Expanding the Boundaries of Research, Teaching and Patient Care
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Expanding the boundaries of research, teaching and patient care Rush University College of Health Sciences ImpactCommunity Edition MRI Safety Day draws “Double-grads” make Bringing Occupational professionals from multiple a difference in their Therapy into the disciplines communities community Page 10 Page 20 Page 34 Contents We live the teacher - practitioner 4 Pathways to opportunity 6 Rush PA leads interdisciplinary mission to the DR model every day 8 Listening to the community’s needs 10 MRI Safety Day draws professionals from multiple disciplines 12 Helping hearts in the OR and beyond In our classrooms, clinics, labs and the communities we Buying locally to improve community wellness serve, the Rush University College of Health Sciences (CHS) 14 lives our values of collaboration and care. With more than 16 Supporting patients and families affected by Parkinson’s disease half the U.S. health care workforce in an allied health field, the need for exceptional professionals in the health sciences 18 Meet Henry, a chaplain’s best friend is constantly expanding — and our 15 programs prepare students to succeed as practitioners, managers and leaders. 20 Daring to dream The CHS is centered on Rush’s teacher-practitioner 24 Sharing a story of loss to create change model, which ensures students learn from active clinicians 26 Breathing easier who excel in their professions. We integrate didactic study, patient care, research and service in the context 28 A recipe for collaboration of a world-class medical center, and our faculty and students regularly join forces with colleagues from other 30 Testing the possibilities departments and colleges to further knowledge and improve patient outcomes. Read on to learn how our 32 A precious resource CHS programs are helping to lead the way in cancer and 34 Bringing Occupational Therapy into the community neuroscience education, research, and patient care. 36 Cross-country learning Message from the Dean More than The“ Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program “I think that’s why students choose to really go above and beyond, because they know one day 4,400 hours these people in the community are going to be their patients. So if we can start having that relationship with people in the community now, I feel like making an it creates that trust factor. And students see value in that.” — Tatiana Wilczak, CHS Student Government Association president and second-year student in the Bachelor of Sciences in Health impact Sciences program, who has accumulated hundreds of community service hours while at Rush Charlotte Royeen, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, FASAHP, FNAP Dean, College of Health Sciences Community service is an integral part of our students’ educational More Numbers to Know: Rush University College of Health Sciences experience at Rush University. At the College of Health Sciences, we require each student to complete at least 16 hours of community service prior to graduation, but often, students go above and beyond this requirement. Some may even accrue more than a hundred hours before they graduate. 24% 15 5 academic programs 5 ranked in the top 50 by U.S. underrepresented minorities* Our 2019 graduating class Often, our students are inspired by futures for all. By sharing their News & World Report accumulated more than 4,432 our dedicated faculty, who model stories, we hope to inspire others to community service hours working what it means to be committed to the use their skills and passion to make at health fairs, offering community community through their research, an impact. health screenings, providing clinical activities and outreach. *2019 Summer and Fall community health education and These faculty leaders truly adhere to Charlotte Royeen, PhD, OTR/L, matriculants who self- assisting with professional service Rush’s teacher-practitioner model, FAOTA, FASAHP, FNAP designated as African and continuing education activities. demonstrating what it takes to serve Dean, College of Health Sciences American/Black, Hispanic/ others each and every day. 747 122 Latino, Hawaiian/Pacific Most students do not get involved CHS students celebrated MLK just to fulfill a graduation In this issue of Impact, we highlight active students Islander or American requirement. Instead, they want to some of the caring and innovative Day in 2020 by volunteering Indian/Alaska Native. apply their skills and compassion to work that our students and faculty across Chicagoland make an impact in the communities are doing to build health awareness, they serve, on the West Side and support those in need, improve beyond. health equity and create better 2 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 3 Health Systems Management Also supporting Zavala along his “Opportunity creates equity, and talent, leaders at Rush aim to reduce a career journey are his coworkers and this program ensures everyone has major contributor to chronic disease: Pathways to opportunity his supervisor, Ana Rubio, BSN, RN, access to opportunity by providing poverty. clinical