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Campus Bulletin

Issue 2009-11 (November 18, 2009)

IN THIS ISSUE

 

Calling Dr. Nurse

By Nicholas Deshais, InHealthNW Magazine 

With a chill haunting the air of October, a handful of nurses came together for two days in Spokane and learned how to be doctors. OK, they’re not quite doctors, but maybe something even better: At the end of seven semesters, these nurses will have doctorates. It’s almost an origin story for Spokane’s first superhero: the Super Nurse.

"We can do pretty much the same thing [as doctors]," says Lorna Schumann, an associate professor at WSU Spokane’s College of Nursing. “We can set up an independent practice.”

"They’re able to do primary care and psych and [pediatric] care," says Anne Hirsch, the senior associate dean of academic affairs at the college. She’s also a nurse practitioner. "We’re a gateway [to physicians]. We facilitate. … We’re holistic, we look at everything going on with the patient."

Jackie Banasik, ARNP/PhD, teaches a PhD-level course at the
WSU College of Nursing at the Riverpoint Campus. The school
aims to help meet the demand for more nurse practitioners.
(Photo by Young Kwak)

While in Spokane, the students go to research inquiry classes, slog through statistics courses and, at the end of their more than two years of learning together, will be advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP). They’re, in other words, a registered nurse who is able to practice independently, without a physician. They’ll be able to make diagnoses and perform physical examinations. They’ll be able to develop and carry out treatment programs. They’ll counsel patients and write prescriptions. They’ll do it all.

And—again—they’ll have learned all this in Spokane.

In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing ruled that a doctorate was required to become an advanced practice nurse. The start date for this new rule is 2015. That’s when all ARNPs will have to have three more letters behind their names: DNP. That stands for Doctor of Nursing Practice.

The doctoral program in Spokane began in 2007. The program currently has 22 students, three of whom have advanced to candidacy status (meaning they’re this close to being done). The students come to town four times a year, meet with each other and huddle with professors. Ninety of the 120 professors in WSU’s College of Nursing are located in Spokane. The rest are in Pullman, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Yakima. But mainly, the students in Spokane do distance learning, and practice at one of the 1,047 clinical sites the college has around the state. Still, the time spent in Spokane is invaluable, says Hirsch.

"This is the health care mecca," she says. “We have access to incredible medical facilities here. Pullman can’t do this.”

In addition to that, the nursing students work closely with Spokane students in the WWAMI program, which is the University of Washington’s medical school program that takes students out of Seattle for much of their medical education.

Ruth Bindler, the director of the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. program here in Spokane, explains that her students will have many choices coming out of the program. Most of them — some two-thirds by Bindler’s estimate — will became educators, training the next batch of nurses. Others will become nurse researchers or health care researchers, working for larger institutions such as the Veterans Hospital or a health care cooperative like Group Health, where they’ll comb through large amounts of data and extract findings, creating more efficiencies in health care delivery. Some will go into private practice.

Despite the differences in where they end up, the advanced practice nurses all have one thing in common that is different than a regular nurse: They’ve been thoroughly trained in evidence-based practice, a level of educational sophistication that allows for wider views of medicine.

Bindler is quick to point out that the advanced practice nurses who will go into practice with a doctor (even though they could go it alone) are partners in good medicine. There’s no usurping of authority or expertise here.

"They’re real partners," she says. "The silos between professions get broken down in real life. … They’re working as a health care team."

Hirsch agrees. "We’re not in competition with the physicians," she says. "We collaborate [and] allow them to focus on the complex issues."

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Spokane Heart Study Outcome: Higher Phosphorus and Lower Kidney Function May Increase Risk of Heart Disease

Higher levels of phosphorus in the blood—a common problem in those suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD)—are linked to increased calcification of the coronary arteries, a key marker of heart disease risk.

