Dean's Message - SHRP

February June 2010 2010 

Dean’s 

M e ssage 

The 17 th annual recognition program for our Health Sci- 

ence Careers program occurred on June 2, 2010. The 

Scotch Plains Conference Center was close to overflowing 

with slightly less than one-quarter of the students attending 

(pictures from the program on page 5). Eight hundred 

and twenty-one high school seniors participated in the program 

this year with the full student complement at 2276 

high school and 50 License Practical Nursing students. 

The program started in 1992 in 3 schools and 12 students, and is now in 45 schools and 

all but one county in the State. Next year we anticipate 

50 schools participating. Suzanne D‘Anna, the 

program director, and Sherry Geardino, her assistant, 

do a fabulous job administering this program with our 

high school partners. About 60% of the students concurrently 

earn UMDNJ college credits while in the 

program and the rest earn high school credits. 

The vast majority of the students plan to enter a 

health careers program. This year the graduates 

identified multiple fields of study including basic sciences such as biology, chemistry, premed, 

dental assisting, dental hygiene, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, 

nutrition, dentistry, biomedical engineering, physician assisting, animal medicine, athletic 

training and environmental sciences. Nursing remains the number one major. 

Some of the colleges and universities they plan to attend in the fall include Bloomfield, 

College of NJ, Cornell, Essex County, Fairleigh Dickinson, Felician, Kean, Montclair 

State, Passaic County, Ramapo, Rowan, Rutgers, University of New Haven, University of 

Hartford, and William Patterson. Some of the students 

are in schools that affiliate with us for the 

professional component of the major. Many of the 

students received full or partial scholarships. It is 

heartwarming to see 17 and 18 year old students 

excited about entering the health professions and 

to hear about their volunteer activities and state 

and national recognition in Health Occupations 

Students of America Association (HOSA). 

This year in addition to the Pat Olsen Scholarship that students from Manasquan high 

school and Mary Help of Christians Academy received, we (actually Clint himself) gave 

the Clinton Dozier Scholarship to two students from East Orange high school. The Clint 

Dozier scholarship is limited to Newark and East Orange schools and is based on aca- 

continued on page 5... 

“Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of 

the roadblocks that lay before you.” - Denis Waitley 

Inside this issue: 

Dean’s Message 1 

Department Highlights: 

Rehabilitation and 

Movement Sciences 

Upcoming Events 4 

Alumni Highlights 6 

FUMDNJ 7 

Faculty Highlights 8 

Student Highlights 8 

Employee Highlights 9 

30th SHRP Convocation 

Highlights 

To our Alumni & 

Friends ~ 

Hearing from you is 

important to us. 

Share with us your 

experiences—where 

are you now, your 

volunteer activities, 

honors, awards, new 

addition to your family, 

etc. 

Photos are welcomed. 

SHRP students will 

learn from your experiences. 

Send your latest news 

and information to: 

SHRPnews@umdnj.edu 

2 

10

Page 2 SHRPnews 

Department Highlight: 

Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences 

The faculty of the Department of Rehabilitation and 

Movement Sciences are committed to teaching, scholarship 

and professional leadership and consequently provide 

a rich environment for the academic growth of the 

students. We have striven to develop four academic programs 

that educate students to effectively function within 

current and future health care environments. There are 

two professional entry-level programs: the Doctor of 

Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program sponsored as a 

joint degree with Rutgers‘ University located on the Stratford 

campus and the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) 

degree program located on the Newark campus. In addition, 

the department features a transitional DPT program 

designed for practicing clinicians who already possess a 

bachelor‘s or master‘s degree in Physical Therapy and 

participates in the SHRP Doctor of Philosophy in Health 

Sciences (PhD) by providing a Movement Science tract on 

the Newark campus. Both entry-level DPT Programs are 

fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in 

Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). During the past 

year, each Program completed self-studies and on-site 

visitations by CAPTE representatives. Each program was 

re-accredited for 10 years. 

Alma Merians, PT, PhD is the Chairperson of the Department. 

The Program Directors include: Marie Koval Nardone 

(DPT South), Nancy Kirsch (DPT North), Sandra 

Kaplan (Transitional DPT – North). Judy Deutsch coordinates 

the Movement Sciences tract of the PhD Program. 

