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Issue 2010-01 (January 20, 2010)

IN THIS ISSUE

• Young and Hmong—Pharmacy Student Adds Perspective to Cultural Competency Class
• Speech and Hearing Sciences Chair to Receive Distinguished Achievement Award
• VIDEO: College of Nursing Partners with Air National Guard in Simulation Training
• Education Students Gain Insight into Legislative Impacts
• Fan, Like, Share, Comment, Link: How You Can Add Life to WSU Spokane's Facebook Page
• Moznette, Petersen Honored for Superior Service
• China’s Role in the Global Economy—A Sample of the Executive MBA Global Business Module
• Call for Papers and Projects: Designing Health, the Sixth Annual Design Research Conference
• Grant and Contract Award Summary - October 1 through December 31, 2009
• Milestones
• Community Connections
• Personnel and Staffing Changes
• Way to Go!
• Find It on the Web

 

Young and Hmong—Pharmacy Student Adds Perspective to Cultural Competency Class

Story and photos/slideshow by Judith Van Dongen

In a room full of students in white coats, fourth-year pharmacy student Mays Vue stood out in her colorful costume adorned with embroidery and coins that jingled with every movement. Showing off her Hmong roots, the outfit is something she wears only at very special occasions: weddings, New Year's celebrations, and in this case, the College of Pharmacy’s Pharmaceutical Care Lab on cultural competency.

Vue had graciously volunteered to attend all five sections of the lab last week to tell third-year pharmacy students about Hmong culture. Her presentation added a new dimension to an established part of the curriculum: the assignment to read and discuss parts of the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," the story of a Hmong girl suffering from severe epilepsy and the cultural conflict surrounding her treatment. The goal of the assignment was to increase cultural awareness among these future pharmacists, whose understanding of different perspectives and belief systems will help them achieve positive health outcomes for their patients. 

"Mays's participation added a degree of richness to the lab," said clinical assistant professor Brenda Bray, who taught the lab with professor John White. "It clarified things from the book that the students read and brought the culture to life."

With her mother-in-law, Pai Vue, by her side, Vue painted a vivid picture of the Hmong people's trials and tribulations. Her story started with their forced move from the mountains of southern China to other parts of Southeast Asia in the 18th century. She went on to explain the political events that caused many Hmong to flee Laos and eventually start a new life in the United States, where the next generation of Hmong children struggled to balance the old ways with the new.

Born in the United States herself, Vue has lived through that conflicting feeling of belonging and not belonging. She entertained the students with anecdotes of her encounters with Hmong customs she was not yet familiar with, including those practiced at her own wedding. She also explained the Hmong beliefs and how they are expressed in traditional healing and attitudes toward western medicine.

Following the presentation, Bray led a group discussion on the book. She probed the students on their understanding of the cultural issues that formed a roadblock in the treatment of the young protagonist and asked them how things might have been handled differently. Vue occasionally explained the beliefs and customs underlying certain events. Others in the group added their viewpoints as seen from their own cultures.

It's hard to believe that just a year ago, Vue took the same class and never mentioned to anyone that she had an insiders' view of the culture described in the book. She didn't want to end up doing all the talking and have others feel inhibited to speak about their own experiences.

After encouragement by the pharmacy faculty, she offered to become involved in this year's class and, in the process, learned something new.

"When you open up your own cultural experiences, it helps others to open up about theirs, too," she said.

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Speech and Hearing Sciences Chair to Receive Distinguished Achievement Award

By Gail Siegel, College of Liberal Arts

The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) has recognized Gail Chermak, professor and chair of WSU's Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, with the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of audiology.

Through the Distinguished Achievement Award, the academy acknowledges educators, innovators and pioneers in areas of clinical service delivery, teaching or research who have impacted the profession of audiology.

"Dr. Gail Chermak's name is synonymous with research in the diagnosis and management of central auditory processing disorders," said a statement of the academy's Honors Committee. "Her research has not only informed our understanding and knowledge of neuroaudiological disorders and their impact on the lives of individuals with these disorders, but her efforts have shaped and guided the preferred practice model for our profession."

Central auditory processing disorder, or (C)APD, refers to deficits in the way the brain processes auditory information.

Chermak's approach to treatment of (C)APD is both bottom-up and top-down. Patients learn basic skills like sound detection and discrimination along with complex metalinguistic and metacognitive skills including auditory closure and self-regulation. Such proficiencies are instinctive for most people, but for individuals with (C)APD they have to be learned.

