Callie Emerson
Callie Emerson graduated from Murray State University with her bachelor’s degree in exercise science and is currently in her third year of Belmont University’s doctoral program in occupational therapy (OTD). She has finished the fieldwork and internship portions of the program and recently started a fieldwork placement at a skilled nursing facility in Nashville, Tennessee. She is currently working with a clinical instructor to apply what she has learned in the classroom.
“These clinical fieldwork experiences allow me to continue to develop my clinical skill set and leadership so I am ready and equipped as an entry-level therapist,” said Emerson. “The OTD program at Belmont has been an amazing educational experience. My undergrad degree in exercise science from Murray State played a key role in equipping me to transition into the doctoral program seamlessly. I truly feel that Belmont’s OTD program is a perfect fit for me, and I am grateful for the role that Murray State played in getting me to a great OT program.”
Kim Paschall
Join us in welcoming Kim Paschall to the nursing program at Murray State University. Paschall started at Murray State in August as a community health nursing instructor. She also serves as one of the clinical instructors for NUR 206, nursing practice fundamentals, at Murray Calloway County Hospital. Paschall previously worked at Murray Calloway County Hospital in hospice and homecare for three years when she graduated from nursing school. In 1998 she took a position with Murray State University’s health services as a staff RN and worked her way up to associate director and eventually director, serving for a total of twenty years.
She has also worked as a PRN at Murray Calloway County hospital on their post-surgical and wound floor while also working at Murray State and Calloway County Health Department. In 2018 she accepted a position with the Calloway County Health Department as the director of nursing and served as their interim public health director during her last year there.
When asked about her favorite aspects of teaching, Paschall replied, “I am new to teaching in the classroom, but have always loved teaching students in the clinical setting. I enjoy sharing my experiences with students and watching them grow into skillful and competent healthcare professionals.”
Paschall earned her BSN degree in 1995 and her master’s degree in human development and leadership with an emphasis in college student personnel in 2010, both at Murray State. She has also worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kentucky Department of Health (KDHP) in coordinating the local community’s COVID pandemic response. While it was a huge challenge, it afforded her opportunities she said she never thought possible as a nurse.
When asked about her favorite aspects of nursing and research, Paschall replied, “My favorite area of nursing is community health. So many opportunities exist to help community members achieve their greatest state of health and wellbeing.”
Paschall has been married to her high school sweetheart, Joe, for 28 years. Together they have 2 grown children, Jonathan and Kaci. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.
Carlos Lopez
Welcome to Carlos Lopez who has recently joined the nursing program as the new simulations operations specialist for the simulation lab located at Murray Calloway County Hospital. Before coming to Murray State, Mr. Lopez worked as a multi service provider intern at Systems Solutions and as a network technician at Wild Horse Development Pass.
He graduated in 2021 from Murray State with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and network management. As a student he also participated in the Poster’s at the Capital competition, as well as multiple Raspberry Pi competitions where he and his team worked on smart self-irrigating farms, sensor-based RC toy cars, as well as vests for the visually impaired. He is currently researching ways to use Raspberry Pis in his practice labs.
Mr. Lopez’s favorite areas of research include STEM, specifically robotics; cybersecurity pen testing; and artificial intelligence and augmentation. In his free time, he enjoys computer gaming, martial arts, food, casual gym visits, researching and reading.
Occupational therapy students participate in International Talk Like a Pirate Day
International Talk Like a Pirate Day is celebrated annually around the world on Sept. 19, often as a way to raise funds for charity organizations such as Childhood Cancer Support and the Marie Curie Cancer Care. On Sept. 16, occupational therapy students participated in their own version of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Dr. Candace Alvey’s class dressed like swashbuckling pirates and participated in this learning experience to help develop empathy and understanding of the challenges their future clients with disabilities may encounter.
With eye patches and hooks donned, students gave their best pirate effort. Students navigated the Paducah campus with a pirate map to better understand spatial awareness; jumped stepping stones with an assistive device; walked the plank while portraying a pirate with a lower extremity amputation; and participated in various pirate games to better understand cognitive challenges. Reflections on the day and completion of activity analyses for each of the day’s events helped students to better understand the motor skills, processing skills and client factors required of individuals to participate in daily occupations.
Pictured below are students participating in various pirate educational activities. Pictured right is a skeletal pirate.
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