Newsletter
May, 2019
Table of Contents
Our May issue features stories about:
Alumni Spotlight
- Houston Hartz
Events
- Leadership Transitions
- Living Aware Content Everday (Lace)
- Lunches at Oakley
Faculty Accomplishments
- Outstanding Researcher Award
Faculty Spotlight
- Dr. Marcia B. Hobbs
Programs
- BSN-DNP FNP Program
Scholarships
- Axley-Rice Memorial Scholarship
Student Spotlight
- Alex Karcher & Abby Prins
- Caprisse Johnson
Alumni Spotlight
Houston Hartz
Houston Hartz, a 2018 Public & Community Health graduate, works for Corizon Health, the largest correctional healthcare organization in the United States. He is part of Corizon’s pilot program, designed to foster a successful transition to corporate healthcare focusing on the management of correctional healthcare facilities. Hartz will train for a full calendar year in Polk County Florida in preparation of overseeing his own site. Following his training, he will become the youngest Health Service Administrator in Corizon Health history. As a Health Service Administrator he will oversee all aspects of medical care within the correctional facility including acute and chronic care, dental, OB-GYN, mental health, dialysis, and pediatrics.
“Correctional healthcare often gets looked over when thinking about jobs in the healthcare industry,” said Hartz. “I have worked in hospitals, and honestly it didn't really register with me as to why I wasn’t crazy about working in one until I spoke with the CEO of Corizon Health on day one of my orientation. In a hospital you treat the ill, injured, or those who are otherwise unwell. In a correctional facility, you treat your patients to keep them well. This put things in perspective, and I knew it was the job for me. Some patients will enter the jail in poor health, but the majority do not. It is our job to provide them with the highest level of care possible during their tenure.”
As a student, Hartz spent many late nights and early mornings balancing his academic responsibilities pursuing a relatively new program with those of being a student athlete with Racer Football. Hartz graduated in the spring of 2018 with a degree in Public and Community Health with a concentration in healthcare administration.
When asked how his degree helped him to prepare professionally Hartz replied, “My degree gave me insight into how a healthcare organization functions day to day, how to address problems within the workplace, and to always stay on top of what’s ahead. It also encouraged me to develop personal skills that I was able to translate into the healthcare environment, as well as taught me the medical terminology used in the workplace.”
When asked what advice he would give to incoming students, Hartz replied, “Don’t play hard until you work hard; don’t go out on a Thursday night knowing you need to study for that Friday a.m. exam. You’re in school and have set goals for a reason. Stay focused on your goal, chase it, and don't settle until you reach it. You want to celebrate victories in life, not defeats.”
In his free time Hartz enjoys watching The Office on repeat, grilling a great steak, and golfing.
Photo is of Houston Hartz (middle) and his parents, Jim and Amy Hartz.
Events
Leadership Transitions
Please join us as we wish Dr. Marcia Hobbs our best and welcome those taking on roles of leadership in the School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP). As of July 1, 2019 Dr. Hobbs will retire as dean of the school. At that time Dr. Dina Byers, current assistant dean and graduate coordinator, will take over as interim dean. Dr. Amelia Dodd in Applied Health Sciences (AHS) will assume the responsibilities of assistant dean, and Dr. Katy Garth will take over as graduate nursing coordinator. A new position, director of nursing, will be created under the leadership of Dr. Dana Todd. Dr. Miranda Terry will continue in her duties as interim chair of Applied Health Sciences.
Dr. Dina Byers - Interim Dean of SONHP, July 1
Dr. Amelia Dodd - Assistant Dean of SONHP, July 1
Dr. Katy Garth - Graduate Nursing Coordinator, July 1
Dr. Marcia Hobbs - Dean of SONHP Retiring July 1
Dr. Miranda Terry - Interim Chair of AHS, Current
Dr. Dana Todd - Director of Nursing, July 1
Living Aware Content Everyday (LACE)
Lindsey Barton, Jerrica Forrester and Hunter Jaco, three senior nursing students graduating in May 2019, completed their LACE Project for their Community Health Nursing class, NUR 410. Part of their project involved the assembly of “Moses Baskets,” decorated canvas bags containing age appropriate clothing, necessities, and other items given to foster children. Moses Baskets are designed to help make the transition as smooth as possible for all involved in the fostering process.
