Psychology Department Impresses FEBRUARY 2010 Cliff Akiyama, MA, MPH, trained the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office on gang behavior. HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS ..................2 BILL CLINTON ....................6 DEPARTMENT PROFILE..................4 NEW HIRES........................7
FEBRUARY 2010 HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS .................. 2 BILL CLINTON .................... 6 DEPARTMENT PROFILE .................. 4 NEW HIRES ........................ 7 what’sinside Gang Expert Joins Forensic Medicine Faculty Cliff Akiyama, MA, MPH, assistant professor and assistant director, forensic medicine, comes to PCOM with a unique specialty: he is a certified gang specialist. Cliff has over 14 years of first-hand experience working with youth gangs as a researcher, academician and law enforcement officer. Cliff first became aware of the prevalence of gangs while he was working in the coroner’s office in Los Angeles County as a high school student. “Sixty-five percent of the homicides were gang related,” Cliff recalls. His interest in gangs was reinforced while he was researching a paper for college. “That paper defined my career,” he explains. “The Los Angeles Police Department allowed me to go out on patrols with them where I saw gang behavior first hand.” After college, Cliff joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a deputy sheriff. In this position, Cliff was charged with gang suppression and intervention efforts. In addition to having taught victimology, forensic mental health and forensic science, Cliff instructs law enforcement personnel, direct service providers and emergency medical personnel nationwide on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of gang activity. “I just want to see justice done,” Cliff proclaims. “I fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.” Cliff serves on the board of directors and is a certified sexual assault counselor for Women Organized Against Rape, a Philadelphia rape crisis center. He is also the Philadelphia Chapter president of the Japanese American Citizens League, the nation's largest and oldest Asian American civil rights organization. Locally, he serves on the Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs. Nationally, he serves on the board of directors of the Congressional Award Foundation in Washington, D.C., where he also serves as vice president of the Congressional Gold Medal Award Alumni Association. Psychology Department Impresses PCOM’s School PsyD Program has received ASPPB (Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards) designation. In addition to being a wonderful accomplishment for the department, this means that graduates of the programs typically will meet the educational requirements for licensing. The Clinical Psychology Program had a site reaccreditation visit from the American Psychological Association. They won’t get a written report until the spring, but the visit was very positive, with no recommendations. The program was originally accredited in 2003. PCOM LINK Cliff Akiyama, MA, MPH, trained the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office on gang behavior.
Transcript
FEBRUARY 2010
HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS ..................2 BILL CLINTON ....................6DEPARTMENT PROFILE ..................4 NEW HIRES ........................7what’sinside
Gang ExpertJoins ForensicMedicineFacultyCliff Akiyama, MA, MPH, assistantprofessor and assistant director,forensic medicine, comes to PCOMwith a unique specialty: he is acertified gang specialist. Cliff hasover 14 years of first-handexperience working with youth gangsas a researcher, academician andlaw enforcement officer.
Cliff first became aware of theprevalence of gangs while he wasworking in the coroner’s office in Los Angeles County as a high school student. “Sixty-five percent of thehomicides were gang related,” Cliff recalls. His interest in gangs was reinforced while he was researchinga paper for college. “That paper defined my career,” he explains. “The Los Angeles Police Departmentallowed me to go out on patrols with them where I saw gang behavior first hand.” After college, Cliff joinedthe Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a deputy sheriff. In this position, Cliff was charged withgang suppression and intervention efforts.
In addition to having taught victimology, forensic mental health and forensic science, Cliff instructs lawenforcement personnel, direct service providers and emergency medical personnel nationwide on how torecognize the signs and symptoms of gang activity. “I just want to see justice done,” Cliff proclaims. “I fightfor those who can’t fight for themselves.”
Cliff serves on the board of directors and is a certified sexual assault counselor for Women OrganizedAgainst Rape, a Philadelphia rape crisis center. He is also the Philadelphia Chapter president of theJapanese American Citizens League, the nation's largest and oldest Asian American civil rightsorganization. Locally, he serves on the Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs. Nationally, heserves on the board of directors of the Congressional Award Foundation in Washington, D.C., where healso serves as vice president of the Congressional Gold Medal Award Alumni Association.
Psychology Department Impresses PCOM’s School PsyD Program has received ASPPB (Association of Stateand Provincial Psychology Boards) designation. In addition to being awonderful accomplishment for the department, this means that graduatesof the programs typically will meet the educational requirements forlicensing.
The Clinical Psychology Program had a site reaccreditation visit from theAmerican Psychological Association. They won’t get a written report until thespring, but the visit was very positive, with no recommendations. The programwas originally accredited in 2003.
