Health and Behavioral Studies News

Eat up during the holidays, but keep an eye on nutrition

Overindulging can be hard to resist, but there are ways to enjoy holiday eating and still maintain a healthy diet.

JMU School of Nursing to grow, address catch-22 situation

Starting in January, the program will admit 23 additional students each semester for a cohort of 113, a 25 percent increase.

Paynter uses analysis, creativity and precision to tell a story

Distinguished alumna Sarah Paynter (’17) has made the most of her experiences since leaving JMU, demonstrating what it means to follow a passion and contribute to the world.

#CHBSChats with Alvin Osorio

#CHBSChats with Alvin Osorio (Kinesiology) - Our series of informal chats with students

Inter-professional study abroad in Rwanda

Seven communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and two social work students traveled to Rwanda to complete a cross-cultural comparison of service delivery to at-risk infants in both the U.S. and Rwanda.

CHBS welcomes new associate dean and director of IIHHS

JMU welcomes professor Linda Plitt Donaldson to the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS) as Associate Dean of CHBS and Director of the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS).

Interprofessional group receives grant for youth programming

Funding will provide weekly programming and a summer day camp for youth from underserved populations by pairing youth who are at risk with youth with disabilities who will be co-mentored by JMU students.

Psychology students build new skills as RBTs

Over the summer, psychology students Paige Casey and Kyle Cooper had the chance to work with Continuum Autism Spectrum Alliance as Registered Behavior Technicians.

#CHBSChats with Shay Lumpkin

#CHBSChats with Shay Lumpkin (Psychology) - Our series of informal chats with students

Students enhance their healthcare education through AHEC Scholars Program

In the effort to transform healthcare in the state, the AHEC (Area Health Education Center) Scholars program gives students in health-related majors additional training.

Kinesiology welcomes Maureen Pfahler

With 12 years of teaching experience, Maureen Pfahler (’06) returns to her alma mater as a kinesiology instructor and acting director of Empowerment3.

#CHBSFacultyFocus with Suzanne Grossman

#CHBSFacultyFocus with Suzanne Grossman (Health Sciences) - Get to know CHBS faculty

Psychology welcomes new faculty

Psychology welcomes Giselle Hendy and Ben Blankenship.

Engagement mini grant funds training for cohort

When Carlie Madsen, a student in the online MS-SLP program, found the application for the engagement mini grants offered by the SGA, she knew that it was an opportunity she couldn’t resist.

JMU expert busts flu myths

James Madison University researcher Audrey Burnett recommends getting a flu shot soon as it take a couple weeks for the vaccine to take effect.

Psychology alumnus appointed Vice Chancellor of HR at Minnesota State

Psychology alumnus Eric Davis (’92) served in the Air Force, worked as Chief of Staff at the Minnesota DOT and currently serves as Vice Chancellor of HR at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Battling hopelessness in Hurricane Dorian's aftermath is key

While the physical trauma is easy to spot, other types of trauma are not so visible, says JMU Graduate Psychology Professor Lennie Echterling.

JMU dietitian offers healthy summer eating tips

Now that summer is in full swing, here are some thoughts JMU dietetics professor Jennifer Walsh has on healthy eating.

JMU Center Engages Women and Girls in Wellness Activities

JMU’s Morrison Bruce Center seeks to engage women and girls in healthy physical activity opportunities.

Horst, Finney and Fulcher collaborate on webinar

Professors Sara Finney, Jeanne Horst and Keston Fulcher collaborate on webinar

Area youth to participate in inclusive sports festival

More than 100 central Shenandoah Valley youth have registered to participate in wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, pickleball and other activities.

Finney and Horst Speak at Carnegie Mellon University

Professors Sara Finney and Jeanne Horst traveled to Carnegie Mellon University from May 5-8 to participate in the 2019 Summit of the Empirical Educators Project

Health sciences initiative creates student resources

This semester, health sciences adviser Laura Blosser started an initiative to help her transfer students better integrate into the department.

Health sciences students take alternative spring break trip to Chicago

Three health sciences students participated in a trip to Chicago to work with the Heartland Alliance, one of the world’s leading anti-poverty organizations.

Psychology alumni co-created neuropsychology podcast

Alumni Ryan Van Patten (’12) co-created the podcast Navigating Neuropsychology — the first made about that field of study.

JMU alumna responds to measles outbreak in Oregon

Health sciences alumna, Beth McGinnis (’00) has a role with the measles outbreak response taking place in the Portland Metro area of Oregon.

Students with Schizophrenia founder Cecilia McGough visits JMU

On February 25, nearly 900 students attended her presentation, “An Evening with Cecilia McGough.”

Health sciences students place third at state conference

Shannon Belcher and Rachel Perez traveled to George Mason University to present their team’s research, “Dating App Usage and Sexual Behavior among College Students,” at the VPHA conference.

The healing power of magic

Magician Kevin Spencer is a pioneer in the use of magic tricks for physical and psychosocial rehabilitation, and focuses his research on how teaching magic can be a fun, motivational way to aid in patient recovery.

Psychology instructors combine classes to discuss research

To liven up class material, Julia Dobner-Pereira and Christian Haase, graduate students in the CIPSYD program, brought their PSYC 101 classes together to recreate an academic conference.

Students attend sold-out Nurse Blake event

JMU School of Nursing (SON) students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends attended a one-of-a-kind show designed just for nurses to celebrate the joys and challenges of their profession.

