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. 15 5 24% 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. health outcomes within West Side those enrolled in the program. News & World Report. communities. By developing local

4 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 5 Physician Assistant Studies

There’s lots of success stories “like that,” she says. “People have an injury at work or home, and they can’t use their limb, and then they get the surgery and it is life-changing.”

— Jessica Vlaming, MS, PA-C, associate program director and director of clinical education in the Department of PA Studies.

One of those clinicians is Jessica to be a resource for their community since developed its own permanent Vlaming, MS, PA-C, associate members,” Vlaming says. primary care clinic and pharmacy program director and director of with help from Rush and Community clinical education in the Department They also identify patients who might Engagement. of PA Studies. Every year since 2013, benefit from surgery provided for free Vlaming has spent a week abroad by Rush surgeons who make several Beyond giving her a chance to Rush PA leads interdisciplinary volunteering her services in the trips to the DR each year. “People are provide direct patient care where it Dominican Republic or Haiti. getting surgeries that they otherwise is desperately needed, the missions absolutely would not be able to afford offer Vlaming an opportunity to lead On the past two mission trips to the or have access to,” she says. an interdisciplinary team. “Everyone mission to the DR DR, Vlaming has led a team of about functions on the same level, and a dozen attending and resident For Vlaming, returning to Villa everyone is relying on each other’s physicians, advanced practice Verde each year to see familiar faces strengths,” she says. providers, nurses, patient care techs, is especially rewarding. This past medical assistants, a global health September, Vlaming followed up with Vlaming, who graduated from It’s not uncommon for residents of Villa Verde, a community outside fellow and students from a variety of some of the patients she referred for Rush’s innovative 30-month PA of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, to go for months disciplines. During each weeklong surgery, including a man who had program (ranked in the top 50 in the trip (which is organized by Rush and a mid-femur fracture repaired after country) in 2013, recently received without receiving medical attention because of poor access to health Community Engagement), Vlaming’s it had been untreated for months. a grant through the PA Foundation team has partnered with local “There’s lots of success stories like to establish a diabetes screening care. But local leaders hope to change that through a partnership physicians to treat 600 to 900 adults that,” she says. “People have an injury program in the Dominican Republic. and children in Villa Verde with a at work or home, and they can’t use To set up the screenings, she plans to with clinicians from the Rush Global Health Initiative and a non-profit variety of complaints, from diabetes their limb, and then they get the travel to the DR three times in 2020. group, Community Engagement. to malaria to orthopedic issues. surgery and it is life-changing.” Before volunteering in Villa Verde, “We’re not just showing up, doing The team primarily focuses on health Vlaming joined a Rush team that primary care and leaving, and then education and preventative care. “We made several mission trips to going somewhere different next really try to empower the patients and another town in the Dominican year,” she says. “We really do make a empower community leaders as well Republic called Peralta, which has connection.”

6 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 7 Audiology Improving access to audiology abroad

Rush students don’t just make an impact in Chicago. Each year, aspiring audiologists take mission trips to help improve access to care in coun- Listening to the tries with limited resources.

This past August, five audiology students traveled to Guatemala, where community’s needs audiology services are scarce. While there, they volunteered with Sonri- sas que Eschucan (Smiles That Listen), a non-profit based in Guatemala City that is led by the country’s only two audiologists. During their week- long trip, the third-year students provided hearing screenings to children At Rush, they do Rush audiology student Gabrielle Rakidzich understands that hearing is and teachers in Guatemala City and fit hearing aids on those in need. essential for children’s academic success. So for the past two years, she They also traveled to a rural hospital in Quiché to train nurses on how to “such a great job of screen newborns and identify hearing loss in patients of all ages. In total, equipping student has jumped at the chance to provide free hearing screenings to Chicago they screened about 950 children and adults. school kids before they head back to the books. clinicians with the “It’s very, very rewarding to fit people with hearing aids and see the look skills to provide on their faces when they hear sounds that they have not heard for many, effective, patient- many years—or kids that have never heard before,” says Rachel Ham- mond, one of the students who organized the mission trip and raised centered care, and $800 to donate to the non-profit group in Guatemala. this was such a great opportunity to use In 2020, Hammond plans to visit the Dominican Republic with a fellow audiology student for another mission trip. After she graduates from those skills.” the doctoral program and becomes a clinical audiologist, she hopes to — Gabrielle Rakidzich, third-year continue these missions to bring greater awareness to the need for audi- audiology student Every summer Rush hosts the “Participating in outreach events clinicians, caregivers and educators.” ology services abroad. As she puts it, “Audiologists have a bigger place RU Caring back-to-school fair, such as the school health fair allows Screenings at the back-to-school in the world.” where students like Rakidzich join us to engage with our community fair also can have a significant Rush faculty and staff to offer free not only by providing these hearing impact on the community by setting vision and hearing screenings, screenings, but also by promoting Chicago school kids up for success, immunizations, physicals and dental awareness about the importance of Winston says. When children with exams to local youth. hearing health and conservation,” unidentified hearing loss have says Rakidzich, who is in her third lackluster school performance, This past July, Rakidzich and her year of Rush’s Doctor of Audiology they may be mislabeled as having fellow audiology students screened program, which is ranked in the top behavioral issues. “Even a unilateral about 50 children ages 3 to 18 at 10 in the nation. hearing loss can affect a child the back-to-school fair. They used academically,” she says. “Whether it otoscopes to check kids for signs Amy K. Winston, AuD, director of is permanent or temporary, it can be of ear infection or blockage and the Doctor of Audiology program in equally debilitating in a classroom.” provided hearing screenings under the Department of Communication the supervision of a faculty member. Disorders and Sciences, says Rush’s Rakidzich, who taught music If the audiology students identified commitment to its community before making the switch to pursue problems or if parents had questions, (reinforced by a requirement that audiology, says volunteering at the a clinical audiologist was available AuD students complete at least 16 back-to-school fair helped to confirm to offer counseling or support. Rush hours of community service before her choice of career and university. students also educated parents on graduation) instills students with “At Rush, they do such a great job hearing conservation and provided a passion to serve. “It’s their first of equipping student clinicians special foam earplugs for families to entrée into really seeing what kind with the skills to provide effective, use at concerts or other loud events. of impact they can have,” Winston patient-centered care, and this was says. “They start to see themselves as such a great opportunity to use those budding skills,” she says.

