Nursing
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enCollege of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development
https://nutrition.sitemasonry.gmu.edu/news/2022-05/college-health-and-human-services-and-servicesource-establish-center-aging-focus
<span>College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development</span>
<span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span>
<span>Wed, 05/18/2022 - 16:55</span>
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<h2>In This Story</h2>
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<div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/ctompkin" hreflang="und">Dr. Cathy Tompkins</a></div>
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<div class="field__item"><h4><span><span><span><a><em>Healthy aging is more important than ever in the U.S. as everyone in the Baby Boomer generation nears retirement age.</em></a></span></span></span></h4>
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<div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq226/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-05/Center%20on%20Aging_sm.jpg?itok=WSIjTnCX" width="350" height="263" alt="Center for Aging" loading="lazy" /></div>
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<figcaption>Post-doctoral student Hyun Kang, Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins, Assistant Professor Michelle Hand, and Chair of the Department of Social Work Emily Ihara at the opening of the Wellness Center for Older Adults.</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>College of Health and Human Services and <a href="https://www.servicesource.org/" title="Service Source">ServiceSource, Inc.</a> (SSI) <a>have established a Northern Virginia Center on Aging, which will be recognized as a satellite center with the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA). </a>The center will provide services, programs, and activities for older adults and workforce development and continuing education for health care professionals who support older adults. Faculty and students will be actively involved and are excited for this new opportunity.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The Center on Aging will expand the VCoA’s mission of being an interdisciplinary study, research, information, and resource facility for the Commonwealth of Virginia utilizing the full capabilities of faculty, staff, libraries, laboratories, and clinics for the benefit of older Virginians and the expansion of knowledge pertaining to older adults and aging in general. VCoA is a statewide agency created by the Virginia General Assembly.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>“Healthy aging is now more important than ever as our over-65 and over-85 populations continue to grow in the coming decades,” said Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins. “This collaborative program will help prepare the current and future geriatric workforce to optimize opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout a person’s life.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>By 2030, every person in the Baby Boomer generation will be 65 or older. With this generation being larger than generations before it, more resources are necessary to support the population. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The new center will provide workforce training to students across the College’s departments through practicums, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities on how to effectively work with older adults. Additionally, the Center will partner with other community organizations to provide continuing education and training for frontline workers and licensed professionals. College faculty will have opportunities to evaluate current interventions implemented by SSI staff and community partners.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The Northern Virginia Center on Aging will be housed at the <a>new Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA), which is less than four miles from Mason’s campus.</a></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The College is home to the Department of Social Work and leads research and workforce development initiatives focused on healthy aging. Other departments actively involved in the new Northern Virginia Center on Aging include the School of Nursing and the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>SSI’s mission is to facilitate services, resources, and partnerships to support people with disabilities and it offers a wide range of services to serve the community, including operating the WCOA. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Other WCOA community partners supporting the Center include AARP Virginia, The Alzheimer’s Association American Health Care Professionals, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, INOVA Community Health, Insight Memory Care Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Shenandoah University, the Shepherd’s Center, and the Parkinson Social Network.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span>About Mason</span></strong><br /><strong> </strong><br /><span>George Mason University, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at </span><a href="http://www.gmu.edu">http://www.gmu.edu</a><span>.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span>About the College of Health and Human Services</span></strong></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit </span><a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/">https://chhs.gmu.edu/</a><span>.</span></span></span></span></p>
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Wed, 18 May 2022 20:55:33 +0000Mary Cunningham1841 at https://nutrition.sitemasonry.gmu.eduCHHS Students Committed to Giving Back to the Community
https://nutrition.sitemasonry.gmu.edu/news/2021-05/chhs-students-committed-giving-back-community
<span>CHHS Students Committed to Giving Back to the Community </span>
<span><span>John Brandon C…</span></span>
<span>Tue, 05/04/2021 - 09:03</span>
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<div class="field__item"><p><strong>Graduating CHHS Seniors Reflect on Community Engagement.</strong></p>
<p>Students who pursue public health-related fields are working to make an impact in their respective fields of study as well as their local communities. By applying skills they learned in their coursework, many students in the College of Health and Human Services work and volunteer for local organizations that support health, wellness, and social justice initiatives. </p>