#CHBSChats with Andi Diamond

#CHBSChats with Andi Diamond (Physician Assistant - Health Professions) - Our series of informal chats with students

The importance of interprofessional education in healthcare

More than 90 students participated in an interprofessional education (IPE) event hosted by Health Professions

Psychology student symposium held

Undergraduate psychology student symposium held.

Environmentalism for all ages

In spring 2019, a group of senior health sciences majors collaborated with school children within a local school and daycare facility to explore environmental awareness and sustainability.

B.J. Bryson: diversity leader extraordinaire

Social work professor B.J. Bryson is known for going above and beyond to provide leadership for all aspects of diversity education and inclusion activities.

Helping children on the autism spectrum

Senior communication sciences and disorders (CSD) major Maci Letsky completed immersive internships during two consecutive summers with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Aspire.

Nursing introduces perioperative elective

Perioperative nurses work with surgery patients, surgeons and anesthesiologists; most significantly, they work “behind the red line,” where only those having surgery or performing surgery are permitted.

#CHBSChats with Casey O'Donnell

#CHBSChats with Casey O'Donnell (Health Sciences) - Our series of informal chats with students

EVENT: Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute 2019

Join us June 17 - 21 for our 5th annual Youth Igniting Change Summer Institute for rising 9th-12th graders. More information and registration included.

Students participate in health policy summit

Every semester, JMU’s Health Policy Collaborative provides a forum for students to engage with compelling public health issues while exploring how legislative advocacy can improve wellness, work and quality of life for m

JMU expert can discuss measles outbreak

Audrey Burnett, an associate professor of health sciences at James Madison University, is an expert on infectious diseases and community health.

Reporters invited to see grant in action

Media are invited to Page Memorial Hospital in Luray from noon-2 p.m. Monday, April 15, to interview nursing students, nursing faculty and PMH staff.

#CHBSChats with Katelin Curd & Jacqueline Billy

#CHBSChats with Riley Smith (Communication Sciences and Disorders) - Our series of informal chats with students

CHBS students collaborate on ‘I’m Determined’ project

Each summer, the Partnership for People with Disabilities and the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) ‘I’m Determined’ project holds a Youth and Parent Summit for children with disabilities hosted by JMU.

Psychology alumna continued education around the world

At the age of two, Jessica Lampe (’11) moved from Virginia to Germany, kindling a lifelong passion for international exploration. Since graduating from JMU, Lampe has studied in Scotland, China and Switzerland.

#CHBSChats with Matthew Crawford

#CHBSChats with Matthew Crawford (Kinesiology) - Our series of informal chats with students

Psychology alumna works as researcher in Germany

Originally from New York, Julie Niziurski (’11) travelled far to attend JMU and earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Since graduation, Niziurski has travelled all over the U.S. and to Denmark for her education.

#CHBSChats with Riley Smith

#CHBSChats with Riley Smith (Communication Sciences and Disorders) - Our series of informal chats with students

CCN: a canvas of intergenerational caring

Students who participate in the Caregivers Community Network are finding that art is a fun way to ‘connect, create, and contribute’

Inclusive recreation in action

On February 21, more than 200 students participated in Paralympic Skill Lab (PSL) where they learned to play wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and goalball alongside Paralympic and other distinguished athletes.

2019 CHBS mini-grant recipients announced

Congratulations to the recipients of the recent mini-grant competition to support faculty development.

#CHBSChats with Cam Sutton

#CHBSChats with Cam Sutton (Kinesiology) - Our series of informal chats with students

#CHBSChats with Janae Brown

#CHBSChats with Janae Brown (Social Work) - Our series of informal chats with students

#CHBSChats with Grace Cuevas

#CHBSChats with Grace Cuevas (Social Work) - Our series of informal chats with students

Teaching the intangibles

JMU alumna Katie Tusing turns a life-changing accident into learning opportunities.

Department of Health Professions welcomes new academic unit head

Recent rapid growth in CHBS’s health programs lead to the creation of a new academic unit in 2018. A search successfully identified Kirk Armstrong as the head of the new Department of Health Professions.

JMU School of Nursing director testifies before Congress

JMU School of Nursing director Julie Sanford testified before the U.S. Senate on the growing shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas and potential solutions to fill this critical, national need.

Students work together to provide healthcare at homeless shelters

For the past year, students in the nursing, physician assistant and dietetics programs have volunteered with the mobile healthcare service that provides treatment to the local homeless population.

Giving Day funds make a difference for our Kinesiology program

The kinesiology department utilized its portion of the funding to cover student travel costs for two regional conferences.

Giving Day funds make a difference by funding summer outreach programming

The Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS) utilized its portion of last year's gifts to support summer camp programming.

Giving Day funds make a difference for our Graduate Psychology program

The department of Graduate Psychology used its portion of the funding to purchase training materials for Higher Ground, a project aimed at battling adolescent substance abuse in public schools.

Viewpoints on Health 2018

Viewpoints on Health will be held on March 22, 2018 at 5:30p.m. in HBS 5040

Giving Day funds make a difference for our Social Work program

The social work department dedicated its portion of Giving Day funding to expand student participation in the Rural Area Medical Volunteer Corps. (RAM), a healthcare outreach initiative.

Giving Day funds make a difference for our Psychology program

The Department of Psychology allocated their portion towards bringing keynote speaker Eric Landrum to this year's Psychology Symposium.

Giving Day funds make a difference for Communications Sciences and Disorders program

The department of Communication Sciences and Disorders utilized their Giving Day funding to purchase updated assessment technologies that now serve the adult clinic.

Interprofessional education seminar held

An all day seminar on Interprofessional education took place bringing together over 100 graduate students and advanced undergraduate students from seven disciplines.