UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS F A L L 2 0 0 4

Audiologists say loud noise produced by motorcycles

NEWS

hen the band Steppenwolf sang of heavy metalthunder in “Born to be Wild,” their classic odeto the freewheeling biker lifestyle, they equatedrocking out to the new electric music of theirtime with the ear-pounding experience of ridinga motorcycle.

The notion that loud music can damage hearing is commonknowledge, but the noise produced by motorcycles poses similar riskto riders, UF experts caution.

In a pilot test of 33 motorcycles, audiologists at the College ofPublic Health and Health Professions have found nearly half pro-duced sounds above 100 decibels when throttled up — equivalent inintensity to a loud rock concert or a chainsaw. The ongoing UF effortis the first scientific study aimed at producing quantifiable data onnoise levels for motorcyclists.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Healthcautions that exposure to noise at 100 decibels is safe for only 15minutes. Permanent hearing loss can occur with prolonged exposureto any noise measuring 85 decibels or above.

“Almost all of the motorcycles we tested reached action-levelnoise, which in the workplace would require ear protection,” said JoyColle, one of the study’s researchers in the department of communi-cative disorders. “The loudest bike we tested measured 119 decibelswith the engine revved, and the recommended exposure time at thatlevel is only 11 seconds.”

More than 5 million Americans are registered motorcycleowners, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Of the28 million Americans who have some degree of hearing loss, aboutone-third can attribute their hearing loss to excessive noise exposure.

In addition to sound levels, the UF researchers are noting themake, model, engine size, year manufactured, and any modificationsto the engine and exhaust systems of each motorcycle. They will then

develop an online database to provide motorcyclists with bike-specific data on noise exposure so riders can make informeddecisions about hearing protection.

“At this time, if consumers were to try to find a measure ofhow loud their motorcycle is, they’d find misinformation,” Collesaid. “An Internet search for motorcycle noise levels will yield a20- to 25-decibel range, with the interested motorcyclist comingaway with no useful information. That’s not good enough.”

In the UF study, noise levels were tested at riders’ ear levelsfrom stationary motorcycles when idle and throttled up. Furtherresearch should include measurement of noise levels when themotorcycles are driven at cruising speeds to account for the effectsof wind noise, Colle said.

Although noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, it is en-tirely preventable, Colle said. Motorcyclists should limit theamount of exposure they have to high-decibel levels, and althoughmotorcycle helmets don’t provide any significant protection againstnoise, inexpensive foam earplugs, available at drug stores, canreduce sound levels by 20 to 25 decibels.

Riders should pay attention to the warning signs of noise-induced hearing loss: a ringing sound in the ears immediately afterexposure, and hearing voices and other sounds as muffled.

“These new data about the sound levels to which motorcyclistsare exposed will help audiologists and others who work in hearingconservation advise their clients about healthy choices when itcomes to how long to ride and when to wear hearing protection,”said Ted Madison, president of the National Hearing ConservationAssociation. l

Motorcycle noise

Holloway namedboard chair

Longtime business leaderSamuel Holloway has beennamed chair of the College ofPublic Health and Health Pro-fessions advisory board.

Holloway is president andCEO of Holloway Financial Ser-vices Inc. and serves on theboards of M & S Bank and OakHammock at UF.

He also has the distinction ofserving on the advisory boardlonger than anyone in thecollege’s history.

“Sam has an understandingand appreciation for theimportant work we do and isdedicated to the college’s suc-cess,” said Stacey Marsh, di-rector of development. “Anyonewho knows Sam knows that heis a wonderfully kind, caringand loyal person.”

The board works to promoterelationships between the col-lege and the health-careindustry; assist in fundraising;provide counsel to the college;and serve as advocates for stu-dents seeking internships orjobs.

Committees were recentlyestablished to help membersfocus their energies. They in-clude: Major Gifts, chaired byDan Devine; Mid-Range Gifts,chaired by Rolf Kuhns, physicaltherapy ’72; Alumni Relations,chaired by Bob Levitt, Ph.D.,clinical and health psychology’61; and Student Relations,chaired professor emeritusClaudette Finley.

