TODAY news - May 13, 2004

In the March 9, 2004, agenda for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, Dennis Hansberger, chair, led the board in adopting the resolution proclaiming March National Nutrition Month.

Representatives from the California Dietetic Association, Inland District were in attendance to witness the event, including Georgia Hodgkin, EdD, RD, associate professor, department of nutrition and dietetics, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University. Dr. Hodgkin is the current president of the California Dietetic Association, Inland District, and received the proclamation.

Mr. Hansberger presented a framed and sealed copy of the resolution to Dr. Hodgkin, which read:

By unanimous consent of the Board of Supervisors, the following resolution is adopted:

amount of food that individuals consume each day plays a vital role in their overall health and physical fitness; and

Whereas, citizens of San Bernardino County reflect societal trends of overweight and even obesity; and

Whereas, the accumulation of excess body fat is related to a greater incidence of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, joint malfunction, pulmonary disease, renal disease; and

Whereas, an intake of calories greater than the expenditure of calories in exercise leads to overweight and obesity; and

Whereas, it is well-recognized that extra calories beyond exercise and basal metabolic needs offend the laws of health; and

Whereas, there is a need for continuing nutrition education and a widescale effort to enhance good eating practices.

Now, therefore be it resolved that the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, State of California, hereby proclaims the month of March 2004 as National Nutrition Month.

Further, the Board encourages all citizens to join the campaign and become concerned about their nutrition and the nutrition of others in the hope of achieving optimum health for both today and tomorrow.

Be it further resolved, that this resolution be noted in the minutes of this Board and a copy presented to Georgia Hodgkin, President of the Inland District, California Dietetic Association.

Dated: March 9, 2004 Signed by: Dennis Hansberger, Chairman; J. Renee Bastian, Clerk; Supervisors: Paul Biane, Bill Postmus, Patti Aguiar, Clifford O. Young.

At the invitation of Mr. Hansberger, Dr. Hodgkin thanked the Board for their support to better the nutritional status of the citizens within their purview. She noted that their proclamation draws attention to the importance of individual food choices. Current eating behaviors have led to record levels of overweight individuals; 64 percent of the American population exceeds the recommended weight.

The consequences of such excess weight will lead to budget-breaking health-care costs in the near future. The Surgeon General has called on registered dietitians to participate in efforts to turn around what he calls "health illiteracy," a lack of knowledge that allows poor lifestyle choices.

Dr. Hodgkin recommended two eating behavior changes to reverse the weight-gain trend: reduce individual soda pop consumption by one 12-ounce can per day; and when eating out, consume reasonable-sized portions. The first recommendation will result in a daily decrease of 180 calories or a yearly net decrease of 65,700 calories, or 18 pounds per year; in two years 36 pounds. To implement

the second suggestion, request a doggie bag at the beginning of the meal, cut portions in half, and enjoy the conversation rather than too many calories.

Inland District registered dietitians are eager to bring nutrition information to their communities.

Efforts to stem the tide of "health illiteracy" benefit the entire population. Health-care costs for poor food choices will majorly affect the individual's and/or the taxpayer's budget soon. Plus, good food choices lead to good health and a positive sense of wellbeing.

Additionally, National Nutrition Month was represented to the citizens of San Bernardino and Redlands at their respective market nights. The Inland District Board supported participation by professionals at each event.

Board member and Loma Linda University student dietitian Alex Nguyen invited his fellow students to join him at Redlands Market Night on March 18. From their pop-up tent and tables, they offered flyers on portion sizes to the passersby. Food models and common items represented the sizes of portions the public would benefit from choosing. The items they displayed included such things as: a tennis ball to represent the amount of fruit or yogurt that makes a reasonable serving, a computer mouse for the right-size potato to bake, a computer disk for a slice of cheese, a golf ball for two tablespoons of peanut butter.

As the public strolled by, Masaka Harada and Melinda Liou assisted Alex in distributing copies of the list of such tips from the American Dietetic Association. They fielded questions regarding gestational diabetes, supplements, and weight loss, among others.