<p>Tristan Corbett, a Bachelor of Social Work student, explains the importance of giving back to the community. “As a CHHS student, you learn across multiple classes [on] how important environmental influences are to both the health and well-being of an individual,” said Corbett. “It is easy to go about life and be a recipient of the benefits from the environment and [community], but I find it important to contribute to them as well; it is a group effort to sustain and improve our community, for our community.” </p>
<p>As a student studying social work, Corbett became involved with a local nonprofit, <a href="http://facetscares.org/" target="_blank">FACETS</a>, while completing his practicum. “There are many opportunities to contribute to the community [at FACETS], from Hot Meals - a food distribution program for the local homeless population around NoVA - to the Education and Community Development branch, which seeks to enrich the lives of the subsidized housing communities around their offices.” </p>
<p>Many students find community engagement opportunities as a way to gain real-world experience by problem-solving, communicating, and collaborating with others to address issues facing their community. </p>
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<div alt="Pratishna Thapa" data-embed-button="media_browser" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":"","svg_render_as_image":1,"svg_attributes":{"width":"","height":""}}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="315ecf76-2c4c-4a22-a2bd-407a9f39d111" title="Pratishna Thapa" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq226/files/2021-05/85B8A415-BD57-46A0-B2F4-AFFADF67C026.jpeg" alt="Pratishna Thapa" title="Pratishna Thapa" /></div>
<figcaption>"Giving back to your community is an opportunity for you to evolve as a person and understand how you fit into the world around you. Engaging with different communities will enhance your life and connect you to people and ideas that will positively influence you in different walks of life." - Pratishna Thapa</figcaption>
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<p>For Pratishna Thapa, a Bachelor of Social Work student in the College, giving back to the community is a way for her to help individuals through challenging situations while she earns her degree at Mason. </p>
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<p>“I have had the privilege to work with different communities -- from working with children and adults with disabilities, organizing disaster relief programs for people affected by natural disasters, strategizing ways to enhance the well-being of marginalized women in developing countries, advocating for victims and witnesses of domestic violence to assisting formerly incarcerated women to get back into the society,” Thapa said. </p>
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<p>Thapa has worked with the <a href="https://www.alexandriava.gov/courts/victim-witness-assistance-program" target="_blank">Alexandria Victim Assistance Program</a>, a Virginia organization staffed by Crime Victim Advocates who provide support and services to crime victims during the aftermath of a crime and throughout the criminal justice process. While working as an advocate in the organization, Thapa attended court with individuals who have survivors of crimes and organized vigils for those who have died due to domestic violence. </p>
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<p>Currently, Thapa serves as a case manager intern for <a href="https://friendsofguesthouse.org/" target="_blank">Friends of Guest House</a>, where she provides emotional support and coping strategies for formerly incarcerated women. </p>
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<p>“My daily responsibilities entail helping the women identify their stressors, identify coping plans, document case notes for my clients, and lead psychoeducational groups like Interpersonal Skills and Seeking Safety weekly,” Thapa said. </p>
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<p>Through her advocacy work, Thapa was inspired to pursue research opportunities relating to women's experiences in the prison system. “I have observed an inconsistency in the demographic of women being rehabilitated versus the actual prison population,” Thapa said. “This has piqued my interest in researching the gaps within the prison system while pursuing my Master's in Social work through the <a href="https://socialwork.gmu.edu/program/social-work-msw" target="_blank">Advanced Standing Program</a> at Mason.” </p>
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<p>Kendal Chase, a student in the School of Nursing, also has a mission to help others in her community. Chase’s community engagement began at the macro-level by serving her country in the United States Army. </p>
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<div alt="Kendal Chase" data-embed-button="media_browser" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":"","svg_render_as_image":1,"svg_attributes":{"width":"","height":""}}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="11fa513c-5390-4837-bfb5-944e82578755" title="Kendal Chase" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq226/files/2021-05/portrait.png" alt="Kendal Chase" title="Kendal Chase" /></div>
<figcaption>"Learning at Mason taught me that my education and experience were not about myself but about the needs of the community and where I can help out as an individual." -Kendal Chase</figcaption>
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<p>“I proudly served 8 years of Active-Duty service as a Pharmacy Technician,” Chase said. “I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, serving in both field exercise and hospital settings.” </p>
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<p>While serving in the Army, Chase became the liaison for Fort Belvoir’s Hazardous Waste Program, where she educated healthcare professionals on the importance of medical disposal practices. This experience led to more opportunities to help others when Chase transitioned into a career outside of the Army. </p>
