The Pulse

Recently, I heard about a handful of instances where new employees were not treated the best. Perhaps they were given workloads similar to those that seasoned employees receive or assignments that were left over after the seasoned employees made their selections. There didn’t seem to be much consideration given to the learning curve that new employees experience or the additional stress of being in a new environment and learning the ropes of an organization.

These ropes include all the formal policies and procedures around annual review, promotion, day-to-day job management, etc. and the informal rules and regulations of an organization. It is often the latter that causes the most stress since they are unwritten and sometimes fluctuate depending on the interpreter. While I don’t believe that this treatment of new employees is isolated to one or two disciplines, I did find familiarity with the aforementioned situations and the common phenomena of “nurses eating their young.” I am not trying to cast a negative shadow on the nursing discipline, but it is my professional frame of reference and I know all too well the occurrence of such and the impact that it has on individuals.

I don’t believe that the behavior is borne out of maliciousness. Perhaps it is just that we are carrying out our own histories as new employees. Some may think that there is nothing wrong with this behavior because we all must pay our dues, right? However, some pay perceive this behavior as uncivil. Cynthia Clark states that “incivility often exists in the ‘eye of the beholder’ and is affected by cultural issues, real or perceived power differences, and varying perceptions of what constitutes uncivil behavior (2013, p. 144).

While the cost of incivility to an organization can be great in loss of productivity and lack of employee engagement, the psychological and physiological price that is paid by the recipient can be monumental. Civility must be present to create a professional culture and an effective team. I challenge each one of us to treat our new employees (really everyone) as we would have liked to be treated rather than as we were treated. I believe this will help to foster value and trust across an organization.

Grants & Sponsored Projects Monday, September 26, 2022

Being awarded a grant your first time applying is rare. Dr. Ernie Kaninjing, assistant professor of public health at Georgia College & State University (GCSU), doesn’t let that stop him from pursuing external funding for his research on disparate prostate cancer outcomes among African immigrant men in the United States.

The need for Kaninjing’s research is clear: In the U.S., Black men are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than their white counterparts. Kaninjing’s passion for eliminating those disparities motivates him to seek out external grants. He credits his rigorous doctoral training and time management skills for the ability to work on several different grant proposals at the same time.

The National Institutes of Health awarded the professor funding through their Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program in 2017 for a pilot study. The pilot funding allowed him to collect and analyze preliminary data and show his ability to recruit and work with African immigrant men in the U.S. for future grant proposals. It laid the groundwork for his current grant with the Department of Defense, focusing on the social determinants of African immigrant health.

See more of this Front Page story here.

• Dr. Ernie Kaninjing, DrPH, MPH, MBA, CHES, presented two posters at the American Association for Cancer Research Conference in Philadelphia in September.
• Dr. Ernie Kaninjing was highlighted in another Front Page story for last month's newsletter announcement of receiving a $426,025 grant for prostate cancer research. Read the story here.
• Candice Griffeth recently hosted Solicitor General Skye Gess in her GC1Y courses, in which students learned about dating violence, red flags, and action steps. She also welcomed Linnesia Latimore, Director of Victim Services and Katillya Tucker, Victim Advocate. Students participated in engaged learning opportunities as part of the presentation.

The iCCaRE for Black Men Consortium will address prostate cancer in Black communities globally. The overall goal of the iCCaRE Consortium is to optimize prostate cancer diagnosis experiences, treatment and survivorship based on the Science of Survivorship (SOS). Our central hypothesis is that improving social determinants of health (SDOH) factors, prostate cancer care and survivorship (CaPCaS)-related factors and mediating biological factors will lead to an improvement in patient reported outcomes (PROs).

With the Department of Defense (DOD) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Health Equity Research and Outcomes Improvement Consortium (HEROICA) award and the $1.6 million leveraged funding provided by Mayo Clinic, the iCCaRE Consortium will make a major impact.

The iCCare for Black Men Consortium leverages the resources and expertise of multiple National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Centers, institutions and cancer advocacy organizations.

Dr. Ernest Kaninjing, a translational behavioral scientist and an assistant professor of Public Health at Georgia College & State University(GCSU) was awarded a $246,619 grant from the Department of Defense for Prostate Cancer Research.

Dr. Ernest Kaninjing and Dr. Sheri Noviello attended and were a part of the official launch of the Consortium virtually on September 2. This launch was part of several activities lined up for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

My name is Abbi Huff, and I am the Environmental Health Specialist in McDuffie County. My job involves various things like restaurant inspections, school cafeteria inspections, septic tanks permit and repairs, well-watering testing, and rabies testing. My job is different and filled with new tasks each day. Each day I am able to explore more things within public health as well as environmental health. I am forever grateful for the public health Internship program that helped me get this incredible job!