"Auditory training, a bottom-up technique, includes, for example, training people to listen in both ears, to discriminate whether sounds glide up in frequency or down, whether there was a pause in the noise or whether it was continuous, whether the tones are the same or different," said Chermak. "We go from this very basic auditory processing to very complex, sophisticated levels of (top-down) thinking about and manipulating auditory-language input."

Chermak's talent, passion and energy extend well beyond her research, to the classroom and her role as a university administrator.

Chermak is a Fulbright scholar and a fellow of the AAA and of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has chaired and served on national professional committees and task forces, including the 2005 ASHA Work Group on (C)APD and the 2009 AAA Task Force on (C)APD. She is an assistant editor for the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. She has published extensively and lectured widely on differential diagnosis and treatment of (C)APD and is also co-editor of the Handbook of (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder (Plural Publishing Inc., 2007).

Chermak will be presented with her award at the AAA annual conference on April 15 in San Diego.

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College of Nursing Partners with Air National Guard in Simulation Training

By Lindsay Warner, College of Nursing; Video courtesy of Washington Air National Guard, 141st Air Refueling Wing

The College of Nursing’s state-of-the-art simulation technology is not only preparing better nurses, but thanks to a recent partnership between WSU and the Washington Air National Guard, this technology will now prepare military medical personnel as well.
 
The 141st Medical Group recently brought 12 members to the Riverpoint Campus, where they did a series of simulations addressing leg wounds, breathing issues, and burns.

"This is preparing them to work through situations that they are going to see when they are deployed,"said director of simulation Kevin Stevens.
 
The first of its kind in the country, this partnership enables local military branches to train their units without expensive travel and allows for military training money to stay within the local community.

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Understanding politics is, arguably, as important to a school superintendent as understanding education. So students in WSU’s Superintendent Certification Program travel to Olympia before each legislative session for a primer on the making of laws that affect K-12 education.

The annual field trip is greatly aided by Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a friend of program director Gene Sharratt, clinical assistant professor of educational leadership at WSU Spokane. Owen opens up the Senate chamber (the lieutenant governor is president of the Senate when it is in session) and welcomes the WSU students.

Last Friday's packed agenda included policy updates from representatives of top education organizations as well as state education officials.

The 54 students and four WSU faculty members heard about an upcoming legislative session that could hardly be more stressful. Education is one of many vital state services threatened by deep budget cuts.

The day's take-home message? "Solutions are possible if elected leaders work together to resolve short-term needs, while not losing sight of the long-term priorities," Sharratt summarized.

The value of the learning experience? Here's what two of the students had to say:

"The Olympia seminar opened my eyes to new opportunities, future relationships, and how to impact political change. I will work on getting to know my legislative representatives and becoming more involved in my own professional organizations." - Don Francis, elementary principal from the Quincy area.

"The opportunity to hear from practitioners and the difficult dilemma that they are in as we face a huge budget shortfall makes me rethink the political passion one must have for this work." - Krestin Bahr, middle school principal from Tacoma.

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Fan, Like, Share, Comment, Link: How You Can Add Life to WSU Spokane's Facebook Page

By Barb Chamberlain

Almost exactly a year ago we wrote about the WSU Spokane Facebook page in a Bulletin piece. We were just getting started and encouraged you to become a fan.

At that time Facebook was "the world's eighth largest country" based on population. It’s now number three, with more Facebook members than there are people in the U.S. Universities are using Facebook pages to recruit students, engage with alumni, and inform community members about their activities.

A year later, we have a better idea of what makes for an engaged page that conveys a more authentic flavor than our Web site ever can (no matter how often we update it). YOU are the key!

Our Facebook page is the perfect spot to give a "slice of life" peek in real time at what’s going on around campus.

Content suggestions for you to add as a fan:

• Post photos of things happening around campus
• Create an album for your department or program to collect all your photos in one spot
• Create events and invite friends
• Write on the event wall or the main page wall during an event
• Comment on the page wall about upcoming activities on campus or something that just happened
• Remember to include links to your program page or another appropriate resource as part of the content. You’ll help draw traffic to our Web site.
• Respond with comments to all of the above when someone else does it! Ongoing conversations show other people who are considering becoming a fan that we have a lively community.

Ways you can help us attract more fans and thus build awareness of the campus:

• Become a fan!
• Like a comment, photo or other content posted on the page
• Share content posted on the page with a note
• Invite friends to become fans too

Things you can do outside of Facebook:

• Post videos from your program on YouTube and send a note to Cori, corivaughn@wsu.edu. She’ll add them to our channel and they’ll show up on our Facebook page in the YouTube box. Be sure to include a link to your program in the video description! (Best location: right at the top in the part that shows even before people click on "more info")
• On Twitter, tell people you’re a fan of the page. Include a link to www.facebook.com/WSUSpokane
• Include a link to our page as part of your signature line in your work e-mails, along with a link to the home page and our Twitter account, @WSUSpokane.

