountant, trust officer or other advisors an orderly and desirable arrangement for the distribution Of course, the importance of working with professionals of your estate. In most estate plans, the disposition of in estate planning, making a will or establishing a trust

ifference property after death is the key consideration. However, cannot be overemphasized. Whenever desired, a repre- lifetime dispositions of property are also an extremely sentative of the college’s advancement office and the important part of estate planning. UI Foundation will be available to consult with any donor and his or her attorney or other advisor, without cost The primary objective in any plan should be fulfilling or obligation. Call Lisamarie Lukas at (312) 996-8237 your wishes with regard to the happiness and security for more information. of your family and others (sometimes including charitable

making a d organizations) that you seek to benefit. Tax considerations, although secondary, are an important part of estate GIVING IN ACTION planning – often directly related to the accomplishment A GENEROUS BEQUEST FROM THE ESTATE OF HELEN M. BARTON,

of the individual’s primary goals. THE LATE FORMER DEPARTMENT HEAD OF KINESIOLOGY (MOVEMENT

SCIENCES), HAS ENDOWED THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARSHIPS: The most common form of planned giving, a bequest, is

a gift that is made through a will or living trust. Bequests › THE HELEN BARTON SUMMER RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP may be stated as a percentage of the estate, as the residual PROVIDES AN EXCITING RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY TO QUALIFIED

of the estate or for a specific dollar amount. Since a will UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MOVEMENT can be changed, no income tax benefits are associated SCIENCES WHOSE INTERESTS LIE IN FUTURE GRADUATE STUDIES with a bequest; however, the donor’s estate is reduced IN THE MOVEMENT SCIENCES. by the amount of the bequest for estate tax purposes.

› THE HELEN BARTON SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Since bequests do not become available in most cases for IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO A SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR AND SENIOR many years after the making of a will, many donors prefer FROM AN UNDER-REPRESENTED POPULATION WHO DEMONSTRATE bequests which are unrestricted or with as few restrictions ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. THIS SCHOLARSHIP ALLOWS THE as possible. Those considering restricted bequests are DEPARTMENT OF MOVEMENT SCIENCES TO HELP SECURE urged to review their proposed bequest with the college’s DIVERSITY IN ITS UNDERGRADUATE POPULATION AND ASSISTS advancement office. Bequests received by the University TOP ACADEMIC STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF THEIR EDUCATION IN MOVEMENT SCIENCES.

OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPY ALUMNI GATHER AT CLASS REUNIONS FORMER STUDENTS CATCH UP ON THE PRESENT AND REFLECT ON THE PAST.

MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CLASS OF 1953 AND 1954 REUNITE AT THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON APRIL 11 AT THE AHS BUILDING. SHOWN LEFT TO RIGHT IN THE FRONT ROW ARE JOY ANDERSON RANSDELL, BETTYE DROWNE BRUBAKER, RHODA PRIEST ERHARDT AND CORKY COSARO PEZZATI. PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT IN THE BACK ROW ARE VELMA REICHENBACH, MARY ANN HEINEKEN ANDERSON, NEDRA GILLETTE PHELPS, p.7 MARILYN WEISELBERG WEINER AND BARBARA RENNAKER HOCH. fall 2003 winter 2004 GRANT SECURED UIC RECEIVES $3.75 MILLION FOR AGING AND DISABILITIES CENTER.

A special center at the University of Illinois at Chicago that Heller notes that nearly one-quarter of those who care helps elderly persons with intellectual or developmental for adults with developmental disabilities are family disabilities has received a five-year, $3.75 million grant. members over the age of 60. The center will focus attention on the needs of families that have been largely The U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute overlooked – those living in poverty and of ethnic and on Disability and Rehabilitation Research made the award racial minorities. to UIC’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. “As parents age, siblings often take over caregiving Founded in 1993, the center provides information and responsibilities, yet they have often not been included conducts research on how to serve the needs of this in the future planning process and are often unaware growing segment of the population. of services and supports available for their brothers or sisters,” said Heller. The center, which also assists health care professionals, policymakers and primary caregivers, has spearheaded Use of new technologies and innovative housing layouts efforts to bring national attention to the needs of aging and plans may also help adults with intellectual and family members who care for adult relatives with developmental disabilities maintain a higher standard developmental disabilities. of independent living within their home communities. ahs / “It has helped numerous families develop residential “In the next five years, the center will develop tools u and financial plans, helped decrease families’ feelings to assess the degree to which communities are of caregiving burden and has increased the autonomy environmentally friendly to these adults as they age. and self-determination of adults with developmental We will also examine ways to promote more accessible .uic.ed disabilities,” said center director Tamar Heller. “Its environments,” she said. www materials have been translated into several languages, including Dutch, German, Japanese and Spanish, and Heller said life expectancy for persons with intellectual are used around the world.” or developmental disabilities has improved dramatically, and their number will reach an estimated 1.2 million Heller, who is professor and head of the Department of by the year 2030 as the peak of the baby boom generation Disability and Human Development within UIC’s College enters its 60s. of Applied Health Sciences, lists three priorities for the center’s future work: promoting healthy aging, support “There is a clear, urgent need for both greater breadth for family caregivers and promoting living environments and depth of information regarding aging and the needs that are what she calls “aging and disability-friendly.” of persons with these disabilities,” said Heller.

“Adults with developmental disabilities are more likely For more information about the center, go to: than the general population to experience earlier age- www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr related changes and receive poorer access to adequate medical care,” she said. “They’re also more likely to be sedentary, are nutritionally more at risk, and tend to be more obese. It’s critical to study their health and find ways to promote healthier behavior and improve access to good health care.”

MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CLASS OF 1983 CELEBRATED THEIR 20-YEAR REUNION ON SEPTEMBER 6. SHOWN FRONT TO BACK ARE DIANNE INDIA WENZL, MARY JEAN LAMBERT JANSSEN, JANET WEI, BARBARA HANSEN-ZION, JILL JOHNSON CZECH, MICHELL KIRCHMAN FRANK, VALERIE BORONKA DAMLOS, SANDRA BREI SPISIAK, LISA SCHUBERT NEWMAN, EILEEN SCHLESINGER BENVEGNU AND KAREN WOLFEILER-FLEISCHER. p.8 fall 2003 winter 2004 BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION SCIENCES BY ANNETTE VALENTA, DRPH, DEPARTMENT HEAD

Many exciting things have happened where she has already made a since the inaugural issue of AHS significant difference in the courses Magazine last spring. We have that she teaches and the clinical sites increased the number of both faculty where she works. She is completing and students and continue to build our her Ph.D. dissertation on perceptions interdisciplinary research activities as of privacy of health information among well as complement course offerings. high-risk populations.