The board’s success wouldnot have been possible withoutthe efforts of Levitt, the formerchair, Marsh said. During abreak in board activity in themid ’90s, Levitt worked to re-store the board, recruitingmembers, organizing meetingsand establishing goals.

“Board members contributegenerous amounts of time andenergy to the college,” Marshsaid. “They’re all invaluable toour success. We can’t be greatwithout them.” l

Above: Audiology graduate student Andrea Pierce usesa noise dosimeter to measure the loudness of DanoRoller’s motorcycle.

puts bikers at risk for hearing loss

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Savoring silence Patient successfully treated for tinnitus enjoys the quiet

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am Haddad has heard afaint hissing sound inhis ears for as long as hecan remember.

“Most of the time Ididn’t notice the hissing

unless I was in a quiet room andreally thought about it,” saidHaddad, manager of industry rela-tions at John F. Kennedy SpaceCenter and a Titusville resident.

But that changed suddenly oneday in September 2002, when thelow level hissing noise became aroar.

“The noise in my ears was soloud, I could barely hear voices,”Haddad said. “And outside noises,like an air conditioner, sounded likethey were amplified several times.I was literally going crazy.”

Haddad was diagnosed withtinnitus, the perception of sound inone or both ears when no externalsound is present. It is often referredto as “ringing in the ears,” althoughsome people may hear hissing,roaring, whistling or chirpingsounds.

Haddad’s physicians told himthat his condition was not treatableand would worsen over time.

“As the tinnitus got worse, Icouldn’t focus on my work or mysinging,” said Haddad, who per-forms locally on the weekends. “It

also affected my relationship with myfamily, and I wasn’t getting morethan an hour of sleep a night. Ialmost wished that I could lose myhearing altogether so it would endthe tinnitus.”

Haddad found relief throughtreatment he received from JamesHall III, Ph.D., a clinical professor inthe department of communicativedisorders at the College of PublicHealth and Health Professions.

Although the exact causes oftinnitus are unknown, several condi-tions are suspected oftriggering or worsen-ing tinnitus, includingnoise-induced hearingloss, stress, ear orsinus infections, jawmisalignment, headinjury, certain medica-tions and wax build-upin the ear canal.

After months ofsuffering, Haddad wasdesperate for a solution. He turned toHall, chief of audiology at the UFSpeech and Hearing Center and aninternationally recognized expert ontinnitus treatment.

“At my first meeting with Dr.Hall he predicted that within sixmonths, the hissing noise in my earswould be back to the low level I hadbefore. I thought that was unbeliev-

able, but when the noise was goneafter a month, I called Dr. Hall andtold him he was a miracle worker!”

Hall used a component oftinnitus retraining therapy to treatHaddad’s tinnitus, a technique thathelps a person gradually ignore thesound of tinnitus. The methodinvolves extensive counseling ontinnitus’ causes and custom devicesto fit in or behind the ear that aregiven to some patients to helpdistract them with soft, pleasantsounds. Cognitive behavioral

therapy is anotherpromising manage-ment approach fortinnitus, and drugtherapy, vitamintherapy, biofeed-back, hypnosis andtinnitus maskershave been success-ful for somepatients, althoughthese methods have

not been tested by formal research.“For most people with tinnitus,

outcome is good with appropriateprofessional care; that is, the personmay get to the point where thetinnitus sounds are usually notnoticeable, and the tinnitus does notinterfere with daily activities, suchas the ability to concentrate or to fallasleep at night,” Hall said. l

Sam Haddad

Dr. James Hall

“Then you should say what you mean,” the MarchHare went on.

“I do,” Alice hastily replied; “at least — at least Imean what I say — that’sthe same thing, youknow.”

“Not the same thing abit!” said the Hatter. “Youmight just as well say that‘I see what I eat’ is thesame thing as ‘I eat what Isee!’” —Alice in Wonder-land

Like Alice, the clinicaldisciplines in our collegehave frequently found

themselves confused. For years, many argued theinterventions practiced by our colleagues werecritical and could not be subjected to empiricalevaluation. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a mansustaining a spinal cord injury or stroke could be toldhe has been assigned to the no-treatment “control”group for his rehabilitation program. Consequently,many of the key concepts underpinning rehabilita-tion and psychological interventions were slow to betested.

