A surprise 55th wedding anniversary gift to longtime philanthropists Ann and Sam Barshop by their children Jamie, Bruce and Bruce’s wife Colleen as well as other close family members and friends has created the first Endowed Chair in Respiratory Care at The School of Allied Health Sciences.

The Steven Lloyd Barshop Chair in Respiratory Care honors the memory of the Barshops’ son who passed away in December 2002. During his long illness, Steven was cared for by a respiratory care student, Roland Pena, who is now a practicing therapist.

“We are deeply moved by this gift, and we are touched by your kindness. Ann and I will be matching the gifts you’ve all so generously contributed,” Sam Barshop noted. The Barshops’ contribution will bring the gift to well over $500,000!

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Malori Romero, a dental hygiene student, with collected food items.

Faculty members and Dental hygiene students collected more than 420 pounds of food and donated it to the San Antonio Food Bank.

"Junior and senior students have several community service rotations and realized that some of their patients' oral care problems are related to nutrition, so what better way to help than to educate their patients while helping the community with a food drive?" explained dental hygiene student Rebekah Salas.

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Save Our Smiles

Project Director Kathy Geurink, from our Department of Dental Hygiene reports that Save Our Smiles (S.O.S.) Day is the result of a long-planned oral health initiative to provide regular dental care to 1,000 preschoolers enrolled in Head Start programs across Texas.

Dental hygiene student Rebekah Salas said, “These kids have taught me that just spending a few extra moments talking to them, getting to know them, can open them up to be receptive to what we have to offer. The one-on-one attention that they receive is crucial. Even if they came in crying, if you can make them smile and give you a high-five after receiving treatment, then that is a successful visit ― and that is satisfaction!”

“Our intent for S.O.S. Day was to introduce the children to concept of going to the dentist by assessing their oral health and offering preventive care by providing fluoride varnish treatments,” Geurink explained. “Our students, supervised by faculty members, including Mary Jacks, Carol Nyuyen, Kristi Wilkins and Bee Hicks worked to find any dental problems that require follow-up care.”  The Head Start children are being referred for treatment to area dental clinics.  “Through this project, we have established a network of community partners who are working together to provide continuing dental care for the Head Start children,” Ms. Geurink reports, and S.O.S. is planned to be an annual event and expanded throughout Head Start centers in Texas.  

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Obesity is a critical health care issue nation wide.  In a joint effort to help reverse this, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Texas A&M International University will offer a joint bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics ― the first of its kind between two university systems in Texas. 

“What is different about this program is that it is a true collaboration between two different universities in two different systems,” said Dennis Blessing, Ph.D., associate dean for South Texas programs in the School of Allied Health Sciences at the UT Health Science Center.  “Graduates from this program will have a diploma with both schools’ names on it.”

Classes in Laredo will be taught on the TAMIU campus by Carmen Roman-Shriver, Ph.D., R.D., and her husband, Associate Professor Brent Shriver, Ph.D., a nutritional biochemist. The couple is in the process of developing the program.

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When Dr. Mike Geelhoed’s close friend Matt Karns was killed in a motorcycle accident last June, he was determined to honor his friend in a meaningful way. 

$12,000 for the Matt Karns Memorial Scholarship in Physical Therapy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has now been raised.  “The purpose is to honor Matt’s memory in a way that matched his interest in helping our physical therapy students,” Geelhoed remarked.

Dr. Geelhoed will celebrate with a bike ride around Loop 1604 on October 28.  “Friends, family and students will be there, and I’m hoping to complete the ride in 6 hours,” Geelhoed says.

The ride is not without precedent.  Shortly before he died, Matt ran the 100+ miles around 1604 to raise money for the Baptist Employees Health Crisis Fund.  “The Matt Karns Endowed Memorial Scholarship will carry on his spirit of professionalism and consideration of helping others forever, and I want to remember his commitment with this bike ride,” Geelhoed notes.

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Scholarship support from the Donald C. Stephenson Endowed Scholarship Fund in Respiratory Care ensured that my dad, Rambabu Challa, was able to continue his studies at the Health Science Center.  My dad works at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital and he recently made a scholarship donation to the Alumni Appeal for Student Scholarships 2007-08!  You can make a difference by supporting the scholarship campaign at www.uthscsa.edu/sah/alumni, and remember, every penny counts!     

