SHRS Blog

Dr. Elizabeth Skidmore epitomizes servant leadership in the most inspiring and impactful way. Skidmore is professor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy and associate dean of research in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. 

The benefits of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy cannot be overstated. Over 90% of OTs agree that EBP is 'necessary to practice,' and 'helps in decision making.' 

I spent hours researching the field of health informatics, the curriculum and the professors, just to get a feel for how my next two years would play out. Nothing could have prepared me for such an approachable and professional community of people that greeted me when I walked through those SHRS doors.  

Athletic trainers always have to be ready to spring into action and prepared to save lives on the field–but alumna Molly Trott (BS ’14) has shown how that attitude can actually be a lifestyle. In 2021, when a co-worker’s son was in need of a kidney transplant, she stepped up as a living donor, an act of selflessness that earned her the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society (PATS) Lifesaver Award at the 2022 Student Symposium.

Dave Wert, vice chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Education, notes, “One of the key benefits of our hybrid option is that this is not a transition from what used to be a ‘traditional lecture program’ to a ‘COVID-pandemic remote learning environment.’ Rather, our hybrid program was specifically designed to be an online program for online learners who want to become practicing clinicians.” 

SHRS had a strong presence at the Conference of the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF). EM students, faculty and alumni attended to hear some of the biggest names in EMS education and research speak on a number of topics. The event was held in Pittsburgh from February 25-27.

Deciding on the path that’s right for you can be challenging. There are many choices of graduate professional programs, and the overlap among these choices can be confusing. Read about some factors that set Pitt’s Counseling program apart.

No matter how hard we try, motivation is not there 100% of the time. Even if the career you’re chasing is your dream career, it’s not always easy to stay productive. However, as we all know, it’s necessary that we continue learning and growing even when we aren’t feeling motivated at the moment. Over the past three years, I’ve learned some ways to both increase motivation and work through the rough patches. 

Does your provider look like you? This may matter more than you think. In an analysis of more than 100,000 patient surveys, University of Pennsylvania researchers found that when patients are of the same race as their providers, there was a better chance of receiving higher patient experience scores. This may be problematic as the health care workforce needs to be further diversified to mirror the racial composition of the country. The Assistive Technology (AT) industry is similarly insufficiently diverse and facing similar challenges. 

Did you know that the International Seating Symposium, or ISS, is the largest seating and mobility conference in the world? We’re admittedly a bit biased with our organizing team hailing from the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. This expansive symposium is led by our Master of Rehabilitation Technology (MRT) instructors Drs. Mark Schmeler and Rachel Hibbs - and we think this year’s event was the best yet. 

It’s the New Year, a time when many resolve to eat healthier, be more active, or lose weight. Motivation soars as we reflect over the past year and set our intentions for the next year. However, as the daily grind sets in and time goes on, intentions often fade and we find ourselves back to old habits. To help you stick to your goals this year try these 5 simple strategies.

I am thrilled to introduce our newest core faculty member for the Advanced Practice Provider Leadership Certificate Course co-sponsored by the UPMC Office of Advanced Practice Providers and the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences—Kathryn Reed, PA-C. Kathryn is an assistant professor and vice chair for Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.