an e-newsletter for alumni and friends FALL 2008

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

AHS center makes exercise for people with disabilities a feature track at fitness industry’s largest conference
In mid-October, the fitness industry met in Chicago for its premier conference and expo: Club Industry. It is the event at which exercise equipment manufacturers and product and program developers unveil the newest and best they have to offer for the year. Some 5,000 people come from all over the world to participate.

This year’s expo had a new offering: an “inclusive fitness” track dedicated to informing industry participants on how they can reduce barriers faced by people with disabilities who want to be fit but who can’t access the places and tools of fitness. The track, a first of its kind for the industry, was developed and led by the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) in AHS’ Department of Disability and Human Development.

“This is the first opportunity we’ve had to bring inclusive fitness to the mainstream,” says Amy Rauworth (MVSC MS ’00), associate director of operations and exercise physiology research at NCPAD. “We want to challenge the whole industry to create and execute plans that make facilities accessible to everyone.”

At time of writing, the conference was just wrapping up. Check NCPAD’s Web site at www.ncpad.org for more information on the conference and additional tools and education about increasing access for all.

New PhD program faces the facts about living well
By 2030, 20 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 or older. Some 70 percent of age-related physical decline is linked to modifiable eating and activity habits or to repairable injuries. It’s undeniable that, in the last decade or so, diet, movement and rehabilitation have become indivisible mechanisms in the effort to live and age well.

Early on, the College of Applied Health Sciences recognized the increasing connections among these fields. “We’re always trying to shape what we do around real health issues,” says Dean Toby Tate. “Given today’s reality, were uniquely positioned to lead interdiscipli­nary research and education related to the causes of disease and disability, and to the effectiveness of rehabilitation.”

That’s why, this fall, the college launched the PhD in Kinesiology, Nutrition and Rehabilitation. The program formalizes and expands research collaboration between faculty members in all departments of the college. It also represents a reformulation of the heretofore separate doctorates in movement sciences and nutrition, including the addition of rehabilitation as a scholarly theme.

According to Executive Associate Dean June Wencel-Drake, who was instrumental in outlining the new degree: “There are faculty members in each department who are deeply interested in the areas of normal and pathological aging, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, obesity, and more. Now those individual strengths will be harnessed to address the complexities of preventing and reducing impairments to improve quality of life. This is the program that will train the next generation of scientific, academic and professional leaders.”

PT professor Suzann Campbell retires
Suzann Campbell has cared about children since she was 10 years old, when her sister was born with a paralyzed arm due to injured nerves that control muscles in the shoulder, arm and hand. Young Suzann watched her mom exercise the baby every day, and within a couple of months, her sister’s arm recovered. “That’s when both my interest in babies and in disabilities began,” Campbell recalls.

After a distinguished career as a physical therapist, educator and researcher, Campbell retired from UIC this summer. She served the College of Applied Health Sciences as a professor for 21 years and, since 2000, as head of the Department of Physical Therapy.

Campbell’s research career has focused on assessment and intervention for infants with movement disorders. She made a major contribution to the arena of managing developmental disabilities in children by co-developing the Test of Infant Motor Performance, used to diagnose delayed motor devel­opment in newborns so professionals can intervene early for best outcomes. The test is now used in all 50 states, in 18 foreign countries, and by the U.S. military around the world.

Christina Hui-Chan, PhD, has replaced Campbell as head of the physical therapy department. She comes to UIC this year from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Read more about Hui-Chan >>

AHS students get big-picture experience
Nearly 120 entry-level students in nutrition, occupational therapy and physical therapy, including some from other Chicago-area schools, are preparing for the 14th Annual Interdisciplinary Case Study, happening November 7. The half-day event is designed to show entry-level students how the respective disciplines can collaboratively contribute to a single individual’s health management.

To begin the 2008 event, all participating students will gather to hear an overview of the roles of the three disciplines. Afterward, Mike Koronkowski, PharmD, clinical assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, will introduce them to geriatric pharmacology, emphasizing the complexity of medically managing older adults, many of whom are overmedicated. With that, students will break into 14 small groups to consider the case of “Sara,” a frail, older adult woman who has had a stroke and is failing at home. The students’ task is to think like professional OTs, PTs and RDs—to identify goals for Sara’s care and outline strategies to reach the goals.

“This program is the most vivid way to show students how patient care can be improved through collaborative effort,” says Liz Peterson, clinical associate OT professor and co-organizer of the program.

To end the event, groups learn from one another as each small group presents its proposed approaches to the case.

Meet the outstanding 2008 Alumni Five award winners
As you read in Art Slowinski’s column, each year the University of Illinois Alumni Association recognizes several alumni and friends for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the University of Illinois at Chicago. UIAA recently released the name of the 2008 alumni award recipients, who will be recognized at the Oct. 24 Alumni Five Awards Dinner. Read all about these individuals and their contributions at www.uiaa.org/chicago/awards/gala.html.