PCOMLINK
Cliff Akiyama, MA, MPH, trained the Philadelphia District Attorney’soffice on gang behavior.
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Holiday HighlightsAs in years past, the generosity of the PCOM community was evidentduring this holiday season. The 10th annual Lights of Love projectraised $900 to support the Ronald McDonald House, whichprovides a home-away-from-home for families with seriouslyill children being treated at area medical facilities.
Through generous donations from the PCOM faculty, staffand students, the Roxborough, Cambria and LancasterAvenue Divisions of the PCOM Healthcare Centers eachreceived approximately $200 in gift cards and food basketsto distribute to families in need.
The PCOM community donated gifts for 97 children in thePhiladelphia area through the Holiday Giving Tree, sponsoredby the Pediatrics Club and Sigma Sigma Phi Honor ServiceSociety. Gifts were wrapped and delivered to Northern Homeand Washington Whiz Kids After School Program by members of the sponsoring organizations.
The Geriatrics Club provided more than 24 hospice giftbaskets that were hand delivered to Odyssey Healthcare —a center for patients who are terminally ill.
PCOM Healthcare Center – Lancaster Avenue Divisionparticipated in Toys for Tots. With a donation from KeystoneMercy Health Plan and money from its own budget, the Centerprovided gifts to over 25 children. Also at the LancasterAvenue Division, Dr. Berry was asked by PCOM vendor,Reckitt Benckiser, for the name of a family in need. Dr. Berrychose the family of a patient who died in July at age 32. Thepatient’s 25 year-old sister took in her two nephews, ages 7and 11. This past fall, her apartment burned down. Nathan
Ingram and a team of representatives from Reckitt Benckiser provided gift cards, sneakers, clothing, toysand games to help make the holidays bright for the family.
Many departments, individuals, and student groups, including CAPS (Culturally Aware PsychologyStudents), SNMA (Student National Medical Association) and the Psychology Society, provided food,clothing and other necessities to those in need this past holiday season.
The generosity of the PCOM community is evident all year-round with fund-raising and volunteer activities.If you’d like to highlight a community member’son-going good deeds, let LINK know, and we’llshare the good news. Send your good news [email protected].
From top to bottom: Jim Murray, co-founder of theRonald McDonald House, accepts a $900 checkfrom the PCOM community. Dr. Elizabeth Gosch’sdaughter, Amelia, age 8, gets an early Christmaspresent from PCOM’s very own Santa. Studentdoctor Christine Basil (DO ’10) helps distribute Toys for Tots gifts to young patients at theLancaster Avenue Healthcare Center. The PCOMchoir, The Pulmonics, entertained the communityduring the holidays.
PCOM news
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PCOM news
2009 Employee Recognition HonoreesCongratulations to these long-serving employees!
Delilah Herbin, PCOM HealthcareCenter – City Avenue Division
C. Scott Little, PhD, Pathology,Microbiology, Immunology andForensic Medicine
Laura Malloy, MMS, PA-C,Physician Assistant Studies
Geoffrey Massey, FinancialReporting
Michael McGuinness, PhD,Anatomy
Barbara Smith-Muhammad,PCOM Healthcare Center – CityAvenue Division
Carol Weill, Office of FinancialOperations
James Wood, Laboratory AnimalResources
Bruce Zahn, EdD, ClinicalPsychology
5 YEARSRachel Bracley, ClinicalPsychology
Mariah Chambers, Biochemistry
Donna Cleary, Alumni Relationsand Development
Paul Evans, DO, Dean’s Office,GA–PCOM
John Fleischmann, EdD, MBA,MPA, Office of Campus ExecutiveOfficer, GA–PCOM
Rita Forde, MBA, Office ofHuman Resources
Sandra Gulich, LPN, PCOMHealthcare Center – Sullivan CountyDivision
Carly Iannone, MEd, ClinicalPsychology
Paul Krajewski, MA, PA-C,Physician Assistant Studies
Jennifer Leone, Office ofMarketing and Communications
George McCloskey, PhD,School Psychology
Paula Miller, PA-C, PCOMHealthcare Center – Sullivan CountyDivision
Harry Paschall, DistributionServices
Dawn Shell, PhD, Pathology,Microbiology, Immunology andForensic Medicine
Diane Smallwood, PhD, SchoolPsychology
Kari Szentesy, Admissions andRecruitment
Arthur Williams, MIS
Tina Woodruff, EdD, StudentAffairs
From left: Nancy McCullen, ChrisDonovan, Danielle Cavanaughand Joan McGettigan
Dr. Simelaro and Carolyn Bozzo
From left: Marcia Pastella-Brady,John Carlin and Kathleen Hain
Department profile
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Like the U.S. Post Office,PCOM’s distribution servicescan’t be stopped from gettingtheir job done. Whether it’sgetting out their heaviestmailing—12,000 copies of DigestMagazine every quarter—ormailing their largest distributionever of 30,000 letters, thedepartment succeeds at itsmission five days a week.