8 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 9 Imaging Sciences

“We’ve enhanced our MRI safety education by collaborating with leading industry experts who are in tune with advances in medical imaging and best practices. As medical imaging educators, we are preparing the next generation of imaging professionals who will continue to improve patient care and fortify our medical imaging profession.”

— Laura P. Vasquez, PhD, MS, RVT (ARDMS), RT (R), (MR), (ARRT), MRSO (MRSC™), chairperson of the Department of Medical Imaging Sciences

In November, more than 150 enhanced our MRI safety education “At a time when we are seeing a rapid professionals from facilities across by collaborating with leading evolution in imaging technology, MRI Safety Day draws the Chicago area and even abroad industry experts who are in tune there is also a need for educational came to Rush to learn more about with advances in medical imaging models where individuals are these policies and procedures at and best practices. As medical afforded lifelong learning.” says the Third Annual MRI Safety Day. imaging educators, we are preparing Vasquez, who is a triple Rush professionals from multiple Attendees included radiographers, the next generation of imaging University graduate (earning a BS MRI technologists, radiologists, professionals who will continue to in vascular ultrasound, an MS in physicians, nurses, medical improve patient care and fortify our perfusion technology and a PhD in radiation therapists, medical medical imaging profession.” health sciences). “Our audience had disciplines physicists, researchers and students. the opportunity to advance their MRI Safety Day, which is co-hosted critical thinking skills, an important “Creation of a safe MRI environment by the Imaging Sciences Program proficiency that allows them to for our patients and staff requires and Rush University Continuing become more effective decision- Even though millions of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are an interdisciplinary approach,” says and Professional Studies, allows makers and problem-solvers, performed safely in the United States each year, adverse events like Laura P. Vasquez, PhD, MS, RVT health care professionals to receive ultimately adding to improved (ARDMS), RT (R), (MR), (ARRT), continuing education credits while patient outcomes.” burns and magnet-related injuries occur annually, according to the Food MRSO (MRSC™), chairperson of the learning vital safety information that Department of Medical Imaging they can bring back to their facilities and Drug Administration. Many of these adverse events could have been Sciences and program director of the to help keep patients safe. avoided if standardized policies and procedures had been followed. Imaging Sciences Program. “We’ve

10 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 11 Cardiovascular Perfusion

a month that the group distributes Sharing the gift of generosity to local homeless shelters and less Helping hearts in the OR fortunate neighbors. They also Cardiovascular perfusion students at Rush had a chance to play Santa distribute clothes, blankets, tents Claus this past year when they helped organize and wrap Christmas gifts and portable heaters, all purchased for 60 children in Mosinee, Wisconsin. The gifts, which included books, through donations. On a typical dolls, sports equipment, games and other toys, were distributed through Sunday, Balić and her team of and beyond a local food pantry. volunteers might distribute 100 food and necessity packages to individuals on the West and South Former Mosinee resident Julie Collins, CCP, LP, MS, cardiovascular First-year student supports Sides of Chicago. perfusion program director at Rush, coordinated the giftwrapping event. “I try to tell the students about the different ways that they can impact homeless neighbors She finds the work especially their community — not only in the profession, but also in their personal gratifying because she has an lives,” she says. opportunity to talk with homeless individuals and learn their stories. The work also reminds her of how For the past two years, every cardiovascular perfusion student at Rush One of Nerina Balić’s earliest experiences as a volunteer was serving as a fortunate her own family was to also has spent an afternoon making summer activity bags with books, receive help from churches and other toys and games for 60 deserving kids in Mosinee. medical interpreter for her family and neighbors. It’s a role that Balić, now organizations when they came to the United States as refugees. “It helps Collins pays for the all of the summer and holiday gifts with her own a first-year cardiovascular perfusion student at Rush, embraced after her me feel a lot more grateful for the things that I have,” she says. funds because she wants children in her hometown to know the ex- family emigrated from Bosnia to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when she was nine. citement of receiving a present when their families are struggling. It’s Balić is also taking her volunteer a feeling she can relate to because her own family faced a financial work abroad. In January, Balić setback after her father passed away when she was young. “I think it’s journeyed to Bangladesh for her important that all children, no matter what their economic status is, have first medical mission. She assisted something they can be excited to open under the tree for Christmas,” a cardiac surgeon and another she says. perfusionist during heart surgery, helping more than 20 adult and pediatric patients during the two- Like Balić, many students come week mission. to Rush with a love of community service and seek out opportunities Before coming to Rush, Balić worked to make an impact in Chicago. The in the OR and cath lab at a Michigan university makes it easy for students hospital. But she was drawn to the to find plenty of opportunities cardiovascular perfusion master’s to serve others through the Rush degree program at Rush because Community Services Initiatives she thought supporting open-heart Program. But sometimes, students surgical teams would be challenging like Balić seek out additional and exciting. volunteer opportunities on their own. “I’ve always felt that the OR atmosphere fit my personality When Balić first enrolled at Rush, she really well,” she says. “I like being searched online for volunteer groups placed in stressful situations and and came across Helping Hearts of working in a team of different health Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Chicago- care professionals to take care of based group that conducts homeless patients.” outreach and other philanthropic activities here and abroad.