The Department of Biomedical and For the third year in a row, an Health Information Sciences (BHIS) undergraduate in our HIM program is pleased to announce an addition to has been awarded an AHIMA FORE our informatics faculty. Lawrence M. Merit Scholarship from among the

Pawola, RPh, MBA, PharmD, formerly national cohort of students pursuing ANNETTE VALENTA the executive vice-president of the degrees in HIM and Health Consulting Services Group, Sheldon Information Technology (HIT). for their $1.3 million contract award I. Dorenfest & Associates, Ltd., from the National Library of Medicine te

a will be responsible for practicum We have completed the transition for their project, “A Tele-Immersive

d placements and teaching graduate of the UIC Specialist in Blood Bank System for Surgical Consultation informatics courses. He also holds Technology (SBB) program from and Implant Model.” The major goal an appointment in the College of a traditional face-to-face to a full is to develop and deploy a networked Pharmacy where he is assisting in distance education format. This allows collaborative surgical system for implementation of the ambulatory working laboratory professionals tele-immersive consultation, surgical pharmacy information system. Pawola the opportunity for advancement and pre-planning, implant design, post-

tment up holds a PharmD from Shenandoah continuing education in an anytime, operative evaluation and education.

ar University of Virginia, known for its anyplace instructional setting. distance education degree programs. The first matriculates for this national Faculty is reviewing the entire ep and international curriculum will curriculum in health informatics d We also welcome back to our faculty begin spring 2004. and proposing an expanded series Rachelle Stewart, MPH, RHIA. of electives for graduate students. She was a member of the Health Finally, our Biomedical Visualization Among the new offerings will be Information Management (HIM) (BVIS) program has a record number courses in information security, program from 1987 to 1992, then of students this fall with 27 full-time information systems procurement headed Student Affairs for our graduate students. The department and implementation, and a college’s Office of the Dean. congratulates Zhuming Ai, Mary laboratory experience with health Stewart returns to the HIM faculty Rasmussen, and Ray Evenhouse systems applications.

DISABILITY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT BY TAMAR HELLER, PH.D., DEPARTMENT HEAD

The Department of Disability and accessibility for students are and Human Development (DHD) being developed including accessible is looking forward to an exciting copier machines, additional computer and rewarding academic year software for accommodations, financial for our faculty, students and staff. support and assistance for students DHD’s academic programs are (scholarships, travel awards, etc.). the only graduate programs in the country that specifically DHD currently has 39 students address the social and cultural enrolled in the master of disability situation of disabled people. and human development program The programs include significant and 32 students in the doctoral numbers of students with disabilities, program in disability studies. We look

comprising nearly one-third of the forward to these students building on TAMAR HELLER master’s students and one-fourth the accomplishments of our students of the doctoral students. last year. These included: David Several of our faculty members Hohulin, AHS Achievement Award; were recognized for their academic We are working on making our Sara Vogt, the college’s Graduate scholarship and leadership. Carol Gill department more accessible and Student Award; Joseph Caldwell, the was promoted to the rank of associate “student friendly.” Two more 2nd Annual Ann and Edward Page-El professor with tenure in recognition accessible bathrooms have been Scholarship Award; Carlos Drazen, of her accomplishments as well p.9 renovated, and we would like to the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship her commitment to excellence fall 2003 upgrade the sound system in our Award; and Terri Thrower, the Career in teaching, research, and public winter 2004 auditorium this year. More plans in the Arts Initiative grant from the service. Glenn Fujiura was appointed to further improve our infrastructure Kennedy Center. to the 13-member Long-Range Plan HUMAN NUTRITION BY ALAN M. DIAMOND, PH.D., DEPARTMENT HEAD

The Department of Human Nutrition Among the changes that have already (HN) continues its evolution as been implemented, this year marks a progressive nutrition program. the first time that we are offering Beginning in fall 2004, the department a course in applied human genetics will offer for the first time a bachelor to those enrolled in the dietetics of science degree in human nutrition. program. This class is designed The research and teaching associated to give future dietitians and other with this program is focused on the health care providers a working sciences of nutrition, physiology, understanding of the principles biochemistry and molecular biology. and techniques that we anticipate The application of knowledge in these will become an integral part of disciplines will be geared toward the nutrition management in the not maintenance of human health and so distant future. Those students ALAN DIAMOND well-being throughout the life cycle. taking the course will be prepared to apply new technologies to their is expected to house four The curriculum will offer a wide profession that allow the appreciation to five independent groups whose range of courses on the nutritional of individual differences in our research employs techniques and epidemiological aspects of genetic makeup to predict dietary associated with molecular biology human diseases, a broad perspective needs and nutritional responses. and genetics. The laboratories have ahs

on human biology including been designed for efficient use of / cultural factors, and a strong We are eagerly anticipating the common equipment and provoking u clinical orientation. The nutrition completion of a large construction the imagination of faculty, students science track prepares students project which is scheduled to be done and staff who will be occupying it. for graduate study in nutrition, this coming summer. Located on the Ongoing searches are underway .uic.ed medicine or dentistry, or can first floor of the 1919 West Taylor to recruit new faculty to join this www be tailored to meet the American Street building, this effort will result new research program. Dietetic Association’s Didactic in new, state-of-the-art research Program in Dietetics requirements laboratories to be used by scientists for internship entrance. from both the Department of HN and Movement Sciences. The space