During the School of Allied Health Professions annual banquet, Thursday, April 29, the Alumna of the Year Award was presented to Jean B. Lowry, PhD. The Distinguished Alumni of the Year Awards were also given to alumni in each of the School's eight departments.

Dr. Lowry has been on the faculty at Loma Linda University since 1974. She received her bachelor of arts degree in speech-language pathology from La Sierra University, Riverside, in 1966; her master of arts degree from the University of Redlands in 1968; and her PhD in speech-language pathology from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, in 1973. She achieved full professorship at Loma Linda University in 1989.

Dr. Lowry has earned respect and loyalty from colleagues, students, and former students in her nearly 30 years of teaching. Taking only a brief hiatus to be a mom, and to accompany her husband while he pursued his doctorate, Dr. Lowry has been devoted to Loma Linda University. Throughout her years, she has left an indelible mark on the School, faculty, students, and the profession. Because there wasn't a graduate program at LLU, she attended graduate school elsewhere, but returned to Loma Linda, determined to develop a quality graduate program.

Jean served as chair of the speech-language pathology and audiology department from 1984 to 1989 and 1993 to 1998. In this position, she worked on the School's administrative council and was chair of the School of Allied Health Professions promotion and tenure committee where she was responsible for framing the current guidelines for rank and promotion. She also served as department representative and chair of the SAHP faculty council executive committee. As a member of that committee, she assisted with the reform of the pay scale.

Currently, as the director of the department's graduate program, Dr. Lowry serves on the graduate council, where she had a significant impact on the observance of academic principles and has helped the department of speech-language pathology and audiology earn the respect of other departments in the University.

Dr. Lowry has always said, "To be a good teacher, you must practice the profession." This is testimony to her commitment to balance. She is a teacher of teachers: she was the recipient of the Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award from Loma Linda University in 1992 for her creative and innovative instruction; she has presented poster sessions at national and local conventions; she is a voracious reader of higher education literature; and she has mentored nearly every faculty who has walked through her door.

Dr. Lowry has made key contributions to Loma Linda University and has never-ending energy for involvement in School and University committees. She consistently exhibits devotion to the mission of the University, the School, and her department. It is evident every day that her mission in life is to serve others.

David L. McLean's career in respiratory therapy began in 1971 when he received his AS from Grossmont College in El Cajon. Three years later he received his BS in respiratory therapy from Loma Linda University in the first graduating class of that program. Two years later he earned his MPH from the School of Public Health, Loma Linda University.

From 1978 until his retirement in the early 1990s, Mr. McLean was the clinical supervisor for Respiratory Home Care at LLUMC. He also was on the clinical faculty at LLU and has educated other respiratory therapists, nurses, medical house staff, and students.

For more than 20 years, Mr. McLean has been a member of the American Association of Respiratory Care and the California Society of Respiratory Care. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors, executive committee, and professional advisory committee for the American Lung Association of San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono counties of California.

David is also the recipient of professional honors including the 1984 Parke-Davis Literacy Award presented by the American Respiratory Care Foundation. He was also a 1983 finalist in the Showcase of Excellence sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence in Nursing.

Richard Roath began working for the Montana State Board of Health in 1953 by operating a mobile TB unit in the statewide survey. The following year, he attended Montana State University while living and working at a local hospital, the arrangement for a student covering off-hours in the x-ray department. With childhood experience testing the milk fat content for his father's dairy processing plant, he soon began to work in the lab as well.

He finished his prerequisites for the national certification and took the ASCP exam in 1960. Mr. Roath, his wife, and son moved to Denver, Colorado, for a lab position that also allowed him to do medical photography.

In 1967, Mr. Roath joined Loma Linda University Medical Center and enrolled in the medical technology program. Although he had experience, national certification, and a state license, he had not graduated from college. After graduating in 1971, he trained at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, and was asked to take over the parasitology section of LLUMC's lab. He is also known as a scholar in church history, the Bible, and tropical medicine.

