In her book, Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott discusses achieving success at work and in life one conversation at a time through the application of seven principles. Those principles are: master the courage to interrogate reality; come out from behind yourself into the conversation; be here, prepared to be nowhere else; tackle your toughest challenge today; obey your instincts; take responsibility for your emotional wake; and let silence do the heavy lifting. Some of these principles have been highlighted in previous Dean's Notes, some blatantly and some as an underpinning of my comments. Overall, our relationships are nurtured or destroyed one conversation at a time. Understanding that reality may help us to approach our interactions with others with more care. I would like to focus today on the principle of silence. We are often not comfortable with silence. I am not referring to the choice of not talking to someone out of frustration, anger, bitterness, etc. My husband’s mother would call this a “tukey” (too-kee). Not sure of the spelling and its true origin, but nonetheless a reality in my husband’s childhood home . . . The silence of anger in an attempt to manipulate. If you’re a fan of 70s music, then you would know that Paul Simon called this The Sound of Silence.

However, there is such a thing as therapeutic silence and that is the intended purpose of Scott’s seventh principle of silence. “Fierce conversations, however, require silence. In fact, the more emotionally loaded the subject, the more silence is required. . . Once in a precious while, silence is merely abstinence from self-assertion” (Scott, 2004, So Many Words, So Little Substance, para 7). Here are signs in a conversation that silence is needed: interrupting by talking over someone else; formulating your own response while someone is talking; responding quickly with little or no thought; attempting to be clever, competent, impressive, charming, etc.; jumping in with advice before an issue has been clarified; using a silence or break in the conversation to create a distraction by changing topics; talking in circles, nothing new emerging; and monopolizing the airspace (Scott, 2004, So Many Words, So Little Substance, para 8). Slow down, listen intently, be present and real in the conversation, and look for emotional cues in yourself and in the other person to recognize the need for silence. We need to learn to appreciate a quiet moment to take an assessment of the conversation and of those involved in the interaction so that we can nurture the relationship before us and not do harm!

Scott, S. (2004). Fierce conversations: Achieving success at work & in life, one conversation at a time.

The Office of Human Resources held the 2023 Service Recognition Ceremony in February. The ceremony recognizes employees who have reached 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service in a full-time benefits-eligible position (including prior employment in a benefits-eligible position) by the end of the 2022 calendar year.

Congratulations to College of Health Sciences recipients Toyia Barnes, Scott Butler, Julie Collis, Tracy Fathi, Gail Godwin, Kevin Hunt and Mike Martino.

The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program's annual report was approved by its accrediting agency. The MSAT accreditation will continue to be maintained with no revisions needed.

The Public Health Advisory Committee met for the second time to discuss collaborative goals and objectives as the Public Health program continues to seek Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation.

Exercise Science students from Scholars of Health and Human Performance Studies (SHHPS) recently presented poster research at the 2023 Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) conference in Greenville, South Carolina.

The presentation was made by Sylvia Clark, Elizabeth Niswonger and Christina Snider.

Pictured below: Poster Research and Presentation

Students from Candice Griffeth’s GC1Y participated in a yoga session at the Wellness and Recreation center.

This portion of the class focused on promoting psychological health and explored different stress management techniques.

Pictured below: Yoga Session at GC Wellness & Recreation Center

Athletic Training program faculty and students had the opportunity to join the Georgia College Early College Health Sciences Club Friday, February 24.

GCEC students learned about the athletic training profession and the program here at Georgia College & State University. Students experienced hands-on learning opportunities that athletic training professionals utilize in everyday practice. Students practiced crutch fitting, performed proprioception and balance training exercises, applied standard taping techniques, and utilized athletic training technology such as the Theragun and Normatec devices.

This was the first programmatic experience for the club. In March, the students will meet with the Exercise Science faculty.

Pictured below: Hands-on Learning with students.

The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) first- and second-year students attended the Southeastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Clinical Symposium in Sandestin, Florida.

For three days, they learned hands-on skills and didactic information alongside practicing clinicians and other students from District 9 schools.

Their impressive showing in the Student Quiz Bowl gained much attention, and we are so proud of how they represented Georgia College & State University at the District level!

Pictured below: MSAT students in action at the Symposium.

Tatum Roberts, public health alumna, writes, "I work as a Clinical Research Coordinator II for the EPICORE (Emory Program in Cardiovascular Outcomes Research and Epidemiology) department at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

I am currently working on a study called, "Mental Stress and Myocardial Ischemia after MI: Sex Differences, Mechanisms and Prognosis." The purpose of this study is to look at the link between emotional stress and heart disease in men and women.

A typical day starts with greeting patients at the clinic and preparing them for consent. Once consented, I collect baseline samples from the patient, including saliva, microbiome, and blood samples. The blood samples are then centrifuged, and I pipette the samples into individual aliquots. Once processed, I store all the samples to be used for data analysis in the future.

