2019 faculty accomplishments

College of Allied Health Department of Communication Sciences and Disorder s

Assistant professors Jan Traughber , M.S., and Jennifer Fisher , M.S., presented as part of a panel at the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention in Little Rock in October 2018. Their presentation was titled, “Fostering Clinical Thinking and Feedback Reception to Develop Excellent Future Clinicians.”

Assistant professor Jennifer Fisher , M.S., is beginning her term as vice president for continuing education with the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Associate professor and department chair Melanie Meeker , Ph.D., is ending her term in the same office. Fisher also is beginning her term as a legislative councilor for the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association.

Assistant professor Alice Henton , Ph.D., completed a doctorate of speech-language pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Her dissertation is titled “Long-Term Educational Outcomes in School-Aged Children with Craniosynostosis.”

Physical Therapy Program

Assistant professor Inna Swann , Ph.D., defended her dissertation at University of Central Arkansas and completed a doctorate in physical therapy. The title of her dissertation is in three parts: “Part I: Test-Retest Reliability and Validity of the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) in Children, Aged 9 to 13 years, Measured by the NeuroCom VSR™ system and the NeuroCom SMART Balance Master®; Part II: Defining the Normative Values for the mCTSIB in Children, Aged 9 to 13 years, Using the NeuroCom VSR System; and Part III: A Comparison of Postural Control in Children, Aged 9 to 13 years, in Zambia and the United States, Using the mCTSIB by the NeuroCom VSR System.”

Assistant professor Brian Odom , Ph.D., defended his dissertation at University of Central Arkansas and completed a doctorate in physical therapy. The title of his dissertation is “Examining Best Practice in Wound Healing in Pediatric Critical Care.”

Physician Assistant Studies Program

Assistant professor Amanda Diles , M.S., graduated with an MBA with a health care management concentration in December 2017.

Assistant professor and academic director for the PA program Mary Madill , M.S., and Amanda Diles spoke at the annual Physician Assistant Education Association meeting on “Guided Learning Opportunity: Fostering Growth through Focused PA Student Remediation.”

Assistant professor Mendy McClelland , M.S., PA-C, and adjunct professor Tara Bruner, M.S., PA-C, along with alumni Ariel Rohde, PA-C, and Jessica Edwards, PA-C, authored “The Impact of Motivational Interviewing on Distracted Driving in Adolescents and Young Adults in Searcy, Arkansas.” They presented at the 2018 American Academy of Physician Assistants National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Assistant professor and academic director for the PA program Mary Madill , M.S., assistant professor Mendy McClelland , M.S., adjunct professor Tara Bruner , M.S., with alumni Brittany Calvert , Courtney Treat and Amy Smith authored “Comparing Oral Health Knowledge in Differing Socioeconomic Elementary Populations in Arkansas.” They presented at the 2018 American Academy of Physician Assistants National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana in May 2018.

Carr College of Nursing

Associate professor Greg Brooks , D.N.P., APRN, FNP-BC, presented advanced skills for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Arkansas State Nurses Association.

Assistant professors Kim Cooper , M.S.N., RN, CNE, and Kim Swenson, M.S.N., RNC-MNN, were appointed faculty sponsors for the Harding Nursing Student Association.

Assistant professor Lisa Engel , M.S.N., RN, CNE, received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield to implement a program to increase flu vaccination of college students.

Assistant professor Jessica Gardner , M.S.N., RN, is a faculty leader each fall to the Harding University in Zambia program.

Assistant professor Juli Lane , M.S.N., RN, SANE-P, offered continuing education in partnership with the White County Safety Center and the White County District Attorney’s Office.

Cheryl Lee , Ph.D., RN, CNE, CWOCN, was promoted to rank of professor.

Associate professor Deborah Nutt , D.N.P., RN, and assistant professor Lisa Engel , M.S.N., presented a poster at SREB: Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing in Atlanta in November 2018.

Associate professor Patricia Smith , Ph.D., RN, CCRN-K, was appointed Bachelor of Science in Nursing director in August 2018. She was promoted in rank and received a Teacher Achievement Award in spring 2018.

Assistant professor Kim Swenson , D.N.P., RNC-MNN, completed a D.N.P. degree from Chamberlain University. Her dissertation title is “An Evidence-Based Approach to Improving Provider Utilization and Patient Adherence to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PReP).”

Assistant professor and FNP program director Dona Clarin , D.N.P., APRN, FNP-BC, SANE-P, led a mission trip to Haiti in March 2018.

Associate professor Janice Bingham , M.S.N., APRN, and Ronda Reely , M.S.N., RN, led a mission trip to Chimala, Tanzania, East Africa in May/June 2018.

Several faculty led information sessions at the Arkansas Nursing Student Association in Little Rock.

College of Pharmacy

Associate dean for faculty affairs and chair and professor of pharmaceutical sciences Scott Weston , Ph.D., was convener for a health sciences multidisciplinary platform presentation and generative session at the 2018 Thomas H. Ulbricht Christian Scholar’s Conference at Lipscomb University.

Assistant professor Mendy McClelland , M.S., presented at the conference with Lipscomb faculty on “Health Care for Unique and Underserved Populations.”

Assistant professors Courtney Selby , Pharm.D., and Ellen Jones , Pharm.D., and associate professor Valerie Oji , Pharm.D., joined the pharmacy practice faculty.

Anissa Harris , Ed.D., was named director of assessment.

Associate professor Landry Kamdem , Ph.D., published a paper titled "Influence of Transporter Polymorphisms on Drug Disposition and Response: A Perspective from the International Transporter Consortium" in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

Associate professors Lana Gettman , Pharm.D., and Melissa Max , Pharm.D., collaborated on a book chapter regarding the use of botanical products for musculoskeletal conditions published in January 2019.

Associate professor Lana Gettman’s submission, "Descriptive Analysis of Acceptance by Prescribers and Economic Benefit of Pharmacist Recommended Interventions in a Critical Care Unit," was selected for publication in INNOVATIONS in Pharmacy.

Professor and chair of pharmacy practice Julie Kissack , Pharm.D., was awarded a two-year contract for more than $300,000 to pilot a new Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program in partnership with the Arkansas Pharmacists Association and up to 30 independent pharmacies in Arkansas.

Director of experiential education Jeanie Smith , Pharm.D., was awarded a $5,500 grant from the Arkansas Cancer Coalition to support health screenings with point of care testing at the 2018 Arkansas state fair.

Assistant professor Gabriella Douglass , Pharm.D., received American Society of Health-System Pharmacy (ASHP) accreditation approval of the post-graduate year community-based pharmacy residency at ARcare. She was also named Residency Preceptor of the Year at the AAHP Fall Seminar.

Associate professor Kaci Bohn , Pharm.D., was chosen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing board of directors to serve as the chair of the Leadership Succession Committee.

College of Pharmacy dean Jeff Mercer , Pharm.D., was selected to serve on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Professional Affairs Committee as well as the Council of Deans Strategic Engagement Task force for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Assistant professor and assistant dean for experiential education Rayanne Story , Pharm.D., was appointed to the AACP Experiential Section Health System Essential Elements Task Force for the 2018-2019 academic year.