Kelsey Maguire, alumna of the School of Nursing’s Class of 2014, presented research with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Nursing Research Fellowship in January 2020. Maguire works as a registered nurse in the MSKCC Urgent Care Center (UCC), a specialized 24-hour unit dedicated to the treatment of emergent medical issues in patients undergoing treatment for cancer at MSKCC in New York, New York.
Maguire’s study, titled “Frequency of Oncologic Emergency Visits to a Comprehensive Cancer Center Urgent Care Center: A Descriptive Cohort Study,” aims to describe the number and frequency of patient visits to the UCC and identify groups of oncologic patients reporting for emergency care multiple times within a year.
The study was conducted through a Retrospective Chart Review of all patients visiting the unit in 2018 in hopes of filling a gap in the literature describing the utilization of the oncologic Emergency Department. The results of this study hope to inform future work to proactively identify and improve outcomes for patients at high risk for unplanned care.
Next steps for the project include follow-up studies at the institution, as well as applications to present a poster at the Oncology Nursing Society Congress in San Antonio, Texas, and publish the results.
Every year the Jack C. Massey College of Business hosts a Shark Tank-style business plan competition for student entrepreneurs to compete for thousands of dollars in cash prizes. While there was no event this year, the competition continued in an online format for the 13 applicants, 10 finalists and four winners.
Students recorded their pitches and posted them online for the panel of judges to watch and for the community to view and vote for their favorite to win “People’s Choice Award.” All of the videos are on the Belmont entrepreneurship website at https://www.belmontetp.com/businessplancompetition.
First place went to entrepreneurship and accounting major Katie Coens, who won $5,000 for her MatchnPlay venture, an online platform that accelerates the process of booking athletic facilities for sports players and teams.
Coens said she is incredibly thankful to Belmont for having the opportunity to participate in the competition. “There are so many talented entrepreneurs and businesses involved in the competition, as well, many of whom have innovative and successful businesses ahead of them,” she said. “Since we won, we have begun interviewing software development agencies to help us create our product and hope to be launching sometime at the end of this summer. We are thankful for the gift from the program, and those funds will be going towards developmental costs.”
Second Place and $2,000 went to entrepreneurship and music business major Gade Raftery for his concert promotion business, Apogee Promotions. Third Place and the last cash prize of $1,000 was given to international business and management major Anas Saba for his successful startup, Nashville Hidden Gems Food Tours, which offers a curated international food experience down Nolensville Pike through the Air Bnb platform. These two businesses are already operational.
Anas Saba submits his online pitch for his business, Nashville Hidden Gems Food Tours, with a photo of himself leading a tour to local international food stops.
With 795 people voting, Ryan Sheldon earned the most votes and won the People’s Choice Award for his business Pints and Stems, which provides unique and individualized wine and craft beer pairing suggestions to millennials. Sheldon won a membership to the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, an Audible subscription, Entrepreneur Magazine subscription and a productivity clock.
The panel of 5 judges included:
Morgan Dent, Manager, Market Building at Launch Tennessee
Phil Shmerling, SVP at Studio Bank and Founder of InCrowd Capital
Peter Smith, President + CEO of Golden Spiral Marketing
Dan Hogan, Belmont Entrepreneur in Residence and Founder of Medalogix
Arnie Malham, Belmont Entrepreneur in Residence and Founder of BetterBookClub.Com
Students were promised that, when it is safe to return to campus, there will be a photo shoot of them with their giant checks that are iconic to the competition.
Coens presents her pitch for MatchnPlay online.
Coens added that she is thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the nationally-ranked Entrepreneurship Program. “What I have enjoyed most about Belmont is the professors and advisors that have taken the time to get to know me, many of whom, don’t just look at you as a student, but as a person they want to help for years to come. In addition to the classes, I have been offered great programs such as: competitions, accelerators and events that pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “The thing I will miss most is working in the hatchery and getting to talk to so many like-minded individuals who want to collaborate and help each other succeed. As a graduating senior, my time at Belmont has been a blessing and a time of personal growth. Looking back to who I was before college and who I am now, Belmont was the catalyst of my growth as a person and entrepreneur.”
The successful implementation of the virtual 2020 Belmont Student Leadership Awards is just one of the many ways the Belmont community continues to work together to demonstrate its commitment to inclusion, highlight exemplary leadership and provide access to leadership development for all students. Recognizing the efforts of student leaders and staff across campus who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, the virtual event took place through the Belmont Today and Belmont University Instagram accounts all day on April 15.
Thirty-three of Belmont’s offices, centers, departments and all academic colleges participated in nominating 90 student leaders from across campus for various awards.
Associate Dean of Students and Director of Leadership Development Dr. AdriAnne Sternberg said this collaborative effort further proves that leadership is everyone’s business. “No one knew all of the challenges we’d face but charging forward with this event online has helped us be grateful for the past, gives inspiration for the work we are all doing now and hope for future leaders who will come through our doors,” she said. “With or without a leadership position, the nominees and winners of this year’s event have all displayed resilience, one of BOLD’s core leadership competencies, in the brightest way.”
