Expert on Post Traumatic Stress Offers Advice to Clinical Students

Calling it more of an art than a science, renowned author and scholar Dr. George Everly recently shared his insight into the diagnosis and treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with students and faculty at South College.

Everly, who specializes in treating individuals involved with war and those who work in emergency services, provided an interactive presentation featuring both his clinical expertise and his anecdotal insights.

“Leonardo da Vinci said ‘First study the science and then practice the art.’ We don’t do a very good job of that,” Everly said. “If I teach you how to do something, you’re a slave to the protocol. If I teach you why it’s important, you can get better than I am.”

Everly offered the students of South College several pieces of advice both for their academic endeavors and for their professional careers. He provided recommendations on practicing the art, rather than the science, of diagnosing PTSD and of diagnosis in general.

“Asking the right question is better than any checklist,” Everly said. “It’s not the number of questions you ask. It’s the power of the questions.”

Dr. Everly is co-founder of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, a non-profit organization affiliated with the United Nations. He is on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University and serves as an adjunct faculty member for several federal agencies. He is the author or editor of 14 textbooks related to crisis treatment and stress management and has lectured on six different continents about the issue.

Remote Area Medical Honors South College Students for Volunteer Work

Students in the Physician Assistant program at South College are being recognized for their recent volunteer efforts with two nonprofits; Remote Area Medical and Mission of Hope.

The two agencies joined together in May for the third annual Health Expedition, a weekend of free medical, dental and optical care offered to anyone in need. Mission of Hope also handed out supplies and other necessities to families in attendance.

Seven students from the PA program at South College assisted the physicians and dentists in seeing nearly 700 patients over two days. The students also helped unload and load equipment and clean up the area.

Representatives from the groups recently presented the students with letters of praise and thanks at the main campus.

“Their service was indeed invaluable,” said Emmette Thompson, executive director for Mission of Hope. “We couldn’t have done this without them.”

Remote Area Medical is a Knoxville-based nonprofit that provides free medical, dental and other services to people in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. Mission of Hope, also based in Knoxville, provides assistance, aid and resources to needy families in Tennessee and Kentucky.

“We had lots of great compliments from the professionals at the event about our students’ knowledge and compassion,” said Dr. Kimberly Hall, vice president of South College.

“These students are showing that they are ready to become a valuable part of the professional community.”

South College Students Receive Grants From Women’s Organization

Two students at South College in Knoxville were recently awarded separate grants for educational expenses from the philanthropic educational organization for women, P.E.O. sisterhood.

Samantha Barks of Maryville and Kendra Stanley of Sevierville each received a Project for Continuing Education (PCE) grant from the organization. Barks will use her grant to help pay expenses for her degree in nursing. She is expected to graduate in March 2009. Stanley is enrolled in the radiography program.

Both women underwent a thorough interview process at the local level and further review by P.E.O. International. In addition to PCE grants for women returning to school, the P.E.O. sisterhood also provides low interest educational loans to qualified women as well as international peace scholarships and scholarships for advanced study.

South College is a private institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. South College educates students for selected careers in high-demand fields and offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, elementary education, legal studies, nursing, pharmaceutical science, and health science, as well as associate degrees in various fields including accounting, business administration, medical assisting, network administration and security, paralegal studies, physical therapist assistant and radiography.

South College Hires Director for New Instructional Technology Department

South College is pleased to announce Dr. Jamie Nelson has joined the administrative staff of the institution as the Director of Instructional Technology, a new department aimed at assisting faculty in the integration of new technologies into teaching.

Dr. Nelson has conducted faculty development for more than 10 years focusing on technology integration in teaching and learning, instructional design, multimedia development, and online course development. In addition, she has taught information systems, web design and programming, multimedia development and microcomputer applications at the college level for 10 years. Her prior teaching experience includes Carson-Newman College, the University of Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University, and Walters State Community College.“

Dr. Nelson’s experience integrating new technologies into the classroom is going to be extremely beneficial to us as we continue our efforts toward online and multimedia course development,” said Steve South, President of South College. “We are very pleased to have her on board.”

Dr. Nelson’s primary responsibility will be to consult with faculty on how to use the Moodle teaching system effectively. Moodle is an integrated electronic learning management system that supplements face-to-face instruction with a 24/7 electronic classroom. Currently, four classes at South College use the Moodle integrated learning system.

“This suite of tools is the same kind of tools they will be exposed to in the work environment,” said Dr. Nelson. “They master these tools now and they will be at a distinct advantage in the workplace.”

South College is a private institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. South College educates students for selected careers in high-demand fields and offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, elementary education, legal studies, nursing, pharmaceutical science and health science, as well as associate degrees in various fields including accounting, business administration, medical assisting, network administration and security, paralegal studies, physical therapist assistant and radiography.