In the late 1990s, the faculty of the College ofPublic Health and Health Professions developed avision for the college that considered the challengesfacing our disciplines in the marketplace. Manydisciplines were experiencing decreased paymentfor services because it was argued the scientificbasis for our interventions was lacking. Recognizingthis, the faculty determined the college shouldbecome a national leader in the science validatingour disciplines, and they set goals to increase ourresearch output.

Looking back some six years later, it is clear wehave succeeded to a degree no one imaginedpossible. The result of the faculty’s efforts has beena staggering array of research in diverse areasranging from treatment outcome evaluations topublic policy, bioterrorism to cognitive processing offacial asymmetries, and gene transfer to acceleratemuscle recovery to enhancing spinal cord recoveryand plasticity.

Our faculty’s growth in research funding beganduring a period of expansion in national researchfunding by the National Institutes of Health. From1998 to 2003, Congress increased the NIH’sresearch budget by 15 percent per year.

The NIH’s budget is now essentially flat, and morethan 80 percent of proposals go unfunded. Despitethe increased competition, our faculty has continuedto obtain new grants, a true testament to the qualityof our faculty and the importance of the researchquestions they are addressing.

The work of Public Health and Health Professionsfaculty promises to greatly enhance our understand-ing of why treatments work and which treatmentshold promise for future examination. This workdemonstrates the importance of setting a vision andhaving clarity of purpose to go the distance. l

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student N E W S

Teachers of the year

Michael Robinson, Ph.D., professor,clinical and health psychologyTeacher/Scholar of the Year 2004

Q: What do you think your students appreciatemost about you as a teacher?

A: Relevance of material and methods,accessibility, humor.Q: What is the funniest event that has evertaken place in your classroom?

A: I decline to answer this to protect my standing inthe witness protection program.Q: What is your teaching philosophy?

A: What is taught should be integrative of all theprofessional roles to which students aspire. The materialthen becomes more relevant and more easilyassimilated. I also believe that incidental learning,rather than intentional learning, is more efficient andbetter retained, making mentorship or “on-the-jobtraining” models better than classroom lecture models.Q: How did you become a good teacher?

A: I’m never satisfied with my teachingperformance, so I’m hesitant to state that I am a goodteacher. The demands of being a researcher, teacher/mentor, clinician and administrator result incompromises of aspired performance in each of thoseroles.

he College of Public Health and HealthProfessions’ teachers of the year wererecognized at the student welcome inSeptember. Here they share the secrets oftheir success.

Joanne Foss,Ph.D., OTR/L,lecturer andprogram director,occupationaltherapyTeacher of theYear 2004

Q: What do you appreciate most in yourstudents?

A: I appreciate students the most when they sharetheir insights, ideas and learning experiences. Moststudents are excited about learning, and changing theway they think about things. This type of studentenergizes me and teaches me, too.Q: Did you aspire to be a teacher when youwere a student?

A: Actually, as a teenager I always said the onecareer I knew I did NOT want was teaching. Both of myparents were secondary school teachers and I knew thatthey were underpaid and overworked, and I felt thatteaching was not respected in this country. However, allof the career choices I made led me to teaching, and Iwould not be anywhere else.

Q: Did another teacher influence how you teach?A: My mother…she always made her students feel

respected. She expected them to put forth their best effortand be responsible people, but she knew they wouldmake mistakes and need help with second chances. Shewas always willing to help them get back on track, andbelieved they had it in them to be better than in the past.

Bruce Thomason, Ph.D., (right) founding chair of the department ofrehabilitation counseling, speaks to schoolchildren circa the late1950s about disabilities and prosthetic devices.

L O O K I N G B A C K

Parent Child Interaction Therapy, developed bySheila Eyberg, Ph.D., a professor in the clinical andhealth psychology department, was one of threetherapies named by the Ewing Marion KauffmanFoundation and the National Call to Action as a bestpractice for helping children heal from the impact ofchild abuse.