As a volunteer with Helping Hearts, Balić helps make lunches one Sunday

12 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 13 Health Systems Management

Buying locally to improve community wellness

To help keep dollars and jobs in the community, Rush adopted a local procurement initiative to buy and source more goods and services from Chicago’s West Side vendors. It is part of Rush’s Anchor Mission initiative, a multipronged strategy to address the social determinants of health, such as employment, education and neighborhood safety affecting West Side residents, says Shweta Ubhayakar, MBBS, MS, manager, Community Anchor Mission and Health Systems Management (HSM) alumna.

A key component of this mission Side residents for its warehouse. community,” she says, adding that the is identifying opportunities to buy The Business Diversity Team at goal is to improve health outcomes from local vendors to support jobs Rush, which includes several HSM and reduce the gap in life expectancy. on the West Side. In early 2019, Rush graduates, also has identified “It’s not something that will be done outsourced its cafeteria services to several preferred local vendors that in two years or five years. But down local vendor Fooda and created an employees are encouraged to use for the road, it should help improve the opportunity for area restaurants catering, printing, promotional items, health of individuals.” to have “pop-ups” in Rush’s West transportation and other services. Side Food Hall. The academic medical center also partnered with Ubhayakar, an instructor in the medical/surgical product distributor Department of HSM, believes the real Concordance Healthcare Solutions, benefits are years in the making. “In signing an innovative contract that the long term, the way it’s going to requires the company hire West benefit Rush is through benefiting the

14 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 15 Speech-Language Pathology

One of the students who volunteered “Often patients might not be aware at the PD support group for the past of how typical their symptoms are of We train our students Supporting patients two years is Lauren Richard from Parkinson’s disease,” says Richard, “to not only be good Bradenton, Florida. She studied who was serving her final internship classical voice in college before at UChicago Medicine at the time of clinicians, but also pursing a career in speech-language the interview. She says working with to have a conscience and families affected by pathology. the support group was rewarding because she helped make patients and care.” Under the supervision of faculty, and their families aware of options to Richard and her fellow students reduce their symptoms and improve — Emily Wang, PhD, CCC-SLP, — Parkinson’s disease gave patients trials of different their quality of life. Emily Wang, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate foods and beverages to check for professor and chair of the Department dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). The experience also gave Richard of Communication Disorders and Because patients with Parkinson’s a chance to practice relating to Sciences Parkinson’s disease (PD) can have a profound impact on a person’s ability to disease may develop softer voices, patients and families. “It was a great swallow and speak directly — two functions that healthy people often take the students also evaluated patients’ opportunity to connect with patients vocal quality during conversations. and learn how to have those one- for granted. To identify swallowing and speech problems in patients with PD, on-one conversations so we can be students from the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) better clinicians,” she says. at Rush offer their services to a Parkinson’s disease support group at Rush Oak Park Hospital each year. This past November, 32 SLP students provided free clinical swallowing evaluations to about 50 patients while under Saturdays at the shelters supervision of four Rush SLP faculty. For one Saturday a month, speech-language pathology (SLP) students at Rush University spend a few hours with kids at local homeless shelters to read books, help out with homework or work on art projects.

The SLP students have also used their creativity to host a weekly reading camp at Rush for more than two dozen local students in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. At this unique summer camp, Rush students helped kids write stories and work on their vocabulary, reading comprehension and other literacy skills.

The SLP program at Rush, ranked All Rush students are required to complete at least 16 community service hours prior to graduation — which is not a in the top 25 in the country by U.S. hurdle for most students, says Doreen Kelly Izaguirre, MA, CCC-SLP, SLP clinical education manager. As a volunteer News & World Report, prepares for the Chicago marathon, she gets help from SLP students eager to support athletes with disabilities in the race. students to work with patients with complex neurological “We often find that our students well exceed the number of volunteer hours they need to complete,” she says. “I disorders like Parkinson’s disease, love that our students see such benefit in giving back.” says Emily Wang, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences. During the two-year SLP program, students complete five semester clinical rotations so they can work with We often find that our students well exceed a variety of patients in different settings, she adds. “the number of volunteer hours they need to complete. I love that our students see such benefit in giving back.”

— Doreen Kelly Izaguirre, MA, CCC-SLP, SLP clinical education manager

16 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 17 Religion, Health and Human Values Meet Henry, a chaplain’s best friend

While not an official Rush student or faculty member, Henry could certainly be considered a big man on campus — make that big dog on campus. The three-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a certified therapy dog owned by Amy Tracy, a resident chaplain in the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, part of the Department of Religion, Health & Human Values.