Steering Committee of the National U.S. Department of Health and › David Mitchell and Sharon Snyder Institute on Disability and Human Services, July 2003-June received a National Endowment for Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). 2008, $1.9 million. the Humanities Award “Integrating The long-range plan will set the Disability Studies into Secondary five-year, 2004-2008 research › Carol Gill’s research project entitled Education Curricula,” for a summer agenda for the agency. NIDRR “Integration at Home: Strengthening institute, $179,113. is one of the leading federal agencies Family Relationships of Adults in sponsoring research on disability. with Disabilities” was funded by › James Rimmer received funding NIDRR, September 2002-August for a Rehabilitation Engineering Research is an integral role throughout 2005, $450,000. Research Center on Recreational the department. DHD is the recipient Technologies and Exercise, NIDRR, of several major center grants from › Glenn Hedman, DHD and UIC’s November 2002-October 2007, the federal government. Our clinical Department of Bioengineering, $4.4 million. He also was successful service and training programs are has been awarded a training grant in the competitive renewal for the closely linked to research, assuring in rehabilitation technology, National Center on Physical Activity state-of-the-art resources. Participating funded by the U.S. Department of and Disability, funded by CDC, in this research are graduate students Education — Rehabilitation Services April 2003-March 2008, $4 million. with paid research assistantships. A few Administration, $500,000, DHD new funding awards include: September 2003-August 2008. “Project TechTeam 2: Interdisciplinary › Glenn Fujiura was successful Rehabilitation Technology Training” p.10 in the competitive renewal of the is designed to support a team of fall 2003 University Center for Excellence graduate students as they take course- winter 2004 in Developmental Disabilities, work during their academic years. winter 2004 f p all 2003 .11 department update goes outtothesealumni andfriends and alumni. Ourdeepestgratitude and endowmentsfromourfriends funding andgenerousannualgifts through acombinationof extramural and activitytodate.We havedoneso achieve ourhighestlevelof funding f have furthererodedstatesupport to celebrate.T significant challengesandhavemuch department’s operation,weface As webeginthe61styearo enrolled inandtakingclasses environments. Studentsareofficially demands of thepostgraduatework evolution of ourfield,andthe address theneedsof ourstudents, undergraduate curriculatobetter our efforts tore-engineerour Reaching fruitionthisfallwere research missionsarebased. around whichoureducationaland accurately reflectsthecorestrengths missions. Ournewnamemore our educationalandresearch of excellenceandlinkagebetween progress toward ourcollectivevision This highly-visiblechangereflectsthe o of KinesiologytotheDepartment the transitionfromSchool Board of HigherEducationapproved During thepastyear,Illinois available f Physical therapygraduatecourses are of ourphysicaltherapycommunity. that wearemeetingtheneeds These areseveralexcitingways continuing educationactivities. is alivewithnewfacultyand graduating class.Ourdepartment the 30thanniversaryof itsfirst year asourdepartmentcelebrates A greetingtoalu BY GAR OCCUP BY MARKGRABINER,PH.D.,DEPARTMENT HEAD MOVEMENT SCIENCES BY SUZANNK.CAMPBELL,PT, PH.D.,FAPTA, DEPARTMENT HEAD PHYSICAL THERAPY or theprogram,butweareableto f MovementSciences(MovSci). Y KIELHOFNER,DRPH,OTR/L,F or continuingeducation A TIONAL THERAPY wo yearso mni andfriendsthis f budgetcuts f the AOTA, DEPARTMENT HEAD The firstoccupationaltherapist talented andmotivatedgroup. body of over80studentsisahighly Overall, ourprofessional student master’s programwithstrongstudents. We continuetofillourprofessional o constitutes approximatelytwo-thirds alu is tighteningtheirbelts.Notably, in theseeconomictimes,everyone f of newfacilitiesthatwillhouseboth physiology andbuildingaseries our graduateofferings inapplied in exerciseandfitness,enhancing new undergraduateconcentration of appliedphysiologyrefinesour year. Theirexpertiseinthearea us atthebeginningof thisacademic Dooly andThayneMunce,joined Two newfacultymembers,Cathryn and haveexpandedourfacilities. number andstrengthof ourfaculty economy, wehaveincreasedthe to focus ondepth.Despiteadifficult and indoingso,wehavebeenable compared tojusttwoyearsago, the scopeof ourdepartment These twoconcentrationsnarrow and exercisefitness. concentrations: movementscience developed for twonewundergraduate Student ConclaveinMilwaukee, W and inOctober,theyparticipated in Physical TherapyAssociation (APT Association (IPTA) andtheAmerican active intheIllinoisPhysical Therapy clinical fieldwork.Ourstudents are group of DPTIIIstudentsareoutin entered UICinAugustwhileourfirst (DPT) classincluding34students third Doctorof PhysicalTherapy in theplanningstagesaswell.The (CE) credit,andwehavenewworkshops or theircontinuedsupportbecause, f ourannualbudget. mni andfriendgivingnow is. A), MARK GRABINER SUZANN CAMPBELL will includetheindividualand a widerangeof research.Ourstudies in theclassroom,butalsoconducting therapy facultyhasbeenbusynotonly As youmayguess,theoccupational head, physicaltherapy. o Barbosa workedunderthedirection dissertation overthesu V interdisciplinary Ph.D to graduatefromthecollege’s is anticipatedtoresultinan with state-of-the-art technology, two laboratories,bothequipped laboratory. Theproximityof these biomechanics andrehabilitation adjacent totheequallynewclinical physiology laboratoryislocated research andteaching.Theexercise f SuzannK.Campbell,department anessa Barbosa,defendedher . program, mmer.

class f (A Coordinator o no greaterthana1:12Academic members allowustomaintain Don Straube.Thesenewfaculty with Directorof ClinicalEducation Michelle Babcockwhoareworking members Jeanet with theadditionof part-timefaculty for the DPT degreehasbeeninitiated Our newmodelo have beenjustreleasedorareshortly four booksthat faculty havewritten In additiontoscientificpapers, is anall-timehighfor thedepartment. in researchfundingthisyear,which in thefield.We havenearly$1.5million o We continuetobeattheforefront occupational therapyservices. development andtestingo identifying needsf environmental causeso from theNationalInstitutesof and hadsevenactivegrantsfunded deliver 19additionalpresentations, and congresses,wereinvitedto national andinternationalmeetings faculty presented19papersat and clinicaljournals.Ourresearch 21 papersinprestigiousscientific 2002, ourlaboratoriespublished department. Duringcalendaryear clinical researchlaboratoriesinour faculty directsthebasicscienceand and biomechanics.Distinguished study, motorcontrolandlearning, encompassing moleculetoorganism our strengthsinexercisephysiology, programs havebeenbuiltaround Both undergraduateandgraduate research. intradepartmental collaborative increase ininterdepartmentaland f studyingandadvancingpractice CCE) tostudentratioineach or thesupervisiono f ClinicalEducation te Elliott and te Elliott f clinicaleducation or service,and f disabilities, f clinical f new “Occupational TherapyPractice “Handbook of ChronicFatigue Multiple Sclerosis.” and ResearchwithPersons with Finlayson willsoonbereleasing Occupational Therapy,”andMarcia of “ConceptualFoundations of honored toauthorthe3rdedition Syndrome (2003).”Ihavebeen Reneé T P Balcazar isco-editoro f eight-week researchprojectdirected an in opportunities toparticipate Our undergraduatesapplied for graduate researchexperience. of HelenBartontosupportunder- estate the Movement Sciencesfrom of theinterestearnedfromagiftto This wasdonebyallocatingaportion highlighted duringthesummer 2002. and directresearchexperiencewas betweeen undergraduatecurricula Our effort todevelopastrongerlink editorial boards of eightotherjournals. Collectively, ourfacultysatonthe and anotherasanassociateeditor. served aseditorsof scientificjournals In addition,twofacultymembers Research andEducationFoundation. of DefenseandtheOrthopaedic Space Administration,Department Health, NationalAeronauticsand specialty), GeorgeHornby(spinal Kathleen Rockefeller(ergonomics Other newfacultymembersinclude education sites. physical therapistsinourclinical a neweducationalresourcefor allowing ustheopportunitytoprovide is certifiedtotrainclinicalinstructors, of clinical educationsites.Elliott responsibility for aregionalgroup education. EachA orthcoming. Y sychology o aylor isco-editoro f P olanda Suarez- olitics, V CCE has f “TheSocial olu f me 5.” GARY KIELHOFNER and becomeengagedinthisjourney. to contactus,visitexperienceus extension of yourlegacy.Iinviteyou As alumni, theseactivitiesarean advance ourgoalsof excellence. planned for thefuture.Bothwill initiatives alreadystartedandthose More changeisinevitableaswerefine in advancingtowardwhatwillbe.” lies notinenhancingwhatis,but that“progress It hasbeenwritten So whatwillthenextyearbring? in gaitbiomechanicsmylaboratory. another studentworkedonaproject the directionof KarynEsser,and projects inexercisebiologyunder Two studentswereselectedfor by aseniorfacultymember. and pro to keepuspostedonyourpersonal your pro Thank youfor making ussoproudof and movementscience). (musculoskeletal physicaltherapy science), andCarolCourtney T neuromuscular physicaltherapy), Jeanne McCoy(pediatricsand cord injuryandmovementscience), akako Shiratori(movement fessional achievements. fessional work.W e inviteyou winter 2004 fall 2003 p.12 www.uic.edu/ahs

FILLING IN THE BLANKS AHS TEAM SEARCHES FOR CLUES TO DEBILITATING EXHAUSTION.

