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Message from the Interim Dean

Dr. Mei Zhao

headshot of Mei ZhaoDear friends, alumni, colleagues, and community partners,

 

The first half of 2024 has been an exciting and productive time for the Brooks College of Health (BCH). We are thrilled to share our achievements and updates across various departments and programs. Our students, faculty, and staff have been working hard, and we have many accomplishments to celebrate. Below are some highlights from the past six months.

Awards, Honors & Welcomes | Academic Achievements | Research | Community News | Student Support & Wellness  | Upcoming Initiatives & Events

Awards, Honors & Welcomes

Annual Awards

2024 faculty and staff awards bch 2024, 4 headshots of the wining faculty

The Brooks College of Health Annual Awards recognize the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff who go above and beyond in shaping the future of our healthcare students and college. The 2024 winners are:


Honors

Health admin group graduation picture


Dr. Andrea Arikawa (Nutrition & Dietetics) received a HIP grant to plan a study abroad trip to Japan in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.

bch student standing with diploma

 
Dr. Amber Barnes (Public Health) was selected to serve as an expert member of the Guidance Development Group for traditional food markets by the WHO. Read More

Jeff Harrison headshot

 
Dr. Jeffrey Harrison (Health Administration) received the 2024 Marcus E. Drewa Distinguished Endowed Professorship. Read More


Welcomes

  • Seanna Aker, RN, Market Days/Quality Assurance, SHS
  • Kristen Berg, DCN, RDN, Instructor, Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Bambi Bougainvilla, MSN, CNM, Instructor, Nursing
  • Lauren Butler, PhD, RDN, Assistant Professor, Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Connor Dougan, BCH Academic Advisor
  • Emily Gabriel, PhD, ATC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences
  • Weimin Gao, PhD, Chair and Professor, Public Health
  • Brittany Gibson, MS, FNP-BC, Instructor, Nursing
  • Mila Insuasty, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner, SHS
  • Debra Kilcrease, MSN, Instructor, Nursing
  • Mary Kerley, BSN, RN, Registered Nurse, SHS
  • Aurora Tafili, PhD, Assistant Professor, Health Administration
  • Terra Meng, BSN, RN, Registered Nurse, SHS
  • Julia Paul, DNP, MSN, RN, NP-C, Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, Nursing
  • Mary Radhakrishnan, BSN, RN, Registered Nurse, SHS
  • Melinda Strickland, MSN, BSN, APRN-ANP, Nurse Practitioner, SHS
  • Melissa Titus, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Instructor, Nursing
  • Bruce Turner, Interim Director of BCH Academic Advising
  • Jessica Yanson, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, Assistant Professor, Public Health

Lastly, we are excited to welcome the incoming 2025 Chair and Vice Chair for the BCH Dean’s Council. Paul Sapia, MHA, Chief Population Health Officer at Telescope Health, will serve as Chair, and Michael Mayo, DHA, FACHE, President and CEO of Baptist Health, will serve as Vice Chair.

Paul Sapia Michael Mayo
Paul Sapia Headshot Michael Mayo headshot

Academic Excellence & Program Achievements

96.8 percentThe School of Nursing continues to grow its enrollment for undergraduate prelicensure BSN students, with 70 more students set to graduate in 2024 compared to 2023. The first quarter 2024 NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate was an impressive 96.8%.

Online RN-BSN

The University of North Florida’s online RN-BSN bridge track program is ranked as the second-Best Accelerated Nursing Program of 2024 by Forbes.

capteThe Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program received full accreditation from the Commission for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), reaffirming our commitment to excellence in education.

92 percent highest satisfaction rankBCH Academic Advising implemented a new appointment and sign-in system called myNest. 92% of surveyed students gave their advisor the highest satisfaction rating.

Our Nutrition & Dietetics MS Online program was ranked as one of the top 10 best online programs in Dietetics for 2024 by Forbes. The Meals on Wings program continues to thrive, securing significant funding and providing invaluable community service opportunities for our students.

Meals on Wings receiving a large check from Vicars Landing

The BCH Case Study Competition 2024 brought together students from across healthcare disciplines to tackle live case challenges in patient care, offering an unparalleled learning and networking opportunity.

Faculty and Staff at BCH Case study competition 2024 Students at the BCH Case Study Competition smiling

Research Update

Our faculty have been actively contributing to research and scholarship

Health admin group graduation picture

Dr. Gui Cesar (Physical Therapy) received a NIH R03 grant to study power mobility devices for children with cerebral palsy.

Shay headshot

Dr. Zhigang (Shay) Xie (Public Health) was selected to participate in the Advancing Workforce Analysis and Research for Dementia (AWARD) Network Summer Institute, July 15-19, 2024, at the University of California San Francisco Mission Bay Campus

deb owens headshot

Deborah Owen (Public Health) received contract funding from the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant, which will support fellows and interns at the DOH-Duval over the next four years, along with conducting needs assessments and training on public health competencies.


Community News

  • UNF MedNexus expands academic programs in Palm Coast. Read Article.
  • UNF nursing students partner with BEAM to offer wellness checks for seniors. Read Article.
  • UNF Kinesiology Team wins second at SEACSM quiz bowl. Read Article.

Student Support & Wellness Achievements

96.3%, 3,000 appointments, 1,000 hoursStudent Health Services had a busy Spring 2024 semester, completing over 3,000 appointments and achieving a 96.3% patient satisfaction rating. The clinic supported 1,000 hours of interprofessional experience for BCH students and was named the Spring 2023 Presidential Quality Customer Service Awardee for the third consecutive year.

Counseling Center, 4,700 appointmentsThe Counseling Center provided more than 4,700 appointments to UNF students, with a very brief wait time of just two weeks for individual counseling appointments, nearly achieving a waitlist-free status. They also recruited a new cohort of trainees for the upcoming academic year. Their outreach efforts included collaborating with student government for Mental Health Awareness Week, conducting suicide prevention training, participating in Market Days and various support programs, and attending a wellness fair at Sandalwood High School.


Upcoming Initiatives and Events

Initiatives

Events

  • The International Healthcare Symposium 2024, taking place from Oct. 9-10 at the UNF Adam W. Herbert University Center, is a multidisciplinary conference aimed at educating, engaging, and connecting healthcare professionals through relevant sessions about challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry.
    • International Healthcare Symposium 2024

We hope you have a wonderful summer and stay connected with us. Follow us on social media for frequent updates. For more detailed updates and stories, visit our newsroom.

Warm regards,

Mei Zhao, Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Brooks College of Health
University of North Florida