About two Saturdays a month, Henry in action with patients and staff Seminary before entering the CPE and Tracy support the palliative energizes me on every level,” she says. program, which is celebrating its care team, providing comfort to 50th year at Rush. She describes the patients and families disrupted by Henry is the ultimate icebreaker with program as “completely life-changing pain, hospitalization and disease. patients and their families. “People on every front.” We bring a lot of “We bring a lot of joy, as well as want to talk about their dogs, the the normalcy of everyday life for ones they had in the past and the “The program teaches you how “joy, as well as the patients, which they miss in the ones they have now, and that leads to read human beings and how to normalcy of everyday hospital,” Tracy says. into conversations about their life, be wise to people in crisis so you their fears and their hopes,” she says. can care for them spiritually and life for patients, When she’s not volunteering with “Henry is a key that unlocks that emotionally as part of their healing Henry, Tracy provides spiritual door. As a chaplain, my challenge is process,” Tracy says. She believes which they miss in care for patients in the medical ICU to find out where that key is when I it is her calling to help people the hospital,” who are seriously ill or in the dying don’t have him.” at their most vulnerable, when process and for families in crisis. hospitalization makes them feel — Amy Tracy, a resident chaplain in Despite the challenges of her role Tracy, who graduates from the CPE disconnected from their typical the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) as chaplain, Tracy happily returns program in September, plans to stay roles. “They feel alienated from who program to Rush to volunteer with Henry on in the Chicago area but also may they are in everyday life, and as a the weekends. “I may have worked spend time in India where she is chaplain, I can come in and provide 40-plus hours, but seeing Henry called to help rural people living with help and relief at a time when they AIDS. She earned her master’s degree really need it.” in divinity from Fuller Theological

18 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 19 Health Sciences Daring to dream “Double-grads” make a difference in their communities

Leaders at Rush understand that changing the face of the health care workforce requires more than adding words like “diversity” and “inclusion” to the mission statement. It takes action. So in 2013, the College of Health Sciences launched an innovative program to prepare nontraditional candidates for careers in health care.

The Bachelor of Science in Health career in health care by her cousin, a her professors, especially Douglas nurse practitioner. She dreams of to college, and she didn’t know she Sciences (BSHS) program at Rush nurse practitioner, Wright took some Kuperman, PhD. “He always had having her own center for those was “supposed” to pursue higher gives students who are typically college classes but had to stop so she time to speak with me,” she says. struggling with mental illness and education. older and from minority groups could work to support her family. “He had a true open-door policy.” addiction — two issues that have the foundation to pursue graduate deeply affected several family As an adult, she found work in degrees in areas such as nursing, Wright did find a job she loved, In 2015, Wright became the first in members. many areas that interested her: I wanted my son to physician assistant studies, helping previously incarcerated her family to graduate from college politics, community organizing, medicine, public health, social work individuals transition back to the while juggling the responsibilities Looking back, Wright says her environmental studies, plant “be proud of me and and biomedical sciences. community. But in 2011, she was laid of parenting her son, Jayzon, on academic achievements were taxonomy, forestry and skilled off, as she was the only staff member her own. Then she entered the important not only for her but also woodworking. But financial and to know that you can Here, we profile three graduates who didn’t have a college degree. “I Generalist Entry Master’s (GEM) for Jayzon. “I wanted my son to educational roadblocks were absolutely change from the first class who completed promised myself that it would never nursing program at Rush and earned be proud of me and to know that common. Eventually, she became their BS in health sciences and then happen to me again — I wouldn’t her master’s degree. “If I didn’t go you can absolutely change your interested in physical therapy and your trajectory with earned graduate degrees at Rush. lose a job because I didn’t have a to the BSHS program, I don’t think trajectory with the things you do,” enrolled in classes at Malcolm the things you do.” Today, these dedicated providers college education,” she says. I would have made it through the she says. X College. “I was already in my are delivering much-needed care to GEM program,” she says. “The BSHS forties, so I took a couple of trial — Natalia Wright, MSN, RN vulnerable populations in the city She admits the transition to the program gave me the foundation Staying in the game classes to see if I could do it,” she they call home. BSHS program was challenging at that I needed to be successful.” says. A professor there told her first. “I hadn’t been to school in a Vic Speedwell, PA-C, who grew up in about the BSHS program at Rush, Setting an example for her son mighty long time, and Rush is really Today, Wright works at PCC a working class family in Stockton, which he described as a bridge for competitive,” she says. “I was scared Community Wellness Center on the California, took gifted and talented nontraditional students to get into Natalia Wright, MSN, RN, grew at first — like, can I really do this?” West Side. This year, she’ll begin a classes starting in elementary health care. up down the street from Rush However, she found support from program to become at psychiatric school. But her parents hadn’t gone University. Inspired to pursue a

20 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 21 Health Sciences Daring to dream Education that breaks down barriers I was the first one Health care professionals from underrepresented groups are desperately needed to address disparities in care “in my family to go that continue to exist in many Chicago neighborhoods and around the country, says Mary Jo Guglielmo, MPH, to high school, the assistant dean of the College of Health Sciences. Through the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) degree program, Rush University aims to address that need. first one to graduate from undergrad, Two-thirds of BSHS students identify as minorities, representing Rush’s most diverse student population. “Many BSHS students go back to work in the communities that they come from, including the West Side,” says Guglielmo, the first one to have who is also BSHS program director. “It’s one of the ways that Rush can make an impact on our community. We’re a master’s degree changing students’ lives, and they’re going to change the lives of their patients.” and hopefully I’ll be During their 21 months at Rush, BSHS students discover a wide range of careers by shadowing health care pro- the first one to get a fessionals from various disciplines. “They usually walk in the door saying that they want to pursue one career in health care,” Guglielmo says, “and then they walk out pursuing another career in health care that is what their doctorate.” heart wants them to do.” — Milton Aguilar dos Santos, MSN, RN

