Arts, crafts sale, clothing drive set for October 5-9
MESA, Ariz. (Oct. 2, 2009) – Students in A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) Occupational Therapy program will observe Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) by holding an arts and crafts sale and clothing drive on the ATSU campus in Mesa, Ariz., on October 5-9. Proceeds will benefit the Arizona State Hospital, which provides treatment and rehabilitative services to the state’s mentally ill.
The arts and crafts for sale were created by patients during treatment at the Arizona State Hospital, and include everything from wind chimes to seasonal and holiday décor. The gently used clothing collected during the drive will be used in a hospital program that teaches patients vocational and business skills in a retail-like setting and allows patients to purchase necessary items using tokens earned during their stay.
“The students have really taken the lead to reach out to the hospital to make a difference,” said ATSU Assistant Director of Counseling Services Art Matthews. “They are truly inspiring young professionals who epitomize our mission by demonstrating compassion, integrity, and ability.”
“We hope the money raised and donated items will help patients to maintain their dignity and feel hopeful and prepared for their new lives back in their communities,” Matthews added.
About 60 million Americans experience mental or behavioral health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. MIAW, which has been held during the first week in October since its inception in 1990, was designated by Congress to promote public education about serious mental illness.
“Treatment works if you can get it,” said Matthews. “We need to remove stigma and promote the help that is available on campuses and in local communities, because no one is immune from mental illness. It doesn’t discriminate.”
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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.
This was the second time that ATSU-ASHS has held two separate ceremonies in one day, with 302 online graduates celebrating at the 10 a.m. ceremony, and 169 residential program graduates at the 12:30 p.m. ceremony.
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.
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