Pictured below: Abbi Huff

Women's Basketball (WBB) standout Harper Vick (Exercise Science, Marietta, GA) was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Georgia State University (GSU).

Harper graduated in four years, will complete her master's in one year, and then heads to GSU. In 2022-23, Harper will finish her career as a top 5-10 all-time scorer. She is the nicest person in the world and will succeed in any industry and life.

GCSU Director of Athletics Wendell Staton thanks the College of Health Sciences for producing these graduates and for the leadership of Dr. Sheri Noviello, Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

NFL Assistant Coach Strives to Keep Players Achieving Their Dreams

Health & Human Performance - Friday, September 2, 2022

Corey Campbell, '16, shifted his studies from biology to exercise science in graduate school at Georgia College & State University. And he's glad he did. Campbell now lives his dream job as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Carolina Panthers.

Campbell played football at the University of Georgia. That's also where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology. But it was the transition to exercise science in graduate school that put him on track to work for the National Football League (NFL) team.

"When I came to Georgia College, I knew about the human body from a physiological standpoint, but there was a lot I didn't know about exercise science outside of being an athlete," Campbell said.

Then, Campbell met Dr. Mike Martino, professor of exercise science and exercise science program coordinator.

"I look at my start at Georgia College as the foundation of my career," he said. "I can't thank Dr. Martino enough."

Early on, Martino told Campbell's class that they had to dive in and apply what they learned in the classroom to the real world.

"I appreciate him for being tough on me, believing in me and giving me the confidence and opportunities for what I love to do," Campbell said. "At first, it was like being thrown into the fire, but I can't say enough about how much better of a coach that made me."

See more of this Front Page story here.

Pictured below: Corey Campbell

Health Sciences majors at The Cottages provide wonderful social wellness for our seniors. Way to go ladies.

University Communications Monday September 12, 2022

Georgia College & State University(GCSU) continues acquiring accolades as a top-ranked institution in the region and country.

The 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list designated Georgia College’s School of Nursing as the top, public undergraduate nursing program in Georgia.

“Media organizations like U.S. News & World Report consistently reaffirm what Georgia College students, parents and alumni already know: our institution offers an exceptional and contemporary public liberal arts education and prepares our students for successful careers,” said Cathy Cox, president of Georgia College & State University. “Georgia College’s reputation for academic excellence and transformative experiences ranks with the best in higher education and will continue to attract top students who want the unique, challenging learning environment we offer.”

Additional insight from the “Best Colleges” report includes Georgia College ranking seventh on the list of top public schools in the South—rising two spots from last year’s ranking. This is the fourth year in a row Georgia College has led all other Georgia institutions in this category.

Check out the rest of this Front Page story here and the Best Colleges guidebook here.

Nursing, School - Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Story and Photos by University Communications.

With their first five scholars in tow, the College of Health Science (COHS) School of Nursing (SON) has kicked off the Lettie Pate Whitehead (LPW) Nursing Scholars Program.

With four-year-long funding, the cohort-based program for qualified nursing students at Georgia College & State University (GCSU) will provide a full scholarship to recipients; including tuition, fees, housing, meals, textbooks, nursing program fees and one funded, healthcare-related study abroad.

“We’re targeting students from middle and central Georgia for our region’s healthcare needs. We want to train the next generation of nurses, and we don’t want financial needs to be a barrier to excellent students. – Dr. Sheri Noviello”

“The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the shortage of nurses in our state and nationwide,” said Dr. Sheri Noviello, dean of COHS and current coordinator for the program. “We’re targeting students from middle and central Georgia for our region’s healthcare needs. We want to train the next generation of nurses, and we don’t want financial need to be a barrier to excellent students.”

Students in the program who retain admission requirements are also guaranteed admission into SON’s competitive Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“This scholarship program will allow us to continue to recruit the most qualified students into our stellar nursing program,” said Josie Doss, interim director of SON. “It is an opportunity to grow the number of well-qualified nurses in Central Georgia by providing opportunities to those who may otherwise have had financial restrictions.”

Read more of this Front Page story here.

Pictured below from left to right: Kaitlyn Neesmith, Hannah Pelt, Madison Townsend

Our community and students have participated in the Ocmulgee National Park/ Indian Celebration in past years. We were excited to learn that this celebration was back, arrangements were made, and we secured clinical experiences for our spring and summer cohorts. All ninety students were able to attend. They all received stop-the-bleed training and had ample time to mix with the indigenous peoples from the United States.

The Saturday morning group had the extra bonus of a meet and greet with Senator Jon Ossoff and listening to a presentation from the Secretary of the Interior. This was quite a unique experience.