This is the conclusion of a study in an upcoming issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) authored by Katherine Tuttle, MD, professor of basic medical sciences at WWAMI Spokane and medical and scientific director of the Providence Medical Research Center, and Robert Short, PhD, director of the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training (WIMHRT) and a biostatistician affiliated with the Providence Medical Research Center. 

"This may help to explain why even early-stage chronic kidney disease is associated with increased cardiovascular risk that is not otherwise explained by traditional risk factors," comments Tuttle.  

The study looked at the relationship between phosphorus levels and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in nearly 900 healthy adults from the Spokane Heart Study, a long-term study of heart disease risk factors conducted at WSU Spokane. Previous studies have linked CAC—an early sign of atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries")—to an increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and other cardiovascular events. At the start of the study, 28 percent of the participants had CAC.

After six years' follow-up, another 33 percent of participants had developed CAC. For those who already had CAC, the level of CAC increased during follow-up. The relationship between phosphorus levels and CAC remained significant even after adjustment for other factors.

"Even small increases in the blood level of phosphorus predicted an increased risk of progressive CAC in these apparently healthy adults," says Tuttle. The phosphorus-related increase in CAC was comparable to that seen with traditional heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

In addition, participants with lower levels of kidney function—even if not below the normal range—were more likely to have progressive CAC. Recent studies have linked higher phosphorus levels to increased CAC in patients with CKD as well.

The authors say that more research will be needed to see if treatments to lower phosphorus levels can reduce heart disease risk in people with early-stage CKD, or even those without CKD who have CAC.

The study, “Longitudinal Relationships among Coronary Artery Calcification, Serum Phosphorus, and Kidney Function,” was published online ahead of print. To read the paper, go to CJASN Online.

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Dean Testifies to House on Water Quality Issues

By Lindsay Warner, College of Nursing

Professor Patricia Butterfield, dean of the College of Nursing, testified about the federal Clean Water Act before a House of Representatives committee in Washington, D.C., recently.

 

Butterfield, whose research addresses water-quality issues in the rural West, testified that her findings show a significant number of rural children in a six-year study tested positive for at least one water risk. Risks included E. coli, excessive levels of nitrates and arsenic, and coliform bacteria.

Butterfield’s work also extends to assisting rural families in repairing contaminated water systems with low- or no-cost options when possible.

Butterfield’s testimony provided a voice to the rural families in the study.

“Families want to know that government employees are looking out on their behalf,” she said. “They want to know that the contaminants that are dumped into their watershed are being monitored.”

The dean, testifying on behalf of the American Nurses Association, was one of several who spoke on the 37th anniversary of the passing of the Clean Water Act. Testimonies also came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Government Accountability Office and others.

The goal of the hearing was to examine issues surrounding the act and how stronger enforcement could protect citizens from environmental risks in water. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently committed to improving compliance and enforcement of the Clean Water Act, as well as improving EPA transparency and upgrading EPA information systems.

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SLIDESHOW: ExMet Students Vital to Healthy Fair Success

Photos by Judith Van Dongen

The 5th annual Healthy Fair on October 22 drew to campus more than 250 people and 30 local vendors promoting products and services related to health and wellness. The event was hosted by students from WSU's BS in Exercise Physiology and Metabolism (ExMet) program in partnership with the Riverpoint Campus Wellness Collaborative.

In addition to organizing and promoting the Healthy Fair, ExMet students conducted 65 cholesterol and blood glucose screenings—sponsored by the ExMet student club. They also provided 40 attendees with screenings and information on blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, and body composition/body fat analysis and administered the Rockport One Mile Fitness Test.

Click on the ► button above to see the slideshow. For full-page view, click on the button showing four small arrows at the far right of the control panel.

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WSU Education Programs Receive State, National Accreditation

By Julie Titone

National and state agencies have renewed accreditation for Washington State University’s College of Education, which earned praise as "a standout institution."

The ratings came after voluntary reviews by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Washington State’s Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). Both accreditation teams, which work cooperatively, visited WSU last spring.
 