Ronald Rozensky, Ph.D., chair of the department ofclinical and health psychology, has been elected to athree-year term on the Board of Directors of theAmerican Psychological Association.

Horace Sawyer, Ed.D., chair of the department ofrehabilitation counseling, received the LifetimeAchievement Award from the International Associa-tion of Life Care Planning.

The UF Health Science Center honored severalcollege employees for reaching career milestones inyears of service. They include Elizabeth Cody,Todd Fraser, Cynthia Freeman, Kelli Granade andHeather Steingraber, 5 years; Lynn Jernigan, 10years; Philip Chase, 15 years; Peggy Bessingerand Elizabeth Williams, 20 years; and Janet Haire,25 years.l

faculty N O T E S

& staff

TAdrienne Aiken, a doctoral student in the depart-ment of clinical and health psychology, received aresearch supplement for underrepresented minoritiesfrom the National Institute on Aging.

Vonetta Dotson, a doctoral student in the depart-ment of clinical and health psychology, received aminority dissertation research grant in aging from theNational Institute on Aging.

Megan Gaiefsky, a doctoral student in the depart-ment of clinical and health psychology, was awardeda Pre-Doctoral Associated Health RehabilitationResearch Fellowship, sponsored by the Departmentof Veterans Affairs.

Michelle Harwood, a doctoral student in thedepartment of clinical and health psychology,received the Florida Psychological Association andThe Melissa Institute Joint Violence PreventionProject Award to fund her dissertation.

Sarah Lageman, a doctoral student in the depart-ment of clinical and health psychology, won the bestgraduate student poster award at UF’s Women’sHealth Research Day.

Several clinical and health psychology students wererecognized for their research accomplishments at theannual American Psychological Association conven-tion in Hawaii. They include Daniel Bagner, EleniDimoulas, Adam Lewin and Paul Seignourel. l

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Global perspective

Oxford, England

Amman, Jordan

Leanne Cianfrini (center) with Oxford students.

The department of clinical and health psychology is bringing two very different parts of the worldcloser to home through international exchanges. Here participants in the Oxford University andthe University of Jordan exchange programs describe their experiences.

University of Jordan faculty Drs. MohammadBaniyounes, Arwa Aamiry and Fares Hilmi.

he department established a faculty and student exchange program withthe University of Oxford Course in Clinical Psychology in 1999. Facultyprovide lectures, and students attend classes and work in clinic. Partici-pating faculty include Drs. Michael Perri, Ronald Rozensky, Sheila

Eyberg and Stephen Boggs from UF and Drs. Paul Kennedy and Susan Llewelynfrom Oxford. Two students from each program have also participated.

Oxford is one of oldest and greatest centers of learning in world. Without adoubt, the exchange of ideas and the opportunity to learn about alternativeperspectives represents the major benefit of the exchange.Michael Perri, Ph.D.Professor, department of clinical and health psychologyAssociate dean for research, PHHP

My Oxford colleagues and I enjoyed pleasant conversation over daily teabreaks, and I was strongly encouraged to balance my career and personal/recreational life. It was striking to me how much emphasis folks in the U.K.place on this balance. It’s evident in media ads for frequent holidays (vaca-tions), in generous allowances for maternity leave, and it’s a lesson thisparticular “workaholic” carried home with her to stay.Leanne Cianfrini, Ph.D.UF postdoctoral fellow and clinical and health psychology internship graduate

The Florida department provides specialist experiences in clinical and healthpsychology which are not easily available in the U.K., such as involvementwith transplant work and some of the neuropsychology work. The opportunityto see the rural program is also fascinating for us, as is the child health work.I suspect a major difference between our cultures is the funding arrangement,since all of our work is funded by the National Health System and all patientcare is provided free at the point of delivery, irrespective of ability to pay.Susan Llewelyn, Ph.D.Director, Oxford University doctoral program in clinical psychology

he Jordanexchangegrew out ofa relation-

ship with ArwaAamiry, Ph.D., apsychology facultymember at theUniversity of Jordan.Trained as an experi-mental psychologist,Aamiry received asecond doctoraldegree in clinicalpsychology from UFand returned to the

UJ faculty. For a population of more than 5 million, Jordan had very few clinicalpsychologists and no child clinical psychologists, Aamiry explained.