Bear in mind--Anything you post is visible to the world and available as a search result in Google. (If you haven’t tightened up your personal privacy settings, this is also true of anything you post on your own page.)

Right now we don’t have any moderation or barriers to posting on our page. We’ve been able to do that because everyone’s posts have been completely appropriate, and we won’t introduce any barriers unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

Don’t worry about formal wording (although good spelling represents us well. It should sound like real people!

Thanks for your help in showing many facets of WSU Spokane on Facebook.

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Moznette, Petersen Honored for Superior Service

By Becki Meehan

Two employees recently received 2009 Employee Excellence Awards in recognition for their superior service to WSU Spokane, the university and the community. Joanna Moznette, program coordinator for MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) and Patti Petersen, principal assistant for the Office of Research and Office of Finance and Operations, were selected by their peers for the Civil Service Staff Excellence Award and the Administrative Professional Staff Excellence Award, respectively.

Moznette, who has been with WSU Spokane for nine years, was described by her nominators as the heartbeat of the MESA office. She is well known and respected in the Spokane community, both as an advocate for MESA and its mission of providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to explore STEM fields, and as a cheerful volunteer at many community events. Her professionalism and strong advocacy for underrepresented groups in the community reflect well on WSU.

"Working with Joanna is simple and easy, and makes me better at my job because of her reliability, courtesy and loyalty," said Bethany Coupens, middle school coordinator for MESA. "She allows all of us in our office to reach the next level in productivity and efficiency. Because of her, I know our foundation is stable."

In response to receiving this award, Moznette said: "It is my honor to work with people of such high caliber. I take great pride in working here, and appreciate the opportunities it affords me."

Petersen, an employee of WSU Spokane since 2004, is noted for her dedication not only in her work, but also in the community. Her work is noted for being exemplary, and her efficiency and productivity are unmatched. Her organization and professional manner are reflected in all entities with whom she works.

"She is a true ambassador to WSU who lives with dignity, integrity and honor in her commitments," said Dennis Dyck, vice chancellor for Research. "Her grace is seen through her positive attitude as she takes on challenges. She is committed to go above and beyond to ensure each task is done not only on time, but also to perfection. In addition to all her other responsibilities there is no one on this campus or perhaps any other campus, who is a better organizer of events—witness the success of the combined fund drive—this event has Patti's stamp all over it."

In response to receiving this award, Petersen said: "I am deeply honored by this award which means much to my family and me. I want to thank my peers for their nomination–it’s been my pleasure to work with such a wonderful group of people."

Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU) sponsored the awards, which were presented at the WSU Spokane Spring Kickoff by Kathleen Kozlowski and Elisabeth Hooker. Petersen and Moznette each received an engraved plaque, an STCU gift basket and a check for $1,500.

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Grant and Contract Award Summary - October 1 through December 31, 2009