The six-person department worksas a team to keep the College’smail flowing, copiers stocked withtoner and records up-to-dateconcerning inventory, deliveries,warranties and more. As ManagerDoris Powell points out, thedepartment’s work consists of “abillion little things. We all worktogether to get the job done.”
Perhaps the three mostrecognized faces of thedepartment are Tony Dutkiewicz,senior storeroom clerk/courier,Theresa Beauford, mail clerk, andHarry Paschall, storeroom clerk/courier. Most of us see Harry andTony when they deliver packagesfrom UPS, FedEX and othercouriers. What we don’t see is allthe work they do behind thescenes. When they’re notunloading trucks, openingpackages to make sure all thecontents are accounted for andmaking deliveries, Tony and Harryspend much of their time in frontof a computer logging receivedpackages into the Banner andSmarttrack systems, matchingrequisitions with deliveries andkeeping tabs on capital items.Harry also orders Collegesupplies including copier toner,uniforms and letterhead, andtallies the numbers at the end ofthe month.
Theresa distributes the mail in theheat and the cold, the rain and
the snow, but this is not theweather that bothers her. It’s thewind, she says, that is her foe.She recalls one day in particularwhen the wind lifted the mail fromher cart and sent it flying acrosscampus. With the help of somegood Samaritans, she was able toretrieve all the wayward missives.She now has a system ofstrategically placed rubber bandsto keep the mail in place as shemakes her campus rounds.
Between her rounds deliveringthe mail to all PCOM officestwice a day, she’s in distributionservices sorting mail, processingUPS and U.S. Postal Servicespackages, and lending a handwherever it’s needed. In facteveryone lends a hand where it’sneeded. “My goal is to cross-traineveryone,” explains Doris, “so ifsomeone is out of the office itdoesn’t slow us down.”
Andrew Henry, courier/clerk, is aman on the move. Every morninghe drives to the U.S. Post Officeprocessing and distribution centerinWest
Philadelphia and visits the BalaCynwyd Post Office once or twiceevery day to pick up PCOM mail.He also hits the road withdeliveries to New Jersey, CenterCity, the Philadelphia suburbs andthe local PCOM HealthcareCenters. He helps Theresa sortmail before he begins his off-campus deliveries, and he islearning how to do everyone’s jobso he can help out when the needarises.
Working mostly behind thescenes is Charlotte, who’s beenat PCOM for over 30 years. Shehandles the College’s bulkmailings utilizing sophisticatedcomputer programs and mailprocessing equipment. But it allstarts with a paper requisitionfrom a PCOM department thattells her everything she needsto know about a mailing. Onceshe has all the information, shemakes certain that names andaddresses are correct, thatexcel spread sheets areproperly formatted and that allthe other details are in order.She then programs theequipment that addresses, foldsand stuffs the mailings.Charlotte recalls one of the
Theresa clocks many amile delivering mailacross campus.
Neither RainNor Snow …
Doris manages the department and steps in wherever she’s needed.
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Department profile
largest projects she’s workedon–a letter that required closeto 20 mail-merged fields. Whilethat was a once-in-a-lifetimeoccurrence, she often programsher equipment to make up tofour inserts into one envelope.
Distribution services may be asmall department, but it ismighty, keeping the flow of mailand supplies moving through all of PCOM’s departments andkeeping track of where it all goes.
Tony distributes packagesacross campus, never once
wearing a jacket.
Harry keeps track of theinventory that distributionservices supplies to the College.
Charlotte programs the equipment that addresses and suppliespostage to bulk mailings.
Andrew helps sort the mailwhen he’s not on the road.
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kudos!
Cliff Akiyama, associate professor andassistant director, forensic medicine,presented “Gangs: The Safety Threat to YourSchool” at the School Safety Conference ’09,hosted by Valley View Public Schools inRomeoville, IL.
Robert DiTomasso, PhD, professor andchair, psychology; Barbara Golden, PsyD,associate professor and director of clinicalservices; and Harry Morris, DO ’78, chair,family medicine, coauthored The Handbook ofCognitive Behavioral Approaches in PrimaryCare. This comprehensive 775-page volumeemphasizes the critical importance of integratingpsychology and medicine with a strongemphasis on the role of cognitive behavioralstrategies in the assessment and treatment ofcommon behavioral and medical problemsencountered in primary care medicine.