Through a unique collaboration, the department of clinical and health psy-chology is now partnering with UJ to train a select group of UJ students who,once they finish their graduate education at UF, will return to Jordan as facultymembers. Ashraf Al-Qudah and Hadil Faqih are currently enrolled.

This is a very unusual relationship between universities. It’s a good example ofa grass roots relationship between people with a goal and hope of promulgat-ing the UF method of training clinical psychologists as scientists andpractitioners throughout the Arab world.Ronald Rozensky, Ph.D.Chair, department of clinical and health psychology

This exchange will allow the University of Jordan, the oldest and most prestigiousuniversity in Jordan, to establish the first graduate program in clinical psychologyin Jordan, and possibly in the Arab Middle East. There are a lot of stressors,familial, economic and political, in this area of the world. All of these stressorscreate psychological problems that need to be addressed. Clinical and healthpsychology professionals will be very important in trying to assist the populationin coping.Arwa Aamiry, Ph.D.Associate professor, University of Jordan

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dissertationsThese College of Public Health and Health Professions doctoral studentssuccessfully defended their dissertations between September 2003 andAugust 2004.

Clinical and Health PsychologyGretchen AmesReformulated Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Obesity: A RandomizedPilot Study Investigating Changes in Expectations for TreatmentOutcomesChair: Michael Perri, Ph.D.Karen BearssResponse Patterns of Parents Undergoing Contested CustodyEvaluationsChair: Sheila Eyberg, Ph.D.Nicole BerlantIncreasing Adherence to an Exercise InterventionChair: Michael Perri, Ph.D.Michael ColeEffect of Goal Setting on Memory Performance in Young and Older Adults:An fMRI StudyChair: William Perlstein, Ph.D.Jason DemeryOperating Characteristics of Executive Functioning Tests in TraumaticBrain InjuryChair: Russell Bauer, Ph.D.; Co-Chair: William Perlstein, Ph.D.Steven KnautsThe Impact of Emotion on Memory and Misinformation AcceptanceChair: Russell Bauer, Ph.D.Elizabeth LeritzAssociative Priming and Explicit Memory in Aging and Mild CognitiveImpairmentChair: Russell Bauer, Ph.D.Chris LoftisAn Ecological Validity Study of Executive Function Measures in ChildrenWith and Without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChair: James Johnson, Ph.D.Avani ModiAdherence in Children with Cystic Fibrosis and AsthmaChair: Alexandra Quittner, Ph.D.; Co-Chair: Samuel Sears, Ph.D.Rebecca PapasSex-Related Predictors of Health Care Use for PainChair: Joseph Riley, Ph.D.; Co-Chair: Michael Robinson, Ph.D.Otto PedrazaOn the Latent Structure of Cognitive Malingering: A Multivariate TaxonomyAnalysisChair: Dawn Bowers, Ph.D.Ben PhalinDetecting Significant Change in Neuropsychological Performance ofCollege Football PlayersChair: Eileen Fennell, Ph.D.; Co-Chair: Duane Dede, Ph.D.Christina WierengaAge-Related Changes in Word Retrieval: Frontal Executive vs. TemporalSemantic SubstratesChair: Bruce Crosson, Ph.D.

Rehabilitation ScienceKathryn ByersTesting the Accuracy of Linking Healthcare Data Across the Continuum ofCareChair: Craig Velozo, Ph.D.Toni ChiaraExpiratory Muscle Strength Training in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosisand Healthy ControlsChair: A. Daniel Martin, Ph.D.Stacy FritzFunctional and Descriptive Predictors of Outcomes for Constraint-InducedMovement Therapy for Individuals with Post-Stroke HemiparesisChair: Kathye Light, Ph.D.Elizabeth HannoldEffects of Locomotor Training on the Psychosocial Adaptation of Personswith Incomplete Spinal Cord InjuryChair: Mary Ellen Young, Ph.D.David HowardLeisure in the Lives of Older Men: Coping and Adaptation FollowingProstate Cancer Diagnosis and TreatmentChair: Elizabeth Swett, Ph.D.Stephen LussierCounselor Perspectives on Suicide and Suicidal IdeationChair: Linda Shaw, Ph.D.Matthew MalcolmReliability and Utility of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to AssessActivity-Dependent Plasticity in Human StrokeChair: Kathye Light, Ph.D.Marieke Van PuymbroeckPredictors of Quality of Life in Caregivers at One and Six Months PostStrokeChair: Mary Ellen Young, Ph.D.