"I have had the opportunity to review many large tier-one research institutions, but relatively few have had the mission complexity of  WSU's College of Education, and even fewer have achieved such a clean bill of health following such a rigorous review," said PESB team member James DePaepe, director of the Office of Research, Evaluation and Assessment at Central Washington University.

"After reading the evidence, sifting through data, and interviewing faculty, current candidates, and past graduates it is clear to me that WSU is a standout institution and a credit to our state," he said.

Accreditation confirms the College of Education’s commitment to producing quality teachers, administrators, and counselors, said interim dean Phyllis Erdman.

“We’re especially pleased about the ‘exemplary’ rating that state evaluators gave us for the quality of the student field experiences and clinical practices,” said Erdman. “Our students work beside mentors in public schools throughout their programs, and all work with diverse and high-needs youngsters.”

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Phase II of “Go Cougs” Television Campaign Launches

Four new television public-service announcements promoting WSU’s cutting-edge research will launch this week. The TV spots, completed in late October, continue the award-winning “Go Cougs” campaign originally launched in 2006. They feature WSU research in animal/human health, bio-fuels, antimatter, and plant breeding.

"Because of our ongoing need to recruit the best students, faculty and staff, and support fund-raising efforts, it is important to keep WSU’s awareness levels high,” said Tim Pavish, vice president for University Relations.

"Our last campaign had a very positive impact in those areas, and it was time to update and refresh the campaign. Like the original campaign, these spots demonstrate how WSU research has a global impact and enhances the lives of people. The focus is on research, but by using the 'Go Cougs' line, we end each spot with a smile."

After taking a 20-plus percent budget reduction this year, University Relations had to approach the project in a creative manner to get the most out of available resources.

"Going dark (by eliminating communication) is not an option WSU can afford right now," Pavish said. "That would only hurt our long-term success."

To that end, production costs were kept to a minimum, and the spots will be broadcast as public-service announcements free of charge. While this strategy eliminates media-placement charges, it also means that WSU has little control over when the spots will appear on television and how frequently.

"We have been working over the past several months with alumni and friends in the broadcast-media industry to help open doors for placement of the spots as public-service announcements," Pavish said.

The public-service announcements will air on television stations in major Northwest markets beginning in mid-November and in the free time slots provided to WSU during televised Cougar-sporting events.

To increase the campaign’s exposure and reach, University Relations also will leverage the spots on the Web, via a viral/social networking campaign. The success of this strategy depends heavily on help from WSU faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends—sometimes referred to as the "Cougar Nation." The spots will initially be released on the WSU Web site, then via CougNews, and sites on YouTube, Facebook, and additional outlets.

Click the links below to see sneak previews of the new spots, and share them with friends.

 Biofuels
WSU scientists have partnered with an alliance of public and private organizations to spearhead development of biofuels for the aviation industry.

Animal/human health
Researchers in the School for Global Animal Health are leading the effort to provide innovative solutions to global infectious disease challenges that occur at the animal-human interface.

Antimatter
Space travel could be revolutionized if scientists can harness the energy in antimatter. WSU scientists are exploring the possibilities.

Drought-tolerant crops
A cadre of researchers seeks to breed drought-tolerant crops that could be grown in arid regions around the world. The effort is part of WSU's commitment to addressing world hunger.
 
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Blessing Ceremony Brings Nursing Building Full Circle

By Becki Meehan

 Spokane Tribe Elder Pat Moses
drums as part of the Nursing
Building smudging ceremony
(Photo by Cori Vaughn)

October 28 may have begun like any other fall day, but for a small group of people gathered in the Nursing Building, it certainly ended with a feeling of positive energy and hope. While campus was abuzz with its normal fall routine, a group gathered in the front foyer for a smudging (blessing) ceremony performed by two members of the Spokane Tribe—Elder Pat Moses  and Francis Carson.

