Margarita Barlow
Congratulations to Margarita Barlow on her recent abstract acceptance. Barlow’s abstract, “Evaluating the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in treating stress-induced anxiety in adults” was accepted for oral/poster presentation at the 9th Edition of the World Congress on Nursing Education & Practice, scheduled for Sept. 15-16 in Rome, Italy. Barlow is an MSN to DNP student at Murray State.
Community vitality research paper accepted for publication
Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Naber, Dr. Amelia Dodd, Dr. Janice Thurmond, Dr. Lauren Roberson, Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, Dr. Esther Malm and Emily Matson on their recent paper publication. Their paper, “Community Vitality: A Healthy Life for Everyone - Part 2: Resource Website Development,” was published online in Vol 12, No 8 of the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. The publication can be found here. Click here for the latest updates on the website including the results of nutrition patterns of Calloway County, Kentucky residents.
Pictured right is Dr. Jessica Naber.
Pictured top row, left to right, are Dr. Amelia Dodd, Dr. Janice Thurmond and Dr. Lauren Roberson.
Pictured bottom row, left to right, are Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, Dr. Esther Malm and Emily Matson.
Grace Phelps
Congratulations to Grace Phelps on being named as the outstanding senior nursing student. Phelps received her award on May 13 during the nursing recognition ceremony.
“Grace was my advisee throughout her years in nursing and I had the pleasure of having her in class as well,” said Dr. Jessica Naber, nursing faculty. “She was an amazing student in clinical as well as the classroom. She was an attentive and compassionate caregiver in clinical settings and always eager to learn. In the classroom, she was a leader. She was consistently at the top of her class grade-wise, and always maintained a humble and respectful attitude. Grace was a member of the honors college and graduated with the honors diploma. This means she took the honors version of many university studies courses as well as additional honors seminars.
“Grace was also required to study abroad. She traveled to Greece with a group of students on a program where I served as director. She thrived while studying abroad. She was independent and excited and got so much out of traveling! She voluntarily worked with me and some other faculty and students on several research studies when she returned, one of which she and I had published.
“Additionally, I had the honor to serve as chair for Grace’s honors thesis. The honors thesis is a requirement for graduating with an honors diploma. Grace really excelled at this! She was independently motivated and produced high-quality work well beyond that of typical undergraduate work. Aside from her intelligence and motivation, what strikes me most about Grace is her kindness, smile and huge heart. She will be missed in Mason Hall. We are incredibly proud of her!”
Pictured is Grace Phelps backstage at the recognition ceremony with her award.
Carolyn Tinsley
Congratulations to Carolyn Tinsley on her poster abstract acceptance. Her poster abstract, “We Always Round Up”. or ! or ?. Making Medication Calculations Real in Clinical Setting and Preventing Fatal Medication Errors,” has been approved for the Nurse Tim Nuts & Bolts for Nurse Educators conference scheduled for Aug. 11-13.
Neely Chandler
Join with us as we welcome Neely Chandler to the nursing faculty in the School of Nursing and Health Professions. This fall Chandler will teach courses in pharmacology, nursing leadership, and practicum as well as a nursing lab, while also continuing at Murray-Calloway County Hospital where she has worked since 2021.
“I am very excited to share my love of nursing with future nurses,” said Neely Chandler.
Chandler has 26 years of experience within the nursing profession. Before coming to Murray State University, she worked at Henry County Medical Center, Kentucky Lake Surgery Center, Paris Special School District and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion, Illinois. Her work experience includes the areas of nursing administration, critical care, pediatrics, emergency room and surgery.
Some of the positions she has held include working as a: charge nurse of a medical, surgical and telemetry unit; school nurse for Paris Special School District; director of the surgery center at Henry County Medical Surgery Center; nurse director for surgical services; and for three years as the chief nursing officer, including a year as the chief operating officer, for Henry County Medical Center. During her time at Henry County Medical Center they gained a four-star CMS recognition. Last month they received five-star recognition. In 2015 she was also recognized as the Director of the Quarter and Department Manager of the Year.
Chandler received her bachelor of science in nursing from Murray State University in 1996. She received a certificate of excellence for her capstone project at Western Governors University in 2016 where she completed her masters of science in nursing leadership and management.
She previously served on the board of directors of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce from 2020-22. She also served as the vice chairman for the Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board from 2019-22.
Neely Chandler and her husband, Dr. Blake Chandler, live in Paris, Tennessee. Together they have five grown children. In their free time she and her husband enjoy traveling, cooking, and being at the lake or by the pool.
Dr. Matthew Hermes
Join us as we welcome Dr. Matthew Hermes to the exercise science faculty in the School of Nursing and Health Professions this fall. Dr. Hermes will teach courses within the department including exercise physiology and scholarly writing, as well as pursue research and other activities in the areas of sport science, strength and conditioning, and human performance. Dr. Hermes previously taught courses in strength and conditioning, clinical fitness evaluations and techniques, exercise physiology labs, exercise testing and prescription labs, CPR and first aid, and weight training.
Dr. Hermes spent the past four years as a graduate teaching and research assistant in the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (JAPL) and the department of health, sport, and exercise sciences at the University of Kansas while completing his doctoral degree. At the University of Kansas, he taught a variety of undergraduate classes within the department, and conducted and assisted with research in exercise and sport science in the JAPL.