Fifteen years after it was officially defined by experts in the field, chronic fatigue RENEE TAYLOR syndrome (CFS) remains such a mystery that diagnosing the condition still happens through a process of elimination. “There are no reliable biological markers to detect it using laboratory measures,” says Renee Taylor, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. “It’s unexplained s and severe enough to interfere with all aspects of occupational functioning.” DIAGNOSING CHRONIC FATIGUE While nobody knows what causes the disease, leading theories range from CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME CAN PUZZLE problems in the immune system to chronically low or variable cardiovascular PATIENTS AND HEALTH SPECIALISTS ALIKE function. Other theories say the disease may be caused by neuroendocrine FOR MONTHS BEFORE BEING DIAGNOSED. dysfunction or psychosocial factors. Backed by a five-year National Institutes THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL of Health-funded study, Taylor is working to find out if one CFS subtype has AND PREVENTION DEFINES THE CONDITION its roots in mononucleosis, often nicknamed “mono” or “kissing disease.” AS SIX OR MORE MONTHS OF UNEXPLAINED college new FATIGUE ACCOMPANIED BY AT LEAST FOUR LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS: Like patients with CFS, those with mono experience extreme and sometimes

lasting exhaustion. The $2.6 million study will follow teenagers for two years › SORE THROAT to see if those still feeling fatigue after that period are experiencing delayed › TENDER OR SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES recovery from mono or early stages of CFS. “In the adult population, at least › UNREFRESHING SLEEP 10 percent of people who have mono fail to recover and develop a syndrome › MULTIPLE JOINT PAIN

that looks a lot like CFS,” Taylor says. “The most common population affected › MUSCLE PAIN by mono is adolescents and young adults. By studying them, we’re taking › MEMORY OR CONCENTRATION DIFFICULTY a well-documented group of people for whom we know at least 10 percent › MALAISE LASTING MORE THAN 24 HOURS

never fully recover.” AFTER EXERTION › UNUSUAL HEADACHES Taylor and her team will conduct medical tests on teens at the time of diagnosis to get baseline information on cardiovascular function, immune system function and other biological markers related to leading CFS theories. Follow-up visits then will track how those markers change over time in both recovered patients and those who have begun exhibiting signs of CFS.

Having a serious infection seems to be linked to a subtype of CFS, but it’s unknown whether specific agents lead directly to the syndrome or simply act as triggers in those already predisposed to it. “We’re looking at people before they have CFS and how parts of the body function before and after syndrome onset,” Taylor says. “This study will help us figure out what goes wrong when.”

The research team is in the recruitment phase of its study, aiming to enlist 400 patients with mono from primary care and pediatric practices throughout the Chicago area. By the time the study is complete, Taylor hopes the information will allow physicians to follow mono patients more closely during their recovery and potentially take preventive action before CFS can take root.

p.13 fall 2003 winter 2004 TICK-TOCK RESEARCHER LOOKS AT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIORHYTHMS AND MUSCLES.

Can the same internal “clocks” that differentiate early birds from night owls KARYN ESSER be ticking all the way down to the fibers of our muscles? Karyn Esser, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Movement Sciences (formerly Kinesiology), is trying to find out through her research on circadian rhythms, or inner body clocks.

“Almost all cells on this planet exhibit some periodicity over 24 hours,” Esser says. Researchers long believed the sole regulator ahs

“Just like you have regular sleep patterns, your core temperature fluctuates and for the body’s clock resided in the brain. / your blood pressure changes at certain times of day. Even single-cell organisms They since have come to learn that other u have this circadian behavior.” body parts such as the heart and liver have their own concurrently running Esser stumbled into the study of circadian rhythms almost accidentally. clocks. Esser’s research aims to link those .uic.ed Primarily specializing in understanding the basic mechanisms by which skeletal findings with her specialized knowledge www muscles adapt to changes in activity, she analyzed thousands of genes to see what of musculoskeletal function. patterns they expressed after muscle contractions. Esser discovered that one of the core circadian rhythm genes changed most quickly after a contraction and was so fascinated by her findings that she took a sabbatical last year to study with a leading circadian researcher.

“In mice, activity patterns are clock-driven,” she says. “If that’s true in mice, there’s likely some biochemical basis for people wanting to stay up late at night versus those who like to be up early in the morning.”

ON THE OUTSKIRTS Researchers long believed the sole regulator for the body’s clock resided in the brain. They since have come to learn that other body parts such as the heart and liver have their own concurrently running clocks. Esser’s research aims to link those findings with her specialized knowledge of musculoskeletal function. “From my perspective, skeletal muscles have clocks as well,” she says. “Now one of my questions is, ‘What kind of talking is happening between the central clock in the brain and these peripheral clocks?’”

For example, one research model shows that mice whose main clock gene is mutated seem to exhibit mutated muscle function as well. In other words, muscle size in the mutated mice is normal, but the muscles themselves have only half their normal function. Plus, the mice don’t move as much as those whose circadian genes remain untouched. “It’s not just the brain being affected by this,” Esser explains.

Esser’s circadian rhythm research is in its earliest stages, but she hopes it one day can help individual patients make the most of their physical rehabilitation or training by timing therapy sessions around when their muscles are most responsive. “The presence of the core clock gene seems to be necessary for muscles to look right and function properly,” she says. “I want to figure out why.” p.14 fall 2003 winter 2004

physical therapist, entrepreneur and pilot michael keenum takes sick patients from home to hope.

y ng or i

ver st y

co l F igh H

p.15 fall 2003 winter 2004 “If it weren’t for people like Mike, the people he flies probably would be faced with the situation of giving

up hope.” ROBERT HULTGREN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIFELINE PILOTS

As a volunteer for LifeLine Pilots, Michael Keenum has flown more than 100 “missions” to transport seriously ill patients in need of medical care.

One of his earliest trips quickly tested the pilot’s ingenuity not in the air, but on the ground. His passenger needed to reach Rochester, Minn. as quickly as possible because a kidney had finally become available for transplant, and she had to arrive at the Mayo Clinic during the organ’s limited window of viability.

Flying her to Rochester proved to be no problem even though the trip was flown in the middle of the night. LifeLine pilots are commissioned to get the patient as far as the airport, where ground transportation usually awaits, but Keenum quickly realized the patient had no way to get to the hospital from the airport. “The airport ahs

was still open, but all the facilities were closed off,” he recalls. “We were practically / climbing fences trying to get to areas where we could find a taxicab for her. It was u a challenge, but we got it done.”