Speedwell had been told her arrest This sense of collaboration and family expected him to take over ultimately chose the GEM nursing Soon, Aguilar dos Santos hopes record for violations like trespassing willingness to learn from peers their corner store. Back then, he program at Rush. After earning his to achieve even more. He recently and disorderly conduct in her helped set her up for success in couldn’t imagine his future today: master’s degree in 2018, he became a applied to the doctorate of nursing younger years would disqualify her Rush’s physician assistant (PA) leading mental health care teams nurse at the Stone Institute. program so he can become a The Bachelor of from pursuing a career in health studies program. Today, Speedwell at one of the most highly respected psychiatric mental health nurse “Science in Health care. She learned from an attorney provides care for the homeless, poor psychiatric hospitals in the country Today, many patients that Aguilar practitioner. “I was the first one in that she could still become a licensed and underserved at several sites in — Northwestern Medicine’s Stone dos Santos treats are transgender my family to go to high school, the Sciences program provider in Illinois, as long as she was Chicago through Heartland Alliance Institute of Psychiatry. and face extreme prejudice, even first one to graduate from undergrad, upfront about her past. Health. But she hasn’t ruled out from members of the health care the first one to have a master’s degree somehow became more school, additional studies and Aguilar dos Santos moved to Chicago community, he says. That’s why and hopefully I’ll be the first one to available to me at “The Bachelor of Science in Health another advanced degree. at age 16 and then to North Carolina he makes it his mission to treat get a doctorate,” he says. Sciences program somehow became to serve in the military. After working these patients with respect and exactly the time available to me at exactly the time To others who worry that an a government desk job for four years, set an example of compassion He encourages others to pursue their when I needed it.” when I needed it,” Speedwell says. imperfect past might hamper their he knew he couldn’t spend the rest and leadership for his colleagues. ambitions, even if they feel like their goals, Speedwell offers this advice: of his life working in a cubicle. He “A lot of my coworkers have met time has passed. As he puts it, “There — Vic Speedwell, PA-C At Rush, Speedwell and her fellow “Don’t think that bad grades or bad returned to Chicago and took classes my husband, and I feel embraced is no deadline for following your BSHS students developed a sense of decisions that you wish you hadn’t at Malcolm X College to become an because Northwestern is a very dream.” connection and collaboration that made will rule you out or disqualify emergency medical technician. “I LGBTQ-friendly hospital,” he says. helped them adjust to the demands of you from the future you want.” wanted to leave something behind the program. “We helped each other or have some kind of impact on Looking back at where he came from, see things differently, and we kind of Advocating for acceptance and someone’s life,” he says. he is awed by what he has been able shattered each others’ expectations,” focusing on the future to accomplish. “For a boy from a she says. A professor at Malcolm X encouraged Third World country to end up where Thirty years ago, Milton Aguilar him to enroll in the BSHS program, I am right now, it’s just, I can’t believe dos Santos, MSN, RN, was a boy which he did at age 30. Initially, he it sometimes,” he says. in El Progreso, Honduras whose considered a career in medicine but

22 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 23 Health Sciences Sharing a story of loss to create change Rush doctoral student and PT advocates for suicide prevention

Elizabeth Pierobon, PT, DPT, and her family suffered an unthinkable loss when her 25-year-old only brother and best friend, John, took his life on January 1, 2016. John was a fun-loving, larger-than-life emergency room nurse in Springfield, Illinois who loved music, cycling and lifting weights. “You would never know that he had a history of depression,” she says.

After John’s suicide, Pierobon AFSP’s “Out of the Darkness Walk” in traveled to the Illinois State Capitol Chicago each year and is active in a with the American Foundation support group for those affected by a for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to loved one’s suicide. It has been a very advocate for passage of the “red tragic“ loss, but I’m flag” law. The policy, which became “I feel a new calling and purpose in state law in 2019, allows friends and life through the loss of my brother,” trying to create as family members to petition a court Pierobon says. “I want to give back to much awareness to suspend a person’s right to own or the community and let his story help buy a firearm if they pose a danger to others who are currently struggling and light from it as themselves or another person. or families who have encountered such a loss. We must reduce the possible because Pierobon, a student in the online stigma of mental health issues and my brother was, and PhD program in Health Sciences suicide itself. It has been a very and part-time physical therapist tragic loss, but I’m trying to create continues to be, my at Rush, continues to volunteer to as much awareness and light from guiding light.” help prevent suicide when she is not it as possible because my brother studying or teaching. As an adjunct was, and continues to be, my guiding — Elizabeth Pierobon, PT, DPT, faculty member at Midwestern light.” University, she has incorporated mental health awareness into her PT guest lectures. She walks in the

24 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 25 Respiratory Care

students performed spirometry tests Lachowicz returned to Sanctuary experience. “We were able to take and provided smoking cessation Place for her second day of service, everything that we were learning in Breathing easier counseling for the women who often a few residents were eager to school and apply it to real life — not suffered from chronic obstructive share their success stories. “They just in a hospital, but in a community pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma remembered who I was, and they and make a difference,” she says. or both. were excited to tell me about all of Ellen A. Becker, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, Respiratory care helps formerly the changes that they had made, RPFT, AE-C, FAARC, professor in the Lachowicz taught the residents including quitting smoking,” she Department of Cardiopulmonary about the triggers that made their says. Sciences, agrees that community homeless women live healthier lives conditions worse. She also provided engagement activities enrich coaching to improve medication Lachowicz, who grew up in the students’ own educational adherence, with the goal of Chicago suburbs and is now a experience by giving them a chance preventing flare-ups that could lead respiratory therapist at Rush, was to educate others. to emergency department visits. “It drawn to respiratory care because At Rush, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is a day for the entire student was about making sure that they had she has asthma herself. She “For me, it’s fun as a faculty body to make an impact. On this annual day of service, CHS students all the tools, all the knowledge that especially liked Rush’s master’s level member to watch their enthusiasm they could, to help improve their program because of its uniquely in teaching, but it also makes the prepare breakfast at a homeless shelter and provide vaccinations in the quality of life,” she says. designed curriculum and small content they’re learning very real,” class size. She says being a part Becker says. community. Others encourage kids to pursue careers in health. And for The students helped many women of community outreach activities aspiring respiratory therapists, the day offers an opportunity to help formerly make positive changes. When added depth to her educational homeless women take charge of their health.