Department full-time faculty include Board Certified 

Clinical Specialists in the following areas: Orthopedics 

(2), Neurology (2), Cardiovascular (1), Pediatrics (1) and 

Geriatrics (1). Full-time academic department faculty include: 

Ellen Anderson, Evan Cohen, Judy Deutsch, 

Robert Dekerlegand, Susan Edmond, Patricia Fay, Barbara 

Gladson, Phyllis Guarrera-Bowlby, Karen Huhn, 

Sandra Kaplan, David Kietrys, Nancy Kirsch, Dennise 

Krencicki, Kathy Mairella, Alma Merians, Stephanie 

Muth, Mary Jane Myslinski, Marie Koval Nardone, Susan 

Paparella-Pitzel, Adrienne Simonds, and Eugene Tunik. 

Newark Faculty 

Standing L-R: Kathleen Mairella, DPT, 

Phyllis Guarera-Bowlby, MEd, Judith 

Deutsch, PhD, Patricia Fay, DPT, Nancy 

Kirsch, PhD, Mary Jane Myslinski, EdD, 

Ellen Anderson, MA, Barbara Gladson, 

PhD. 

Seated L-R: Susan Edmond, DSc, 

Sandra Kaplan, PhD, Alma Merians, 

PhD, Sue Pitzel, DPT. 

Not in picture: Eugene Tunik, PhD; 

Karen Huhn, MS. 

In addition to its academic programs, the Department has 

maintained a faculty practice since 1997 that serves five 

school districts in the northern New Jersey area. The mission 

of the Newark Therapy Services is to provide the 

highest quality physical and occupational therapy services 

to school-aged children with special needs. Our 41 

clinicians have clinical faculty appointments. Christine 

Cronin, Laura Phillips, and Julie Guzman administer the 

faculty practice. 

DUAL ANNIVERSARIES. This year marks a special 

time in the history of the Department. It is the 30th Anniversary 

of the Newark Program having its start in the old 

nurses residence, the Fairmont Building and the 20 th Anniversary 

of the Stratford Program, its humble beginnings 

in a small row home off the Rutgers-Camden Campus. 

From the very beginning both programs were driven 

by our commitment to excellence, our concern for our students 

and faculty and our involvement with our respective 

communities. 

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES: 

Over the past year, faculty members have published 25 

articles in peer-reviewed journals. 2 book chapters, 1 

book, 3 home study courses, 3 educational monographs, 1 

on-line educational program, and 1 software package. Dr. 

Nancy Kirsch served as guest editor of Topics in Geriatrics 

and writes a monthly column, Ethics in Practice for 

the magazine PT in Motion. 

Stratford faculty: 

Standing L-R: Marie Nardone, EdD, 

Adrienne Simonds, Stephanie Muth, 

Dennise Krencicki, DPT. 

Seated L-R: Evan Cohen, MA, David 

Kietrys, MS, Robert Dekerlegand, 

MS.


Faculty members have presented their work at a number of venues including international conferences and invited presentations 

in Israel, Canada and England, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Annual Conference in Baltimore, 

SHRP Poster Day in Newark, APTAnj Fall and Spring meetings, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, 

American Association of University Women of Medford, Fox Rehabilitation Center, Holy Redeemer Home Care, Council 

of Hospital Physical Therapy Directors, and Chambers School. 

Several faculty have received NIH funding for their research, Drs. Deutsch, Merians, Tunik and Gladson. Some of these 

grants have funded doctoral and post-doctoral students. Dr. Michal Kafri is a Post-Doctoral fellow in Dr. Judy Deutsch's 

Rivers Lab. Hamid Bagce was awarded a predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders 

and Stroke and is carrying out his work under the mentorship of Dr. Eugene Tunik. Faculty serve as an item writer coordinator 

for the National Physical Therapy Exam, as a member of the Academy of Advanced item writers through 

FSBPT, and manuscript reviewers for many rehabilitation and neuroscience journals such as the Archives of Physical 

Medicine and Rehabilitation, PT Journal, Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of 

Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 

and Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 

ELLEN ROSS MEMORIAL LECTURE AND SCHOLARSHIP. 