Keenum’s determination to help people and get the job done has been a hallmark of .uic.ed his work and life since he graduated from the AHS physical therapy program in 1977. www Combined with a seemingly tireless work ethic, these abilities helped Keenum expand his first physical therapy clinic into a network of locations that continues to grow today. The clinics not only help thousands of people across the Chicagoland area — they also support Keenum’s work as a LifeLine pilot.

“He’s very successful with his fitness business and has chosen to share the fruits of his labor with others who are not as fortunate,” says Robert Hultgren, executive director of LifeLine Pilots. “If it weren’t for people like Mike, the people he flies probably would be faced with the situation of giving up hope.” Time to Switch Keenum’s work with LifeLine and his choice to pursue physical therapy are both grounded in the same desire to make an immediate difference in people’s lives.

Coming from humble beginnings, Keenum attended UIC’s then-named College of Associated Health Professions on a full state-sponsored scholarship. After graduation, he quickly found his well-rounded UIC training often had him better prepared than colleagues who had come from other, more established physical therapy programs. But his first few years of working in the hospital and home health settings still proved to be more frustrating than satisfying. “In the hospital, I couldn’t do anything without the doctor signing off,” Keenum says. “I wasn’t allowed to think. I always had to persuade, and I felt a little constrained by that.”

Disillusioned, Keenum was in the process of taking his MCATs to attend medical school to be an orthopedic surgeon when a friend asked if he could assist in outpatient sports medicine, then just a burgeoning area of physical therapy. The move proved to be the turning point of his career. “I loved it,” Keenum says. “This was back in the ’70s and early ’80s, when arthroscopy was just entering the picture, and there were all these new practices in physical therapy like isokinetics. In those days, we really pushed the envelope on a lot of new rehabilitation techniques.”

A few years after entering the field, Keenum developed his own ideas about how patients could be better treated. At the time, outpatient physical therapy patients were an afterthought to the inhouse schedule, and he wanted to make outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation more user-friendly. “In the old days, it was like, ‘I’m doing you a favor by taking care of you,’” he says. In 1982, Keenum started his own physical therapy p.16 practice, Orthosport, which focused on providing orthopedic and sports medicine fall 2003 in a convenient, comfortable setting. winter 2004 “What we do is very, very unique because we are dealing one-on-one with people who need our help. When a pilot volunteers his plane and money, he or she gets to see and know the person receiving that benefit.”

MIKE AUSTER, LIFELINE BOARD MEMBER Thinking Outside the Box Orthosport’s specialty and customer- Not long after Keenum purchased a plane, focused attitude was well timed and well he was reading a regional aviation magazine received. The national health craze was when he came across an ad for LifeLine just starting to dawn, and Keenum’s Pilots, a private, non-profit organization emphasis on patient convenience filled an that provides people in medical and empty niche. Focusing solely on orthopedics financial distress with free air transporta-

y and sports medicine, Keenum chose tion on private planes. “I was looking for to make his space in Chicago’s western something worthwhile to do and thought or suburbs more like a health club and less this would be a good way to give back,” like the traditional physical therapist’s he says. office. Nautilus machines replaced cuff weights, and large machines replaced Keenum began flying missions for ver st low tables. the organization, the oldest regional

co humanitarian air care organization in the “I didn’t see stroke patients, so I didn’t country, in early 1987. “People who use need many of the techniques and equipment LifeLine need a lot of specialized care, other physical therapists did,” Keenum and they can’t get it at home,” he says. says. “I set everything up with big weights “Usually they have run out of money to get and big machines that average adult back and forth to large health care centers, human beings would want to work with.” and time is critical. We provide trans- portation to move these people around.” The clinic’s early roster of about 20 active patients mushroomed, and Orthosport Trip to Remember quickly outgrew its original 3,000-4,000 Flying missions for LifeLine is not your square-foot space. Over the next few years, average community service project. Keenum remained involved with treating Volunteer pilots must provide their own patients while managing the business and aircraft and pay all expenses out of his expanding to new locations. “He worked or her own pocket – a bill that can range hard to develop his business and profession, anywhere from $800 to more than $2,000 and I have a great deal of respect for him,” for each mission to cover airplane fuel, says Harry Knecht, Ed.D, PT, one maintenance, and other costs. of Keenum’s former physical therapy professors who also did some consulting LifeLine board member and fellow pilot for Orthosport research projects. Mike Auster explains, “What we do is very, “He does outstanding work and even very unique because we are dealing one- became a certified orthopedic specialist, on-one with people who need our help. in order to broaden his knowledge.” When a pilot volunteers his plane and money, he or she gets to see and know Troubled by his long hours, Keenum’s wife the person receiving that benefit.” urged her hard-charging husband to find a hobby so he could relax. He took her For Keenum, though, his most memorable advice and began flying in 1985. flight was for a patient who likely will never remember the trip — an infant born Much to his wife’s relief and chagrin, with a life-threatening birth defect. The Keenum threw himself into the cockpit baby and his mother needed to fly from with the same energy and determination St. Louis, Mo. to Tampa, Fla. where the that he gave to his rapidly-growing child eventually would have surgery, and business. He earned his pilot’s license the family would be reunited with the and bought his first airplane within a year baby’s father. The infant had to travel p.17 of picking up his new pastime. with life-support equipment and a team fall 2003 of health care workers to monitor him, winter 2004 but insurance would not cover the cost. ahs / u .uic.ed www

MICHAEL KEENUM

“The hospital said it would send a crew, he misses in his thriving business. a bassinet and life support for free if we “Sometimes I wish I could work with could find a way to get them all to Tampa. patients like in the old days, but I had We loaded everyone on board,” Keenum to make a decision several years ago says. “An ambulance pulled up to meet us to either stay a certain size and continue in Tampa, and the baby was transferred to to treat patients or put patient care aside someone else’s care. The doctors, nurses and concentrate on other areas,” he says. and I were so happy we partied the rest of the weekend, and I came back home.” Keenum remains very involved with the business he created almost 20 years ago, Staying Hands-On and he’s grateful for the opportunities Keenum’s commitment to LifeLine that first set him on the path he flies today. propelled him to president, then board “My success with Orthosport is due to the member of the organization before he scholarship that allowed me to get my returned to the ranks of volunteer pilot terrific training at the University of Illinois in the early 1990s. Auster says, “I think at Chicago, and the work I do at Orthosport Mike was relieved when he didn’t serve allows me to volunteer for LifeLine,” he says. on the board anymore and could just fly the airplane and take people where they Giving back to the community through needed to go. He always focuses on what LifeLine continually brings Keenum full are we doing for the people we serve, and circle and energizes him for more. “We all I think he prefers to just fly.” let the petty things of day-to-day life get under our skin. Whenever I fly a mission LifeLine is just one of many ways Keenum and take one of these patients on a trip, has fulfilled his desire to “give something I come back to my regular life feeling back.” He also has volunteered for the like I don’t really have any problems.” AHS alumni admissions committee and donated equipment to the AHS and Finch University/Chicago Medical School physical therapy programs. But more p.18 than any other avenue, LifeLine provides fall 2003 Keenum with the direct patient interaction winter 2004 CROSSING BORDERS PROFESSOR SEEKS TO CLOSE INFORMATION GAP ON GLOBAL DISABILITY.