Last year’s Campus-Wide Student Leadership Awards were a huge success with 225 students present on campus celebrating one another’s achievements. Sternberg said this year was even more of a success that “brought out the best in each of us.” The BSLA committee worked relentlessly to provide the best virtual award event possible. In just the first two hours alone, more than 2,000 viewers tuned into the online event to recognize the best that Belmont has to offer.
Sternberg added, “And while we could not physically give hugs and high fives to one another at the end of the awards, we were able to like, share and re-post Belmont transformational leadership stories and accomplishments with the entire world.”
The 2020 Awards are listed below.
Bruin Award:
Christine Allen
Jake Williams
Mattison Chase
Darby Leimer
Julianna Singleton
Haily McGee
Jordan Anderson
Amanda Wood
Alex Moudy
Abigail Momot
Ashley Taylor Gurwell
Tower Award: Dave Jaeger
Emergent Leader Award:
Amando Jimenez
Peter Geoly
Antoinedra Maupin
Maggie Youngs
Geno Ceasario
Aspiring Leader Award:
Vianney Muniz
Molly Suess
Claire Mitchell
Ashley Wearren
Phoebe Connell
Greek President of the Year: Meghan Skinner
Black Student Association was announced the Student Organization of the Year
Chapter of the Year: Alpha Sigma Tau
Greeks of the Year: Ben Rogers and Kailey Shannon
StudentOrganizationAdvisor of the Year: Sue Iliff
Outstanding New Student Organization of the Year: Kite Club
StudentOrganization of the Year: Black Student Association
Dr. Teresa Plummer, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, CEAS, CAPS and associate professor of occupational therapy, has spent the past 10 years modifying ride-on toys for children who have limited access to their environment, as no such device yet existed for children under six years of age. Plummer involved students, alumni and faculty of the Occupational Therapy Department with opportunities to join this endeavor and has been instrumental in the teaching and conducting modifications for more than 260 families at no cost to them.
Dr. Plummer consulted with Permobil, Inc., a global leader in advanced medical technology, to research and test a device for infants called the Explorer Mini. Permobil develops, manufactures and markets wheelchairs, seating, positioning and communication systems for people with disabilities. The company issued an expression of gratitude that stated, “The contribution by Dr. Plummer into the validation of the Explorer Mini was significant and highly appreciated by us, but ever more by all generations of children to come.”
As the lead principal investigator for the Human Factors Validation Study, Dr. Plummer worked with two other university professors in the U.S. The studies represent the largest number of participants and the youngest children ever to be tested in a power mobility device. In the testing, 33 infants ages 6 months to 3 years participated. The study supported literature establishing theoretical rationale for the Explorer Mini and was also used to support Permobil in attaining clearance from the Food and Drug Administration, received on February 27, 2020.
Dr. Plummer presented the study’s findings at the International Seating Symposium in Vancouver, Canada, in early March. Belmont occupational therapy students created a teaching protocol guide as part of their capstone work.
Last week, Belmont Today, an Instagram account dedicated to student life at and around Belmont University, came up with the idea to create a TikTok challenge on Instagram for students to participate in during online learning. Sophomore public health major Jaylen Palmer led a simple choreographed dance to the upbeat song “Sunday Best” by Surfaces and encouraged fellow students to post themselves performing the dance.
Palmer began the post with an introduction then selected the song and dance, challenging five of her friends to do it themselves. Before the day was over, people from all over Belmont’s community were rising to the challenge, spreading joy and togetherness all across social media.
“I didn’t expect so many people to participate,” said Palmer. “It was so cool to see everyone having so much fun with it. From people teaching it to their parents to people dressing up in costumes, they really made this TikTok dance their own.”
Sophomore design communications major Carrie Neville posted herself performing the dance and has particularly appreciated this community during this time. This semester, she was supposed to be studying abroad in Florence, Italy, but her time abroad was cut short due to the pandemic. “I have such a huge fire in my heart for Belmont after having gone through what I did in Italy,” Neville shared. “Social media is one of the main ways I’ve been tethered to the Belmont community throughout all of the chaos. I am glad to be safely home, but I miss the Belmont community dearly.”
With social media allowing the Belmont community to stay connected, junior creative and entertainment industries major Domenica Coka has been reminded of how blessed she is to go to a university like Belmont.
“I definitely think this time has proven that even though class work can be stressful, we take for granted how truly blessed we are,” she said. “I am so appreciative of the Belmont faculty and staff who’ve made this transition the best possible. We are very fortunate.”
Belmont’s Graduate Nurse Practitioner students recently teamed up with Meharry Medical students and staff at the assessment center at Meharry Medical College, one of Nashville’s three city-wide assessment centers, to offer drive through COVID-19 testing.
Many Belmont nursing students have taken on alternative ways to obtain clinical experience during this time, such as volunteering at the TEMA COVID-19 call center. Staffing the drive through testing center at Meharry is another example of how Belmont students are using their education and training to teach others about mitigating the spread of disease in the community.