“My brother and sister-in-law started fostering last summer,” said Barton. “Some of the kids in the foster system have nothing except for the clothing on their backs. Moses Baskets help to ease the anxieties a lot of kids face during this stressful process.”
Barton, Forrester, and Jaco assembled 20 such bags in total which were taken to The Moses Basket, a nonprofit based in western Kentucky, over spring break. The Moses Basket will distribute the baskets they assembled to Western Kentucky foster children in need.
The main objective of the LACE student project is to help nursing students develop healthy practices and build resiliency so the stresses of their profession do not become overwhelming.
“Resiliency is the ability to recover or bounce back from difficulties. Our group had many setbacks during this project that we had to recover from and solve in order to make this project successful,” said Barton. “Our objective stated that, ‘There will always be someone fighting a battle which you know nothing about. Get out of your own mind and world and help someone else.’ The passion we shared for this project helped us do just that.”
More information about The Moses Basket can be found at www.themosesbasket.com.
Photo from left to right is of Lindsey Barton, Jerrica Forrester, and Hunter Jaco with their assembled Moses Baskets.
Lunches at Oakley
This semester seven senior nutrition and dietetics students organized a variety of themed meals during March, April and May. Each Wednesday a different student took charge, and with the support of their classmates transformed the Oakley Dining Room at Murray State University into a themed restaurant. The students managed the entire dining experience including recipe development, organization of the themed menu, décor, plate presentation, service, meal costs, nutrient analysis, budgeting and purchasing, food safety, marketing, and even methods for evaluation and process improvement. This experience is part of the capstone course for nutrition and dietetics majors at Murray State.
Nutrition and dietetics students enjoyed a partnership with the agriculture students, as well as several other local partners, who provided many of the home grown foods that guests enjoyed. A full list of the menus, themes, and recipes can be found at www.murraystate.edu/OakleyDiningRoom.
Bottom photo, from left to right is of:
Ground floor: Dr. Karen Byrd, Ms. Josie Bryant, Bethany Meredith, Karly Stom
First Step: Megan Claspell, Bridgette Holt
Second Step: Sarah Frederickson
Top Step: Jane Watts, Bailey Lankster
Faculty Accomplishments
Dr. Dana Todd
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dana Todd. Dr. Todd received the Outstanding Researcher Award for the School of Nursing & Health Professions this year. We had several nominations and it is evident that our colleagues are making great strides in scholarly activity.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Marcia B. Hobbs
After 23 years of dedicated service to Murray State University and our students, Dr. Marcia Hobbs, Dean of the School of Nursing & Health Professions, will retire at the end of June. Dr. Hobbs has been in the leadership position for the nursing programs for 23 years. She first came to Murray State in 1992 until 2007, then returned in 2011 to serve as the Dean of the School of Nursing, and the Dean of the School of Nursing & Health Professions in 2014.
During Dr. Hobbs’ tenure at Murray State University, she led the addition of the nurse anesthesia and family nurse practitioner programs which both transitioned into the first doctoral programs at Murray State University, started the online RN-BSN option, successfully oversaw six nursing accreditation visits, and was instrumental in starting the MS in Occupational Therapy on the Paducah campus. She has also left a footprint on nursing in Kentucky by serving on the Board of Nursing for nine years and serving as president of the KBN and the KY Association of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Nursing programs. As Vice President of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, she sat on the group that authored the nationally accepted Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Nursing. Other service includes being a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education evaluator and presently serving as its Co-Chair, of the Report Review Committee. Dr. Hobbs served for 29 years in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and commander of a Forward Fast Team. Dr. Hobbs is regularly involved in Rotary, PEO, and First Presbyterian Church.
Many attended her retirement reception this past Monday in Mason Hall. After retirement Dr. Hobbs intends to move closer to one of her sons and his family in Texas. Please join us in wishing her our best on this next step of her journey.
Programs
BSN-DNP FNP Program
We are currently accepting applications to the BSN-DNP FNP program. The first year is 100% online and the second and third years include limited on-campus class meetings. The program includes small class sizes, competitive tuition and diverse clinical experiences.