GLENN FUJIURA Finding a figure for the number of disabled people worldwide is not difficult. Finding one that’s remotely accurate or current is essentially impossible, says Glenn Fujiura, Ph.D., associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Disability and Human Development. s “Most of us in the health field have a good This fall, Fujiura will discuss the importance of global disability with the World handle on the numbers in the U.S. and Bank, urging it to count and track disabled people in nations where it provides Western European nations, but globally, financing. “If they’re going to pour money into these countries and use living virtually nothing is known. I’m trying standards as an index, one should know how people with some form of disability to get a sense of the relative living are doing,” Fujiura says. “This project is a first attempt at a systematic, cross- standards, well-being, and health status national look at disability in the Third World.” of people with various impairments and conditions.” CRUNCHING NUMBERS college new Fujiura’s quest began during his research for a book chapter on international disability a few years ago. He found the United Nations, World Health Organization and numerous other world bodies consistently cited the statistic of 500 million people around the globe with disabilities. The only problem was the figure is a 30-year-old estimate that was probably erroneous in the first place.

Researchers in the field agree 10 to 15 percent of the population in Western countries have some form of impairment that restricts livelihood or lifestyle. “The 500 million figure that’s bandied about is based on 10 percent of the population back in the 1970s,” Fujiura says. Not only is the figure largely unadjusted for population inflation, but disability rates likely are higher in non-industrialized countries than the baseline figures for Western nations. “You can only imagine what the rates of disability must be in Third World nations where you have lack of access to care, war or conflict, or a constant state of malnutrition.”

By raising the issue with the World Bank, Fujiura aims to develop measures of global disability and elevate interest in the issue. “Most of us in the health field have a good handle on the numbers in the U.S. and Western European nations, but globally, virtually nothing is known,” he says. “I’m trying to get a sense of the relative living standards, well-being, and health status of people with various impairments and conditions.”

Generating interest in the issue with the World Bank would be key not only because of the organization’s standing census-type program, but also because the link between disability and economic conditions is more direct than first seems apparent. Poverty can be both a leading cause and consequence of disability, and a number of anti-poverty initiatives are focused on health maintenance. “People tend to put disability in a conceptual pigeon hole,” Fujiura says. “They don’t realize the policy they’re creating can have direct linkages.”

p.19 fall 2003 winter 2004 COMPARE AND CONTRAST UNDERSTANDING RISK FACTOR MARKERS IN DISABLED PEOPLE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN DISEASE PREVENTION.

CAROL BRAUNSCHWEIG Monitoring risk factors is a key part of preventing or managing chronic disease. But typical risk factor markers don’t seem to apply to people with spinal cord injuries, who develop conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease sooner and at higher rates than their able-bodied counterparts.

“Typically, spinal cord-injured patients Carol Braunschweig, Ph.D., associate professor and director of undergraduate lose lean body mass and increase fat mass. studies in the Department of Human Nutrition, believes this higher incidence ahs

It’s common for that extra fat to be is linked to body composition changes that occur after spinal cord injury. / located abdominally, and in able-bodied “Typically, spinal cord-injured patients lose lean body mass and increase u populations, fat around the abdomen tends fat mass,” Braunschweig says. “It’s common for that extra fat to be located to be associated with higher risk of disease.” abdominally, and in able-bodied populations, fat around the abdomen tends to be associated with higher risk of disease.” .uic.ed www Sharply limited mobility after a spinal cord injury is the most obvious culprit in increased fat mass, but it’s not the only factor at play. Mobility-impaired people also may find their diets shifting as it becomes more difficult to access fresh fruits and vegetables or prepare healthy foods in poorly-adapted kitchens. Where the resulting fat settles on the body may put patients at higher risk for chronic disease, Braunschweig says, because it may trigger other processes like insulin resistance and lipid elevation.

SETTING THE BAR Braunschweig is using magnetic resonance imaging to look at the type and amount of fat in the thigh and abdominal areas of spinal cord-injured people. She is comparing the data to a control group of able-bodied individuals. In a study set to be published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation this January, she found spinal cord-injured men had higher levels of C-reactive proteins, a marker for cardiovascular disease, than able-bodied men.

“Able-bodied markers are no longer relevant for predicting chronic disease in those whose mobility is impaired,” she says. For example, standard measures say a person is considered obese if he has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. But that measurement probably is not appropriate for disabled patients, whose fat distribution may put them at risk for obesity’s related health complications sooner than their able-bodied peers.

Similarly, an able-bodied person may be at risk for certain chronic diseases with a waist circumference of 40 inches. But for a mobility-impaired person, that number would likely be lower. “Maybe 37 inches is the right marker to use in this case. Maybe it’s even lower than that,” Braunschweig says. “I’m trying to determine when a risk is a risk in this population so they can get appropriate screening markers to head off chronic disease.”

p.20 fall 2003 winter 2004 SEE THE WORLD WITH EXPLORERS

If you’re wondering where to vacation next, consider putting a UIC-sponsored For a comprehensive list of scheduled trips and costs, please visit excursion on your calendar. You can book a tour through Explorers Alumni Travel www.uiaa.org/explorers. Some upcoming trips include: Program which provides exciting and educational travel opportunities for UIC graduates. More than Treasures of Costa Rica › January 26-February 3, 2004 4,000 University of Illinois alumni have traversed With tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, bands of inquisitive monkeys, the globe with Explorers, and exciting destinations are and scarlet macaws, Costa Rica offers a myriad of thrilling sights. Experience planned this year. EARTH, the School of Agriculture of the Tropical Humid Region, a model in environmental preservation. Visit Arenal National Park, Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge and Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve.

DEGREE KEY ’63 In May 2003, craig gosling New Mexico. Emily currently Valley, Ill. She is employed by

BVIS (BVIS) was awarded the Emil lives in Albuquerque, N.M. Hillman Pediatric Therapy as a biomedical Hospodar Medal for Excellence and has one son, three daughters, pediatric physical therapist and visualization in Education at the Biomedical and six grandchildren. by Illinois Veterans Home as a DHD Visualization Graduation Dinner. consultant. tes disability and human Craig is the ’78 development second recipient debra kay hultine (PT) and ’79 of this presti- harold “buster” zenor jr. mary therese sefick-maslanka DS disability studies gious award. were united in marriage during (HN) had a baby girl, Marianna Gosling was a ceremony performed at Therese, in December 2002 who HIM class no health introduced and 11:45 a.m. on June 26 prior was joined by brothers Anthony, information presented the award by Dr. Alice to the Cubs-Brewers game at Daniel, and Peter. Husband Stas management Katz, professor emeritus in the Wrigley Field in Chicago. Judge is a 1981 graduate of the UIC BVIS program, former director James Wimbiscus officiated. Medical Center and is on staff HN human nutrition and the 1999 recipient of the at Resurrection Medical Center award. Gosling has recently in Chicago. Mary Therese is MLS medical retired as the director of medical currently self-employed as a laboratory illustration, Indiana University registered and licensed dietician. sciences School of Medicine. He is also a