ore than a year after his appointmentas chair of the department of healthservices research, management andpolicy, R. Paul Duncan, Ph.D., hastime to reflect on the growth of thedepartment, which features new

programs, additional faculty and a new name.“The department has

grown from a departmentwith four faculty membersand heavily invested in asingle master’s degree inhealth administration,” saidDuncan, a nationally knownhealth insurance researcher.“We now have 15 faculty andfour active graduate pro-grams.”

The department is alsothe transitional home of thecollege’s public healthdivisions of epidemiologyand biostatistics as theprograms are developed.

Six years ago, formerchair Niccie McKay, Ph.D.,Duncan and Dean RobertFrank, Ph.D., set out todevelop a plan for the department’s growth.

“We could have just kept chugging along the way wewere, but we made the active decision to expand thedepartment’s program offerings, size and comprehensive-ness,” Duncan explained. “We did this not just to getbigger, but to broaden the research base represented byour faculty and offer a wider range of degree programs.”

The culmination of these efforts has been to changethe department’s name from health services administra-tion to health services research, management and policy, aname that more closely reflects all the department’scomponents, Duncan said.

In addition to offering a master’s degree in healthadministration, the department now features an executivemaster’s in health administration for working profession-als, a Ph.D. in health services research, and participatesin the health management and policy track in the masterof public health program.

“We really have good, smart students who are wellprepared to work,” Duncan said. “I’m very proud of thefact that our graduates are making contributions to health-care delivery, and that they retain life-long ties to theprogram.”

The research conducted by the department’s facultymembers falls into three areas. The first is access tohealth care, or how individuals obtain care, such asmedical, dental, nursing home care or mental healthservices. The second is the study of health-care organiza-tions that serve vulnerable populations like low income,

uninsured people or members of racial and ethnic minor-ity groups. Rehabilitation studies, with close ties to theDepartment of Veterans Affairs’ Rehabilitation OutcomesResearch Center, round out the department’s researchportfolio.

In his own research, Duncan examines access tomedical and dental care, especially issues involving

health insurance and the uninsured.“I was attracted to this research

because of the simple fairness andjustice of health insurance,” saidDuncan, the Louis C. and JaneGapenski professor of health servicesadministration. “It is the most impor-tant device used in the United Statesthat tries to make the distribution ofhealth care fairer. I think health insur-ance is a key part of creating a moreequitable system, and I value that agreat deal.”

Duncan leads a research teamfocused on estimating the number ofpeople without health insurance inparticular states and comparing thehealth insurance experiences of vari-ous groups, including those identifiedby age, race, income, employment,education, location and combinations

of these factors.In recent years, the team has studied uninsured

populations in Florida, Indiana and Kansas.Duncan, who was appointed by Florida Gov. Jeb

Bush to the Governor’s Task Force on Access to Afford-able Health Insurance, also recently completed a three-year project to study the origin, design, implementationand outcomes of Florida’s Medicaid Provider ServiceNetwork, an alternative health-care delivery program forthe state’s low-income population. The research estimatesthat the network saved the state $34 million.

Duncan’s interest in access to health care extendsbeyond his research to community involvement. He hasvolunteered time at the Alachua County Organization forRural Needs (ACORN) Clinic, and served on theAlachua County health-care board. He also participatedin the design of CHOICES, a health-care program for thecounty’s working uninsured.

