MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Proud alumna lives her dream. SPECIAL OLYMPICS D.P.T. students assist disabled athletes. UNDERSTANDING MISOPHONIA Learn about this distressing disorder. Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences WINTER–SPRING 2025V4.1
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! When Angelia Sakyi-Agyekum, PA (’18), first learned about the physician assistant (PA) profession, she was already married with two children. Because she was raised in a strict religious faith, she was not encouraged to go to college, as the church believed this would take her away from her faith. Despite this, she pursued an undergraduate degree in transportational logistics. After meeting her husband and moving away from the church, her eyes began to open to a world of career possibilities, and she began preparing to attend either dental or medical school. Then, her husband—a pharmacist—told her about the PA profession. She shadowed some local physicians to see if medicine was right for her. Having completed all the prerequisites, she applied and was accepted to the Nova Southeastern University Physician Assistant Program in Fort Myers, Florida. The program’s mission aligns closely with the values Sakyi-Agyekum has always cherished. Because of her faith and commitment to giving back to her community, she was aware of the challenges faced by medically underserved and disadvantaged populations. Consequently, she was grateful to be in a program that encouraged her to give back to those populations. When she started the PA program, SakyiAgyekum had no plans to open her own clinic one day. However, her husband is from Ghana, and the people of Ghana are very entrepreneurial. They had attempted establishing other businesses in the past, but this idea felt different. Consequently, they decided to open an urgent care clinic, with Sakyi-Agyekum at the helm, and to copromote it with a pharmacy her husband would work at and manage. She began seeking a physician to supervise the urgent care clinic and reached out to her network of friends. “Once people know your dreams and aspirations, they want to help you,” Sakyi-Agyekum said. With the help of supportive friends and lots of hard work, Coastal Med Urgent Care opened on November 6, 2019, in Fort Myers. Sakyi-Agyekum worked seven days a week to make the clinic profitable. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Initially, she had to cut half her staff, which was painful, as they had become like family members to her. By coincidence, Sakyi-Agyekum and her husband had purchased a rapid antigen testing machine that could process the newly approved COVID-19 tests. Suddenly, she was able to rehire the workers she laid off and double her staff, performing more than 250 COVID tests a day. That was five years ago, and they have been growing ever since. The clinic sees primary care patients, offers telemedicine, and serves as a stopgap between the emergency room and other primary care doctors or specialists. Weekends are filled with patients from the nearby, rural areas of LaBelle and Alva seeking care for acute and acute-onchronic conditions. Additionally, the clinic is a valuable site for those without health insurance who self-pay. Sakyi-Agyekum is also serving as a preceptor for NSU's PA program. Additionally, she allows pre-PA students to shadow her in the clinic and has hired several of her classmates and other alumni to work at Coastal Med Urgent Care. NSU Fort Myers is proud to call Sakyi-Agyekum an alumna and a homegrown success story. Mission accomplished indeed! Department of Physician Assistant—Fort Myers Angelia Sakyi-Agyekum at her clinic in Fort Myers COVER IMAGE Sakyi-Agyekum observes second-year PA student Hayley Hartwell as she examines a patient. 1
at-risk individuals with language and literacy skills. Her commitment to multicultural education, pediatric language development, and community engagement is inspiring, and her leadership will help to shape the next generation of speech-language pathologists. Department of Speech-Language Pathology—Fort Lauderdale MEET TAMARA CARTER: A LEADING VOICE IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY Tamara J. Carter, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, is a leader in speech-language pathology who possesses a passion for multicultural education and pediatric language development. As the new director of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program, Carter is dedicated to fostering a dynamic and inclusive environment that prioritizes collaboration, respect, and professional growth. She envisions supporting the program in producing competent, confident, and culturally responsive future speech-language pathologists who will lead with excellence in clinical practice, research, and advocacy. Carter received her Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, a Master of Science degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Phoenix. Her academic achievements are matched by her impressive career, which includes working as a speech and related services program coordinator in a Metro Atlanta area school district and serving as the Metro Atlanta district representative. Her areas of specialization include multicultural education, as well as pediatric and school-age language development, disorders, and learning disabilities. She is particularly interested in exploring the intersection of health care and education settings and developing culturally responsive practices that support diverse populations. As a professor and dissertation chair, Carter teaches graduate courses and mentors students in their research endeavors. Her research interests include collaborative assessment and intervention services, as well as the social, political, and historical factors that influence these services. Because Carter is committed to giving back to her community, she has conducted book reviews for the Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, consulted with early intervention programs, and worked to provide Tamara Carter 2