“My favorite aspects of teaching include building relationships with students and helping them to navigate the diverse field of exercise science,” said Dr. Matthew Hermes. “There are a ton of directions you can go in this field and I love helping students connect the dots and map out their path within the field.”
Prior to his time at the University of Kansas, he worked as a strength and conditioning coach in a variety of capacities, including with a club swim team, in a private facility, and with athletes at the high school, Division I collegiate, and Division III collegiate levels. He has also worked as an adjunct instructor at Carroll University where he primarily taught laboratory courses. Earlier in his career, Dr. Hermes spent time as a physical education instructor and assistant wrestling coach at the high school level.
When asked about his favorite areas of research, Dr. Hermes replied, “My research interests span the areas of sport science and exercise physiology, including topics such as weightlifting, exercise training modalities, and adaptations to training. Specific research topics include how varying resistance training velocity and accentuated eccentric loading influences resistance training performance.”
Dr. Hermes has presented research at state, regional, and national events of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He is currently a Level 1 Weightlifting Coach through USA Weightlifting.
He completed his undergraduate degree in exercise science in 2013 and his master’s degree in exercise physiology with an emphasis in strength and conditioning in 2015, both from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He completed his PhD in exercise physiology in 2022 from the University of Kansas. As an undergraduate at Carroll University he was a member of the Carroll University Pioneer football team where he played left tackle on the offensive line.
Dr. Hermes, his wife, Erin, and daughter, Zoey, reside in Murray, Kentucky. Zoey will begin first grade at Murray Elementary School this fall. He and his family are originally from Racine, Wisconsin.
In his free time, Dr. Hermes enjoys training in the sport of weightlifting, is an avid video game player always on the lookout for a good RPG, and is a budding tabletop gamer. He also enjoys spending time with his family and watching his daughter play soccer. He recently had the opportunity to help coach her team and loved every second of it. He is an avid Green Bay Packers fan, enjoys watching and talking about sports including football, wrestling, weightlifting and soccer, and is always up for a chat about sports.
AHEC summer programs
During the months of May and June, Purchase Area Health Education Center (AHEC) sponsored several annual summer programs: The Rural Community Health Scholars (RCHS) program and the Health Professions program (HPP). Both programs choose pre-health profession students at Murray State University based on an interest in rural healthcare through an application process. Preference is given to students from the Purchase area counties of Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken and Trigg.
Rural Community Health Scholars program
The Rural Community Health Scholars program is a four-week program designed to introduce pre-medical students to the need for health and medical professionals in rural communities like their own. Over the course of the program scholars were exposed to community and population-based health issues within rural communities.
Activities included shadowing in rural hospitals in Crittenden, Trigg, Mayfield and Marshall counties; shadowing at Murray-Calloway County Hospital, Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital, and Baptist Health Paducah; touring the schools of medicine in Kentucky including the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Pikeville, UofL School of Medicine Trover campus, University of Kentucky College of Medicine Bowling Green campus; and attending county health coalition meetings. Students also assisted with AHEC summer screenings in Fulton and Hickman counties where free health and sports screenings were provided to the community.
The program placed special emphasis on mental health and wellness. Students were trained in suicide prevention, learned about resources available to assist with mental illness, and participated in mindfulness activities. The program ran from June 1 to June 24.
Health Professions program
The Health Professions program is a six-week program designed to give pre-health profession students extensive hands-on experience in their chosen field. The program also introduces pre-health students to the need for health and medical professionals in rural communities like their own.
Activities included shadowing at various healthcare facilities in the Purchase area, networking and attending Paducah Rotary meetings with AHEC chairman Mike Muscarella, and assisting with AHEC summer screenings in Fulton and Hickman counties where free health and sports screenings were provided to the community. The program ran from May 24 to June 24.
Pictured right are 2022 Health Professions program participants Kate Littlefield, a junior from Oldham County; and Lily Vanover, a junior from Calloway County. Both participants are exercise science majors who plan to apply to the accelerated occupational therapy program at Murray State.
Pictured below are 2022 Rural Community Health Scholar participants touring the University of Louisville School of Medicine Trover Campus in Madisonville, Kentucky. Left to right are John Rutland, biology/pre-med junior from Trigg County; Jade Tinin chemistry/pre-med junior from McCracken County; Claire Whitaker, bio/pre-med sophomore from Calloway County; and Weston Harper, chemistry/pre-med junior from Marshall County.
Respiratory therapy program has positive accreditation visit
Congratulations to Tina Siddon, respiratory therapy program director, and to the program faculty on the recent positive exit/summation accreditation visit for the respiratory therapy program this past May. The accreditation team found no compliance issues. At its July meeting, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) voted to confer provisional accreditation to the bachelor of science degree advancement program in respiratory care. Congratulations Tina and welcome to the School of Nursing and Health Professions team!
The Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy program is a two-year 100 percent online program designed to provide working registered respiratory therapists with a baccalaureate degree. Murray State University has partnered with Madisonville Community College to offer this program. Siddon serves as the program director of the Madisonville Community College –Murray State University Consortium for Respiratory Education that includes the associate degree program at Madisonville Community College and the bachelor’s degree advancement program at Murray State University.
Pictured right is Tina Siddon.
School of Nursing & Health Professions
Our school offers many different health careers that offer you the opportunity to influence the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Website: http://www.murraystate.edu/sonhp
Location: 120 Mason Hall, Murray, KY 42071
Phone: 270-809-2193
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MSU-School-of-Nursing-Health-Professions-100228168258965
Twitter: @MsuSonhp