Focus
January 2010
Do something "Notable?"
Complete the SFA Notables Form and tell us about it! Your accomplishment will be mentioned in the next issue of Focus.
This month's desktop calendar wallpapers
In this issue
- Piney Woods Area Health Education Center awarded an educational grant
- Presentations
- Awards
- Announcements
- 2009 Gala Photos
Piney Woods Area Health Education Center awarded an educational grant
The Piney Woods Area Health Education Center has been awarded an educational grant through Pfizer and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Office of Professional and Continuing Education. Sylvia Baker, PWAHEC, and Cynthia McCarley, Nursing, will be working with Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital to improve Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) statistics in Nacogdoches County.
The Pulmonary Health Initiative grant was selected and awarded $20,000 to serve as a COPD resource for the general public and medical community. COPD is responsible for one death every four minutes in the United States. In Texas, COPD is one of the most frequent causes of preventable hospitalizations, resulting in substantial economic burden to patients and the community.
This initiative will attempt to increase the number of patients utilizing pulmonary rehabilitation, create and maintain a Better Breathers Club for those who suffer from COPD and improve the quality of life of patients participating in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Grant funding will improve pulmonary rehabilitation services at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital with new and innovative equipment and programs. Equipment such as the Nintendo Wii Fit and a flat-screen television will be added to attract and maintain patients and encourage original and fun physical activity outside of the rehabilitation center.
Forestry faculty along with a number of current and former SFA undergraduate and graduate students presented five posters at the Fourth International Fire Ecology and Management Congress conference held in Georgia.
Brian P. Oswald presented “Restoring the Role of Fire in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem of Upland Island Wilderness” and “Protecting San Augustine County Communities from the Impacts of Wildfire in East Texas.”
Pat Stephens-Williams, David Kulhavy and Oswald presented “Changing Roles to Change the Nature of Future Natural Resource Professionals Providing Tools to Students to Teach the Public about Fire.”
Chris Comer, Warren Conway and Oswald presented “The Effects of Fire Management on Avian Species in Missouri Ozark Glade-Woodland Habitats.”
Conway and Oswald presented “Seedbank Response by the Exotic Invasive Deep-rooted Sedge (Cyperus entrerianus) to Prescribed Fire in Texas Coastal Prairie.”
Brian P. Oswald, Forestry, received the Presidential Award from The Association for Fire Ecology in recognition for his leadership as president of the association in 2007.
Tara Newman, Education, received the Honor Recognition in Family Science for an academic professional. Presented by the National Council on Family Relations, the award was established to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and academic success of family science academic professionals.
Sally Sowell, Kinesiology, has completed the prescribed coursework in Micronesia to qualify as a certified Truk Lagoon Dive Travel Specialist. During World War II, Truk Lagoon was the largest Japanese naval base outside of Tokyo. In 1944 the America Carrier Task Force 58 commenced a major air strike. More than 67 Japanese naval vessels, merchant ships and airplanes were sunk or destroyed, thus making Truk Lagoon an attractive site for wreckage divers.
Save the date! SFA’s Bright Ideas Conference, spotlighting faculty research, scholarship and artistry, has been scheduled for Thursday, April 8. Check with your dean’s office about specific submission guidelines for your college. If you have questions, contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (936) 468-6606 or e-mail smcdaniel@sfasu.edu.