MovSci clinical assistant professor in ’85 movement sciences BVIS at UIC, has won the gwen alderks (BVIS) of Netter Award (for outstanding Kenosha, Wis. is married OT occupational contribution to education in Receptions in the couple’s honor to husband Phil and raising therapy medical illustration), and the were at Bernie’s sidewalk café six children between the ages

PT Lifetime Achievement Award across from Wrigley Field after of 1-15. Gwen and Phil have physical therapy by the Association of Medical the game and on June 28 in the been home schooling their Illustrators. yard of friends Mark and Alisa children for seven years. Bezely. Following a honeymoon

emily krueck gaus (OT) worked to Field of Dreams, Dubuque, for over 20 years in occupational Iowa, Galena, Ill., Wrigley Field therapy in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Miller Park in Milwaukee, Washington D.C., Arizona and Wis., the Zenors reside in Spring

CALENDAR OF EVENTS DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY 12 7 14 4 UIC Flames vs. DePaul Blue Demons Making Solid and Satisfying Career Making Solid and Satisfying Career UIC Flames vs. Loyola Women’s basketball Decisions: Part I – Getting the New Decisions: Part II – Getting Around Women’s basketball 7 p.m., UIC Pavilion Career Journey Started the Roadblocks and Closer to the Goal 7 p.m., UIC Pavilion Call (312) 413-UIC1 for tickets. Call the UIAA Career Center at Call the UIAA Career Center at Call (312) 413-UIC1 for tickets (312) 575-7830 for more information. (312) 575-7830 for more information. and information. 30 UIC Flames vs. UIUC Fighting Illini 10 4-8 p.21 Men’s basketball Windy City Invitational Combined Sections Meeting, American fall 2003 United Center Men’s gymnastics Physical Therapy Association winter 2004 Call (312) 413-UIC1 for game time 7 p.m., UIC Campus Nashville, Tenn. and ticket information. Call (312) 413-UIC1 for Call the APTA at 1-800-999-2682 more information. for more information.

Sea of Cortez Whale-Watching Expedition › March 6-14, 2004 Restaurant. Other highlights include a dinner on the 1915 Napa Valley Discover the natural history, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife of Mexico’s Wine Train; a visit to Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts Sea of Cortez. Ideal for swimming and snorkeling, this adventure is also an in Napa Town; and hot-air ballooning over the Napa Valley. excellent occasion to observe at close hand the abundance of whale species that frequent nearby Bahia Magdalena. Alumni College in Tuscany-Cortona › April 28-May 6, 2004 From Cortona journey to Montepulciano, with its quaint cafes and aromatic California Wine and Cuisine Cruise › April 11-16, 2004 wine cellars. Marvel at two Umbrian jewels – the walled city of Perugia, Join this innovative cruise aboard the Yorktown Clipper from Redwood City the ancient Etruscan city-state, and medieval Assisi, home to the exquisite to Sausalito. Included are winery visits and an opportunity to dine at both St. Francis Basilica. In Siena, enjoy a resplendent showcase of magnificent Artesa and The Culinary Institute of America’s Wine Spectator Greystone cathedrals and stunning Gothic buildings. Admire the splendor of Florence.

’89 ’95 ’01 bill truesdale (MovSci) will maria soledad magsalin (MLS) arlene arellano (HIM) had her children, Daniel, be finishing his doctorate in finished a doctor of pharmacy a baby girl in March 2002 and Michael, and Katherine, educational administration from degree at UIC in 2002 and is has begun graduate school at a brother, John Cameron, Loyola University in Chicago currently a staff pharmacist at Loyola University School of Law and a sister, Lynn Cameron. in 2004. He was also selected Loretto Hospital in Chicago. specializing in health law. ahs for the Leadership Academy Arlene currently works for anita kwak (OT ’75), 50, passed / for Urban Chicago Schools elite ’98 3M Health Information Systems away on July 9, 2003 in Seattle, u principal training program meika nowak married Jim Magee in Elmhurst, Ill. Wash. Ms. Kwak was born at Northwestern University this on August 9, 2003 in Orcas January 21, 1953 in Kankakee, Ill. .uic.ed past summer. Bill is currently Island, Wash. She received her samar shehaiber (HIM) is She spent the past 28 years the assistant principal at Jane master’s degree in occupational enrolled at National University in the Seattle area and was an www Addams Elementary in Chicago. therapy and is employed in Lombard, Ill. as a first-year avid whitewater boater, skier, by St. Joseph’s Hospital in student in chiropractic medicine. bicyclist, backpacker, linguist, ’92 Tacoma, Wash. The Magees Samar is currently a certified artist, and world traveler. aimee thomas seiler (PT) is reside in Tacoma. respiratory therapist at Christ Ms. Kwak most recently was currently living in the Florida Keys Hospital and Medical Center a certified hand-therapist at with her husband Jason and ’99 in Oak Lawn. Swedish Providence Rehabilitation daughter Kailey while working mikki huck savage (MovSci) of Center in Seattle. She is survived for Mariners Hospital Baptist Chicago was married in July 2001 in memoriam by her parents Joseph and

Health Care System. and is currently a visiting robin cameron unes (OT ’87), 38, Thecla Kwak, twin sister, lecturer and academic advisor at passed away on May 2, 2003 Annette Fitzpatrick, sisters ’94 Northeastern Illinois University. in Peoria, Ill. Ms. Unes worked Francine Kwak and Christine arlene ligori (BVIS) has been for Central Illinois schools as an Kwak, and brothers Joseph Kwak living in St. Louis, Mo. for the ’00 occupational therapist over the and Tom Kwak. past five years and started as the pam (swan) lovett (MovSci) past 15 years and was active in graphic designer for the largest married Tom Lovett on assisting cancer survivors and law firm in St. Louis. Last year August 10, 2002. Pam is a their families. She served she was promoted to patent paraeducator in Oak Harbor, regularly as an organizer of illustrator for the intellectual Wash. while her husband, Peoria’s annual Susan G. Komen property department. Arlene Tom, is in the Navy and currently Race for the Cure. She is survived has also built a successful part- deployed on the USS Nimitz. by her husband Leonard Unes Jr., time freelance business.

MAY JULY 20 21 14-16 5-30 UIC City Partner Dinner ESPN Bracket Buster Spring Meeting, Illinois Physical Interdisciplinary Summer Seminar: This event recognizes the impact UIC Men’s basketball Therapy Association Disability Studies and the Legacies alumni have on the region in key Times to be announced, UIC Pavilion Hyatt Hotel, Lisle, Ill. of Eugenics areas of urban development or Call (312) 413-UIC1 for more Call the IPTA at (630) 571-1400 Einstein Forum, Potsdam, Germany outstanding service to UIC itself. information. for more information. Seminar Directors are Professor David Hosted by the UIC Alumni Association. Mitchell and Professor Sharon Snyder. UIC Campus, Chicago Circle Center For more information, contact (CCC), 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago. the Ph.D. program in Disability p.22 Call (312) 996-8535 for more Studies at [email protected] or call fall 2003 information. (312) 996-1508. winter 2004 GOING STRONG PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM REACHES 30-YEAR MILESTONE.