Organized by Robbie Paul, director of Native American Health Sciences, this traditional Native American ceremony was used to drive away any negative energy and bring balance to the space being blessed. The ceremony began with drumming and two prayers sung to honor the elders and to bring peace, hope, and honor to those who work and study in the Nursing Building. At the conclusion of the prayers, a cedar smudging stick was lit and brought around for individuals to take in and then dispersed throughout the building to complete the blessing.

"Generally speaking, the building received a spiritual house cleansing," said Moses, when asked to explain the smudging ceremony. "The smoke attached itself to the negative energy and, as it cleared, it took the negative energy away."

“This special blessing and cleansing was also a time to reflect on one’s own negative energy, said Paul. “It means the honoring of self, but also reflecting on our personal relationship of respect and honor of all who we work with, be they student, colleague, staff, or visitor."

What began with a blessing of the land in October 2007 has now come full circle with the blessing of the building. May those who work and study in the Nursing Building do so with honor, and may they bring peace and hope to others through their hard work.

 

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Future Campus Thoroughfare to Be Named Martin Luther King Jr. Way

By Yvonne Lopez-Morton, The Fig Tree

When the Spokane City Council voted in mid-September to rename a new downtown street in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. the decision fulfilled efforts of the Rev. Happy Watkins, Ivan Bush, and other local civil rights advocates who were determined to establish a lasting, visible legacy in the Inland Northwest for the late faith leader.

Ivan Bush and Happy Watkins at the site of the new
Martin Luther King Jr. Way. In the background is the Sirti
Technology Center.(Photo by Mary Stamp)

The new street, until now referred to as the Riverside Extension, will run from Riverside Avenue through the Riverpoint Campus. It will divert traffic away from Spokane Falls Boulevard to create a more pedestrian-friendly campus environment.

Groundbreaking for phase one will be in 2010. Phase one will extend Riverside east from Division Street along the southern edge of the campus, curving to the north near the eastern border of campus and connecting to Spokane Falls Blvd just before the Trent Avenue Bridge. Phase two will continue the street under the Hamilton Street Bridge, behind Union Gospel Mission and Second Harvest to Perry Street.

The street will pass areas representing education, faith, and family, which Watkins said were King’s passions.  

The vision for Bush, Watkins, and others to name a street for King was planted in 1984 with the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in downtown Spokane.

"Legislation for a national holiday honoring Rev. King was introduced in Congress in 1983, but the official holiday didn’t start until 1986. We were two years ahead in Spokane with our first march," he said

Bush, a former director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center and the East Central Community Center, joined with others to talk with community organizations, educators, citizen groups, and elected officials about a street designation. Without exception the answer was, "It is time."

He is also grateful for the support he received from higher education. "All our area colleges wrapped their arms around this initiative," he said.

Efforts to move the initiative to a final vote before the Spokane City Council required countless hours of meetings initiated by the Rev. Watkins, Bush, and others with community leaders, organizations, elected officials, and the city planning department. The local NAACP, the Martin Luther King. Jr. Family Outreach Center, and the Black Ministers Fellowship Union provided fees for the street naming.

The location of the street in the center of Spokane’s higher education district has not gone unnoticed by black educators in the community who value King’s commitment to education.

"The street was named and located with intention and not put in some forgotten place," said Bernice Buchanan, an educator with Spokane Public Schools.

"King’s life was about education, and he spoke for everyone, not only the black community," said Buchanan, noting that one of her favorite King mottos is "Learn baby, learn, so you can earn baby, earn."

This article is an adaptation of an article that first appeared in The Fig Tree. Click here to read the original article.

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Save the Date: Riverpoint Campus Holiday Reception
 

We hope you will join us for a campus holiday celebration on Thursday, December 17, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the South Campus Facility Court. No tickets necessary…just bring yourself, your favorite holiday hors d’oeuvre to contribute to the potluck, and your colleague from down the hall!

Send your RSVP for this event to slopez@ewu.edu by Friday, December 11, and let us know what you'll be bringing.

Fun and entertainment provided by the Riverpoint Campus Social Committee.