The Department sponsors the Ellen Ross Memorial Lecture and Scholarship 

to honor the memory of a beloved colleague. This year Margareta Nordin, 

PT, Dr. Sci, Research Professor and Director of the Occupational and Industrial 

Orthopedic Center, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York University 

Medical Center presented ―Pain in the Neck and Physical Therapy‖ provided 

the lecture. Department members, Karen Huhn and Evan Cohen, 

were awarded the Ellen Ross Scholarship and the Ellen Ross Memorial Gait 

Rite Scholarship in 2009. 

STRULOWITZ RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM. 

The department hosts the Strulowitz Research Colloquium, which is generously 

funded by the Strulowitz Endowed Fund and honors the memory of 

Stratford DPT Class of 2010 

Dan Strulowitz, who was a leader in physical therapy in New Jersey. Colloquia 

are hosted semi-annually to enrich the research-based education and professional development of graduate students 

enrolled in the PhD program - Movement Science Track as well as the professional development of faculty. During 

the spring semester Dr. Richard Magill a Visiting Professor at NYU Steinhardt School presented on "Discovery learning 

of movements as a physical therapy intervention strategy". 

STANDARDIZED PATIENT PROGRAMS 

Students in Newark and Stratford are educated using innovative methods, including the use of standardized patients 

(both), simulated interdisciplinary teams (Stratford), Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE – Newark), and practical 

examinations under more real situations (Stratford). A person who portrays his diagnosis or set of symptoms, or a 

healthy individual who has been carefully coached to accurately portray a specific patient diagnosis or set of symptoms, 

is used to train and test students‘ clinical interventions. Although this teaching/testing format is often used in medical 

schools, it is not that common in physical therapy programs. One of the highlights of the standardized patient lab experience 

is the assessment of a standardized patient and sharing the findings with a standardized interdisciplinary team 

composed of a School of Osteopathic Medicine medical student and a standardized professional who acts as a Social 

Worker, or an SHRP Physician Assistant student. In addition to the benefits afforded the students by this program, the 

program also serves as a laboratory for ongoing collaborative faculty scholarship and research. 

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 

Members of the faculty are actively involved in a variety of professional and community service activities including the 

American Physical Therapy Association Board of Directors, Reference Committee and House of Delegates, the APTA 

task force on Research, APTA Sections for Education, Orthopedics and Neurology, Pediatrics Section Knowledge translation 

task force, central application task force, CAPTE accreditation team visitor, Clinical Instructor and Advanced Clinical 

Instructor Training Programs, Board of Directors of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, liaison to 

the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT), New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy, and 

New York New Jersey Physical Therapy Clinical Education Consortium. 

Continued on page 5...


S P E C I A L O L Y M P I C S — N E W J E R S E Y 

J u n e 1 2 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 0 

Special Olympics New Jersey is a not-for-profit organization 

that provides sports training and athletic competition 

to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 

All programs are free to athletes including insurance, 

facilities, equipment, uniforms, housing & meals for events, awards, sports, education 

and more. 

Register to work with School of Health Related Professions - Make a difference! 

You must register to participate. SHRP has provided service to athletes who benefit 

from volunteers, faculty, students and staff. 

Directions to the College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ (location 

of the games). 

1st Annual SHRP Research Day 

The First Annual SHRP Research Day (formerly SHRP Poster Day) held on May 

25th, 2010 was a success! SHRP Research Day was created to recognize and emphasize 

the importance of research being conducted within the school. It was an opportunity 

to enhance networking among faculty members from different departments 

within the school and to augment faculty-student interactions related to research. 

The guest speaker, Dr. Michael Christmanon, presented on Using personal genome 

information in clinical care: challenges and approaches in the coriell personalized 

medicine collaborative. Students presented their posters as they have in the past. In 

addition, selected students provided brief oral presentations on their research. The 

selected group included students representing several of the participating departments. 

All students who presented a poster were considered for the SHRP Student 

Research Awards that were presented at the Annual Convocation Dinner. 

Please see page 11 for the list of research award recipients. 

Upcoming Events 

Save these 

Dates! 

06/09– SHRP Faculty Retreat - 

pg 12 

06/12-13 - Special Olympics 

06/24– Colloquium Series 

09/15– University Day, New 

Brunswick. Info to follow 

Weekly: Yoga, MSB—Gellene 

Room 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m. 

