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Health Sci News 2024

2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019

 

CHS hosts annual Health Sci Career Fair

March 18, 2024

Career FairCareer Fair - Church HealthHealth Sci Career Fair

Last week, the College of Health Sciences hosted the annual Health Sci Health & Wellness Career Fair. Over 160 students connected and engaged with 18 companies including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Youth Villages, Church Health and more.


Melissa Puppa cycles 500 miles for to raise money for cancer

March 15, 2024

Melissa Puppa - She to SeaShe to SeaShe to Sea

Dr. Melissa Puppa will cycle 500+ miles over five days for the third annual She to Sea in support of the West Cancer Foundation. The group of 20 women raising money for the fight against cancer leave Memphis on March 16 and will arrive at Seagrove Beach, Fla. on March 20.

"Like many, cancer has affected many people who are dear to me including my sister, grandparents, uncle and many friends. I ride this year in honor and memory of those who have fought the battle against cancer. Some have won, some have lost, and some are continuing to fight. I am grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself amongst the amazing ladies on the She to Sea team while raising awareness and funds for West Cancer Foundation," said Puppa.

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CHS biomechanics professor and doctoral student featured in Washington Post article

March 14, 2024

A too-tight bra can affect your breathing and impede running performance, research suggests. (iStock)

Excerpt from the Washington Post

When shopping for a sports bra, many athletes believe that the tighter and more snug, the better. But new research suggests a too-tight bra can affect your breathing and impede running performance. The study, which was funded by athletic apparel brand Lululemon and conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, tracked the breathing and lung function of nine elite runners as they ran on a treadmill wearing a custom sports bra with a lower band that could be adjusted to tight, loose or a standard size the runner chose.

The study focused on the tightness of the band around the rib cage, not overall breast support. Other studies that included women with different bust sizes have found that greater breast support helped runners and is associated with reduced oxygen consumption and greater running economy.

Douglas Powell, director of the Breast Biomechanics Research Center, said that individuals with larger breasts benefit more from the high-support sports bras. He was the co-author of a 2022 study that found running economy improves as you increase sports bra support. In that study, 14 participants ran on a treadmill in different sports bra conditions. The researchers recruited recreational runners who had bust sizes ranging from B to DD cups. They found that, on average, there was approximately a 7 percent improvement in running economy when participants ran in a high-support sports bra.

Hailey Fong, the lead author in the 2022 study and a doctoral student researching sports bra biomechanics in the College of Health Sciences, said that the participants in the studies are very different, and welcomes more research in the area.

"I think the biggest thing to take from all of these papers and all of this research that we’re doing is that support matters, the sports bra you're wearing matters," she said.

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2024 Research Celebration recognizes success

March 7, 2024

2024 PI Millionaires

Faculty researchers from across the University gathered at the FedEx Institute of Technology to celebrate research and principal investigators’ (PIs) accomplishments over the last year. In FY23, the University of Memphis received an institutional record of $86 Million in research awards, reflecting the continued growth of the University as a Carnegie R1 research institution. Honored were the Class of 2024 PI Millionaires, FY23 PIs, first-time PIs, Research Book Publications, Co-Investigators and more.

Dr. Brandt Pence is among the University researchers who secured over $1M in funding for their projects, elevating them to the esteemed category of “PI millionaires.” These individuals add to a distinguished group of 134 colleagues at UofM who have attained this prestigious designation. This milestone not only reflects the University’s commitment to advancing groundbreaking research but also underscores the caliber of talent and innovation present within our academic community.

Honored faculty from the College of Health Sciences

PI Millionaire #145: 
Brandt Pence
 
First-Time PI: 
Jamie Brunsdon
 
FY2023 Principal Investigators:
Richard Bloomer
Jamie Brunsdon
Maxime Paquette
Brandt Pence
Marie van der Merwe
Yufeng Zhang
 
Co-Investigators:
Tara Hunter
Jacquelyn Pence
Chidambaram Ramanathan
Michelle Stockton
 
Top Faculty by Scopus H-Index:
Richard Bloomer (H-Index = 36, #19 on campus)
 
Google Scholar Highly Cited Authors:
Brandt Pence (9,989 citations, #20 on campus)
 
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College hosts Mid-South Biomechanics Conference

February 23, 2024

Mid-South Biomechanics Conference 2024Mid-South Biomechanics Conference 2024Mid-South Biomechanics Conference 2024

Last week, the College of Health Sciences hosted almost 100 individuals from over 15 institutions at the sixth annual Mid-South Biomechanics Conference at the University of Memphis

The conference featured large student research focus with podiums, invited speakers and discussions and provided great networking opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who hope to continue their studies or careers in biomechanics and movement sciences.


New Lambuth DPT program director featured on local news

February 21, 2024

The University of Memphis Lambuth campus in Jackson, Tenn. will have one of the largest graduate programs in the University of Memphis system. The program is for students pursuing a doctorate degree in physical therapy.

“We anticipate accepting 40 students per cohort, so it’s 40 students per year for this program,” says program director Jacque Bradford, PhD. "The emphasis or the focus of this program is to develop students to be leaders in providing rural health care to those patient populations who tend to be underserved. The beautiful thing about this campus is it has that small-town ‘homey’ feel.”

Research facilities will be built on campus providing students first-hand practice and the program will offer a solid foundation in physical therapy. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Lambuth will launch in the fall of 2026.