Under the supervision of a licensed therapist, the students provide respiratory health screenings and education at Sanctuary Place, a housing development for homeless women who may have been previously incarcerated or have a chemical dependency or mental illness. The housing is supported by Facing Forward to End Homelessness, a housing-first program for women on Chicago’s West Side and a community partner of Rush.

As a respiratory care student, Ashley Lachowicz, MSc, RRT, RRT- ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, worked with residents at Sanctuary Place twice before she graduated from Rush in 2016. She and her fellow

26 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 27 Clinical Nutrition

Spreading the gospel of good food Rush teams up with West Side churches to promote better nutrition

A recipe for collaboration African Americans on the West Side face a shorter life expectancy — by as much as 15 years — compared with residents in other Chicago neighborhoods, research shows. To address this problem, community leaders have come together for West Side Alive, a grant-supported partnership between seven churches and Rush that aims to help resi- Rush faculty and students dents live longer, healthier lives. The partnership leverages community health workers (CHWs) who develop per- teach healthy eating habits sonal relationships with congregants and provide resources and support to help them build healthier behaviors. Better nutrition is an important part of this mission. Christy Tangney, PhD, FACN, CNS, professor in the Depart- ments of Clinical Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, has been working closely with her colleagues (Beth Lynch, at local senior centers PhD, the principal investigator, as well as Laura Zimmerman, MD, and Todd Ruppar, PhD, RN) to encourage the preparation of healthier foods at church events. The long-term goal is for CHWs to lead healthy cooking demon- strations at church, where congregants can sample dishes like one-pan Mexican quinoa, sweet potato chili and bulgur salad, initially prepared by graduate students that Tangney advises.

For nearly 20 years, Kristin “A lot of these students don’t students’ confidence and helps them from Bogotá, Colombia, Morales- She believes her talk made an impact I’m leaving Rush with A. Gustashaw, MS, RDN, CSG, live near older adult relatives, learn how to customize nutrition Perez moved to Chicago as a child because the seniors chatted with LDN, an advanced level clinical and sometimes this is their first information to specific populations. and began her career in clinical her for 20 minutes afterward. “They “the best memories, dietitian at Rush, has provided opportunity to see what an active One student who presented at a research. But it was her passion to were asking questions and giving the best impression free nutrition education and one- senior looks like,” Gustashaw says. Chicago senior center this past year help improve the health of minority anecdotes, and they weren’t afraid to on-one counseling to older adults She adds that the experience boosts is Melissa Morales-Perez. Originally populations that drove her to enroll speak up,” she says. and the best at local senior centers as part of in the combined master’s degree and a subsidized wellness initiative dietetic internship program at Rush. Morales-Perez, who hopes to work in preparation. They with the City of Chicago. The goal During her internship, Morales-Perez an oncology clinic when she becomes teach you how to is to improve the health of older led an informative talk on cancer and a registered dietitian, is grateful adults, especially minorities, who nutrition for residents at one of the for her mentors at Rush who have not only be the best are disproportionately affected senior centers. For her discussion, given her the skills and confidence to clinicians, but also to by chronic disease. Through her she created a handout and discussed work with all types of patients. “We monthly visits to the senior centers, some of the myths about nutrition have amazing preceptors, amazing be really good leaders Gustashaw has helped older adults and cancer. She also talked about dietitians to look up to, whether it’s in the community, in make positive health choices and some of the ways that seniors can Kristin in the community setting or manage chronic conditions like reduce their risk for cancer through others in the clinical setting,” she hospitals and in the diabetes and osteoporosis that are good nutrition. She ended by offering says. “I’m leaving Rush with the best affected by diet. recipes for a healthy soup and shake, memories, the best impression and research world.” as well as a crossword puzzle to the best preparation. They teach you But she’s not alone in providing reinforce the learning. how to not only be the best clinicians, — Melissa Morales-Perez, Rush dietetic nutrition support. Rush dietetic but also to be really good leaders in intern and master’s degree candidate interns join Gustashaw during her the community, in hospitals and in visits to the senior centers and lead the research world.” free educational seminars as part of their training on community nutrition.

28 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 29 Medical Laboratory Science

At the heart of every research project write a manuscript the following over two years, physicians ordered a is a question, and getting to that winter and spring. Once their volume of potentially unnecessary question is rarely a simple process. manuscripts are complete, the tests large enough to cover the At Rush, medical laboratory science students submit their abstracts to salary of another pathologist. One (MLS) students learn this lesson a conference to share their findings solution might be the integration of firsthand by leading their own and network. a diagnostic management team that yearlong research project to answer could help promote more appropriate their own question, which often Receiving mentoring from leading laboratory utilization and reduce evolves over time, says Nadine Lerret, researchers in Chicago provides a costs to patients, Kurczak says. PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM, assistant unique opportunity for students professor and director of research to make valuable connections that Another second-year MLS student, in the Department of Medical could lead to reference letters or even Leanne Horvath, worked with Laboratory Science. future job positions, Lerret says. Nicholas Moore, PhD, MLS (ASCP) CM , assistant professor of MLS, “The question might be centered For most MLS students, the project on her project to examine whether on improving a patient experience is their first experience conducting susceptibility testing could be used with the laboratory or making a test research. “They come out of it a little to determine if three new antibiotics more efficient or less expensive,” more confident,” Lerret says. Some were susceptible to multidrug Lerret says. “Often these projects are also acquire sought-after skills, such resistant organisms. Once her project Testing the possibilities looking at aspects of the lab that can as molecular testing, through their is complete, Rush’s microbiology be improved for community benefit.” research. laboratory will review her results as part of a broader organizational effort As part of their research projects, Many students’ projects are designed to decrease antimicrobial resistance. MLS students get to work with to help achieve the Triple Aim: MLS students connect with principal investigators (PIs) and improving the quality of care and the “It’s important that accurate researchers at major academic patient experience while reducing susceptibility results are given to researchers across Chicago medical centers across Chicago, costs. For his research project, doctors so they can prescribe the including Northwestern Medicine, second-year MLS student Martin correct antibiotics to patients,” UC Medicine, Lurie Children’s Kurczak looked at unnecessary Horvath says. “Otherwise, they could Hospital, UI Health, and, of course, utilization of three lab tests under actually exacerbate the problem.” Rush. Students are matched with the mentorship of Lerret. “This trend their PI in the spring of their first has been drawing a lot of attention year. They collect data over the lately, especially as health care costs summer and then analyze it and are rising,” he says. He found that,