2009—2010 

Colloquium Series 

Many interesting and informtive 

topics. Each colloquium 

will be broadcast live from 

Scotch Plains to Newark and 

Stratford. For more information, 

go to: 

http://shrp.umdnj.edu/news_even 

ts/community/index.html#21 

Come and Join us for 

UMDNJ – Toastmasters’ 

7 th Annual 

Roast and Toast 

Click for more info: 

http://umdnj.freetoasthost.info/


continued from page 1, Dean’s Message… 

demic achievement. Contributions to either scholarship is managed by The Foundation of UMDNJ. The Pat Olsen 

Scholarship for two graduating students are recommended by the School and then based on an essay competition. 

Wishing you a wonderful summer and thank you for being a part of the UMDNJ-SHRP community. 

Regards, 

Julie O‘Sullivan Maillet 

Interim Dean 

Continued from page 2...Department Highlights 

Faculty mentor High School students enrolled in IDST 1151 and 1252. Two of those students presented posters at the 

UMDNJ-Stratford campus Annual Research Day. Faculty provide many community services including physical therapy 

screening and intervention for migrant farmworkers and their families, individuals who participate in Special 

Olympics, balance and falls screening programs, clinics for individuals who are HIV positive, and fitness assessments 

for young athletes. Faculty host information sessions and open houses, participate 

in graduate fairs and marketing events for physical therapy and 

our programs. 

STUDENTS 

DPT South welcomed 31 new full-time students in May 2009 and anticipates 

having 30 new full-time students in June 2010. Seventeen DPT students 

graduate in May 2010. There will be 85 full-time students enrolled in 

2010-2011. 

DPT Newark welcomed 57 new full-time students in August 2009 and will 

graduate 42 members of the class of 2010. The program anticipates 54 students 

entering in August of 2010. There will be a full time enrollment of 

over 150 students in the 3-year, 110 credit DPT program. 

Newark DPT Class of 2012 

Therapeutic Exercise Aquatics Class


Alumni Highlights 

Recognition 

Lisa Silberman, an alumni of the Masters Clinical Nutrition program, received Honorable Mention for her thesis 

research presented at the 2010 Lancaster General Health Sciences Poster Session. 

Yana Kaufman, an alumna of the Doctorate in Physical Therapy class of 2003, participated in SHRP‘s Research Day 

as a judge for the competition on May 25, 2010. 

Brenda M. Murdock, RD, an alumna of the Dietetic Internship Program, received the 2010 award presented by New 

Jersey Dietetic Association as ‗Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award‘. 

The following alumni served on the committee for the 78th Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Dietetic Association:. 

The meeting was held on May 14, 2010 at Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. 

Kathy McMillan, RD, CDE & Brenda M. Murdock, RD (Dietetic Internship)- Committee Co-Chairs 

Patricia Davidson, DCN, Rd, CDE (Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition) - NJDA President-Elect, Committee Advisor 

Nancy Munoz, DCN, MHA, RD, LDN (Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition) - NJDA President-Elect, Committee Advisor 

Jennifer Tomesko, DCN, RD, CNSD (Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition) - Poster Session Chair 

Chesney Blue, RD (Dietetic Internship) - Dress for Success Campaign 

Jacqueline Gomes, MBA, RD (Dietetic Internship) - Presiding officer 

Maria Stanish, MS, RD (Dietetic Internship) - Presiding officer 

Maria Sakowitz, MS, RD (Dietetic Internship) - Presiding officer 

Publication 

Jacqueline Gomes, MBA, RD, graduate of the Dietetic Internship Program 2003, wrote an article for the Produce for 

Better Health Foundation: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=11143. 