STUDENTS PRESENT GAIT RESEARCH AT BIOMECHANICS CONFERENCE IN AUSTRIA As a recent NSU graduate, I can happily say my experience in the Exercise and Sport Science major was unlike anything I could have ever imagined. One of the most memorable opportunities that concluded my undergraduate career was going to the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports conference in Salzburg, Austria. I delivered a poster presentation from my independent research study titled “Changes in Total and Percent Distribution of Joint Power in Distance Runners Over a Competitive Season.” During the conference, I met students and faculty members from around the world and engaged in activities that had us exploring the city of Salzburg and overlooking Austria from the mountaintops. The scenery and historical buildings were breathtaking, and the culture was present everywhere. I’m beyond thankful that I was able to represent NSU with my classmate Bella Vargas-Blanchard and professor G. Monique Mokha, Ph.D. Both made the biggest impacts in my academic journey. —Alexis (Lexi) Arena, B.S. Reflecting on my final year at NSU, I am grateful for the research opportunities I had in the Exercise and Sport Science major. Thanks to professors fostering curiosity, I asked Dr. Mokha to supervise my independent study. During the fall semester, Riley Schemel, Lexi Arena, and I collected data on NSU’s cross-country team’s gait biomechanics and training protocol, enabling their staff and athletes to gain valuable insights. We spoke with Coach Jonathan Carter, who shared his observations that, combined with our data and Dr. Mokha’s guidance, helped refine our research topics. I focused on the spring-mass model’s application to distance runners. With the encouragement of professors, I presented my findings in a poster titled “Spring-Mass Model Symmetry Characteristics in Distance Runners Across a Competitive Season” at the conference. This experience was invaluable, deepening my understanding of exercise science and research while surrounded by some of the most brilliant minds in biomechanics. —Isabella (Bella) Vargas-Blanchard, B.S. Department of Health and Human Performance— Fort Lauderdale Pictured from left outside the conference hall at the University of Salzburg are Bella Vargas-Blanchard, Lexi Arena, and Monique Mokha. 3
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF CREATE The NSU Coalition for Research and Education Against Trafficking and Exploitation (CREATE) celebrates its 10th anniversary this April. Founded in 2015 by Brianna Kent, Ph.D., and Sandrine Gaillard-Kenney, Ed.D., CREATE exists thanks to the generous support of The Dr. Heidi Schaeffer Charitable Trust through the Community Foundation of Broward. This funding allows CREATE to provide dental, mental health, and optometry services free of charge to survivors of human trafficking in the tricounty area. These essential services are provided by CREATE’s partners in NSU’s College of Dental Medicine, College of Optometry, and College of Psychology. Throughout the past 10 years, more than 100 survivors were able to benefit from those services and continue their journey to recovery. In addition to providing services, CREATE has designed courses and training for NSU’s Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences to raise awareness of this issue among students and faculty members. CREATE, which conducts research to evaluate the effectiveness of the training and services provided, both from the providers’ and survivors’ perspectives, wouldn’t be possible without Schaeffer’s unwavering support over the past decade. Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences— Fort Lauderdale Heidi Schaeffer, M.D. Pictured from left are Brianna Kent and Sandrine Gaillard-Kenney. 4
MISOPHONIA: THE PHENOMENON MAKING SOME SOUNDS INTOLERABLE What is misophonia? Misophonia, derived from the Greek words miso “hatred” and phonia “sound,” is when individuals have a strong, negative, emotional reaction to specific sounds, known as triggers. Misophonia is characterized by intense reactions—such as anger, anxiety, or disgust— triggered by repetitive sounds like chewing or breathing, regardless of their volume. This reaction often activates the sympathetic nervous system’s fight-or-flight response. How do you assess/diagnose someone with misophonia? Assessing misophonia involves distinguishing it from other sound-tolerance issues. Specialized tools like the Sound Tolerance Interview and targeted misophonia questionnaires, such as the validated Duke Misophonia Questionnaire, are used to gauge severity and monitor treatment progress. What is the difference between misophonia and hyperacusis? Hyperacusis involves an increased central gain in auditory pathways, leading to discomfort or pain from moderate to loud sounds. In contrast, misophonia is associated with abnormal connectivity and hyperactivity in the brain’s salience and emotional processing networks. Functional MRI studies have shown abnormal connectivity between the anterior insular cortex and emotion-regulation regions (e.g., the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala) and heightened activation in the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex, which are key to emotional processing and salience detection (Kumar et al., 2017; Neacsiu et al., 2022). What are the current interventions for misophonia? Treatment for misophonia typically involves an interdisciplinary approach. One expert suggests increasing exposure to positive sounds and pairing them with negative triggers to neutralize reactions. For many, additional therapies are needed to rewire the heightened responses to triggers. Emerging treatments like mindfulness meditation could also be beneficial, as they may improve the function of the salience network involved in heightened sound awareness. Department of Audiology—Fort Lauderdale Sarah Wakefield, Au.D., associate professor (right), confers with third-year audiology student Carly Kosciolek regarding misophonia treatment. 5