operations manager. Rubio individuals with all of the tools says she has seen Zavala become even and resources that they need to be She credits the HSM faculty for more excited and curious at work successful,” she says. “It’s not just building bridges in the community Rush builds better futures since entering the pathway program. about getting them a job. It’s about with partners like the City Colleges moving them into a career and of Chicago and other health systems and its talent pipeline “I think the program is important helping set the stage for them to in the West Side United collaborative because it encourages promising continue to grow at Rush.” (which also includes education employees who understand the providers, faith organizations, Rush culture and are committed Rush has actively recruited clinic businesses, government and others) Even though Joel Zavala, clinic coordinator at Rush University Family to quality patient care to explore coordinators, food service aides that are establishing similar pathways other opportunities within the Rush and other entry-level employees for around Chicago. She also commends Physicians has enjoyed working with patients from behind the desk for system,” Rubio says. “If we have its third cohort of future medical Rush leaders, faculty members and people who are great with patients assistants. In total, more than 15 Rush students for the knowledge they share the past three years, he has wanted to have a more hands-on role helping and work well with our team, why employees are on track to become with pathway participants. One HSM patients and supporting primary care providers. So in September 2018, would we not encourage them to medical assistants through the student, Monroe Chen, has worked grow?” pathway. closely with those in the Medical Zavala took advantage of an innovative program that helps him become a Assistant Pathway Program as an Such support and encouragement Rush offers another all-expenses- intern on the Talent Development medical assistant in two years, with all expenses paid. is essential because the pathway paid pathway, in partnership with team. “To work and be successful in program is challenging. “I had to be Malcolm X College and the nonprofit health care, we have to think beyond a full-time employee and a full-time organization Skills for Chicagoland’s just the quality metrics and finances student at the same time,” Zavala Future, for unemployed and because the real magic happens says. underemployed young adults to when we focus on the people and our become patient care technicians. connection to them,” Chen says. But the rewards are worth it. After Participants work at Rush while Zavala earns his certification, he completing an eight-week course to hopes to work as a medical assistant earn their basic nursing assistant in his clinic and continue his certification. So far, more than 35 education and career advancement. young adults have been recruited into Helping employees reach “When I started working at Rush, my the patient care technician pathway their goals five-year goal was to be some type of program. Opportunity creates medical assistant or technician so I The Medical Assistant Pathway could help patients,” says Zavala, who Beyond providing a pathway to better “equity, and this Program gives full-time Rush grew up on the South Side. “Now I’m career opportunities, this program program provides employees who have been employed looking out another five years, and also serves as a recruitment pipeline for at least a year and have their I hope to continue my education to for patient care technician vacancies. individuals with all of supervisors’ support the opportunity become a registered nurse.” Recently, more than 18 patient care to take evening classes at Malcolm X technicians from the program have the tools and resources College and become certified medical Opportunity that creates equity been hired by Rush, in half the time that they need to be assistants. it usually takes to fill these positions, Zavala is the ideal example of how Gilson-Barmore says. In fact, the successful.” Zavala, who is on track to earn his the pathway program helps those in program has been so successful that certification this spring, says he non-clinical, entry-level positions Rush has been sharing its model with — Nicole Gilson-Barmore, PhD, manager of and his classmates in the pathways obtain their career goals and become other local hospitals. talent development and adjunct faculty in program appreciate that Rush covers members of the direct patient care the Health Systems Management Program all expenses for their education. “It team, says Nicole Gilson-Barmore, Gilson-Barmore says the medical really did provide a lot of help for PhD, manager of talent development assistant and patient care technician us to improve our future,” he says. and adjunct faculty in the Health pathways are an important Rush also provides transportation Systems Management (HSM) component of Rush’s multipronged support to Malcolm X College as well Program, which is ranked in the top Anchor Mission strategy to improve as mentoring and tutoring to support five programs in the country by U.S.