Alumni@ UMDNJ Blog Site Features SHRP Alumni 

Julia Morrison PT, DPT, graduate of the Doctorate in 

Physical Therapy Program 2009, together with her 

mother Susan H. Morrison, MD, who is also an 

alumna of UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School '81 was 

featured in the new UMDNJ Alumni Blog which launched 

late April of 2010. The UMDNJ Alumni Blog celebrates 

the significant accomplishments of the graduates of our 

eight schools and gives them the opportunity to reconnect 

with UMDNJ and with their fellow alums. 

~~~ 

Jacqueline Gomes, MBA, RD, graduate of the Dietetic 

Internship Program 2003, was featured in the UMDNJ 

Alumni blog for April 2010. She is currently the media 

representative for the New Jersey Dietetic Association 

and the Corporate Dietitian Pathmark® Stores. 

Please click on the link for the Alumni@UMDNJ blog site: 

http://umdnjalumni.blogspot.com/ 

Letter from an Alumna... 

...Upon my graduation, I started my career as a Medical 

Technologist in 1985 at Robertwood Johnson University 

hospital. I joined Merck as a staff chemist in 1989 and 

stayed with Merck all these years. I am currently a manager 

in the Regulatory affairs group at Merck. 

When I started at UMDNJ in 1985, I had just come from 

India. It was pretty challenging to make an adjustment 

to my new life in the US but my teachers at the time 

(Elaine, Jesse and Susan) were so great and supportive. 

Without them, I would have never made it. I am always 

indebted to my teachers and SHRP. It would also be 

great if I can learn about teachers and have an opportunity 

to touch base with them. The other person who 

helped me a lot was Lizet Levya. 

Maybe I can stop by sometime! 

Thanks again! 

Kalpana Venkataraman 

Highlights in coming issues 

Month Department/Program Responsible 

July Community Activities Highlights / Research Highlights Carolyn Breen/ Bob Denmark 

August Technology Enhancing Education Vernon Cabalfin/ Matthew Rosenthal


Keep In Touch 

Join the SHRP Alumni Association 

For more information contact Douglas Lomonaco at lomonado@umdnj.edu 

News from the Foundation of UMDNJ 

Regina Beleckas Kelly at 908-731-6594 or rkelly@njhf.org. 

The Foundation of UMDNJ is delighted to recognize and thank the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the Department 

of Rehabilitation and Movement Science for their initiative, creativity and generosity in establishing the Ellen 

C. Ross Memorial Scholarship endowment. This endowment was started in 2007 as a tribute to the late Ellen Ross, a 

beloved faculty member, to support a Ph.D. student in the Department. To date, the Ross Scholarship endowment has 

received almost $115,000 in contributions, including gifts, faculty honoraria and proceeds from the Department‘s continuing 

education programs. The first distribution from the Ross Scholarship endowment is scheduled to be made during 

the 2011-2012 academic year. 

Endowed gifts are crucial to any educational or charitable institution because they ensure a steady source of funding 

that the institution can rely on to carry out its mission. The minimum amount to create an endowed scholarship at 

UMDNJ is $25,000, which can be paid in installments over five years. 

If you would like to learn more about endowments at UMDNJ, please call me at 908-731-6594 or email at 

rkelly@njh.org. 

65 Bergen Street, Suite 120 

Newark, NJ 07107 

Attn: Dean’s Office 

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Presentation 

Shashi Mehta, PhD, Associate Professor, Clinical Laboratory 

Sciences presented, ―Dancing with the DNA: molecular 

technology & the modern day technologist‖ and copresented 

―Molecular diagnostic testing‖ at the 62 nd Annual 

Convention of the American Society for Clinical 

Laboratory Science – Central New England, Providence, 

Rhode Island, May 4-5, 2010. 

Riva Touger-Decker, PhD, Professor and Chair, Nutritional 

Sciences, presented ―Physical assessment of the 

head, neck and oral cavity and dysphagia screening workshop.‖ 

The 8 th Preventive Nutrition – Unified Forces Congress, 

International Session, Tel Aviv, Israel; May 4, 

2010. 


Sciences, presented ―Advanced dietetic education 

online: the bits and bytes of online learning.‖ The 8 th Preventive 

Nutrition – Unified Forces Congress, International 

Session, Tel Aviv, Israel May 5, 2010. 

Publication 

Julie O’Sullivan Maillet, PhD, Professor, Nutritional 

Sciences; Interim Dean, SHRP, ―Health worker shortage 