For additional information for questions, contact Dr. Dina Byers, graduate coordinator, by email, dbyers@murraystate.edu, or by calling 270-809-6223, or visit www.murraystate.edu/sonhp and click on “Nursing,” then “Doctor of Nursing Practice.”
Scholarships
Axley-Rice Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Pamela L. Rice, a retired exercise science faculty member and former Assistant Dean in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services, established the Axley-Rice memorial scholarship in honor of her late parents, Helen Axley-Rice and George Rice.
Recipients of the scholarship should be full-time sophomore, junior, or senior students with a 3.0 GPA. First preference is given to exercise science or athletic training students. Second preference is given to students with financial need. Additional considerations include leadership, service, ethical behavior, and professional promise.
Donations can be made through the Murray State University Foundation website at www.murraystate.edu/giving/. Select “School of Nursing & Health Professions Fund for Excellence,” “Give now,” and in the comments box write “Axley-Rice Memorial Scholarship.”
Photo is of George Rice and Helen Axley-Rice.
Student Spotlight
Alex Karcher & Abby Prins
Alex Karcher and Abby Prins, nursing majors at Murray State University, are both on track to receive honors diplomas when they graduate. To earn an honors diploma, students must complete a sequence of rigorous honors seminars, along with science, mathematics, and foreign language requirements, study abroad at least once, and write an undergraduate honors thesis in their disciplines and present that thesis publically.
They presented their honors thesis research over scholar’s week in April. Prins’ research evaluates how social support impacts the health of hospitalized patients. Karcher’s research focuses on the mental health needs of physically and sexually abused women. Dr. Dina Byers served as Prins’ thesis chair, and Dr. Jessica Naber served as Karcher’s thesis chair and advisor.
More information about the Honors College at Murray State can be found at www.murraystate.edu/honors.
Top photo from left to right is of Leah Rullman, Political Science major, and Alex Karcher and Abby Prins, Nursing Majors, after giving their presentations at Scholars Week. Bottom photo is of Abby Prins presenting her research at the Kentucky Honors Roundtable in Louisville in February.
Caprisse Johnson
Join us as we congratulate Caprisse Johnson, recently named Outstanding Dietetic Intern of the Year for 2019 by the Kentucky Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (KAND) on March 28, 2019. The award is competitive with applications from the four dietetic internships in Kentucky that include the University of Kentucky, the University of Kentucky Hospital, and Western Kentucky University, along with Murray State University. The award criteria include academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and professional potential.
“Honestly, I didn't think I would get the award,” said Johnson. “I couldn’t have done it without the guidance I received. The faculty and preceptors at Murray State pushed me to be the best student that I could be. Dietetics is not an easy field, and none of my professors tried to sugarcoat it. That honesty is what drove me to do my best, and to bounce back when I didn't.”
Johnson completes her dietetic internship in May 2019. She will then be eligible to sit for the credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
“Throughout the internship, Caprisse has consistently received high marks from her preceptors who have described her adaptability, flexibility, and professionalism as ‘exemplary,’” said Dr. Karen Byrd, Dietetic Internship Director. “The Murray State dietetics faculty all agree that Caprisse will be an outstanding RDN upon graduation and make a significant, positive impact with the patients, peers, and professionals she encounters.”
Johnson graduated summa cum laude from Murray State's undergraduate dietetics program in 2018. Concurrent with her internship, she has been completing coursework in the graduate nutrition science program to earn her master’s degree. After completion of her internship, she hopes to work in a critical care setting because of the challenges it would bring.
As an undergraduate student, Johnson was on the color guard team for four years, taking on the role of captain for her final two years, and worked as the Junior and Senior Nutrition Assistant during her third and fourth years, respectively. During her time at Murray State, she has also been named the Murray State Outstanding Undergraduate Dietetic Student of 2018, Outstanding Dietetic Intern of 2019, and won the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic Foundation’s Dietetics in Healthcare Communities Horizon Scholarship for 2018. In her free time Johnson enjoys playing recreational sports and music.
School of Nursing
Our school offers many different health careers that offer you the opportunity to influence the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Website: www.murraystate.edu/sonhp
Location: 120 Mason Hall, Murray, KY 42071
Phone: 270-809-2193