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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
NSU Health Professions Division Provides Health Screenings at the Sistrunk Historical Festival
From left: Elizabeth Moore (DPT1), Eric Sveinsson (DPT1), Holly Wohltman (DPT2), Shilpa Gaikwad, Ph.D., M.P.T (PT faculty), Susan Valdes (DPT2), Brian Joseph (DPT1), and Annabel Nunez-Gaunaurd, Ph.D., PT, (PT faculty)
NSU’s Health Professions Division participated in the annual Sistrunk Festival which was held during Black History Month in Fort Lauderdale.
For the past 10 years, students of the Physical Therapy (PT) Department at NSU have participated in the festival under the leadership of Bini Litwin, Ph.D., D.P.T, P.T, M.B.A, PT. This year, as in the past, PT students collaborated with Occupational Therapy (OT) and Pharmacy students to actively engage in providing essential community services to the residents of South Florida. Abiding by NSU’s mission statement and its core values of Innovation and Community, faculty members and students of the Health Professions Division provided medical screenings to the Sistrunk community.
The event, sponsored by the Sistrunk Historical Organization, is held in honor of one of the first African-American physicians of Broward County, Dr. James Sistrunk. The festival stands true to the mission statement of the organization: “To celebrate the historical and cultural richness and contributions of people of African descent and their impact on the global community.” The event featured a parade, local and national entertainment, and family-centric activities, along with free health screenings offered by Nova Southeastern University (NSU) faculty and students.
Festival attendees who visited the NSU booth received free health screenings that included: checks of blood pressure and body mass index; and posture analysis by the five Physical Therapy students who were supervised by PT faculty, Annabel Nunez-Gaunaurd, Ph.D., PT, and Shilpa B. Gaikwad, Ph.D, PT, M.P.Th. Developmental screenings were given by OT students who were led by OT faculty member Nicole Quint, Dr. O.T, MOTR/L; and medication counseling was given by Pharmacy students, Victor Liang and Cindy Cuello under the supervision of pharmacy faculty member Devada Singh, Pharm.D, RPh, CDE.
Twenty-seven individuals between 13 to 88 years old received physical therapy health screenings, those whose results were outside the normal range for age and gender were advised to follow up with their physicians. Patients were also provided a variety of educational handouts related to diet, exercise, and general wellness guidelines; they were given the contact information of NSU faculty members for follow – up questions regarding NSU services.
Participation in this annual event enables faculty members and students from NSUs Health Professions Division to apply newly acquired skills and expertise in a real-world environment.