has a positive side‖, Gloucester County Voices, 

May 9,2010. 

http://www.nj.com/gloucester/voices/index.ssf/2010/05/heal 

th_worker_shortage_has_a_p.html#comments 

Jane Ziegler, DCN, Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences; 

Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia, EdD, Clinical Assistant 

Professor, Nutritional Sciences; Riva Touger-Decker, 

PhD, Professor and Chair, Nutritional Sciences; Laura 

Byham-Gray,PhD, Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences; 

Program Director, MS in Clinical Nutrition; Julie 

O’Sullivan-Maillet , PhD, Professor, Nutritional Sciences; 

Interim Dean, SHRP. Robert Denmark, PhD, 

Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies; Interim 

Assistant Dean for Research. ―Resting energy expenditure 

n overweight and obese adults.‖ Topics in Clinical Nutrition. 

25(2):180-7. 

“The only gift is a portion 

of thyself.” 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Faculty Highlights 

Recognition 

Laura Byham-Gray, PhD, Associate Professor, Nutritional 

Sciences; Program Director, MS in Clinical Nutrition, 

has received the Joel D. Kopple Research Award 

from the National Kidney Foundation's Council on Renal 

Nutrition. The award honors individuals who have made 

significant contributions to the field of renal nutrition in 

the areas of legislation, clinical practice, education or 

research. 

Cara DeNunzio, BS, Instructor, Primary Care, has 

been nominated by Thesis Committee Chairperson, Dr. 

Shana Morrell, College of Health Sciences, Walden University 

for the Walden University Outstanding Thesis 

Award. The title of the thesis, ―Parental attitudes towards 

exposing children to environmental tobacco 

smoke.‖ The thesis classification is under Literature Review. 

Barbara Gladson, PhD, Professor, Rehabilitation and 

Movement Sciens; Director, Biopharma Education and 

Curriculum Development, has recently returned from 

Vienna, Austria, where she was chair of a conference on 

subject enrollment in clinical research entitled, ―Effective 

Patient Recruitment in Clinical Trials, Calibrating Your 

Recruitment Strategies to Faster Access to New Markets.‖ 

Other speakers included industry leaders from 

Merck Serono International, GlaxoSmithKline, Astra- 

Zeneca, and Teva Pharmaceuticals, as well as from the 

leading recruitment firm, BBK Worldwide. One of the 

big headlines of the conference was how social media impacts 

subject recruitment. 

Albert Heuer, PhD, MBA, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary 

Studies, was quoted on an article from Advance 

for Respiratory Care and Sleep Medicine, ―Career 

outlook: grads search for stability in a recovering economy.” 

Click here for the full article: http://respiratorycare-sleep-medicine.advanceweb.com/Editorial/ 

Content/PrintFriendly.aspx?CC=221677 

Adam Perlman, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and 

Chair, Primary Care; Executive Director for the Institute 

for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, was 

quoted on an article from Real Simple magazine, ―How 

integrative medicine can help your health.‖ Click here for 

the full article: 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/19/integrative.me 

dicine/index.html 


Sciences, was chosen as the Chairperson of the 

Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing 

organization in the U.S. for Registered Dietitians. This is 

a one year term that began June 1st, 2010.


Employee Highlights 

Christie L. Tragno, BS, graduated with 

a BS in Health Sciences with a concentration 

in Health Services Management and 

Education. Christie currently works as a 

secretary, part-time in the Department of 

Medical Imaging Sciences, Diagnostic 

Medical Sonography Program. She also 

holds an Associate in Applied Science in 

Medical Laboratory Technology. Her goal is to someday 

receive her Master‘s degree and teach on-line. 

~~ 

Congratulations to the UMDNJ - 

Toastmasters Club 9983 for winning 

Most Artistic Newsletter during the 

Toastmasters District 83 Newsletter Contest 

that ended on April 15th . Jimalyn 

Jainga, the Vice President for Public 

Relations, is responsible for the club‘s 

newsletter. Click link for the UMDNJ 

Toastmasters website: 

http://umdnj.freetoasthost.info/ 

Student Highlights 

Publication 

Alraei, Raghda Ghussen, student in the Clinical Nutrition 

Program published, ―Herbal and dietary supplements 

