KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – As A.T. Still University’s School of Health Management (ATSU-SHM) continues to grow, the first full-time faculty members in the school’s history will begin new positions and further strengthen the academic program.

Five faculty will begin full-time positions for ATSU-SHM: David Line Denali, Ph.D., Colleen Halupa, Ed.D., Lynda T. Konecny, D.H.Ed.,  Dr.P.H, Susan B. Randers, Ph.D., and Mary-Katherine Smith, Dr.P.H. Each will serve as assistant professor for the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) or Doctor of Health Education (HED) program. Although their backgrounds are diverse, they each bring a wealth of experience to the school and to their future students. SHM Interim Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W., said the full-time positions will be an important part of enhancing the online student experience.

 “The full time model also allows us to improve our human connection with our students,” she said. “Having the consistent faces working with our students helps our student body to feel more a part of the University.  Lasting connections through student organizations and faculty mentoring is just as important to online students as it is to residential students.”

 Dr. Denali received his Ph.D. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the University of New Mexico in 2004, as well as two Master’s degrees: one in Public Health from the University of New England, the other in Social Work from the State University of New York at Albany. He previously served as the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Division Manager at the county level in New Mexico. He will work for the M.P.H. program.

 Moving from adjunct faculty to her new position in the HED program, Dr. Halupa has a doctorate in education, curriculum and instruction, along with a Master’s degree in administration. She formerly worked for the Air Force for 20 years as a medical technologist, a laboratory manager, an accreditation/compliance director, and as program director for the Air Force Medical Laboratory Training Programs.

 Another University staff member, Dr. Konecny, is transferring positions. She has worked in Admissions and Alumni services for ATSU for the past four years. In 2008, she received her D.H.Ed. from SHM and she has also served as adjunct faculty for SHM’s health education program. She previously obtained her M.S. in counselor education/college student personnel from Emporia State University in Kansas, and she will be taking a position in the HED program.

 A licensed psychologist, Dr. Randers received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Maryland and her M.P.H in community health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She currently practices in Florida, and she is a member of Florida’s Regional Behavioral Health Assessment Team, part of Florida’s Crisis Consortium. She will be in the M.P.H. program.

 Finally, Dr. Smith will join Dr. Randers and Dr. Denali as assistant professor for the M.P.H. program. She received her M.P.H from Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health and her Dr.P.H. from the University of North Texas. Previously, she worked as an epidemiology program planner, and she is a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Pete Youngman, Head Athletic Trainer, Sacramento Kings

MESA, Ariz. – A.T. Still University (ATSU) and The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) have announced Pete Youngman as the 2009 National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) Scholarship recipient.

Youngman, head athletic trainer for the Sacramento Kings, will be rewarded for his accomplishments and dedication in the professional sports industry by receiving full tuition, valued at approximately $16,800, towards a Master of Science in Human Movement at ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences. 

“Pete has shown his commitment and dedication to the health and fitness industry and professional sports for over two decades,” said Dr. Micheal Clark, NASM Chief Executive Officer.  “With the further education he will receive from ATSU, he’ll be even better equipped to improve the performance and health of the athletes he works with.” 

Youngman, an alumnus of Ithaca College, has been working in the professional sports industry for over 20 years.  Starting his career in professional sports working with the Boston Red Sox, Youngman transitioned to professional basketball and the Sacramento Kings in 1993 where he worked under former head trainer, Bill Jones, until accepting the lead position in 1996.  Youngman holds credentials in athletic training and performance enhancement, and being a marathon runner himself, holds a true understanding of the role proper motion and alignment has on an athlete’s performance. 

“We are pleased to have such a qualified individual join ASTU’s Human Movement program,” said Craig Phelps, D.O., FAOASM,  ATSU provost.  “Youngman’s years in the industry have no doubt prepared him for the demands of the curriculum while the convenient online format will allow him the flexibility to successfully work with the Kings franchise and its players at the same time.”    

The NBATA Scholarship program was developed as part of a collaborative effort between NASM, ATSU and the NBATA to support athletic trainers in the professional basketball industry who embodying the determination and ideals of athletic training.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – On September 13, hundreds of athletes will splash into the waters of Forest Lake at Thousand Hills State Park to kick off the 25th anniversary of the Northeast Missouri Triathlon, organized by A.T. Still University.