30 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 31 Clinical Laboratory Management/Specialist in Blood Bank Technology

A precious resource Rush grad’s award-winning research conserves blood for the community

Blood has no substitute, and For her research project, Hinrichsen reducing its overuse can help keep examined the effectiveness of her communities safe from potentially hospital’s real-time blood utilization critical shortages. That’s why program, which aims to reduce I really have Rush to Colleen Hinrichsen, MT(ASCP) unnecessary transfusions. During “ SBBCM, DLMCM chose to focus on the two-year study period, she found credit for it because unnecessary use of blood for her that the program decreased blood had I not been a research project while enrolled utilization by 17 percent. in the online Master’s in Clinical student at the time, Laboratory Management (CLM) In March, Hinrichsen’s research this would have just Program. project was awarded first place at the Clinical Laboratory Management been a project for my “Sometimes, you might have Association’s KnowledgeLab 2020 lab,” enough blood on your shelf for meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. all of your needs for two weeks, The event marked her first time and sometimes you might only presenting at a major industry Colleen Hinrichsen, MT(ASCP) have a day’s worth of blood on conference. SBBCM, DLMCM your shelf,” says Hinrichsen, who is blood bank supervisor at Penn “I really have Rush to credit for it Medicine Princeton Medical Center because had I not been a student at in Plainsboro, New Jersey. “We have the time, this would have just been to make sure our patients can get it a project for my lab,” she says. “Now when they need it.” I get to share it with others, and hopefully people will learn from it.”

32 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 33 Occupational Therapy

clubhouse, Engel put that creativity Leading and learning to work for adult clients coping with At the clubhouse, Engel and two Bringing Occupational traumatic brain injuries or strokes. other students led a group of about 10 clients once a week. Taking direction The clubhouse is just one of several from clients on what they wanted community sites across Chicago to focus on most, Engel and her Therapy into the community where Rush OT students have been teammates used music, dance and returning for more than a decade to games like bingo to encourage social learn how to lead group discussions There’s a participation among the group. and activities. Other sites include: “transformation Group project helps students • Facing Forward, which provides Through the project, Engel learned permanent supportive housing for that occurs in more about her own leadership style. the homeless find their inner leader She found she enjoyed providing a students, and I • Deborah’s Place, which offers wrap-up at the end of each activity think it’s because housing to homeless women with key takeaways that clients could • The Self Help Home, a community apply in their everyday lives. The they get to take a for older Jewish adults project also challenged her to be leadership role while • Path to Academics, Community more comfortable thinking on her and Employment (PACE) a college feet. providing service alternative for young adults with multiple intellectual, learning and Beyond learning the nuts and bolts to the communities developmental disabilities of running a group, Engel says she surrounding Rush.” gained a much better perspective of • Ray Graham Association, which what it is like for clients to cope with aims to empower people with — Linda Olson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA a brain injury. “Sometimes when disabilities chairperson and program director we’re learning in school, it’s easy to for the Department of Occupational • Urban Autism Solutions, a get caught up in the diagnosis and Therapy transitional program for individuals medical aspect of a disease,” says with autism Engel, who eventually wants to work The valuable services that program director for the Department health, says Meghan Crisp, MS, • St. Leonard’s Ministries, which with clients affected by violence and occupational therapists (OTs) of Occupational Therapy. OTR/L, an instructor who supervises serves those released from prison environmental trauma when she provide to help people develop some of the students during graduates in 2021. “But seeing how or regain their skills are often “There’s a transformation that their project and helps bring new people wanted to be involved and unavailable to many community- occurs in students, and I think it’s community sites into the program. figuring out how to do that was really based agencies, which lack the because they get to take a leadership But students learn other valuable challenging, and I feel like it will resources to keep OTs on staff. But role while providing service to the lessons as well. serve me very well.” through its community partnerships, communities surrounding Rush,” Rush is bringing occupational Olson says. “When the students get into therapies to people who need them the community, they begin to while training students to become As part of the six-week project during understand how they have to be better clinicians. their fourth semester, OT students flexible,” Crisp says. “They also get learn how to lead group activities to practice being frugal and creative For more than a decade, the OT and discussions with clients, with their resources.” program at Rush, ranked in the top which prepares students for their 25 programs in the country by U.S. fieldwork later on. “Their clinical Those were just some of the News & World Report, has been educators will always tell us how lessons learned by Erica Engel, partnering with community-based well prepared the students are and OTS, a second-year student who agencies so students can provide how comfortable they are interacting participated in a six-week group group-based OT activities where with clients,” Olson says. leadership project with clients at the they are desperately needed. But Midwest Brain Injury Clubhouse this students greatly benefit from the Developing vital skills past spring. Engel, a single mother of experience as well, developing their two who returned to school to earn OT and leadership skills, as well as Learning how to effectively lead her doctorate, was attracted to OT confidence, says Linda Olson, PhD, groups is important for OTs, because it’s a holistic care approach OTR/L, FAOTA chairperson and especially if they work in mental that requires creativity. At the

