Dr. Mike Voight, professor in the School of Physical Therapy, delivered two keynote presentations in April. The first was at the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association annual meeting where Voight lectured on the importance of assessing the whole human movement system rather than the traditional isolated joint approach when dealing with musculoskeletal injuries. The second was at the Titleist Performance Institute in San Diego where he lectured on “Hip Injuries Related to Golf.” Doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors and more attended the international, three-day meeting on golf-related medical issues.
Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, Professor of Philosophy and Director of Asian Studies, gave the Eighth Lecture in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London World Philosophies Series on April 29, titled Contemplative Transformation in Early Daoism. SOAS speakers are selected by international nomination and reputation.
Nashville Ballet is set to conclude its 2021-22 season at Belmont University’s brand-new Fisher Center for the Performing Arts June 4 and 5. A state-of-the-art facility built specifically to showcase the abundance of talent native to Nashville, the Company’s performance will be a part of the world-class venue’s inaugural season.
Built prestigiously for large-scale events and performances, the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts includes state-of-the-art music and lighting technology, over 1,700 seats, optimal acoustic capabilities, and free parking.
“Both Nashville Ballet and Belmont University have the unique advantage of being surrounded by such an incredibly robust arts scene, and we have a long history of working together to offer artists the space they need to thrive,” shared Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. “For our company artists to have the opportunity to perform in a performing arts venue of this caliber right in our own city is unprecedented, and we are so honored to be continuing our long-valued partnership with Belmont by being a part of the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts’ inaugural season.”
Nashville Ballet at Belmont will feature a diverse repertoire of works by distinguished choreographers set to iconic classical scores. Nashville Ballet company dancers will reprise award-winning choreographer Val Caniparoli’s fan-favorite Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino (everything but the kitchen sink) featuring the music of Antonio Vivaldi. Joining Caniparoli’s piece will be Associate Artistic Director Nick Mullikin’s newest work, 2,192 Days, performed to live music by Sergei Rachmaninov. Audiences will also experience an exclusive preview of a new commission from Matthew Neenan, sought-after choreographer and co-founder of BalletX. Following his popular creation at Attitude: Other Voices in 2019, Neenan will be returning to Nashville to display a brand-new piece that will premiere in full during Nashville Ballet’s 2022-23 season.
Tickets for Nashville Ballet at Belmont are on sale now. To purchase tickets or learn more about the performance, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
Students, faculty and staff can receive two discounted tickets by logging into their ticket accounts. The best available seat will be provided. For assistance with this process, contact 615.460.2255 or email tickets@belmont.edu.
Belmont University’s School of Nursing commemorated its 50th anniversary with a dinner and awards program honoring 50 outstanding alumni on Saturday, May 14 at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.
“Legacy is said to be a gift from the past that helps create a better future,” said Dr. Cathy Taylor, dean of Belmont’s Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing. “For fifty years, Belmont nurses have been recognized for excellence, service and care marked by genuine compassion. This tradition of excellence, grounded in science and shaped by humility and faith, is at the very heart and soul of a Belmont nurse—this strong foundation promises a future where anything is possible.”
The School of Nursing’s inaugural class began in 1972 with 60 students pursuing associate nursing degrees. Today, the program has grown to more than 800 students on bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral tracks, and is the University’s second-largest undergraduate major. From humble beginnings in a shared church space, the School of Nursing moved to Belmont’s Gordon E. Inman Health Sciences Building in 2006, which houses Tennessee’s first fully accredited simulation center and more than a dozen labs.
Since its inception, the School has produced nearly 4,000 alumni who continue to champion better health and well-being for the myriad communities in which they serve. Program graduates have gone on to work in countless health care settings – from hospitals to community-based clinics, nonprofit organizations to long-term care facilities.
The School of Nursing has celebrated many milestones throughout its 50 years:
1972: Inaugural nursing class begins with 60 students
1985: School of Nursing transitions from offering an Associates Degree in Nursing to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and registered nurse (RN) track
1994: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program begins
1999: College of Health Sciences and Nursing established
2006: School of Nursing moves to Gordon E. Inman building
2013: Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) program begins
Today, the School of Nursing boasts a 97% first destination rate with new graduates working or continuing their education within six months of graduating, and more than a decade of 100 percent first-time national FNP certification exam pass rate.