This year’s triathlon boasts even bigger incentives for participation – an official racing tote bag filled with a performance t-shirt, water bottle, and other athletic necessities, larger cash prizes for the top finishers and a post-race party with a barbeque chicken picnic .The top three male and female athletes across the line will also receive a complimentary entry to the 2010 HyVee Triathlon, which takes place in Des Moines, Ia. HyVee is one of the sponsors of the event, and the triathlon is one of the longest running events sanctioned by USA Triathlon, the governing agency for the sport.

“We have more community support and more interest than we’ve had in a while,” said Dan Martin, race director and director of the ATSU Thompson Campus Center. “We have seven major sponsors this year, so it looks like we’re headed for a banner year in terms of participants as well as community support.”

Participants can begin checking in for the event at 6:30 a.m. on race day, and the triathlon will start at 8 a.m. Although the race is a daunting test of fitness, individuals who want to try their hand without completing the entire event may join as part of a team. The teams are open to two and three member male, female, mixed, and master’s teams. A .75-mile swim starts off the triathlon, followed by an 18-mile bike ride, and culminating in a 5-mile race to the finish line. Once the triathlon ends, the post-race party will officially begin, including an awards ceremony and race results.

Since the first inaugural race in 1985, over 40,000 people have visited Kirksville to take part in the triathlon.   There is still time to sign up for this year’s event, and registration is available by mail, in person, or online at www.active.com. All entries must be received by Wednesday, September 9. The NEMO Triathlon also has a website, www.nemotriathlon.org, and, new this year, a Facebook page to connect participants.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) Class of 2013 will begin their first year of medical school with new student orientation Friday, August 21, and will continue orientation activities through Thursday, August 27.

Students will participate in a full schedule of orientation activities, including a welcome message by KCOM Dean Philip Slocum, D.O., ’76 on August 21; the President’s Barbeque at Thousand Hills State Park with ATSU President Jack Magruder on August 24; and the University’s annual Taste of Kirksville event, featuring area restaurants and caterers August 27 at the Thompson Campus Center. Classes begin Tuesday, August 25.

Perhaps the most important event for KCOM’s newest class of medical students is the Induction and White Coat Ceremony. The White Coat ceremony was established in 1996 and impresses upon first-year students the significance and symbolism of wearing a white coat. Students will receive their white doctor’s coat, as well as body-mind-spirit lapel pin. Held in conjunction with orientation, the ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 22, in Baldwin Hall Auditorium at Truman State University.

“The White Coat ceremony symbolizes the admission into a professional class,” said KCOM Dean Slocum. “Students then have a greater expectation to act in a professional way – for the University, it represents a symbolic welcoming into the family of ATSU-KCOM and physician practitioners in training.”

This year, 3,231 applicants vied for the 172 positions in KCOM’s Class of 2013. The class includes 109 men and 63 women representing 30 states as well as Canada and Japan. The class has an average science GPA of 3.4 and cumulative GPA of 3.5.

David Goldstein, Ph.D.

471 students earn Master of Science or Doctoral degrees

MESA, Ariz. – (Aug. 10, 2009) A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) celebrated commencement ceremonies Saturday, August 8 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz., where 471 students received either Master of Science or Doctoral degrees at the dual ceremonies.

Graduates received degrees in human movement, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, audiology, physical therapy, and athletic training.

“We are very excited about this graduation, which is our largest ever,” said Randy Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA, dean of ATSU-ASHS. “The programs at Arizona School of Health Sciences continue to thrive with applicant pools meeting or exceeding expectations.”

As part of the commencement ceremonies, honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees were awarded to keynote speaker David H. Perrin, Ph.D., ATC, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro; and David P. Goldstein, Ph.D., professor emeritus of audiology at Purdue University.

During the commencement addresses, Dr. Perrin urged graduates not to underestimate the impact they will have on the individuals with whom they work. “Among your most gratifying experiences will be helping an older person be able to hear his or her partner say ‘I love you;’ to extend physician services to a rural setting where a dearth of doctors exists; and to restore an injured worker’s ability to return to his or her occupation, to support a family completely dependent on that individual’s ability to earn a living,” he said.

Dr. Goldstein, who is often referred to as the “Father of the Au.D.,” recently donated his historical audiology archives, which represent audiology’s rich history and the transition of audiology to a doctoring status, to ATSU-ASHS. He was also responsible for introducing the concept of an Au.D. program to the School.

Founded in 1995, ATSU-ASHS is committed to educating and preparing its students to practice at the forefront of a rapidly growing healthcare system. According to Dr. Danielsen, during the current academic year, ATSU-ASHS had 450 students enrolled in its five residential degree programs and approximatately 1,500 in online programs.