34 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 35 Vascular Ultrasound Vascular Ultrasound Clinical Rotation Sites, Active Affiliatoin Facility Address City/State zip

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital 1775 Dempster Park Ridge, IL 60068 Cross-country learning Cleveland Clinic 9500 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44195 Duke University Heath System Briarcreek Med Pavilion Raleigh, NC 27617 Loyola Univ Medical Center 2160 S. 1st Avenue Maywood, IL 60153 Massachusetts General Hosp 55 Fruit Street Boston,MA 2144 Clinical rotations help students Memorial Medical Center 701 N First St Springfield, IL 62781 Medical University of South Carolina 25 Courtenay Drive Charleston, SC 29425 gain skills, confidence North Shore Evanston Hosp 2650 Ridge Avenue Evanston, IL 60201 North Shore Glenbrook 2100 Pfingston Road Glenview, IL 60026 Pacific Vascular Inc 11714 N. Creek Parkway North Bothell, WA 98011 Peripheral Vascular Associates 610 North Main Street San Antonio, TX 78205 Presence St. Joseph Hospital 333 N. Madison Joliet, IL 60435 Rush University Medical Center 1650 W. Harrison Street Chicago, IL 60612 St. John’ s Hospital 600 East Carpenter Street Springfield, IL 62769 St. Vincent Medical Group 8433 Harcourt Road Indianapolis, IN 46260 Univ of Chicago Hosptials 5758 S. Maryland Ave. Chicago, IL 60636 Univ of Illinois at Chicago 1740 W. Taylor Chicago, IL 60612 University of Miami 1400 NW 12th Avenue Miami, FL 33135 Univ of Michigan Ann Arbor 1425 E. Ann Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Washington University 660 South Euclid St. Louis, MO 63110 Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital 4646 N. Marine Drive Chicago, IL 60640

Out-of-Chicago Chicago Metro Area

Unlike some vascular ultrasound used in vascular ultrasound completing a 10-week rotation at Cassandra Huynh, a second- programs that place students at examinations. Students also get to the University of Miami Health year student from Elgin, Illinois, just one site during their clinical work with diverse inpatient and System, where most of her patients was completing a rotation at the rotation year, the 20-month Bachelor outpatient populations. “We do speak Spanish. While in Miami, she’s University of Michigan after finishing of Science in Vascular Ultrasound that intentionally because we feel learned important Spanish phrases rotations at UChicago Medicine program at Rush gives second-year like they’re just going to be that and been challenged to work with and Rush. She says the rotation at students the opportunity to rotate at much more prepared to walk into patients who are often frustrated by UChicago Medicine was especially up to four different facilities across any type of setting and be able to the language barrier. Prior to that, challenging because the complex the country. start scanning,” Ortiz says, adding she rotated at an inpatient setting patients suffered from advanced that many students eventually get at AMITA Health Saint Joseph disease. “Some are community hospitals, job offers from the sites where they Medical Center in Joliet, Illinois We’re putting out technologists who can some are bigger university hospitals completed a rotation. and an outpatient setting at Loyola “ Huynh says the vascular ultrasound work independently and have a really strong and some are private practices,” says in Maywood, Illinois. She’s been program at Rush has helped her Jacqueline Ortiz, MA, RVT, assistant “We’re putting out technologists who able to work with four different build her confidence and discover foundation and base of knowledge. And we’re professor and program director of can work independently and have ultrasound machines and more how rewarding it is to help others. “I the Vascular Ultrasound Program. a really strong foundation and base than 20 technologists, and loves very much enjoy being able to help instilling in them the confidence they need, “We think that just makes them of knowledge,” she says. “And we’re experiencing different settings as patients so that they can receive the for when they encounter the unexpected, stronger all-around.” instilling in them the confidence part of her education. proper diagnosis and care,” she says. they need, for when they encounter “It’s a great feeling when a patient because that’s the nature of health care.” The different rotations allow the unexpected, because that’s the “Everywhere you go, everyone is comes back for a follow-up and students to work with a multitude nature of health care.” different,” says Le Sanche, who grew they’ve improved so much since the — Jacqueline Ortiz, MA, RVT, assistant professor and program director of the of credentialed technologists up on Chicago’s South Side. “It’s last exam because they’ve had such Vascular Ultrasound Program and learn various protocols and At the time of this interview, challenging, but it’s a good way to quality care.” scanning techniques with different Sabrina Le Sanche, a second-year learn instead of staying at one site types and brands of equipment vascular ultrasound student, was for a whole year.”

36 Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences Impact Rush University College of Health Sciences 37 inside back

Daring to dream

This“ is a close-knit organization, Rush’s“ teacher-practitioner full of supportive, helpful model works — and it sets our colleagues who are always program apart.” willing to help our students.” — Amy Winston, AuD, CCC-A — Jacqueline Ortiz, MA, BS RVT The Rush College of Health Sciences is creating tomorrow’s leaders in

Audiology Blood Bank Technology Cardiovascular Perfusion Clinical Nutrition Clinical Laboratory Management Health Sciences Health Systems Management Imaging Sciences Medical Laboratory Science Occupational Therapy Physician Assistance Studies Religion, Health and Human Values Respiratory Care Speech-Language Pathology Vascular Ultrasound

rushu.rush.edu/health