50 Outstanding School of Nursing Graduates recognized at the event include:
Audrey Arroyo, MSN, PMHN, CPT, US Army Nurse Corps, Colorado Springs, CO
Beth Bass, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Monroe Carell Junior Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Cassandra Bruns, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Adult Kidney & Transplant Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Sarah Katherine Bryant, RN, BSN, Emergency Department Nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Nashville General Hospital
Gina Bullington, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, TriStar Horizon Medical Center, Dickson, TN
Meghan Claver, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Pediatric Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse NY
Allison Courtney, MSN, RNP-BC, Director, Branches Weight Loss and Wellness Center, Murfreesboro, TN
Jeremy Crawford, MMHC, BBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Senior Nursing Project Manager, Monroe Carell Junior Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Kathryn Dambrino, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Belmont University School of Nursing
Nicole Dellise, DNP, FNP-BC, CHFN, Director, Structural Heart Program, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, Nashville TN
Jeannie Giese, DNP, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing, Belmont University
Shane Greene, BSN, RN, Lieutenant US Navy, Marine Corps Shock Trauma Platoon and Platoon Commander, Bravo Surgical Company, Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Amy Guidera, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Post-Doctoral Fellow Department of Veterans Affairs Nashville, TN
Beth Fentress Hallmark, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, ANEF, Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of Simulation for the Gordon E Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing at Belmont
Lauren Gingles Harrison, MSN, CPNP-AC/PC, Monroe Carell Jr Children’s’ Hospital at Vanderbilt
Alisa Haushalter, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing at University of TN Health Science Center, Memphis TN
Erick Hernandez-Campos, FNP-BC, Ascension St Thomas Medical Partners
Jennifer Hicks, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP, Behavioral Health Group and Samaritan Recovery Community, Nashville TN
Leigh Holdsambeck, FNP-BC, Major in the US Air Force, Nellis Air Force Base, Southern Nevada and Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia
Wanda Neal Hooper, RN, BSN, MS, retired nurse leader and former president of the TN Nurses Association
Brad Koss, DNAP, MS, BSN, BS, CRNA, APRN, Manager of CRNA Education at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and President of TN Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Amy Lewis, FNP-BC, Belmont University Health Services
Kelsey Maguire, BSN, RN, PCCN, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and master’s candidate at the Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing/ College of Urban Policy & Planning
Chelsey Medley, FNP-BC, Sterling Primary Care, Brentwood, TN
Karen Moore, BS, RN, Perioperative nurse leader and member of the Belmont University School of Nursing Advisory Board
Angela Morehead, DNP, FNP, Women’s Health and adjunct professor, MTSU
Celia Morse, MSN, BSN, APRN, FNP-C, Vanderbilt Medical Group Green Hills
Lauren Moss, DNP, MPH, APRN, WHNP-BC, AHNP-BC, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Belmont University
Iris Padilla, PhD, MBA-C, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, Associate Professor of Nursing at Duke University and Fellow in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Jordan Porter, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Down East Community Hospital, Machias, ME
Nikki Pritchard, MPH, BSN, RN, LCDR, NC*, USN, Director of Public Health, NMRTC Twentynine Palms, CA
Amy Robertson, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics at Vanderbilt and Instructor, Jeanette C Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions at Cumberland University
Jenn Scanlon, DNP, FNP-BC, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center in Boston MA
Filipina Schnabel, MD, DNP, MPH, APRN, FNP-BC, Pediatric Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Vanderbilt
Ashley Scism, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Belmont
Erin Shankel, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing at Belmont and FNP coordinator
Carleigh Smith, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic, Division of Infectious Disease
Lara Grey Stahl, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, COHN-S, Captain in the US Air Force Reserves and Director of Clinical Operations Support at Premise Health in Dallas
Matt Thomas, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, TriStar Division Behavioral Health Specialty Educator Lead, Nashville TN
Emily Tomsovic, BSN, RN, Medical Intensive Care and COVID ICU at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Belmont University Board of Trustees Alumni Regent
Jessica Turley, FNP-BC, ACHPN, Senior Director of Advance Practice Providers and Palliative Care Services at Alive Hospice
Zacnite Vargas, BSN, RN, registered nurse at Metro Public Health Department and Founder/President of the TN Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic nurses
Winston Voight, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Adult and Pediatric Emergency Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jess Walker, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Karah Waters, BSN, RN, CLC, Master of Public Health student and research assistant at South Florida College of Public Health
Patience Whitten, DNP, FNP-BC, Gastro One in Memphis TN and middle school athletic coach
J. Scott Woods, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Primary Advanced Practice Provider for the Nashville Men’s Health Division of Urology Associates
Beth Youngblood, Ed.D, WHNP-BC, RN, CNE, Associate Professor of Nursing at Freed Hardeman University, Dickson Campus
Belmont University’s College of Pharmacy hosted the Sixth Annual Middle Tennessee Antimicrobial Stewardship Symposium on May 13 in the Janet Ayers Academic Center. The event attracted nearly 150 pharmacists, nurses, physicians, epidemiologists, residents and students from across Tennessee and the Southeast Region to learn and discuss ways to work together as a medical community to improve appropriate antimicrobial use and mitigate risks. Featured speakers represented several states, and Vanderbilt’s Dr. Romney Humphries gave the keynote presentation.