Terri Erbacher, PhD, clinical assistantprofessor, clinical psychology, has beenaccredited as a School Suicide PreventionSpecialist by the American Association ofSuicidology. She co-wrote “Suicide Loss: WhatTeens Need to Know – Self-help for YoungPeople Who Have Lost a Family Member orFriend to Suicide: Delaware County SuicidePrevention & Awareness Task Force Manual.”Dr. Erbacher also coauthored, with YumaTomes, PhD, associate professor and directorof MS in school psychology, and six psychologystudents, “The Other Diversity: The Cost ofBeing GLBT in America’s Healthcare,” whichwas published in Diversity in Mind and in Action.
Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, professor, vicechair and director, clinical PsyD, has beenappointed to the editorial board of the Journalof Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Shewas also invited to give a presentation aboutthe department’s work and training integratingclinical psychology with health care deliveryand the College’s postdoctoral certificateprograms at the APA’s Education LeadershipConference. In addition, she was invited toparticipate in a virtual focus group by theAssociation of State and ProvincialPsychology Boards on the assessment ofcompetencies for psychologists.
Kate Galluzzi, DO, professor, chair anddirector, geriatrics, presented the lecture“Herpes Zoster and the Older Adult: Condition,Treatment, and Prevention,” at the New JerseyAssociation of Osteopathic Physicians andSurgeons 2009-2010 CME Series and at the
The LocalBill Clinton When BillClinton, director,organizationaldevelopment andleadership,decided to runfor a seat on thetown council ofhis hometown,Upper Providence, Delaware County, Pennsylvania,in 2005, he knew he had an uphill battle. “There hadnever been a Democrat on the council,” Bill explains.Undeterred, and with his wife, Mary, as his campaignmanager, Bill ran for office with the simple message,“I think the council would be better off with a two-party system.” Not only was he in the minority as aDemocrat, he was a relative newcomer to thetownship running against an opponent who had livedhis entire life in Upper Providence.
After introducing himself toeveryone in town as “the local BillClinton” and knocking on everydoor in his district at least threetimes, Bill won the election with 57percent of the vote, beating hisopponent who was serving as thetown council president. This pastfall, at the end of his first four-yearterm, Bill ran for re-election andwon with 60 percent of the vote.
Serving as the single Democrat onthe town council, Bill put intopractice the same strategies thathe teaches his ODL students. “Iapproach governing from asystems perspective,” he explains.“Everything is connected. We haveto make choices about how we canput the common interest above self interest. Stabilizethe situation in order to move forward. Whether we’retalking politics, the ODL program or a medicalcollege, the strategy is the same—we can’t staywhere we are and be successful as a community. Weneed to ask what the future holds and how we canbest respond to it.”
Clearly passionate about politics and change, Billhas been asked to consider running for state office. “I don’t want to do that,” he says, “I don’t want to giveup my day job. I’m committed to the students and theprogram. I’m very fortunate to work here–the schoollet’s me be who I am.”
“I use thetheory weteach in
ODL all ofthe time as a
way to bepresent, clearand open to
others’ideas.”
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New Hires1. Ashley Blackard, Secretary, Clinical Education,GA–PCOM
2. Yarnell Fowler, Primary Care Assistant, Primary Care
3. Sean Guinane, MS, PA-C, Assistant Professor,Physician Assistant Studies
4. Richard Hartman, DO, Physician, OMM andOsteopathic Principles and Practice
5. Tiffany Holmes, MS, Research Assistant, Anatomy
6. Brittany Hussong, Secretary/Receptionist, Officeof the Campus Executive Officer, GA–PCOM
7. Margaret Lewis, Administrative Assistant, Library
8. Sharde Morris, Medical Assistant, PCOMHealthcare Center – Lancaster Avenue Division
9. Ray Saunders, Research Assistant, Anatomy
PromotionTamara Scaccia, from Secretary/Receptionist, toAdministrative Assistant, Student Affairs, GA–PCOM
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News from HR
WENDY ROMANO CAROL WEISL ABIGAIL CLAYTON BRUCE FAIRFIELDExecutive Editor Editor/Writer Graphic Designer Photographer
Send, fax or e-mail news items to: Marketing andCommunications, Levin Administration Building; fax6307; e-mail: [email protected]. We can also bereached at x6300.
PCOMLINK
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kudos! New Jersey Association of OsteopathicPhysicians and Surgeons 2009-2010 CMESeries. She also presented “SuccessfulStrategies to Support Your OAB Patients” atthe AOA/ACOFP 114th annual Convention.