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WSU Spokane In the News

  • Students from the WSU Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy assisted with area swine flu clinics, drawing attention from area media outlets. Northwest Cable News reported the presence of a "sea of crimson WSU nursing students"  at a Nov. 7 vaccination clinic sponsored by the Spokane Regional Health District (read the article and watch the video). And an article published in the Spokesman-Review mentions the much-welcomed assistance provided by WSU College of Pharmacy students at an Oct. 24 clinic (read the article - access may be limited to subscribers).

This new section provides featured links to news coverage about WSU Spokane faculty, programs, and research. To see a more comprehensive overview of news coverage about WSU Spokane, go to our News Coverage page.

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Milestones

The Spokane Cougar Club of the WSU Athletic Foundation (represented on the Riverpoint Campus by Lori Olson) was recently honored as a Crimson Benefactor at the annual WSU Foundation Recognition Gala in September in Seattle. Crimson Benefactor status is given to individuals or entities who have contributed more than $500,000 to the WSU Foundation.  The Spokane Cougar Club  raises funds through various fundraising events such as the annual Devlin Golf Classic and the Cougar Sports Banquet. Proceeds from these events benefit the Student-Athlete Scholarship Fund.

Washington State University Spokane has been named recipient of the 2009 Excellence in New Communications Award for Academic Microblogging by the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR). The award was presented for the @WSUSpokane account on Twitter, which established an identity for WSU Spokane as a knowledgeable and credible source of information on health sciences, health policy, and health professions research and graduate/professional education. Director of communications and public affairs Barb Chamberlain, who manages the @WSUSpokane Twitter account, was presented with the award earlier this month at the 4th Annual SNCR Excellence in New Communications Awards gala at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge, Mass.

Associate professor of pharmacotherapy Mark Garrison has been elected as a fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). Fellow status in ACCP reflects the highest level of excellence in the practice and science of clinical pharmacy and signifies the highest honor ACCP can bestow on its members.

Joan Menzies, director of Student Affairs for WSU Spokane, was recently honored by the YWCA at Spokane as  the recipient of the organization's 2009 Carl Maxey Racial Justice Award, one of several Women of Achievement Awards given. Menzies received the award for her exemplary service and leadership in the community in the areas of eliminating racism and promoting diversity.

Emily Perry, a first-year student in the MS in Speech and Hearing Sciences program, has been awarded the 2009 American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation scholarship for a student with a disability. She will be accepting the award in person at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's national convention, held in New Orleans later this month.

Two interior design students took the top honors in the student design category of Seattle Design Center's 2009 Northwest Design Awards Competition. Jungwha Suh, who graduated in May with an MA in interior design, took the first prize with her project, "The Millenial Generation: redefine the workplace." Sarah McGovern, a current student in the MA in interior design program, came in second with her project, LiFe Spa.

Jonathan Wisor, an assistant professor with WWAMI Spokane, was selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to participate in the Young Faculty Award program. Each year, the program provides funding, mentoring, and industry and Department of Defense contacts to rising research stars in junior faculty positions to develop their research ideas in the context of Department of Defense needs. Wisor is one of 33 faculty members selected nationwide. He received the honor in response to his research proposal, "Local Sleep in the Cerebral Cortex: a Tool for Sustained Operations."

If you or one of your colleagues or students has received a special honor or award, or reached another professional milestone, please e-mail the information to Judith Van Dongen at jcvd@wsu.edu.

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Community Connections

  • Nov. 3 - KPBX Kids' Concert: The Swing Years
    Come down to the Bing Crosby Theater on Saturday, November 21, between 1 and 2 p.m. for a happenin’ family scene where jazz divas Ann Fennessy and Kristina Ploeger will take the stage with The Jazz Boyz, to bring you a finger-waggin’, toe-tappin’ 1930-40s concert with songs like “Frim Fram Sauce,” “Swingin’ on a Star,” and “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” Members of the Silver Spurs will also be having a good time on stage, dancing to jazzy instrumental numbers performed by The Boyz. Free admission. For more information, go to http://www.kpbx.org/events/nextkids.htm.
     