When the UIC physical therapy program welcomed its first students just more than 30 years ago, professionals at the time worked almost exclusively with hospital inpatients. “There wasn’t any real understanding of our role,” says Suzann K. Campbell, Ph.D., PT, professor and current head of the AHS Department of Physical Therapy. “People always confused us with nurses.”

Today, physical therapists have carved their own place in health care and maintenance of fitness. Working in such wide-ranging areas as early intervention for babies, rehabilitation therapy, and amateur and professional sports, physical therapists have become part of the health care and cultural landscape. “Once we started showing up as characters in soap operas, we knew there k was national recognition of our field,” Campbell laughs. c

a Just as the industry has changed, so too has the AHS physical therapy program. This year, the department marked the 30th anniversary of its first graduating class.

INNOVATION FROM THE START CLASS OF 1973 “The early years were good years,” recalls Harry G. Knecht, Ed.D, PT, one of the physical therapy program’s original The shift to a doctoral program was spurred in part looking b three faculty members and department head from 1979-89. by the profession’s accrediting body, the American “Gloria Brawley (Ph.D., PT) came to the university to set up Physical Therapy Association, which mandated that all the program, and she had some innovative ideas that made accredited physical therapy programs be at the master’s our program unique at the time.” Sandra Levine was the level or higher. But changing tides in the profession other faculty member key to the program’s start. already had many of the UIC program’s faculty thinking ahead to a longer, more thorough program. For example, students worked and studied in an integrated program from almost the very beginning, starting clinical “We had been going through the process of looking at what practice six weeks into their first quarter. This continued we thought was necessary for physical therapy practice,” for each of the quarters. “Many programs in the country Campbell says, especially in light of the profession’s push then taught the academic studies first, and the clinical toward increasing levels of independence for physical practice came at the end of the term or the end of the year,” therapists. Long gone are the days when hospital therapists Knecht says. Knecht stated that all faculty members made had to get physician approval for so much as changing clinic visits each quarter, in addition to learning how a cold pack — today’s physical therapists are pushing for the students were progressing. This allowed them to get state licensure laws allowing them to manage patients to know the clinicians supervising their students and without physician referrals at all. to provide information about the fledgling program. “Under those scenarios, physical therapists need “Prior to applying to the PT program, students were to understand other health conditions,” Campbell says. required to have volunteer experience so that they might “That’s been pushing the demand for higher levels gain perspective in the practice of physical therapy. of education, and we realized we needed a doctoral Prospective students described their experience during program with the intensity of, say, the pharmacy or the group interview which was part of the admissions dentistry programs, rather than a two-year master’s.” process,” Knecht says. Prospective students then were tested on their knowledge in group interviews. The first Development once again made the AHS program graduating class in 1973 consisted of eight newly-minted one of the innovators for physical therapy education: physical therapists. UIC became just the second public university in the country to go to the doctoral level. Two years later, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE “close to half the programs in the U.S. are at that The physical therapy program grew steadily in numbers level or moving in that direction,” Campbell says. of students and faculty, reaching close to 50 students in the early 1980s. But the biggest transformation of the As for Knecht, although he is retired, his satisfaction program came in the degree itself and the accompanying in what he helped create remains undiminished. changes that followed. Today’s UIC graduates now receive Recently, he enjoyed attending reunions of the class doctoral degrees, as no accredited school provides of 1978 and 1983. “Our first years were very exciting,” p.23 bachelor’s degrees in the field any longer. Echoing history, he says, “but I’m most excited by the changes since fall 2003 the first Doctor of Physical Therapy class entered in then and tremendously proud to see how the program winter 2004 fall 2001, exactly 30 years after the UIC physical therapy has grown.” program welcomed its first students. MY SAY: AN ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE DEGREE PREPARES STUDENT FOR CAREER IN HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Syreeta Robinson (HIM ’03) decided to follow in the Confident that her UIC education prepared her for her well-paved footsteps of three family members by current position, Robinson declares, “Since HIM is a attending UIC for an undergraduate experience that multi-faceted field, my education taught me about new she holds in high esteem. health laws, coding, information systems and research which is a large part of my current position.” Robinson’s interest in the health care industry began while observing several relatives’ careers blossom in various Robinson’s out-of-classroom leadership roles – president health-related professions. Her own research in health of the AHS Student Council, HIM class president and a information management and a conversation with Clinical UIC Senate representative – Associate Professor Karen Patena convinced Robinson helped her develop many to commit to a career in the field. skills that her current job requires. “I learned Reflecting upon her former professor, Robinson states, to appreciate the value “Karen is full of knowledge. She provided me with greater of people’s opinions and understanding about the HIM field and directed me to the concerns by watching American Health Information Management Association how attentive our faculty (AHIMA).” This guidance motivated Robinson to become is to students, the power a student member of AHIMA, and thus, her career path of teamwork, and the ability was underway. to communicate informa- tion to various groups Robinson pursued the field of health insurance and of people,” Robinson adds. completed an internship with Blue Cross Blue Shield

of Illinois (BCBSIL). This fall, she was hired full-time SYREETA ROBINSON She would like to be as a reimbursement analyst. Her responsibilities include a mentor for future maintaining several systems including the Procedure HIM graduates, helping them stretch their limits. Code Master File as well as researching internal Robinson explains, “Being an alum gives me a sense inquiries ranging from scope of practice to Individual of pride and accomplishment. I obtained my goal Consideration pricing requests. Claims are filed through and succeeded. Now I’m in a pool of other achievers, these systems, and Robinson assists with pricing and and it is a wonderful feeling.” approval for services to providers.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What’s new in your life? Where do you live? Send your information to: Have you recently gotten married, had a baby, gone back to school or switched jobs? Please Via regular mail: Via e-mail: let us know what you’ve been up to, and we’ll University of Illinois at Chicago [email protected] include your news in our next Class Notes. College of Applied Health Sciences c/o Caryn Sanders 808 South Wood Street CME 169 m/c 518 Chicago, Illinois 60612

INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW

The College of Applied Health UIC Office of Continuing Education University of Illinois Alumni Association, Sciences (AHS) (312) 996-8025 Chicago Office (312) 996-6695 www.uic.edu (312) 996-8535 www.uic.edu/ahs www.uiaa.org/chicago UIC Transcripts UIC Athletics Office of Admissions and Records University of Illinois Career Services (312) 996-2772 (312) 996-4350 (312) 575-7830 www.uicflames.com www.uic.edu www.uiaa.org/careers AHS magazine

University of Illinois at Chicago non-profit Office of the Dean (MC 518) organization College of Applied Health Sciences u.s. postage 808 South Wood Street, 169 CMET paidaid Chicago, Illinois 60612-7305 permit no. 4860 Address Service Requested chicago, il