Dr. Humphries, D(ABMM), FIDSA, is professor at Vanderbilt and Division Director Laboratory Medicine in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her keynote, “Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Updates from the Laboratory” covered the importance of implementing updated breakpoints in laboratories with a goal for attendees to be able to describe the differences between genotypic and standard susceptibility tests. Dr. Humphries is a consultant for Accelerate Diagnostics, Thermofisher, bioMerieux, IHMA, Melinta, Merck, Pattern BioSciences, Qiagen, QPex, Roche, Torus, and Specific Diagnostics.
Dr. Montgomery Green, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Belmont, said the ability to meet in person again this year after hosting a virtual conference in 2021 is an exciting return for our Planning Committee and attendees alike. “Networking and collaboration of providers working throughout the Middle Tennessee region and beyond has always been a main focus and goal of the Symposium,” she explained. “The opportunity to have in person collaboration brings a renewed energy to this event and will no doubt be a highlight for many.”
The event was planned and hosted by Green; Dr. Kelly Byrge, assistant professor with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Dr. Shaefer Spires, assistant professor of medicine with Duke University, Dr. Kathryn Dambrino, assistant professor with Belmont School of Nursing, Dr. Athena Hobbs, infectious diseases clinical pharmacy coordinator with Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Dr. Christopher Evans, pharmacist with the Tennessee Department of Health, Wiyanna Bruck, antimicrobial stewardship/emergency medicine clinical pharmacist with North Knoxville Medical Center, and Laura Hyde, continuing pharmacy education administrator at Belmont.
Morning sessions featured a lineup of experts. Duke School of Medicine Assistant Professor of Medicine Sonali Advani MBBS, MPH, co-medical director of Duke Infection Control Outreach Network, presented “Updates with UTI guidelines and research.” Assistant Professor at Loma Linda University C. Abdul-Mutakabbir PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, critical care pharmacist, presented “The intersection of racism, antibiotic resistance, and vaccine equity.” Melinda Neuhauser, PharmD, MPH; pharmacist and CDC Acute Care Lead, presented “CDC Update in Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship”. Jan Willem Lindemans, PhD, principal and senior behavioral researcher at the Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, presented “Combating Healthcare Misinformation.”
During the afternoon, participants attended roundtable and poster sessions led by pharmacists, physicians and nurses, allowing them the opportunity to discuss topics in a small group format. A panel discussion was also added. Dr. Kelly Byrge, assistant professor with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said this addition provided a fresh element to the symposium.
“This year, we are especially excited to introduce new educational content in the format of a multi-disciplinary panel. Our panelists have incredible expertise in a variety of areas which allow them to offer guidance on several challenging clinical scenarios. I am confident that all attendees will leave this session with pearls of knowledge ready for real-life application.”
Planning committee member Dr. Kathryn Dambrino, Belmont assistant professor of nursing and nurse practitioner, said she is proud this year’s symposium offered programming to help healthcare workers in their daily work fighting COVID-19.
“This year, we knew it was important to provide wellness programming and resources for our attendees, as they are the infectious disease experts who have been working in the trenches and shouldering the heaviest burden for over 2 years of a global pandemic.”
Dr. Jeremy Fyke, assistant communications professor, was a co-recipient of the The Christian Scholarship Award at the annual University Scholarship and Awards ceremony held April 20.
The Christian Scholarship Award honors faculty scholarship that engages the Christian intellectual tradition and advances the scholarly conversation between Christian faith and learning. The award is presented each year to a full-time Belmont faculty member who has produced scholarly work that has made a contribution to the Christian scholarly conversation in his/her discipline.
As his nominator observed:
“Jeremy’s interest in the intersections of Christianity and work is traced back to his upbringing in a Christian home, one that placed a heavy emphasis on hard work and stewardship of one’s gifts for the glory of God. One of his early research projects was in his first year as a graduate student when he conducted an independent study on the “Purpose-Driven Company,” loosely based on the book The Purpose-Driven Life. This program of research led to various papers and projects in related areas, some of which were featured at conferences and inspired subsequent publications in areas related to values and purpose…. he has conducted research in the areas of nursing practice and faith-centered communication with patients; Christianity in corporate training and development practices; integrating faith and purpose into one’s career development process; and values-based leadership in business. Across these different examples, you can see how Jeremy seeks to connect to a variety of disciplines that can benefit from the Christian perspective.”