Faculty Member	Department	Research Title/ Funding Source	Research Summary
Kerry Brooks	Interdisciplinary Design Institute	Spokane Regional Site Selector Spokane County	This is renewal funding for a project that involved establishing a GIS-based Site Selector Web site to  allow citizens as well as local and imported businesses access to information on available commercial properties and business locations, land-based GIS information, and demographic and market information. The project leverages the communities' existing investments in GIS to foster economic development, empower developers and investors with information, and improve regional economic development capacity.
Patricia Butterfield/ Philip Butterfield/ Tamara Odom-Maryon/ Julie Postma	College of Nursing/ Office of Research	Pacific Northwest Center for the National Childrens Study: Grant County, Washington Site University of Washington/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	This grant provides funding for the Grant County Site Team, consisting of WSU health experts and regional health care and public health providers in Grant County, to work in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Study Center to carry out the objectives of the National Children’s Study in Grant County. This study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. WSU faculty members who will be part of the Grant County Site Team include Patricia Butterfield, Phillip Butterfield, Tamara Odom-Maryon, Julie Postma, and Kerry Brooks.
Suzan Kardong-Edgren/ Tamara Odom-Maryon	College of Nursing	WWAMI Nursing Technology Collaborative University of Washington/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	This is renewal funding for a five-year project that creates a regional multi-institutional nursing collaborative to develop faculty expertise in using simulation, clinical informatics, telehealth, and distance learning technologies to enhance educational opportunities for students and practicing nurses. Faculty will work together using distance technology (such as web conferencing, SharePoint and Moodle) to build a Web site housing a technology toolkit that will include training modules developed by WWAMI expert faculty. The toolkit will be available to nurses in the WWAMI states (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho).
Jon Schad/ Dennis Rovetto	Facilities Operations	WSU Spokane 2008 Severe Winter Storm & Record Snow Bundle 36 Washington State Military Department/U.S. Department of Homeland Security	This is federal and state grant funding to offset the increased costs of plowing and snow removal activities on campus during a period of record snowfall in late December 2008.
Jon Schad/ Dennis Rovetto	Facilities Operations	Curb, Curb Stops, Sprinkler Heads Washington State Military Department/U.S. Department of Homeland Security	This grant funding pays for the repair of damage to curbs, curb stops and sprinkler heads resulting from multiple plowings of snow from campus streets, sidewalks, and parking lots during last year’s record snow season. Damage from the plowings dislodged or destroyed a total of 136 lineal feet of concrete curb, 21 concrete curb stops, and 60 sprinkler heads.
John Roll	College of Nursing	Contingency Management of Psychostimulant Abuse in the Severely Mentally Ill University of Washington/ National Institutes of Health	This subcontract funds the final year of a three-year project assessing the use of contingency management in the treatment of substance abuse in the seriously mentally ill.
John Roll	College of Nursing	Methamphetamine Initiative Grant Program U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office	This is additional grant funding for the expansion of methamphetamine research at WSU through new faculty and research staff and will also be used to conduct pilot projects that will support subsequent grant applications. The application for the original grant was submitted in response to congressionally mandated funding to establish a program of excellence in addictions research, with an emphasis on methamphetamine, under the direction of Dr. John Roll.
Bob Short	WIMHRT	Family Liaison Consultant/DSHS/ Mental Health Transformation Grant Washington State Department of Social and Health Services / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	This funding is for WIMHRT to hire a family liaison consultant to work in the Olympia offices of the Mental Health Transformation Project (MHTP). The consultant will work with MHTP staff to promote the development and effectiveness of SAFE Washington and its member organizations; serve as the project liaison to the Indian Policy Advisory Support Services; develop activities that support mental health recovery and wellness; and provide oversight of other project contracts from a family member perspective.
Bob Short	WIMHRT	Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant, Regional Organizing Initiatives Activities Washington State Department of Social and Health Services / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	WIMHRT is the administrator for this grant, which funds services delivered by Eastern State Hospital as part of the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive program. This program is an infrastructure program funded by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration—part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—that helps build a solid foundation of delivering and sustaining effective mental health and related services throughout the state.
Bob Short	WIMHRT	State Medicaid/JCAHO Accreditation Washington State Department of Social and Health Services / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	This contract provides funding for WIMHRT to provide evidence-based practice training, research support, technical assistance, and consultation to the state of Washington.
Hans Van Dongen/ Gregory Belenky	Sleep and Performance Research Center	Sleep Science in Aviation The Boeing Company	The purpose of this contract was to help provide a scientific platform for Boeing’s fatigue risk management efforts with the Civil Aviation Authority of China.
Hans Van Dongen/ Gregory Belenky	Sleep and Performance Research Center	Homeostatic and Circadian Modulation of Cognition: Integrating Mathematical and Computational Modeling Approaches Department of Defense/Airforce Office of Scientific Research	This is additional funding for a three-year project in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a mathematical/computational model that will allow detailed predictions of the effects of fatigue on specific cognitive performance tasks. The model will help facilitate operational planning and targeting of fatigue countermeasures to minimize human error and maximize success on Air Force missions and other 24/7 operations.

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Milestones

• A book coauthored by Ruth Bindler, professor and director of the PhD program, was named Book of the Year Award for 2009 by the American Journal of Nursing. Child Health Nursing: Partnering with Children and Families (2nd edition) discusses contemporary pediatric health care, addressing children’s growth, development, and physiology; assessment; culture; complementary therapy; evidence-based practice; and nursing care planning. Coauthors are Jane Ball and Kay Cowen.
• Assistant professor of nursing Suzan Kardong-Edgren has been appointed as chair of the Research Committee for the International Society of Simulation in Healthcare. The first nurse to be selected for this position, Kardong-Edgren will officially start her role at the 10th annual international meeting for the Society of Simulation in Healthcare, held in Phoenix, Arizona, later this month.
• Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacotherapy Brenda Kelly successfully passed the Pharmacotherapy specialty certification examination and is now a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

• Professor of pharmacotherapy John White has been invited to serve a three-year term on the editorial board of the journal Clinical Diabetes, beginning January 1, 2010.

