IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame Announces Call for Nominations

Hope Buckner
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Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame Announces Call for Nominations

The Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame, an initiative to honor Tennessee’s finest health care leaders, is accepting nominations for its 2016 class via the organization’s website, www.tnhealthcarehall.com. Submissions will be accepted until March 18.

With a mission to honor men and women who have made significant and lasting contributions to the health care industry, the Hall of Fame seeks to recognize the pioneers who have formed Tennessee’s health care community and encourage future generations of innovators and leaders.

Co-founded by Belmont University, the McWhorter Society and the Nashville Health Care Council, the Hall of Fame inducted its eight inaugural members at a luncheon last year. Inaugural inductees include:

  • Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr.: Physician and Flight Surgeon in U.S. Air Force, Co-Founder, Past Chairman and CEO of Hospital Corporation of America, Co-Founder of China Healthcare, Corporation, Member of National Healthcare Hall of Fame
  • Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr.: Cardiologist and Internist, Founder of Park View Hospital, Co-Founder of Hospital Corporation of America
  • Dr. Ernest William Goodpasture: Pathologist and Physician, Past Dean of Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Past Director of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
  • Jack C. Massey: Co-Founder of Hospital Corporation of America, Founder and Past Board Member of Baptist Hospital
  • R. Clayton McWhorter: Pharmacist and Co-Founder of HealthTrust and Clayton Associates, Past President and CEO of Hospital Corporation of America, Lifetime Achievement Award from Federation of American Health Systems Recipient
  • Dr. David Satcher: 16th U.S. Surgeon General, Past Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Past President of Meharry Medical College and Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Dr. Mildred T. Stahlman: Pediatrician and Pathologist, Founder of the country’s first modern neonatology intensive care unit, Pioneered the use of respiratory therapy on infants with damaged lungs, Past President of the American Pediatric Society, Distinguished Alumna of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  • Danny Thomas: Founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and ALSAC

Submitted nominees will be evaluated by the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee, comprised of healthcare leaders across the state.

Potential inductees must have:

  • Been born, lived or have worked in Tennessee
  • Made a significant impact and lasting contribution to health care at the local, state, national or international level
  • Exhibit the highest ethical and professional character
  • Serve as an outstanding role model in their community.

Williams Garners National Attention for Antibiotic Stewardship Program

Hope Buckner
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Williams Garners National Attention for Antibiotic Stewardship Program

Montgomery Williams

Dr. Montgomery Williams, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, is providing leadership to an effort at Williamson Medical Center (WMC) in Franklin, Tennessee to curb unnecessary antibiotic use, an initiative recently recognized in a report published by The Pew Charitable Trusts.  Dr. Williams was quoted earlier this week by The Tennessean in a story about the success of the antibiotic program.

Dr. Williams serves at Williamson Medical Center (WMC) as part of her teaching responsibilities at Belmont University College of Pharmacy, educating PharmD students in their advanced practice experiences at the medical center during their final year of study.   As an internal medicine and antibiotic stewardship pharmacist at WMC, she provides extensive training in general medicine to students as they complete month-long rotations at the medical center. Like all pharmacy practice faculty in the College of Pharmacy, Williams divides her time between the classroom and her community site where she mentors student pharmacists. Those students participate in the antibiotic program during their rotation with Williams.

At WMC, where Williams has practiced for the past six years, she is the co-chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program along with Dr. Shaefer Spires, an antibiotic stewardship physician and hospital epidemiologist. In this role, Williams coordinates ongoing efforts to evaluate how the hospital prescribes antibiotics and work with physicians in developing appropriate treatment plans for patients. “Presenting recommendations to physicians can be challenging — you really have to work together as a team,” Williams said in the Tennessean. “We always want what’s best for the patient.”

Also quoted in the Tennessean was Dr. David Hyun, senior officer of Pew Charitable Trusts’ antibiotic resistance project, which published the report. “Williamson Medical Center is a great example of how a program can be tailored to the needs of a community hospital,” said Hyun, who developed and co-chaired a stewardship program at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “Efforts to use antibiotics appropriately are not only about reducing resistance but ensuring patients get the right care.”

