A research group of third year graduate students in the School of Physical Therapy, under the direction of Drs. Pat Sells and Kevin Robinson, had a manuscript published in the October issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, the official research medium of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
“We had conversations several years ago with a company making wearable performance jewelry,” explained Dr. Sells, “and agreed to conduct research that clinically tested claims that the product, which included a variety of technologies such as copper, negative ions, holograms, etc., enhanced performance with improved balance, agility and power.” The students utilized about 60 aerobic exercise tests with subjects under three different conditions – when not wearing the jewelry, when placebo jewelry and when wearing jewelry with the performance enhancing technology. The clinical tests found that the wrist bands had no impact on performance.
The students, who have since graduated with their Doctorate of Physical Therapy degrees, included Hannah Cavicchio, Brittney Everhart, Brandon Grass and Jonathan Lambert.
Belmont alumnus, Dr. Brandon Gilliam, has been named Director of Rehab and Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. Dr. Gilliam earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Belmont University School of Physical Therapy in 2005. Upon graduation, he began working in private practice clinics in the Nashville area from 2005-2013. He also provided sports medicine coverage at Christ Presbyterian Academy from 2005-2009.
The interdisciplinary team of Belmont University professors who hosted a food and gardening professional development workshop for area teachers in May were recently published as the lead article in the TN Council of Teachers of English’s peer reviewed publication, Visions and Revisions.
School of Nursing instructor Sara Camp gave a peer reviewed presentation of her work on end of life simulations for undergraduate nursing students at the National League for Nursing Technology Conference held in Nashville in October. She will also present aspects of this work at the Tennessee Simulation Alliance Conference in November.
With an emphasis on experiential learning, Belmont’s School of Nursing provides students with the opportunity to participate in human simulation labs. For Nursing Instructor Sara Camp’s Adult Health II students, this meant taking part in an End of Life lab that simulated the death of a patient, with a volunteer acting as a grieving family member.
In a debrief following the simulation, senior nursing major Mark Wolter, discussed the challenge of moving from a proactive treatment mentality to one that comforts the family and patient through the final stages of life. Because of Lisa’s signed DNR and DNI, once the final stages of life had come, there was no medical intervention that could be done. Instead of working to raise a heartbeat once it had dropped, the care team was responsible for ensuring the comfort and ease of both the patient and the family. “At this point in a patient’s care, you are treating everyone close to the patient, and you realize the impact that you can have as a nurse in keeping the situation as peaceful as possible,” he said.
Assistant Professor of Sport Administration Dr. Ted Peetz presented his work on teaching negotiation strategies in the classroom at the Sport Marketing Association National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The presentation was part of the pedagogy symposium and showcased class exercises used to teach concepts of negotiation theory. The activities utilize games to spark student interest and understanding of negotiation strategies and outcomes. He also served as one of six academic judges for the national student case study competition sponsored by The Aspire Group.
Drs. Natalia Pelaz and Mitch McCoy recently attended and presented papers at the 71st Annual Conference of the South Central Modern Language Association (SCMLA) on Oct. 18-23 in Austin, Texas.
Belmont 2003 graduate and Nashville attorney Rebecca McKelvey Castañeda of Stites & Harbison will be presented with the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award at a ceremony in Nashville on Jan. 10. She is being recognized for her commitment to serving vulnerable clients in need through direct legal representation and community organization leadership. Over the past year, she has handled a number of time-intensive pro bono cases and served on the board of the Tennessee Justice Center.
What if a 10-year-old built your house? On Monday, Belmont University student organization Enactus—a group dedicated to using entrepreneurial actions to transform lives and build a better, sustainable world—partnered with 
Approximately, 20 local children from Rose Park Math & Science Magnet Middle School participated in Monday’s build in Beaman A&B. Representatives from Belmont’s Department of Education also attended the event to see the project in action as they anticipate partnering with the Hammer program in the future.