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

• Jan. 23 – KPBX Kids' Concert: Rhythm & Bluegrass Birthday
  What’s big and red and puts out a great mix of rhythm and bluegrass music? It’s the fantastic foursome Big Red Barn playing at the Spokane Masonic Center on January 23, from 1 to 2 p.m., for our community 30-year birthday bash! Join us for this extra special KPBX Kids' Concert, which—as always—is free of charge. For more information, go to http://www.kpbx.org/events/nextkids.htm.

• Jan. 27 – Through a Screen Darkly:  A Memoir of Gradual Bedazzlement and Dangerous Moviegoing
  Join the Spokane College Women's Association at 11:15 a.m. at the Red Lion River Inn for lunch and a lecture by Jeffrey Overstreet, novelist and award-winning film reviewer. In a circuitous tour through movies from around the world, we'll explore the ways in which art—however simple, dark, or strange— can give us new perspectives and transforming encounters with beauty and truth. Cost is $16 and the deadline to RSVP is January 24. For more information, go to http://www.spokanecollegewomen.org/SPEAKER_LUNCHEONS.htm.

• Jan. 27 – Downtown Spokane Annual Meeting
  Join us for our Downtown Spokane Annual Meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the Davenport Hotel Grand Pennington Ballroom. Keynote speaker Wim Wiewel, president of Portland State University, will talk about the positive impact that a great downtown has on higher education. Cost is $25 if paid by Jan. 20 or $30 at the door. For more information and to RSVP, go to http://downtownspokane.org/annual-meeting.php.

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Personnel and Staffing Changes  

Comings:

• Yvonne Smith, Research Assistant, Nursing, effective 12/1/2009.
• Peter McCauley, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sleep and Research Performance Center, effective 1/1/2010.
• Dawn Scartozzi, Office Assistant 3, Chancellor’s Office, effective 1/13/2010.
• Duane Fladland, Associate Director, SBDC, effective 1/19/2010.

Goings:

• Aurore Ziegwied, Program Assistant, College of Nursing, effective 1/8/2010.
• Stephanie Ellersick, Office Assistant 3, Chancellor’s Office, effective 1/19/2010.

 Recruitment & Searches:

• Preceptor, College of Nursing, applications under review.
• Assistant Professor, Speech and Hearing Sciences, closed 1/15/2010, applications under review.
• Office Assistant 3, College of Nursing, closed 1/4/2010, applications under review.
• Assistant/Associate/Full Professor (3 positions), College of Nursing, review began 1/15/10.
• Business Advisor – Renton, Small Business Development Center, closed 12/31/09, applications under review.

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Way to Go!

• "Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Fac Ops crew including Bob, Bill, Brian, Joel, Jon, Kenny, Norene and Sandi for all their hard work getting the Eilers lab changed around for ASL. We asked for a lot, and you delivered above and beyond what we wanted. We are so lucky to have such a great group working on our side, and we really appreciate all of your efforts!"
  (From Krista Loney, Applied Sciences Lab)
• "The Diversity Cultural/Events Subcommittee would like to thank Brady Ratsch from IT for taking that additional step in assisting us with getting the MLK events poster on the LCD screens across campus.  The poster was too big for the screens, but Brady was able to separate each event while keeping the message and the images intact."
  (From Yvonne Montoya-Zamorra, Human Resource Services)

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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Find It on the Web

• WSU Research News: The latest on research news from WSU.
• News at WSU Spokane: Recent news releases and links to news releases organized by subject for WSU Spokane.
• WSU News Service: Breaking news from WSU, links to all news releases, and other information sources.
• WSU Today online: Links to past print editions, plus breaking news briefs
• Bulletin archives: Links to past issues of the Campus Bulletin
• In the News: Media coverage of campus programs and people
• Events Calendar: What's going on around here, anyway?

 

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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!

Subscribers welcome! To subscribe, go to http://lists.wsu.edu/join.php, enter your e-mail address, type "wsusb" in the List Name field, and click on "Join List."

Editorial staff

• Judith Van Dongen, editor, jcvd@wsu.edu, 509-358-7524
• Barb Chamberlain, chamberlain@wsu.edu, 509-358-7527
• Becki Meehan, rmeehan@wsu.edu, 509-358-7528

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