The full report can be found here.

 

Doeve Published in Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning

Hope Buckner
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Anneke Doeve’s “Writing in the Community” oral history project was recently published in the Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community-Based Research. 

 

AC Entertainment’s James Shinault Speaks to Students

Hope Buckner
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AC Entertainment’s James Shinault Speaks to Students

Director of Event Engagements for AC Entertainment James Shinault spent time with Belmont students on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Shinault shared how his high school dream of being a rock star led to producing some of the biggest shows and festivals.

As part of Belmont’s “A Day in the Life” Program, Shinault advised students on to go from being a college student, to an intern, to a successful player in the music industry.

He began talking about how his music business degree landed him an internship with South by Southwest (SXSW) where he worked until 2012 when AC Entertainment recruited him to revamp the volunteer program at Bonnaroo.

Shinault now assists with presenting more than 850 shows a year in addition to various festivals such as Bonnaroo, Forecastle, WayHome, Big Ears and more.

When asked about his favorite part of his job he said, “Creating unforgettable and unique moments that people will always remember.” Shinault discussed AC Entertainment’s emphasis on fan engagement and how the company strives to create the most enjoyable and interactive experience for the fans.

Shinault ended his discussion by sharing information about AC Entertainment’s externships, which are exclusively offered to students at schools where Shinault has spoken. There is also a volunteer program at Bonnaroo, as well as internship opportunities at the company’s Knoxville and Nashville offices.

Shinault’s advice to students who are looking to pursue a career in the music industry is to “immerse yourself into the area of the industry that you are passionate about and get to know as much as you can about that given area.”

Curb College Hosts Seminar on Music Distribution and Brand Promotion

Hope Buckner
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Curb College Hosts Seminar on Music Distribution and Brand Promotion

Curb College hosted a panel of industry professionals on Monday, Jan. 25 to discuss music distribution and brand promotion. The panel of three Belmont alumni included Label Marketing Representative for Universal Music Group (UMG) Christiana Sudano, EMI Promotions Coordinator for Universal Music Group Jamie Graves and Executive Director of A&R for GoodMusicAllDay.com Kayvan Daragheh.

The seminar featured each panel member’s story of their journey from Belmont to the music industry, complete with advice and recommendations for present students.

 

Sudano explained that the entertainment industry is all about climbing a ladder. “Everyone has to start from the bottom, so you might as well enjoy your way up. I promise it will be rewarding.” Sudano has worked her way up at UMG starting as a college representative, moving to intern and now has held job positions in both Los Angeles and Nashville. Sudano emphasized the need for students to balance enjoying their time in college while also gaining industry experience and expanding their network.

Graves shared how rewarding his job is, telling the crowd that he and The Brothers Osborne were currently celebrating their first No. 1 hit and now he has the opportunity to work with some of country music’s biggest stars including Eric Church and Alan Jackson. Graves said, “Talk to as many people as you can. Intern…Just don’t be afraid to introduce yourself because you never know what can happen.”

Daragheh told students about his transition from wanting to be a musician to wanting to work for musicians. Daragheh, who was a rapper during his sophomore year at Belmont, is now the executive director of A&R at a highly successful music blog. After taking a poll on what disciplines students were studying he said, “Keep an open mind and learn from every experience. There is a lot you can learn both inside and outside of school.”

West Named to Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors

Hope Buckner
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West Named to Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors

Susan WestVice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Susan West was recently appointed to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville’s Board of Directors.

West is joined by a number of other Nashville leaders including Jumpstart Foundry’s Marcus Whitney, Pinnacle Financial Partners’ Nancy Zoretic and Jarron Springer, Greater Nashville Association of Realtors.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.