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<p>While serving as an Outreach Coordinator for Fairfax County, Chase implemented strategies to help the community safely dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. “I focused much of my work on researching and designing a pilot Drug Take-Back program for privately-owned pharmacies,” Chase said. “This program was then presented to the Virginia State Wastewater employees at the WaterJam conference in 2019.” </p>
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<p>When she was accepted into the School of Nursing, Chase continued helping others by joining Mason’s <a href="https://nursing.gmu.edu/students/student-organizations/student-nurses-association" target="_blank">Student Nursing Association</a> (SNA) board. “My primary motivation for applying for the SNA board was to provide a better avenue for communication for the students and faculty,” Chase said. </p>
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<p>As a board member, Chase helped navigate the group through a challenging year due to COVID-19. However, the pandemic didn’t stop Chase and her fellow board members from helping other nursing students. </p>
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<p>“[Working together] during a COVID environment has proven to be difficult, but I’ve learned it’s only made us closer as a group, as we have to be creative, innovative, and dedicated to making it work,” Chase said. “It was because of our continued teamwork that our club was turned into a constituent at the national level. We’ve conducted coat drives, food drives, and promoted a mentorship program for pre-nursing and nursing students, to name a few [projects].” </p>
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<p>Due to the global impact of COVID-19, there is a strong need for community engagement initiatives to help with the local implications of the pandemic. Mei Qiu, a Bachelor of Social Work student in the College, continued serving her community and expanding her professional skills by connecting others to helpful resources throughout the pandemic.</p>
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<div alt="Image of Mei Qiu standing on a mountaintop. " data-embed-button="media_browser" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":"","svg_render_as_image":1,"svg_attributes":{"width":"","height":""}}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="a2f090a5-3dd1-4df3-9300-45eea371d185" title="Mei Qiu" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq226/files/2021-05/thumbnail_Image.jpeg" alt="Image of Mei Qiu standing on a mountaintop. " title="Mei Qiu" /></div>
<figcaption>"Volunteering my time helps give me a purpose and improve social inequalities that are occurring in the area." -Mei Qiu</figcaption>
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<p>“During quarantine, I was able to help volunteer at many facilities to help detect COVID-19 in the Prince William county area with the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps,” Qiu said. </p>
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<p>For Qiu, getting involved in community engagement is an important component of her future career. “It’s important to give back because, as a future social worker, I need to familiarize myself with my community and what resources and services are needed,” Qiu said. “Volunteering my time helps give me a purpose and improve social inequalities that are occurring in the area.” </p>
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<p>In addition to working as a research assistant, Qiu has also focused on helping others who face food and housing insecurity. “Most recently, I have been volunteering my time with the Hot Meals program at FACETS as a driver and to help give out meals to people who are homeless in the Fairfax county area,” Qiu said. </p>
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<p>Community engagement has offered these seniors opportunities to make meaningful contributions that improve the lives of those around them while completing their degrees. Through this type of advocacy work, Mason’s future leaders in public health are well-prepared to serve their communities and continue to better their communities. </p>
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<p>Before graduating in May, Corbett, Thapa, Chase, and Qiu were honored as <a href="https://integrative.gmu.edu/articles/15835" target="_blank">Community Engagement Medallion Awardees</a> by Mason’s Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL) organization. </p>
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Tue, 04 May 2021 13:03:28 +0000John Brandon Cantrell1536 at https://nutrition.sitemasonry.gmu.eduSupport Student Scholarships on Giving Day
https://nutrition.sitemasonry.gmu.edu/news/2019-03/support-student-scholarships-giving-day
<span>Support Student Scholarships on Giving Day</span>
<span><span>dhawkin</span></span>
<span>Fri, 03/29/2019 - 16:19</span>
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<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Giving Day is a university-wide celebration of the collective impact we can have on our college, our students, and the programs that matter most to us. For 24 hours on Thursday, April 4, Mason Nation will come together by making gifts of any size to the Mason program of their choice. Here at CHHS, our goal is to secure 200 donors to support student scholarships. Nearly 70% of CHHS students rely on some form of financial aid to support their education, and a lack of financial support can lead to delayed graduations and insurmountable financial barriers.</p>
<p>Ahmad Clemmons, a United States Air Force veteran, nursing student and ERPi Patriot Scholarship recipient, says that his life was “impacted profoundly” by receiving the award, which allowed him to ease the financial strain and focus on his education. “Donors are the life vest that keep students like me afloat,” Clemmons shared at a university-wide address in December.</p>
<p>By supporting any of the seven CHHS scholarship funds, you will help alleviate the financial burden that hinders many students from excelling in their studies and help write their higher education story. <a href="http://bit.ly/Give2GMUCHHS" target="_blank">Visit our giving page</a> any time through April 4 to help us reach out goal, and make an unforgettable impact in the lives of students like Ahmad.</p>
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Fri, 29 Mar 2019 20:19:39 +0000dhawkin431 at https://nutrition.sitemasonry.gmu.edu