for weight loss.‖ Topics in Clinical Nutrition. 25(2):136- 

150, April/June 2010. 

Recognition 

Blood Drive on Scotch Plains Campus by 

Medical Laboratory Sciences Students 

Kudos to Drew Minardi, MPA, Assistant Professor; Joann 

Rittersbach, BA, Adjunct Instructor and the Medical 

Laboratory Sciences students for organizing a very successful 

Blood Donor Drive on the Scotch Plains campus on 

Friday, April 23rd. Staff from the New York Blood Center 

brought the donor chairs, equipment and supplies to convert 

the Scotch Plains Conference Center into a blood collection 

center. Many faculty, students, staff, family members 

and friends came to the campus to donate blood so 

critically needed by others. MLS students, many of whom 

donated blood for the first time, got to experience the 

blood collection process from the medical laboratory scientist 

perspective as well as the donor's perspective. It was 

an enriching and gratifying experience for them. The 

Blood Drive was scheduled to cap off activities 

for National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. The 

MLS faculty plan to make it an annual event. 

contd. Student Highlights 

Valerie Adegunleye, a student in the Masters Clinical 

Nutrition Program, who graduated on May 26, 2010, has 

received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year 

award for Maryland. The purpose of the Recognized 

Young Dietitian of the Year program is to recognize the 

competence and activities of younger dietitians in the 

American Dietetic Association and to encourage their 

continued participation in association affairs. This group 

will be an additional resource from which the leadership 

of the Association will develop - at the district, state, and 

national levels. Ms. Adegunleye was featured in the Gazette.Net, 

a Maryland Community Newspapers Online. 

Please click on the link for the full article: 

http://www.gazette.net/stories/06022010/busiplo172613_3 

2547.php 

Hamid Bagce, PhD student from received the National 

Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke a very 

competitive and prestigious 3-year Ruth L. Kirschstein 

National Research Service Award (NRSA-F30) for predoctoral 

MD/PHD students. 

Yusie Kim, a student, Dietetic Internship Program, received 

the 2010 award by New Jersey Dietetic Association 

as ‗Dietetic Student Initiative‘. 

Student Physical Therapy Association of South 

Jersey Receives Award 

The Doctor of Physical Therapy - South Jersey Class of 

2010, 2011 and 2012, together with their advisors Dr. 

Dennise Krencicki and Dr. Evan Cohen have been 

awarded Honorable Mention in the Miami-Marquette 

Challenge to raise funds for the Foundation for Physical 

Therapy. Below is an excerpt from the official email that 

Dr. Marie Nardone, Program Director, received. 

"Congratulations! UMDNJ-SHRP and Rutgers University 

at Camden raised $3,000 and has won the 

Honorable Mention in the Miami – Marquette 

Challenge. A letter with more detail will be mailed 

tomorrow but we wanted to let you know ASAP so 

your student can make plans. 

Students will be recognized during APTA’s Honors & 

Awards Ceremony that begins at 6:00pm in the Constitution 

Ballroom of the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Afterwards, 

please join us at a joint APTA/Foundation 

reception immediately following the ceremony. Doors 

open to the gala, to be held in the Grand Ballroom, at 

7:30pm." 

A job well done to the Class of 2010, 2011, and 2012, 

Dr. Dennise Krencicki and Dr. EvanCohen!


30th Convocation Dinner Highlights 

Dean’s Citations 

Lawrence Budnick, MD Robert Culver 

NJMS - Occupational Medicine Services Ortho Clinical Diagnostics 

Lauren Hoeker, DPT Marybeth Lentine 

Alumna Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program 

Carlotta Rodriguez, BS, CIP Wendy Tiner 

Institutional Review Board Ortho Clinical Diagnostics 

Citations of Excellence 

Distinguished Service Award: Stanley S. Bergen, Jr, MD, Medal of Excellence: 

Elissa Passiment, EdM, MLS Jacqueline Walford, DPT 

Distinguished Alumnus Award: Excellence in Research Award: 

Bhishma Patel, MT (ASCP) Weili Lu, PhD 

Excellence in Teaching Awards: Employee Recognition: 

Laura Byham-Gray, PhD Bianca Thompson-Owen, MA 

Barbara J. Manger, MPA 

Educational Opportunity Fund Awards 

Outstanding Academic Achievement Academic Achievement 

Shakinah Campbell Shante Brown 

Millicent Lamey Natalie Peart 

Lenir Mota 