In addition to his academic scholarship, Dr. Fyke enjoys sharing his perspectives and research on faith, purpose and vocation with students and other audiences through various invited lectures and speaking events. He is active in Nashville’s Christian community and serves as a lay preacher and speaker at various churches whenever he is given the opportunity.
In the 13th edition of the Nashville Post’s In Charge lists, many Belmont alumni, faculty and staff are highlighted in their respective areas of influence. The In Charge list includes the region’s business, political and civic leaders who are leading the way in Nashville.
See below for highlights of Belmont community members who are featured in the 2022 publication, among others.
Education
Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones
Finance
Belmont Board of Trustees Vice Chair Gordon Inman, Director Emeritus, FirstBank
Alumnus Bradford Vieira (1997, Accounting and Business Administration), Regional CEO of ServisFirst Bank Nashville
Board of Trustees Member Cordia Harrington, CEO of The Bakery Cos.
Government
Two-time Alumnus Butch Eley, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration and Deputy Governor
Adjunct Faculty Emily Passini, Partner at Greenlight Media Strategies
Health Care
Bill Bates, Founding Dean of Belmont’s Thomas Frist College of Medicine
Legal
Dean of Belmont’s College of Law Alberto Gonzalez
Management Consulting
Alumna Christie Berger (2005, MBA) and former Head of Executive Coaching for Belmont’s Center for Executive Education, Executive Leadership Coach for CB Consulting
Marketing
Alumnus Clark Buckner (2013, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing), Co-Founder of Relationary Marketing
Music
Major Belmont Benefactor Mike Curb, Founder and Chairman of Curb Records
Alumnus Mike Sistad (1992, Music Business), Vice President of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Nonprofits
Major University Donors Jim Ayers (Recent Honorary Doctorate Recipient) and Janet Ayers, Co-Founders of The Ayers Foundation
Sports
Belmont’s Men’s Basketball Coach Casey Alexander
Belmont’s Director of Athletics Scott Corley
Technology
Executive Director of Belmont’s Data Collaborative Charlie Apigian
To Learn more and see the full In Charge List, click here.
Alumna Marcy Bursac (‘05) recently published the book, “Are You a Forever Family?” and invites readers to consider foster care adoption. The book is available at Amazon, BookBaby, and at forgottenadoptionoption.com.
As mom to an adopted biological sibling pair, Bursac saw a gap between adults with a desire to adopt and the 115,000 adoptable children within the United States. With a heart for those children and a deep desire to take action, Bursac has also published “The Forgotten Adoption Option: A Self-Reflection and How-Go Guide for Pursuing Foster Care Adoption,” a book for adults, and launched the podcast The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast.
On May 10, 38 4th grade students from Donelson Christian Academy (DCA) came to campus for a chemistry field trip to Belmont University. This field trip – focusing on acids, bases and neutralization reactions – is part of Dr. Danielle Garrett’s, associate professor of chemistry education, continuing work with the American Chemical Society (ACS) Science Coaches program.
For the past 8 years, Garrett has partnered with 4th grade DCA teacher Ellen Deathridge, engaging in a variety of interactive chemistry activities, including hands-on science lessons, hosting chemistry field trips and more recently developing virtual video science lessons and participating in Q&A Zoom sessions with the 4th grade students.
At this event, students engaged in discussions about chemical reactions, created their own pH indicator color scale using red cabbage indicator and a series of 9 pH testing solutions, made predictions and tested the pH of common household products, and explored the neutralization reaction between vinegar and antacid tablets – looking at the relationship between balloon circumference and increasing the number of antacid tablets used in the reaction. To cap off the event, students got to visit the general chemistry lab to experience a flame test demonstration.
4th grade teachers Ellen Deathridge, Tabitha Ingram and Eric Barbour were there to help Garrett.
“I love these opportunities to share my excitement and experience with chemistry with younger students. It is amazing to see them get them so excited not only about science, but about learning!” Garrett said. “Science is still so new and fascinating to them. Their enthusiasm, positive engagement and thoughtful questions make me love what I do even more.”
Garrett and Deathridge are already thinking towards next year. “Mrs. Deathridge is joy to work with. She’s a wonderful teacher and an amazing science teacher. I’ve been truly blessed to be able to continue to work with her through this program, and I can’t wait to start planning for next year!”
Students in Belmont’s School of Music Celli Quartet collaborated with audio engineering technology students from the Curb College on a recording session at the end of the spring semester. The session was one of the first immersive recordings in the University’s Ocean Way Studios.
Produced by Audio Engineering Lecturer Alan Shacklock, the session was directed by Belmont faculty Dr. Carmine Miranda, assistant professor of cello, and Kevin Boettger, audio engineering instructor, and engineered by Belmont alumna Katelyn Prieboy.