Dr. Marie van der Merwe honored as Science Educator of the Year

February 14, 2024

Marie van der Merwe, PhD

Marie van der Merwe, PhD recently received the 2023 Higher Education (4-year institution) Science Educator of the Year award from the Tennessee Science Teachers Association. This statewide award recognizes leadership roles in promoting science and outstanding contributions to science education that positively impact the community.

“I am so grateful to be part of the UofM family,” said van der Merwe, who recently reached her 10-year career milestone with the UofM. “The support and collaborative culture on campus makes for a great work environment, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

Dr. van der Merwe earned her doctorate in the field of molecular pharmacology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and went on to receive postdoctoral training in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where her work focused on identifying regulatory immune populations after an allogeneic transplant.

"Dr. van der Merwe is not only an extremely bright and innovative scientist she is also a fantastic classroom teacher who, despite the rigorous nature of her courses, is extremely well-liked and respected by her students," said Dean Richard Bloomer.

She teaches biochemistry and immunology to scholars pursuing careers in healthcare. Her contributions to science education are extensive and include mentoring graduate students, community outreach through an afterschool food literacy program for middle schoolers and a seminar series in the College of Health Sciences providing students with exposure to cutting-edge research.


Faculty, staff celebrate career milestones

February 12, 2024

Milestone Awards 2024 - MC Schallert
Karen Weddle-West and Mary Catherine Schallert during the Feb. 7 Career Milestone ceremony.

The Career Milestone Awards program is designed to recognize employees for their years of service to the University of Memphis. Staff employees are eligible for recognition during their fifth year of service and faculty during their tenth year of service. Subsequent recognition occurs thereafter in five year increments. Each year, the Department of Human Resources sponsors the Career Milestone Awards Ceremony for all faculty & staff employees where they are presented with a milestone award in appreciation of their years of service to the UofM.

We celebrate the College of Health Sciences faculty and staff members who reached a university career milestone during 2023.

Mary Tate-Evans
Mary Tate-Evans, 30 years

 

Shirley Brown
Shirley Brown, 10 years

Mary Catherine Schallert
Mary Catherine Schallert, 10 years

William "Pat" Travis
William "Pat" Travis, 10 years

Marie van der Merwe
Marie van der Merwe, 10 years


Dr. Max Paquette weighs in on the functional weirdness of Patrick Mahomes' running style

February 9, 2024

Patrick Mahomes in playoff action against the Miami Dolphins in January, showing off his signature running style. (Ed Zurga/AP)Max Paquette

Excerpt from the Washington Post

Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs QB) runs as if he's in competition for the title of World's Fastest Waddler. He sashays and scurries as much as he sprints. His strut has birthed countless comical comparisons: He runs like he is holding a beer, like somebody is holding the door for him, like he is wearing skinny jeans for the first time, like he needs to use the restroom, like he never finished putting on his shoes.

Mahomes stands astride American sports as he saunters into the Super Bowl for the fourth time, trying to win his third at age 28, the quarterback of the most glamorous team in a league that is the country’s most powerful cultural force. He has reached a rarefied athletic pinnacle with an unusual athletic foundation. There’s no other way to say it: Mahomes runs funny.

“I love that statement [that] he runs like he’s holding a beer,” University of Memphis biomechanics professor Max Paquette said. Observing Mahomes on television, Paquette believes the quarterback's running posture provides a platform for the improvisational magic he creates.

“When he’s running that stable, like he wouldn’t drop an ounce of beer, he’s also keeping his visual system really stable,” Paquette said. “If you’re playing a sport, your head is moving, it’s really hard to visually scan the environment to really understand the environment. When he turns his head, it’s not moving around a ton. Because of that, he’s able to see more more quickly, and it allows him to predict things.”

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Dr. Brandt Pence selected for Tigers Ascending to Excellence Award

January 23, 2024

In recognition of extraordinary leadership, commitment and service to our institution, the University of Memphis selected Dr. Brandt Pence for the Tigers Ascending to Excellence Award. Pence served as the honorary coach for Memphis Tigers Men's Basketball during their game against SMU.

Dr. Pence serves as an associate professor and director of research in the College of Health Sciences. He is currently working on projects funded by the National Institute of Health and the American Heart Association, with his research focusing on how metabolism impacts the immune system in aging and age related diseases.


College welcomes program director for new Doctorate in Physical Therapy program

January 4, 2024

Jacque Braford

The College of Health Sciences welcomes Dr. Jacque Bradford to the faculty as program director for the newly approved Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) program that will begin in the fall of 2026.

“We started the process of developing the DPT program nearly five years ago, and it has been a long and challenging endeavor,” said Dean Bloomer. “We are grateful to have reached this point and for Dr. Bradford to join our faculty as the leader of this new program. The breadth and depth of her knowledge as a clinician, professor and administrator will help to ensure the success of this program.”

The DPT program will be offered on the Lambuth campus in Jackson, Tenn. It adds to the already large portfolio of graduate programs offered at the University and will be the largest graduate cohort program on campus, accepting 40 new students each year.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed program director to develop the long-awaited program at the University of Memphis,” Bradford said. “The University has truly played a pivotal role in shaping my professional career, and I am excited about this opportunity to give back through the DPT program and the college. In the preparation of skilled and compassionate physical therapists, I will strive to create a culture of excellence, innovation and collaboration in service to Jackson and West Tennessee.”

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