Clinton Dozier Academic Achievement Scholarship 

Stephany O. Asare Shaenice P.McKenzie 

Pat Olson Memorial Scholarship 

Tara Ciufo Katherine Morris 

SHRP Alumni Association 

The SHRP Alumni Association would like to congratulate all of our past graduates and welcome our SHRP class of 

2010 into our Alumni family. Recently, SHRP has formed an Alumni Association whose goal is to keep our SHRP 

Alumni and Students connected and involved with all of the current exciting news and events within our SHRP community. 

We will also be communicating with our current students as well as you will soon be joining the SHRP Alumni 

Family. 

The Alumni Association takes pride in the accomplishments of our graduates and in the upcoming months we will be 

offering many ways to show School spirit including: 

* Availability of SHRP Sweatshirts and T-shirts - Proceeds of the sales will go directly to the SHRP Alumni Associa- 

tion and SHRP student scholarships 

* Offering Discounts/Special Offers for our SHRP Alumni/Current Students/Staff/Faculty/friends and family 

-Many of which lead to donations being directly made to the Alumni Association just by you taking advantage of 

these offers! 

* SHRP Alumni Association Events 

* Promotion of our SHRP Alumni- We will be featuring stories of our graduates accomplishments. 

Please visit our SHRP Alumni Website and keep in touch at:http://shrp.umdnj.edu/alumni/index.html for information 

about YOUR SHRP Alumni!


Academic: 

Iris Gomez Cytotechnology 

Tina Teegarden Dental Assisting 

Lisa A. Castle Diagnostic Medical Sonography 

Elizabeth K. Coover Dietetic Internship 

Tiago L. Rodriguez Medical Laboratory Science 

Jessica Topoloski Nuclear Medicine Technology 

Dhanashree Sridhar Vascular Technology 

Katie Jean Carlson AAS Dental Hygiene 

Kimberly M. Luca AAS Respiratory Therapy-South 

Sebastian W. Kang AS Respiratory Care 

Nuri Abdus-Salaam AS Psych. Rehab. & Treatment 

Nancy L. Rosivack BS Health Information Mgmt. 

Ireneusz Sierzega BS Health Information Mgmt. 

Dorothy A. Gagnon BS Health Sciences 

Catherine A. Madden BS Health Sciences 

William M. Cole BS Psych. Rehab & Psychology 

Saurabh Agrawal MS Biomedical Informatics 

Sumanth K. Degapudi MS Biomedical Informatics 

Rena S. Zelig MS Clinical Nutrition 

Christine Ann Hinz MS Health Sciences 

Erin Marthedal MS Physician Assistant 

David C. Helfand MS Psychiatric Rehabilitation 

Arlene J. Campbell MS Rehabilitation Counseling 

Arielle N. Brettler Doctor of Physical Therapy-North 

Brett David Peters Doctor of Physical Therapy-South 

Phyllis Famularo Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition 

Donna Cataliotti Post Professional DPT 

Ayodeji Akinsaya Post Professional DPT 

Amit Acharya PhD Biomedical Informatics 

Mohammad A. Faysel PhD Biomedical Informatics 

Certificate of Excellence for 

Outstanding Academic, Clinical Performance and/or Service Awards 

Clinical: 

Lurrena S. Pennant Cytotechnology 

Claudia M. Najar Dental Assisting 

Danthanh Huynh Le Diagnostic Medical Sonography 

Yusie Kim Dietetic Internship 

Elizabeth Nadramia Medical Laboratory Science 

Erica Hickman Nuclear Medicine Technology 

Carina I. Ferreira AAS Dental Hygiene 

Maria C. Caltabiano AAS Respiratory Therapy-S 

Juyun Lee AS Respiratory Care 

Tara Reynolds BS Psych. Rehab & Psychology 

Kriystina M. Eikeseth MS Physician Assistant 

Renee Carrillo MS Psychiatric Rehabilitation 

Sharon M. Hirsch MS Rehabilitation Counseling 

Arielle N. Brettler Doctor of Physical Therapy-N 

Jacqueline C. Gallello Doctor of Physical Therapy-S 

Deborah Hutcheson Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition 

Service: 

Christina M. Mackesy Dietetic Internship 

Paul Hanna Medical Laboratory Science 

William. M. Cole BS Psych. Rehab. & Psychology 

Julie Schwegman MS Physician Assistant 

Dana Edwards Doctor of Physical Therapy-N 

Ankita C. Patel Doctor of Physical Therapy-S 

Research Awardees: 

Shivani Patel Medical Laboratory Sciences 

Sundas Shafi Medical Laboratory Sciences 

Vanessa Dufresne Medical Laboratory Sciences 

Rohini Rajendren Cytotechnology 

Tom Bartholomew Psychiatric Rehabilitation 

Chih Hung Chou Biomedical Informatics. 

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment 

to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal-a commitment to excellencethat 

will enable you to attain the success you seek.” 

-- Mario Andretti

Dean's Message - SHRP

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