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Mr. Mike Smith (pictured far left) celebrates with his wife, Dean Marilyn Harrington and UT Health Science Center, President Dr. Francisco Cigarroa at the 2007 SAHS Graduation Dinner. Along with Dr. Harrington, Mike established the Caleb Maxwell Scholarship Endowment to honor the memory of his deceased grandson, and the endowment supports scholarship students in all 9 departments of Allied Health.

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Kathy Geurink, clinical associate professor in the department of dental hygiene, will receive a major national honor in her field this summer — the 2007 Pfizer/ADHA Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene.

Ms. Geurink, a respected educator and health promoter who authored a widely used textbook on the hygienist’s role in public health, will be recognized during the 84th Annual Session of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). The meeting is June 20-27 in New Orleans.

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On Tuesday, May 15, members of all 3 Physical Therapy classes from the School of Allied Health Sciences traveled to Austin to participate in the Texas Physical Therapy Association’s Legislative Day. They spent the morning learning about the legislative process and PT-related legislation brought forward in this session. The afternoon was spent at the State Capitol visiting state lawmakers and their staff. All who participated agreed that it was a great day and an informative learning session about the Texas political process. Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education, Mike Geelhoed, notes that, "these students deserve special recognition for their commitment to the future of the PT profession by being members of their professional organization, as well as active lobbyists on our behalf!"

Linda A. Smith, Ph.D., professor and associate chair in the department of clinical laboratory sciences (CLS) was named a Piper Professor of 2007 by The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation and also received the prestigious UT Academy of Health Science Education Award.

“Dr. Smith’s outstanding record as a teacher and mentor brings honor to her department and school,” said Marilyn S. Harrington, Ph.D., dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences at the Health Science Center. “She is a cornerstone faculty member of our clinical laboratory sciences program and for the entire school. She has developed a national reputation for the graduate programs we offer in CLS.”

Dean Marilyn Harrington and SAHS Director of Development, Julenne Barshop celebrate with Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award and UT Academy Health Science System Education Award Winner, Dr. Linda Smith.

School of Allied Health Sciences joined Methodist Health Care Ministries and the Eagle Pass Independent School District to help run Camp Get FIT. Because that effort was so successful, camp director Peggy Visio, a consulting dietician and former adjunct assistant professor in the School of Allied Health Sciences started a second session this year, which runs throughout the month of June. The number of children attending has nearly doubled since last year!  Overweight children from low-income families—many living in colonias that were destroyed by a  tornado in April-- participate in activities that include yoga, daily swimming, nutrition and cooking lessons, Olympic-style games, and arts and crafts projects. Their parents also attend evening classes that teach nutrition.
 
Under the direction of Dr. J. Dennis Blessing, SAHS associate Dean for South Texas Programs, PA students work as camp counselors, and Peggy Visio notes that they are a major part of the program’s success. "They are wonderful role models for the children, not only from a fitness perspective but also as mentors who encourage children to do well in school."

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> 5/15/2007

Ms. Magda de la Torre, Assistant Professor for the Department of Dental Hygiene, received the prestigious Spectrum Award, which recognizes creativity and leadership in the pursuit of excellence in three areas: teaching, service and research. She heads the Department of Dental Hygiene’s student service-learning program BOHCA (Building Oral Health Care Access) in Laredo Texas, which provides dental screenings, cleanings and education—free of charge—to low-income, uninsured patients.   Professor de la Torre received her award during the SAHS Faculty Development/Recognition Day this past May.  

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> 6/26/2007

Genzyme Corporation, one of the world’s foremost biotechnology companies, and a leader in the effort to develop and apply the most advanced technologies in the life sciences will award $10,000 scholarships as well as stipends to four students in the field of Cytogenetics this year!  Cytogenetics is a complex specialty area of the clinical diagnostic laboratory and our graduates are employed in areas such as private laboratories, genetic specialty clinics and research laboratories. Along with Genzyme Corporation representative Ms. Diane Marbourg and Dr. Douglas Murphy, Associate Dean for the School of Allied Health Sciences, Ms. Betty Dunn (pictured here), a certified cytogenetic technologist and the Program Director in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences encourages those interested in a challenging, exciting career to apply to the cytogenetics program.  For more information about the scholarship program, please contact Ms. Dunn at 567- 8865.  

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