James Hale, PhD, associate professor andassociate director of clinical training, schoolpsychology, was a guest editor of a specialissue of Journal of Learning Disabilities entitled“Cognitive and Neuropsychological AssessmentData That Inform Educational Intervention.” Inaddition, he was a coauthor of the following:“Neuropsychology in School Psychology,” whichwas published in Handbook of Education,Training and Supervision of SchoolPsychologists in School and Community,Volume 1; “Comorbidity of Psychopathology inCognitive and Academic SLD Subtypes,” whichwas published in Emotional Disorders: ANeuropsychological, Psychopharmacological,and Educational Perspective; “Developmentand Validation of an AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ExecutiveFunction and Behavior Rating ScreeningBattery,” which was published in Journal ofClinical and Experimental Neuropsychology;and “Assessment and Intervention for Childrenwith ADHD and Other Frontal-Striatal CircuitDisorders,” which was published in BestPractices in School Neuropsychology:Guidelines for Effective Practice, Assessment.
Donald Masey, PsyD, clinical assistantprofessor, psychology, participated in a panelpresentation at the Fifth Annual Go Red ForWomen Luncheon hosted by the American HeartAssociation. The panel focused on determiningrisk factors, warning signs and emotionalstressors related to heart disease in women.
Pam Ruoff, director, alumni relations anddevelopment, was elected chair of the Councilof Development and Alumni RelationsProfessionals of the American Association ofColleges of Osteopathic Medicine.
Etheldra Templeton, MLS, chair andexecutive director, library science, has beenelected to serve as the new facultyrepresentative to the PCOM Board of Trustees.
HR FAQsAre you wondering how your vacation days accrue or when you can use a sick day? Here are the answers tosome of the most frequently asked human resources questions.
Vacation Days You do not lose vacation days if you don’t use them. However, you can only accrue twicethe number of vacation days you receive per year. For example, if you’re entitled to two weeks of vacation ayear (10 days), you can accumulate a maximum of four weeks of vacation days (20 days). If you do not useyour vacation days, they do not expire, but you cannot accrue more than this maximum.
Personal Days All employees accrue four personal days per year. You cannot accrue more than this.Personal days should be scheduled seven days inadvance or in accordance with departmental policy. Ifyou are ill but have no sick time, personal time may becharged.
Sick Days Employees can accrue up to 12 weeks ofsick time. In addition to using these days when you’resick, you can use them if you need a diagnosticprocedure that will incapacitate you, such as acolonoscopy.
Sick Relative Days You may take two days off ayear to care for an immediate family member —spouse, parent or child.
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FEBRUARY 25Graduate ProgramsOpen HouseEvans Hall6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
MARCH 3Executive FacultyMeetingEvans Hall 327 A&BNoon
MARCH 3Department HeadsMeetingEvans Hall 327 A&B2:30 p.m.
MARCH 15 Biomedical ProgramOpen HouseGA–PCOM7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
MAY 5Executive FacultyMeetingEvans Hall 327 A&BNoon
MAY 5Department HeadsMeetingEvans Hall 327 A&B2:30 p.m.
May 23GA–PCOMCommencementGwinnett CenterDuluth, GA • 2:00 p.m.
June 5 Philadelphia DOCommencement The Kimmel Center forthe Performing Arts11:00 a.m.
calendar of events
Meatless MondayThe term Meatless Monday wasfirst introduced during World WarI when the U.S. Food
Administration urged Americanfamilies to reduce their consumption of
key staples to aid the war effort. Almost acentury later, in 2003, Meatless Monday wasreintroduced as a public health awareness programin association with Johns Hopkins BloombergSchool of Public Health’s Center for a LivableFuture. In 2009, the Meatless Monday message wasbroadened to include the health and environmentalbenefits of reducing meat consumption.
The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reducemeat consumption by 15 percent to improve
individual health and the health of our planet.According to this program, going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventableconditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease,diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce ourcarbon footprint and save precious resources likefresh water and fossil fuel.
Why Monday? For most of us, the week begins onMonday. On Monday we move from the freedom ofthe weekend back to the structure of work orschool. Studies suggest we are more likely tocontinue behaviors we start on Monday. Monday isthe call to action built in to every calendar eachweek. And if this Monday passes you by, next weekis another chance to go meatless!
To learn more about Meatless Monday, go to theirWeb site: www.meatlessmoday.com. You can getgreat recipes and learn more about the health andenvironmental benefits of a day without meat.
This newsletter was printed on Finch Casa Opaque digital, a papermanufactured with 66% renewable energy, utilizing 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber.
