Cassandra Blandford
Please join us in congratulating our current dietetic intern, Cassandra Blandford, on her receipt of the Lyn Fleming Scholarship and the Iva Alexander Scholarship from the Kentucky Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (KAND). Blandford graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics in December 2020. She is now interning with the Marshall County Health Department.
“Cassandra is a confident, strong, hardworking and intelligent young woman with a thirst for knowledge and helping others in her community through nutrition counseling and education,” said Dr. Lauren Roberson, nutrition program director, and Blandford’s nominator. “Congratulations, Cassie, we’re proud of you!”
Click here for more information and to read the September 2021 KAND newsletter.
Dr. Azaher Molla
Join with us as we congratulate Dr. Azaher Molla on the recent acceptance of his paper, “An Overview of Bangladesh Health Systems Financing” in the Eastern Journal of Healthcare.
Tina Siddon appointed as director of new respiratory therapy program
Murray State University’s respiratory therapy program, as part of the Madisonville Community College- Murray State University Consortium for Respiratory Education, announces the appointment of Tina Siddon as the consortium program director. Mrs. Siddon is a native of Missouri where she began her career in respiratory therapy. Her clinical practice includes experience in adult critical care, management, discharge planning, home care and patient education.
Mrs. Siddon is an alumnus of Madisonville Community College and Murray State University. She has taught at Madisonville Community College for the last eighteen years. In addition to serving as director of clinical education and program director of the respiratory therapy program, she has also served as simulation coordinator for the interprofessional simulation program.
“I’m honored and excited for the opportunity to work with Murray State University and Madisonville Community College to offer the Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy (BSRT) degree completion program to respiratory therapists in the region and throughout the nation,” said Mrs. Siddon.
Her educational background includes experience with curriculum design, accreditation, grant development and the creation of a professional development curriculum for new faculty members. Mrs. Siddon is an advocate for the profession of respiratory therapy. She has served as the vice chair of the Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care and vice president of the Kentucky Society of Respiratory Care. She is currently serving as co-chair of the Kentucky Society of Respiratory Care’s education committee and political advocacy committee.
In her free time Mrs. Siddon enjoys spending time with her family, doing yoga, kayaking and spending time outdoors.
Sydney Kessler
Congratulations to Sydney Kessler on being selected for the Victory Over Paralysis Summer Scholar Program at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. Kessler was one of only three applicants chosen. Applicants from across the country went through an intense application process and only a select few were chosen for this paid internship. Kessler is a senior exercise science and pre-med major and hopes to go into physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Throughout her internship Kessler worked under a faculty mentor in the pediatric neurorecovery research department, conducted research assessments on children with spinal cord injuries and analyzed research data. Additionally, Kessler had her own research project titled, “Methods to train the trunk for upright postural control and balance in children with spinal cord injury: a scoping review.” She presented her findings to the entire Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center.
“Overall, this internship greatly exceeded my expectations,” said Kessler. “Being able to work as an intern in the same facility that I was a patient in a couple years back was surreal. I absolutely loved meeting and working with all of the children in our studies, and I gained invaluable hands-on experience. I know that the research being conducted has actual implications for people with spinal cord injury, and it was amazing to see the improvements in the eight weeks I was there.”
More information about the program can be found here.
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