Ohio State president visits College of Medicine and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
On April 8, 2024 – the same day as the once-in-a-century solar eclipse – The Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. visited The Ohio State University College of Medicine and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS). Throughout his tour, he explored the phenomenal collaborations that are driving innovations in education, research and patient care at our comprehensive academic medical center.
President Carter began his visit in the new Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center, where he met with both Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, FACS, dean of the College of Medicine, and Daniel Clinchot, MD, vice dean for Education, to discuss all three areas of our tripartite mission and the enormous impact the work our faculty, staff and learners will have on the lives of others for years to come.
From there, the president toured the ongoing renovation of Hamilton Hall, and made stops at both Prior and Atwell halls as well as the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute.
“It was a pleasure showcasing the innovative facilities and groundbreaking research initiatives that define our institution,” says Dr. Bradford, who also serves as vice president for Health Sciences at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “We take to heart what many have said before: Embracing innovation is not an option, it is a necessity.”
As are the ongoing innovations and additions at Hamilton Hall which are preserving historic features of the 100-year-old building and with creating state-of-the-art spaces for interactive learning and collaboration in health science disciplines including medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, public health and veterinary medicine.
“The remarkable efforts taking place at our College of Medicine are perfect examples of what it means to be a land-grant university,” President Carter says. “We are dedicated to the innovations and education that will transform lives in Ohio and beyond.”
President Carter explored the innovative Clinical Skills Education and Assessment Center (CSEAC) in Prior Hall, the Athletic Training Lab in Atwell Hall and the renowned Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (DHLRI) , all facilities where top-tier education and ground-breaking research in health care thrive.
At CSEAC, lead simulationist Scott Winfield provided a tour of the simulation training center that includes mannequins and presented ultrasounds on a model's heart. Antoinette Pusateri, MD, physician fellow in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition demonstrated a gastrointestinal ultrasound and then shared the poem “To the Builders” she wrote in celebration of the medical center's new hospital tower on its Columbus campus.
Thomas Hund, PhD, MS, who serves as a professor of Internal Medicine and as director of the DHLRI, showed the group his lab where he and his team directed views in heart cells under microscopes and reviewed computer images of hearts. James Onate, PhD, ATC, director of the Division of Athletic Training and associate professor in HRS, and Amy Darragh, PhD, OTR/L, director of HRS and vice dean in the College of Medicine, led the president through a lower extremity assessment utilizing various clinical tools ranging from hand-held dynamometry, portable force plates and standard rehabilitation devices.
“Our students were able to assess President Carter’s postural control and hip strength during the visit and gave him a glowing review on his physical capabilities,” Dr. Onate said. “It was a great display of clinical education working with students from the Master of Athletic Training program along with several undergraduate and graduate students from research labs.”
The president also learned more about the in-depth interdisciplinary perspective of Ohio State’s Division of Athletic Training education model, which consists of athletic trainers, biomechanists and engineers who use their domain-specific knowledge to provide insights on improving patient care. This effort was led by:
- Jaclyn Caccese, PhD, FACSM, assistant professor in the Division of Athletic Training
- Nathan Edwards, PhD, research scientist in the Human Performance Collaborative
- Samar Long, EdD, AT, clinical assistant professor and director of Clinical Education in the Division of Athletic Training
“He was an enthusiastic participant in our strength and balance lab, and the students and faculty were thrilled to include him,” Dr. Darragh says.
“We are thrilled to have had this opportunity to showcase a few of our exceptional facilities and impactful work being led by a handful of our learners and faculty members,” Dr. Bradford says. “And we are grateful for President Carter’s enthusiasm for advancing medical education and research at our institution.”