He established the parasitology program in the Faculty Medical Lab, studied new techniques in the diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and helped set up a new training program at West Indies College, Jamaica.

Since his retirement in 1998, Mr. Roath has been enjoying life in Yucaipa, with Donna, his wife of 47 years.

Melanie Brodnik, PhD, RHIA, is well-known and highly respected for her work in health information management and is a strong role model to her students and professional colleagues.

After graduating from Loma Linda University in 1972, she earned two graduate degrees: an MS in health sciences education and evaluation from the State University of New York, Buffalo, in 1974; and a PhD in research and evaluation from the College of Education at The Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, in 1991.

Since 1999, Dr. Brodnik has been the director of the health information management and systems division at the School of Allied Medical Professions at OSU. Previously, she was the coordinator of the health informatics track at OSU and an associate professor in the health services management and policy division of the College of Medicine and Public Health at OSU.

Dr. Brodnik has also written numerous journal articles and book chapters, as well as manuscript reviews, participated in grant writing, and done grant-funded research.

Dr. Brodnik and her husband, Marty, frequently travel around the country and to England with their son, Jordan, who plays for a select soccer travel team. Next year, Jordan will be captain of the varsity soccer team and the Brodnicks will be the team parents. When time allows, they also enjoy playing golf.

Eleanor Christensen Berecz graduated from Loma Linda University's nutrition and dietetics program in 1941.

Her professional experience began at Ravenswood Hospital where she was in charge of special diets in Chicago, Illinois. Much of her career was spent in home economics education and nutrition programs in Cook County, Chicago, and for the state of Illinois.

Ms. Berecz is a strong advocate of the profession and is active in influencing students who are interested in nutrition and dietetics. She continues to reflect the values of the program and of the profession.

Diana Su-Erickson is a 1978 graduate of Loma Linda University's occupational therapy program. Throughout her career, Ms. Su-Erickson has been a role model for students and a community advocate for occupational therapy.

Since graduation, she has remained connected to the OT program. She has shown an outstanding commitment to student education first as a teaching assistant and then, as her experience grew, a contract teacher. Presently, Ms. Su-Erickson is a clinical faculty member, mentor to students in a fieldwork setting, and works diligently as a community advisor on student research projects.

For more than 20 years, Ms. Su- Erickson has worked at Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center as a lead therapist where she practices patient-centered OT, plans program development, coordinates staff intern and student education, and participates in research projects.

In addition to her dedication to OT, Ms. Su-Erickson is active in her community and church and enjoys time spent with husband, Greg, and daughter, Shasta.

Edd J. Ashley earned a BS degree in physical therapy in 1964 from Loma Linda University. He returned in 1968 for an MPH in community health administration and in 1969 for a second MPH in the area of health education. While he studied at LLU, Dr. Ashley also worked as a therapist at the medical center. After graduation, Dr. Ashley began his doctoral studies at Boston University in Boston, MA, and received his doctor of education degree in 1971. When he returned from Boston, Dr. Ashley became coordinator of the rehabilitation services at LLUMC and associate chair of the department of physical therapy, SAHP. In 1978, he became department chair.

During his tenure at LLUMC, Dr. Ashley was instrumental in establishing accreditation for the rehabilitation program. He developed clinics for spinal cord injury, scoliosis, and patient rehabilitation; coordinated a rehabilitation program in conjunction with the probate court; and organized continuing education programs on A Team Approach for the Severely Disabled, Scoliosis Management, Biofeedback, and Introductory Principles of Radiology.

A man of extraordinary vision and insight, Dr. Ashley has guided the physical therapy department through an era of unparalleled growth and change. Under his guidance, the entry-level degree in PT progressed from the BS to the MS in 1992 and to the doctoral level in 2001; the physical therapy assistant program began in 1990; and the post-professional master of PT therapy program was established in 1994, followed by the post-professional doctor of PT, and the post-professional doctor of physical therapy science (DPTSc). Furthermore, an extension program for the post-professional MPT was established in 1999 in Puerto Rico at Antillean University with LLU PT department faculty teaching on-site on a rotating basis.