 

 

 

Metro Schools’ Dr. Alan Coverstone Joins Belmont’s Center for Improvement of Educational Systems

April Hefner
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Metro Schools’ Dr. Alan Coverstone Joins Belmont’s Center for Improvement of Educational Systems

New hire advances Center’s mission to further innovative strategies in education

Belmont University announced today that Dr. Alan Coverstone, the current executive director of innovation with Metro Nashville Public Schools, has been appointed as a tenure-track assistant professor in Belmont’s School of Education with additional duties as Director of Special Initiatives in Education. Coverstone joins Dr. Jesse Register, former superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and current Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership at Belmont, in managing Belmont’s new Center for Improvement of Educational Systems, a think-tank, a training institute site and an incubator to discover ways to restructure schools at the district level using collaborative, community-based approaches. Coverstone will begin his new position at Belmont on Feb. 1.

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Alan is a perfect fit for Belmont in that he’s well known for being a student-centered innovator who is relentless in his pursuit of improving education and striving for excellence in creating top-quality schools. I am elated to have him join Dr. Register in our new Center, as we partner with the community to discover how to best improve educational systems regionally and beyond.”

Coverstone said, “Great teaching is the key to building strong schools. I am excited about this opportunity to be a part of Belmont’s commitment to prepare teachers to meet the needs of students here in Nashville.”

Coverstone has served in a variety of positions for the District, first as a School Board Member, then as executive director of charter schools and as the executive director of innovation, where he oversaw a portfolio of turnaround schools.

Register said, “I am delighted that Alan Coverstone is joining the faculty at Belmont. His experience heading up the Innovation Zone for MNPS and his work in turn around strategies for low performing urban schools is very valuable. I have great respect for his knowledge, skills and personal integrity. He will be a great addition to our faculty.”

Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns added, “Nearly three years ago, Belmont made a strategic decision to find new ways to work with our K-12 educational partners. Our first step was hiring Dr. Mark Hogan in 2014 to serve as the chair of the Department of Education. Since that time, we’ve been very intentional at focusing on developing our institutional resources to create innovative educational programs that will serve Nashville well. Adding Dr. Register and Dr. Coverstone brings enormous experience in K-12 education, innovative thinking about teacher preparation programs and new opportunities that help us realize significant steps in achieving our goals.”

As an MNPS board member, Coverstone led a study group that evaluated school policies and practices and established what has become the heart of the District’s portfolio approach today. He has built relationships with and successfully advocated for stronger policy oversight of the District’s charter schools. In 2010, Coverstone played a key role in earning Nashville a spot as one of nine cities nationwide to participate in the Gates Foundation District-Charter Collaboration Compact. That same year, Coverstone was selected to administer the $12 million Magnet School Assistance Grant awarded to MNPS. Under his direction, six district schools have been converted into thematic magnet schools: two museum magnets, three STEM magnets, and Nashville’s first entertainment industry magnet school.

Chair of Belmont’s education department Dr. Mark Hogan said, “Dr. Coverstone’s addition to the teacher education program at Belmont will allow us to provide our students with first hand experiences in public, private and charter school environments. As both a teaching faculty member and Director of Innovative Programs in Education, Dr. Coverstone will also add to the rich experiences our existing faculty.”

Prior to joining MNPS, Coverstone spent 14 years at Montgomery Bell Academy as a teacher, debate coach and academic dean. He received a B.A. in speech communication and rhetoric from Wake Forest University, an MAED in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix and a doctorate in education leadership, policy and organizations from Vanderbilt University.

Belmont Celebrates 125 Years with Commissioned Piece by Local Artist

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Celebrates 125 Years with Commissioned Piece by Local Artist

Belmont University turned 125 years old this year and in honor of its birthday, the University commissioned local artist James Threalkill to create a mosaic art piece celebrating diversity on campus. As part of the University’s first Diversity Week, members of the Belmont community were encouraged to decorate tiles made of foam board with anything that illustrated their place at Belmont or what they love about the institution.

125 birthday celebrationAs he collected the completed tiles, Threalkill said a number of themes stuck out. “The pride that is universal with this community and the concern participants have for social equality, fairness, diversity and inclusion were evident in the art they made,” Threalkill said. From there, he said choosing the piece’s overall theme was easy as he arranged the tiles into a larger image and brought the piece to life.