  • Nov. 27-29 - Festival of Fair Trade
    Let your holiday shopping make a positive difference in the world! Come to the Community Building at 35 W Main Ave between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the Thanksgiving Weekend for the Festival of Fair Trade. Free admission. This year’s festival will feature sweatshop-free handcrafts, clothing, jewelry, and pottery from Nepal, Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, Thailand, and other far corners of the world. Your purchase of fairly traded products supports artisan cooperatives, small farmers, and sustainable economic development in some of the world's lowest income regions. For more information, contact Kim at Kizuri at 509-464-7677.

Personnel and Staffing Changes  

Comings:

  • Lindsay Warner, PR/Communications Coordinator Senior, College of Nursing, effective 11/4/09.
  • Lacey Johnston, Office Assistant 3, Student Affairs/Human Resources, effective 11/19/09.
  • Hannah Egland, Secretary Senior, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), effective 11/23/09.

Goings:

  • Brooke Reed, Research Technologist 2, WWAMI, effective 11/19/09.
  • Ryan Gamble, Secretary Senior, Sleep and Performance Research Center, effective 11/30/09.

Transitions:

  • Robin Whybrow, from Media Technician Senior to Manager (Operations), College of Nursing, effective 11/9/09.
  • Barb King, from Program Assistant to Parking Guide, Parking – FacOps, effective 7/1/09.

Recruitments & Searches:

  • Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 3, Grounds - FacOps, apply at www.wsujobs.com, closes 11/29/09.
  • Maintenance Mechanic 3, FacOps, conducting interview 11/17/09.
  • Director of Student Affairs, Student Affairs, interviewing, closed 10/1/09.
  • Assistant/Associate Professor, Health Policy & Administration, apply at www.wsujobs.com.
  • Assistant Professor, Speech and Hearing Sciences, closes 1/15/2010, apply at www.wsujobs.com.
  • Business Advisor – Renton, Small Business Development Center, internal faculty posting, closes 11/30/09.
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Way to Go!

Thank you to Diane Wick, Deb Cox and Gretchen Eaker for their efforts in hiring our new, partially self-funded postdoctoral fellow. Your help in drafting the offer letter and ironing out the wrinkles of this unique situation was invaluable!
(from Greg Belenky and Hans Van Dongen, Sleep and Performance Research Center)

On behalf of WSUS leadership, I congratulate and thank Patti Petersen and Karen Malone for this year’s very successful Combined Fund Drive. The event demands enormous work which starts many weeks in advance, and we once again witnessed the superb result. I also thank staff and faculty who gave generously of their cooking and the creativity, time and money put into the auction baskets. Please take pride in what you do for those in need who benefit from your generosity.
(from Chancellor Brian Pitcher)

Here's where you make someone's day a little brighter by extending your thanks for a job well done. Send your “Way to Go!” comments to Judith Van Dongen and watch for your thanks to be published in an upcoming issue of the Campus Bulletin!

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The Bulletin is a monthly publication that is usually published on the second Wednesday of each month. The exact publication date may shift due to holidays. If you have an item that you'd like us to include, send it to us by Friday in the week before publication.
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The Bulletin covers news of interest to the faculty, staff, and friends of Washington State University Spokane, and associates on other WSU campuses and on the Riverpoint Campus.

Regular columns cover professional accomplishments, opportunities for involvement in the campus community and the Spokane community, notices of new developments on campus, upcoming events, personnel changes, and other news.

The Bulletin also serves as a source of information for external communications directed to alumni, future and current students, and friends of Washington State University Spokane. You'll read it here first!

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Editorial staff

Contact Us: communications@wsu.edu, 509-358-7500 | Communications
Mailing: PO Box 1495, Spokane WA 99210-1495. Shipping: 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane WA 99202