Through the years, Dr. Ashley has served LLUMC, LLU, and his community in countless ways. He is a frequently sought consultant and advisor and has worked with numerous organizations including Rolling Start, Inc., and the Easter Seal Society of San Bernardino. In 1996, Ashley provided relief service for five weeks for the director of physical therapy at the Adventist Health Clinic in Moscow, Russia.

Department of radiation technology Nancy Perkins is one of Loma Linda University's few radiation technology graduates who has gone on to become a program director in radiography. Since her graduation in 1979, she has dedicated herself to professional and educational elements of radiation technology.

Throughout the last 20 years, she has worked as a full-time staff radiologic technologist at two hospitals and chaired the allied health program at Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, for four years. She now serves as Bakersfield College's director of the radiologic technology program, where she is responsible for the development and supervision of the radiography and fluoroscopy program curriculums, policies and procedures, budget, student admission and records, and program equipment and supplies.

Throughout her career, Ms. Perkins has received numerous honors and awards. She received the E.R. Squibb Outstanding Student Award while she was a student at LLU; was made a life member of the Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1976; and received the outstanding technologists award from the Kern District Society of Radiologic Technologists in 1986. Ms. Perkins and her husband, Craig, an environmental biologist, and 14-year-old son Joshua, enjoy spending time outdoors camping in national parks, watching ice hockey, and snowshoeing.

Department of speech-language pathology and audiology Betty Jacques Vine was raised in Yorkshire in England. She attended Newbold College, Binfield, England, where she met her future husband, Kenneth. By 1945 both had graduated. They were married and entered the ministry.

One year later, they moved to the United States with just $80, to attend Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), Berrien Springs, Michigan. After graduating, they left for the seminary in Washington, D.C. To earn money, the couple worked as a maid and butler in a fashionable district of the city.

When Dr. Vine finished his degree, he pastored in the Greater New York Conference and Ms. Vine worked at the local radio station and taught gymnastics at Greater New York Academy. Kenneth soon finished his second MA degree, and they accepted a call to teach at Middle East College in Beirut, Lebanon.

When their furlough came in 1971, the Vines decided to return permanently to the United States. They took positions in the religion department at La Sierra University, Riverside, where Betty enrolled in speech pathology.

She completed her BS degree in 1973. Ms. Vine fell in love with speech pathology and all its elements. A year later, she began working with Sunshine School (Riverside Unified School District), a handicapped school dealing with young children. Betty loved these children. With persistence and a method that they could understand, she helped them progress.

In 1974, Ms. Vine received her master's degree from Loma Linda University. Her brother, Brian Jacques, PhD, presented her diploma. After 16 years at Sunshine School, Betty retired in 1989. She continues to live in Riverside and enjoys retirement with her husband.

The dean's office of the School of Allied Health Professions extends it's congratulations to the following dean's list members for summer quarter, 2003:

Master's program--
Erika Eizawa
Jill Landless
Julie Whitcombe
Sherry Abdou
Desiree Ayala
Heather McCormick
Heather McCutcheon

The dean's office also congratulates dean's list members for fall quarter, 2003:

Juniors--
Pauline Calla
Kimberly Caraig
Tony Esposito
Beena Nair
Jared Vogt
Kimberlee Willis
Michelle Yankee
Maria Zamora

Seniors--
Martha "Sayil" Covarrubias
Lizbeth Felix
Jimson "Tues" Romero
Lian Somali
Joan Ziegelmayer

The dean's office also congratulates dean's list members for winter quarter, 2004:

Emergency medical care, BS--
Clark Binley
Johnny Caraballo
Ryan Casey
Marco Eli Cuena
Brendan Gongol
Matthew Higgs
Ashley Knutsen
Heidee Lino
Laurel Linder
Nanci Medina
Jeffrey Olsen
Allen Patee
Tyrone Philipson
Steven Richardson
Jon Zygowiec

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Revised May 26, 2004
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