From directing traffic to specimen labeling, 3rd year Doctor of Nursing Practice student Joanna Plumb has taken all these experiences in stride. “I have worked with undergraduate nursing students, dental and medical students, and seasoned medical providers (PAs, MDs) through these experiences, and it’s really great to talk and learn from everyone no matter if they are a novice or an expert,” she said. “We are all working together to do our part during this pandemic.”
Plumb was grateful to partner with the Meharry students. She said, “I think it’s special when students in the medical field from different schools come together to help out the community.”
In addition to directing traffic and collecting nasopharyngeal swab samples from suspected individuals, Plumb and her peers were able to educate community members on COVID and how to protect themselves and others from the virus. As nurses being prepared at the doctorate level to practice as a FNP, the students learned how to address the health of not only individual patients but of communities, as well.
Aside from completing her required hours to graduate, Plumb wanted to do something to help out. “I’m a former ER nurse, and I wish I was at the frontlines with my old friends and co-workers,” she explained. “But since I’m not there, I wanted to find other ways to help, even if it’s small.”
Plumb also volunteered at the TEMA COVID-19 call center, and she has also been working at The Next Door, a women’s addiction treatment center. She recently took a job at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a floor nurse to help out with the nursing workforce during the pandemic.
Lewis Thomason announces the addition of three new attorneys to their statewide law firm. All alumni of Belmont University, George S. Scoville, III, Davidson Lentz and Kaitlin White have joined as associates in the firm’s Nashville office.
George Scoville is an associate in Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office where he primarily practices in the firm’s product liability group. He began his legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Sheryl H. Lipman in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Memphis. He is a graduate of Belmont University, B.A., American University, M.P.P. and received his Juris Doctorate from University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Scoville is also an adjunct professor of constitutional law and American government in Belmont’s Department of Political Science.
Davidson Lentz, an associate in Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office, practices primarily in the transportation practice group. He received his undergraduate degree from Lipscomb University and his Juris Doctorate from Belmont University College of Law, magna cum laude.
Kaitlin White, an associate in Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office, graduated from Belmont University College of Law and practices primarily in the transportation practice group. She received her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, cum laude.
About Lewis Thomason
Lewis Thomason has offices in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. Lewis Thomason attorneys cover the entire state of Tennessee and serve regional and national clients. Several of the firm’s lawyers are licensed in the states of Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Virginia, California and Florida and Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit www.LewisThomason.com.
Dr. Mike Voight, professor of physical therapy, was recently an invited participant at the Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation 2020 Congress on Regenerative Medicine.
As a member of the IOF, Dr. Voight has participated in the past four congresses and has an active interaction with other members. The latest in regenerative biological research is presented and discussed.
Dr. Voight has routinely brought this “cutting edge” information back to the classroom with integration into the physical therapy coursework.
Alumni Anna Hamilton, Caroline Kudelko (Caroline Kole on the show), Alyssa Newton, Jeffrey Holstein (Jeffrey James on the show), and David Davis will appear on NBC’s “Songland.” The show will premier on Monday, April 13 and will set the stage for rising songwriters to find their next break.
“Songland” is an American songwriting competition series that follows the journey of undiscovered songwriters as they pitch originals to top recording artists and a panel of chart-topping music producers.
The artists include Usher, Lady Antebellum, Florida Georgia Lines, Boyz II Men, Julia Michaels, Ben Platt, Bebe Rexha, H.E.R., Luis Fonsi and Martina McBride. Each of these artists will select three competing songwriters to launch their favorite ideas. The three star producers Ryan Tedder, Esten Dean and Shane McAnally are then paired with the songwriters to evolve and tailor their songs.
In the end, a winner will be chosen of the competing songwriters. Their song will be recorded and released for a global audience.
A collaborative effort between Belmont’s admissions, marketing and IT departments, the traditional spring Be Belmont Day for prospective students and families to visit campus, learn more about the University and ask questions was hosted online this year as the world continues social distancing due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
This in-depth, interactive, virtual Belmont preview experience is still available at www.newbruins.com/bebelmont. On top of the speakers and sessions, there were also two new videos debuted – a full campus tour and a tour of the residence halls. Both were less than 10 minutes each and gave a great overview of the campus, residence hall options, and showed off the beauty of the Belmont campus.
Incoming freshman Bailey Smith watches Be Belmont Day Live from home with her sister
“What an amazing two weeks it was to prepare for Be Belmont Day Live,” said Director of Admissions Brooke Brannin. “We were able to provide a thorough and very personal day for the prospective students and families. We know students who have not been able to visit campus, and these tours provided an incredible view of Belmont.”
Faculty and current students helped create the programming through personalized academic sessions and student panels. There were 35 different academic rooms presenting on their major(s) through Blackboard Collaborate, followed by three Collaborate rooms hosting a student panel by the Bruin Recruiters.
Dr. Amy Smith leads an academic session for incoming students.
At least 850 people were logged in to view the opening session via YouTube, and more than 750 tuned into an academic session.