STAYING ON YOUR FEET: BALANCE AND SAFETY Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU’s) physical therapy (PT) program recently collaborated with the Carl Shechter Southwest Focal Point Community Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, to conduct balance and fall-risk screenings. As part of the Clinical Practicum 3A course last fall, second-year PT students performed these screenings to assess the fall risk of communitydwelling adults. This initiative coincided with the National Council on Aging’s Falls Prevention Awareness Week (September 23–27) and aligned with the 2024 APTA National Physical Therapy Month theme of fall prevention. Over three sessions held on September 9, September 23, and October 7, more than 150 participants were screened under faculty supervision. The students collected brief medical histories, measured vital signs and grip strength, and conducted balance assessments using various tests, including the 30-Second Chair Stand, 4-Stage Balance Test, Timed Up and Go (TUG), and 4-Square Step Test. Additionally, they provided participants with home safety tips and fall prevention strategies. If a participant was identified as high risk, the students, guided by faculty members, recommended followup with health care providers and advocated for PT services when appropriate. Beyond raising awareness about fall risk and prevention, this service-learning experience helped students strengthen their communication, clinical reasoning, and interpersonal skills. A notable challenge was overcoming language barriers, as many participants primarily spoke Spanish. To address this, all consent forms, screening documents, and educational materials were provided in both English and Spanish. The CDC’s STEADI Fall Prevention toolkit, which can be accessed at cdc.gov/steadi/hcp/clinical -resources/index.html, served as a key resource for the screenings. Both participants and students found the event highly beneficial, and NSU looks forward to continuing this annual community partnership to promote health and fall prevention. Department of Health Science—Fort Lauderdale Nova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, military service, veteran status, and national or ethnic origin. • Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, doctoral, and professional degrees. Nova Southeastern University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Nova Southeastern University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). SHARKS INSPIRE AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS In the 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver recognized the unfair treatment of people with intellectual disabilities and acted. She launched a backyard summer camp to highlight their abilities, leading to the first Special Olympics Games in 1968. Since then, the movement has empowered millions through sports, fostering inclusion, confidence, and joy. NSU Tampa Bay Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) students have a proud tradition of volunteering at Special Olympics in Florida, particularly through the FUNfitness screening events. Under the guidance of faculty members and physical therapists, students assess athletes’ flexibility, strength, balance, and aerobic fitness while helping them perform tailored exercises. This hands-on experience enhances students’ clinical skills, autonomy, and confidence, while fostering a sense of accomplishment as they lead screenings and create home exercise programs with the athletes. Through this service, students not only refine their clinical abilities, but also gain a deeper understanding of diverse populations—contributing to a culture of inclusion and respect. Faculty members Lauren Goforth, D.P.T., PT, and Seok Hun Kim, Ph.D., PT, are instrumental in these initiatives. Goforth, who serves as the faculty liaison for the NSU Tampa Bay D.P.T. Student Physical Therapy Association, has been leading volunteer coordination since 2022. Kim, the clinical director for Special Olympics since 2015, is responsible for planning FUNfitness events and training both students and physical therapists for screenings at national, regional, and state levels. Department of Physical Therapy—Tampa Bay 6
LEAN TOWARD A GREAT CAREER · Anesthesia · Audiology · Cardiopulmonary Sciences · Health and Human Performance · Health Science · Occupational Therapy · Physical Therapy · Physician Assistant · Sonography (Cardiovascular and Medical) · Speech-Language Pathology 25-03-061RNK DEFINE YOUR OPTIONS IN HEALTH CARE For more information about ways to support the excellent initiatives being led by our talented team, go to nova.edu/give and select our college name. You will find a variety of different initiatives and scholarships you can support. nova.edu/give Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences 3300 S. University Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004 WAYS TO SUPPORT ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP OR PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT With a minimum gift of $25,000, which can be paid over multiple years, individuals or companies can establish an endowed fund to support the general operations, student scholarships, or research projects or to outfit a space/area with the latest technology. Endowed funds can be named for the donor, the donor's family or business, or in memory of a loved one. SUPPORT GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND COMPASSIONATE PATIENT CARE Individuals, companies, and foundations can support cuttingedge research and treatment for patients suffering from complex neuroinflammatory illnesses or children with autism struggling with feeding and swallowing disorders. LEAVE A LEGACY Leaving a legacy gift is simple and, in most cases, does not impact your current financial situation. We accept gifts of life insurance, retirement assets, and bequests. Our advancement professionals will work with you (and your legal and financial advisers, when appropriate) to create a philanthropic plan customized for you. All gifts to NSU are tax-deductible and can be customized. You will be provided with a receipt for your records. Interested in Partnering? Contact: Shannon Wayte, CFRE Shannon.Wayte@nova.edu | (954) 529-6776
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