The students also got to see the DC Incident Command setup, and it reinforced the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and disaster training we deliver in coursework. An advocacy component was added to this course in 2019. This experience presents an opportunity to communicate with legislators to ask for bipartisan efforts to secure affordable medication pricing for all Georgians.

A special thank you to Dr. Joyce Norris Taylor and Mrs. Peavy, RN, for supporting the summer cohort and participating in this event. The overall experience would not have been possible without Dr. Catherine Fowler. She initiated and orchestrated this entire experience for our spring and summer cohorts. Kudos, Dr. Fowler!

Pictured below: Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and SON Students

Congratulations to Dr. Sterling Roberts on achieving the initial step in the accreditation process for the Simulation and Translational Research Center. We received notice that the Society of Simulation Healthcare (SSH) has awarded the Sim Center with provisional accreditation!!

Dr. Sterling Roberts has been working diligently for the last two years to meet accreditation standards, including writing a comprehensive policy and procedure manual and writing/revising simulation scenarios that meet best practice standards. The review process took a year and culminated in a site review by a SSH team this past June. As of today, we are one of two USG institutions with a SSH accreditation designation. Best practice exemplars identified in the SSH report are the organizational commitment to the success of the simulation program (through finances and dedicated physical space) and the use of simulation data to make curricula changes and other decisions.

We want to thank Dr. Roberts for her hard work as she has pursued excellence in simulated experiences for our undergraduate and graduate nursing students. We also want to thank the faculty who were instrumental in helping Dr. Roberts to bring this dream to fruition.

The White Coat Ceremony for the Fall 2022 BSN Cohort was held on September 23. Mrs. Lesley H. Stephens, Manager, Nursing Education & Professional Development at Atrium Health Navicent, was the keynote speaker. 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, 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. This ceremony was made possible with a grant from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

See the program and fall cohort below after being coated by their first-semester nursing faculty members.

Jacquelynn Nelson - Registered Dietician

Jacquelynn Waller Nelson obtained two degrees from Georgia College & State University(GCSU), including her Bachelor of Science in Institutional Management in 1971 and Master of Science in Home Economics in 1976. Jacquelynn enrolled in Georgia College to help desegregate the school in 1967. She was the recipient of the African American Alumni Council’s (AAAC) Keepers of the Promise Award in 2019 for her efforts. Additionally, Jacquelynn was the recipient of the Alumni Service Award in 1987. This honor recognizes Georgia College alums who graduated within the past ten years and have made notable achievements in a profession with promise of continued success.

Jacquelynn retired from the Georgia Department of Human Resources (GDHR) in 2004 from the position of Nutrition Services Director. After retirement, she continued to work for GDHR for another ten years as a consultant and provided nutrition consultant services to renal dialysis and early childhood centers. Georgia College has enabled her to build the foundation for her passion for helping others live healthy lives. She has served on the Georgia College Foundation Board of Trustees, Lockerly Arboretum Board, and Boys and Girls Club Board. Currently, she serves as Co-Chairperson of the Baldwin County Board of Health.

Jacquelynn is the proud mother of two children, James and Jocelyn, and their educational accomplishments. Both are lifelong learners; James is pursuing his Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership, and Jocelyn achieved her Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Sheri L. Testani – Chief Nursing Officer, Piedmont Macon Medical and Piedmont Macon North Hospitals

Sheri L. Testani is the Chief Nursing Officer for Piedmont Macon Medical and Piedmont Macon North Hospitals. She brings 26 years of experience specializing in cultural transformation, leadership development of staff, positivity in the work environment, process efficiencies, regulatory readiness, and creating a high-reliability safety culture. Sheri most recently served in the dual roles of VP of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer at McLaren Health Care in Michigan and, before that, held the same positions with Tenet Healthcare in South Florida.

Sheri is completing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice with a concentration in Health Systems Executive Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, Bachelor of Applied Arts in Industrial Administration and Engineering from Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor, and a Diploma of Health Science in Nursing from St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Science in Windsor, Ontario.

Sheri is board certified as a Nurse Executive through American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is an active member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She was the recipient of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Circle of Excellence Award Recipient 2014. She serves as an advisory board member for Schools of Nursing with CGTC, MGSU and Wesleyan College. Sheri is married to her husband, Tim, and has two daughters, Vanessa & Erica, along with five stepchildren. She enjoys the outdoors, reading and softball.

The College of Health Sciences is now accepting COHS Hall of Fame nominations. Please use the link below to submit nominations.

Nomination Link: https://forms.office.com/r/FsqP2SAAty

You're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Georgia College.

Update Your Information

Email: healthsciences@gcsu.edu
Website: www.gcsu.edu
Location: 231 West Hancock Street, Milledgeville, GA, USA
Phone: 478-445-5771
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GaCollege
Twitter: @GeorgiaCollege