Next, I assist my team in conducting the mental stress test for the patient. Once the mental stress test is completed, I collect the post-test samples and process and store them to compare them to the baseline samples.

Before the patient leaves, I help them set up the at-home portion of our study and frequently follow up with them throughout the week to make sure they are not having any issues.

I conclude the visit by thanking the patient for participating in our study and preparing the compensation. In addition to my daily tasks, I handle administrative activities, order supplies for the study, manage research project databases, and help maintain study-related documents, including IRB documents.

I am passionate about my role as a clinical research coordinator and encourage anyone interested in research to look into a career as a clinical research coordinator."

Pictures below: Tatum Roberts

Congratulations to Dr. Monica Ketchie and Dr. Debby MacMillan and School of Nursing support staff Paige Alford, Beverly Waller, Tracy Fathi, Michelle Marks, and Kristie Meeks on a successful Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accreditation visit. Our visitors were able to verify and amplify everything written in the Self-Evaluation Report.

We are now waiting for notification of a board decision. The board meets twice a year - in February and July. We will maintain pre-accreditation status until the board meets to determine if we have qualified for full accreditation.

The Graduate Nursing Program at Georgia College & State University has been named the state’s top graduate online nursing program by U.S. News and World Report.

“They help us with clinical placement, which is not very common with some of the nursing programs,” graduate Courtney Avery said. “I definitely feel like I was very well prepared to start in my new role as a nurse practitioner. I knew that I had professors that I could reach out to at any time, and I still can call them now if I ever need them.”

Interim Director of the School of Nursing at Georgia College & State University, Dr. Josie Doss, attributes the program’s 100% certification pass rate for family nurse practitioner graduates to the dedicated attention of the faculty members.

Watch the news clip and read the rest of 41WMGT article here.

Another successful career fair is in the books!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Spring 2023 Nursing Recruitment Fair. Also, a special thanks to one of our sponsors, Novant Health, for attending!

Congratulations to all our Spring 2023 nursing students!

The White Coat Ceremony is designed as a rite of passage to emphasize the importance of compassionate patient care at the very start of training. In addition to reciting the oath to compassionate care, students come forward during the ceremony to be “cloaked” before family and friends in the iconic white coat that signifies their status as healthcare professionals.

The White Coat Ceremony was initiated in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Arnold P. Gold, MD, a Columbia professor, believed that the oath to compassionate patient care taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. Today, nearly every medical school in the United States, hundreds of nursing schools, and many other health profession schools participate in this tradition of humanistic care.

The Gold Foundation is honored to have supported this White Coat Ceremony with a grant generously given by Board Trustee Elaine Adler and administered through a partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Program and Video link below.

Olivia Steimle Kelly, ’17, is a “people person,” and it shows.

As an event specialist on REI’s Retail Store Grand Opening Team, Kelly led the opening of the outdoor recreation equipment retailer’s new store in Athens on Feb. 10. It’s the 13th REI grand opening she’s helped organize. Her job has taken her across the country, opening stores in Colorado, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Wyoming.

Within a week of REI Athens opening its doors, Kelly was already coordinating another grand opening in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It opened the following weekend.

REI is a nationwide cooperative owned by its members. Anyone is welcome to shop at the co-op and tap into the company’s resources in support of an active lifestyle, but members enjoy a range of benefits.

“The people make these events special,” she said. “All we have to do is celebrate them.”

When a new REI opens, several teams across the co-op collaborate to support each event. Kelly says the best part of her job is working with others.

“The people make what we do happen,” she said. “They show up every day really stoked and excited for the grand opening to make it the best possible experience for everyone.”

Each opening celebrates REI Co-op members and the community. The multi-day events include giveaways, a party and more. Kelly and her team coordinate a preview party for co-op members. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they celebrate community members and make the experience interactive for everyone.

“[Our] community members are passionate about recreation,” Kelly said. “We understand our mutual love for the outdoors and want to make sure the community is at the heart of everything we do.”

“It’s really cool that we can combine those partnerships and build relationships,” she said.

Kelly’s passion for building community began when she “found her niche” at Georgia College & State University. She wanted a university that would provide a nurturing learning experience. She got that from Georgia College’s professors and small class sizes.

“Georgia College is special, because it allowed me to find my space and be unique,” she said. “That’s what made the whole experience great.”

See the rest of this Front Page story.

Pictured below: Olivia Kelly with her Events Team at the Athens’ store grand opening.

We invite you to participate in the COHS Poverty Simulation. Register with this form to attend the poverty simulation. If you have any questions regarding this event, please email Toyia Barnes. We are hoping to get at least 60 participants.

Date: Friday, March 24, 2023

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Location: 314 Health Sciences Building (Movement Lab)

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