The mosaic was unveiled on Monday, Jan. 25 at the university’s 125th birthday party, one of many events held throughout the year to celebrate Belmont’s anniversary. With Threalkill at the lead, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher joined faculty members and student leaders in presenting the piece to the Belmont community, all to the tune of “Happy Birthday” played on the university’s historic carillon bells.

The opportunity to celebrate Belmont’s 125th anniversary with a piece that commemorates its diversity and overall spirit was powerful for Threalkill. “I continue to be impressed with Belmont’s efforts to create an inclusive environment for its campus community and the greater community. It was an honor for me as a native of Nashville to be involved with what I consider a very significant contribution to the spirit of collaboration and the appreciation of the creative process,” he said.

125 birthday celebrationAcross campus, the Bell Tower is seen as Belmont’s symbol of strength, determination and what it means to be a Bruin. Freshmen gather beneath its bricks the night before classes begin each semester, and it’s the last place seniors sit the night before graduation. For Threalkill, it was an obvious choice to depict Belmont’s diversity, community collaboration and belief in something greater. After all, when Ward-Belmont founders Ida Hood and Susan Heron first stepped on Belmont’s property to select the site for their future school, it was “the old tower that did it.”

Rob ‘Veggies’ Horton Starts Trap Garden

Staff Writer
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Rob ‘Veggies’ Horton Starts Trap Garden

Healthcare MBA student Rob “Veggies” Horton is currently competing in the KIND Cause Competition for his urban farming initiative, Trap Garden, which increases availability and access to healthy foods in food deserts, creates safe spaces for community interaction and educates the public on nutrition, the environment, diversity and civic responsibility. The competition seeks to motivate and inspire others to start something that matters in their communities and not depend on a major grocery store or business to provide them with their daily needs.

Located in North Nashville on the campus of Tennessee State University, The Trap Garden has the power to add value to communities in Nashville that are deemed food deserts, urban areas that Horton said typically lack full-service grocery stores. These food deserts may contribute to rising rates of obesity and chronic diseases among residents. Despite Nashville’s growing population, many communities are underserved, and residents have to travel long distances to purchase foods necessary to maintain a healthy diet.

Horton’s motivation to become an urban farmer stemmed from his personal experiences growing up in St. Louis, Missouri in a neighborhood with very few fresh, healthy food items. He said he saw a similar problem after his move to Nashville. Horton decided to take action and alleviate the problem by growing his own vegetables and herbs through urban farming. As for the name of his project? Horton explained, “The word Trap originally had a negative cultural connotation, but I want to give it a more positive meaning. I wanted something that I could truly be involved in and be myself; be free,” he said. “To me, the Trap Garden means putting in hard work and labor to produce the best possible product (fruit, vegetables and herbs) to put into the community.”

Through Belmont’s Healthcare MBA program, Horton said he has been able to sharpen his skills and add necessary tools to his toolbox. “The courses I have already completed have greatly assisted me in building the foundation of the organization,” he said. “Professors have assisted me in my approach to marketing, staying true to my mission and forecasting for the future. I have been welcomed with open arms to discuss and present my passion project and receive feedback to push the initiative forward.”

The Trap Garden initiative is currently second in the polls in the KIND competition. Winning would mean a $10K prize to move the initiative forward, funding programs and acquiring more space to extend the garden. Horton said he has always been fascinated by the KIND Company. “I read KindSnacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky’s book ‘Do the KIND Thing’ a little over a year ago. I thought that his dedication and passion for KIND and people were amazing,” he said. “After reading the book, I found out about KIND Causes and knew it would be a perfect competition for the Trap Garden to start the year off.”

Rob Veggies 2The garden’s team seeks to partner with local schools, organizations and chefs to create educational programming. Horton remembers talking with a friend about a neighbor needing assistance to buy food for her family. Once at the grocery store, Horton’s friend purchased fresh produce for the family, but the mother did not know how to prepare any meals with the produce. “She expected him to buy frozen pizzas and other premade items-not produce. It is so important to connect, educate and train both parents and youth at an early age to expose them to fresh and healthy items and show them how to prepare healthy meals with the produce,” said Horton. “This is why local chefs and nutritionists are a crucial piece to the puzzle.”

The garden distributes all surplus items to people in the community. Right now, the focus is on seasonal vegetables and herbs, but the team plans to begin growing fruit once it establishes a dedicated space. Trap Garden is open to volunteers, but due to limited space, it is important to coordinate specific times and dates to serve. For those wanting to volunteer, connect with the Trap Garden team through their website.

Help Horton’s urban gardening initiative win this month’s KIND Cause Competition by voting online and committing to do a KIND act.

Application Deadline Quickly Approaching for 2016 Study Abroad Programs

Staff Writer
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Application Deadline Quickly Approaching for 2016 Study Abroad Programs

The application deadlines for upcoming study abroad programs are rapidly approaching. May 2016 programs have a Feb. 1 deadline, while summer programs carry a Feb. 15 deadline. Director of the Office of Study Abroad Shelley Jewell said each trip is a truly transformative experience that pushes students outside of their comfort zones. “We see students return to Belmont with increased intellectual maturity, improved self-confidence, increased flexibility and adaptability and a greater appreciation for their culture, as well as that of others,” she said. “Study abroad teaches students to appreciate diversity and recognize or dismiss stereotypes of different cultures, resulting in an expanded world view and the development of new perspectives on domestic issues in turn.”

Aside from personal take-aways, studying abroad also enhances and unlocks career and international networking opportunities.

Belmont recently ranked No. 18 in on The Institute of International Education’s “Open Doors Report” for the number of students studying abroad; since 2008, student participation in study abroad has tripled. Among the diverse programs taking place this summer, the three listed below illustrate a glimpse of what’s available.

“Belmont in Haiti and the Dominican Republic: One Island, Two Cultures,” taking place in May, will allow students to explore issues of poverty and justice. The classroom experience will be combined with volunteer work in Haiti through Heartline Ministries to help promote global health. Students will also explore the work of the International Justice Mission in the Dominican Republic.

June will welcome the university’s first “Belmont in Sweden: Learning ‘Lagom’ in Social Justice, Culture and Communication.” As the program description explains, “‘Lagom,” is a Swedish word meaning “just the right amount,” which sums up this trip—just the right amount of rich and diverse culture paired with vibrant scholarly experiences. Students will explore the cities of Uppsala and Stockholm to study their heritage and examine how the community maintains social justice. Highlights include a tour of the royal palace, a day trip to Sweden’s earlies Viking settlement and a culinary tour of the famous market, Östermalms Saluhall.

Study_Abroad_Fair_2015-117-X2Another new trip, “Belmont in Austria and Germany: Music Product Design, Development and Marketing,” includes visits to top German Audio Research Institutes, audio equipment companies and acoustic performance spaces. The general science portion of the class festures an introductory survey of topics including electromagnetism, mechanics and physical acoustics. The marketing portion of the class will highlight the music marketing process. Additionally, students will have time to explore both cities during free time activities..

Jewell attributed Belmont’s study abroad success to the more than 70 faculty members involved in the process, allowing the programs to span academic majors and give students the opportunity to explore the globe in an academically meaningful way. “We live in an increasingly interconnected world that demands students have awareness not only of our nation but of other cultures around the world in order to be successful,” she said. “It is our job as higher education professionals to prepare students for our global marketplace and study abroad is a crucial piece of this preparation.”

Consider the benefits, both personally and academically, as the deadlines approach to apply for one of these transformative experiences. As Jewell said, “We want study abroad to be a part of Belmont’s institutional culture–we do not want students to wonder if they will go abroad, but wonder when they will go!”

For more information on Study Abroad through Belmont, visit www.belmont.edu/studyabroad.

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