Originally from Canada, Duncan and his wife Margoenjoy taking advantage of Florida’s coastlines bykayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling in their sparetime. After a successful career in scientific illustration,Margo currently focuses on painting and stained glass,while continuing her active support of animal welfareorganizations such as the Alachua County HumaneSociety. It is no coincidence that the Duncan familyincludes six cats, all of them rescues. Their daughterRenee lives in New York and is a flight attendant forAmerican Airlines. l

Health services research, management and policychair leads through period of expansion

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nity, so communityinvolvement wasinstilled in me at ayoung age,” Devinesaid. “I have greatrespect for thevision and work ofDean Frank and Dean William Riffee of the Collegeof Pharmacy. I naturally like to support people doinggreat things, and I have always had an affinity forUF.”

In his new role as chair of the college advisoryboard’s Major Gifts committee, Devine hopes to usehis corporate knowledge and innovative ideas forraising funds to help the College of Public Healthand Health Professions continue its research, educa-tion and service activities with the support of privategifts.

“My hope is that I can help to cast a vision forraising major gifts, develop a 10-year plan forfulfilling that mission, and strategize present andpotential donors,” Devine said. “I like the missionand forward movement of the college, and I wouldlike to see the college’s efforts succeed.” l

Health-care leaderOn the eve of retirement, alumnus looks back on health administration career

Dyer Michell

When Dyer Michell, master’sdegree in health administration’67, began his career in the late1960s, there were noHMOs or hospitalmergers and Medicarewas brand new.

Health-care delivery has changed byleaps and bounds since then, and despite achallenging health-care climate, Michell hasexpertly led Munroe Regional Health Sys-tem, a non-profit hospital in Ocala, Fla.,from status as a small rural hospital to anationally recognized tertiary care provider.

Michell leaves the organization inexcellent shape when he retires in March2005 after 36 years at Munroe Regional, 28of them as president and CEO.

“Dyer Michell is one of the program graduatesof whom we are especially proud,” said R. PaulDuncan, Ph.D., chair of health services research,management and policy. “Dyer is so well regardedthroughout Florida. He is known for having been aneffective, steady administrator no matter whatchanges were taking place in health care.”

Michell has overseen six major building pro-grams at Munroe Regional, bringing the number ofbeds from 150 when he started in 1968 to 421 today.

A second campus at theTimberRidge site in westMarion County nowincludes a nursing andrehabilitation center,physician offices, radiationoncology and renal dialy-sis centers, imagingcenter, and full-serviceemergency department.

Munroe Regional’snet revenues have grownfrom $9 million in 1977,following Michell’s first

year as CEO, to a projected $280 million in 2004.The career achievements Michell is most proud

of include Munroe Regional’s interventional heartprogram, which has been awarded Top 100 Cardio-vascular Hospital status by Solucient Inc. for moresuccessive years than any other non-teaching hospi-tal; the hospital’s recognition as a DistinguishedHospital by Health Grades for overall clinical excel-

lence; and the creation of a joint ventured, nationallyacclaimed indigent care program.

“I have a heart for reaching out to make sureeveryone in the community gets the care they need,”Michell said.

While it has been rewarding to ensure thatpeople with low incomes receive care, it has alsobeen one of the most difficult aspects of his career.

“In every community folks have divergentopinions about what kind of health care should beavailable, who should get what and how it should bepaid for,” Michell said. “Those issues were broadlydebated in the community, and I’m happy to say thegreat majority came behind the institution to say theybelieve in our mission.”

That kind of community and hospital boardsupport has contributed to Michell staying in hisposition for so many years, a rarity in the health-careadministration field.

“I fell in love with the community and themission and vision of the hospital,” Michell said.“And with the continued support of the board andstaff, how could I leave? I’ve been blessed thatthings have come together, allowing me to stay andfoster growth at Munroe Regional.” l

Giving back

F graduate Dan Devine might not bean alumnus of the College of PublicHealth and Health Professions, but hecan be counted among the college’sclosest friends and supporters.

As co-founder and CEO of Com-pass Knowledge Group, a distance

learning service provider, Devine was instrumentalin launching the college’s distance Doctor of Audiol-ogy program. A longtime member of the college’sadvisory board, Devine was recently tapped to serveas the board’s chair of major gifts.

A 1985 graduate of UF’s electrical engineeringprogram, Devine had his sights set on owning hisown business even as a youngster. His father wasself-employed, and Devine admired the way that hisfather was in control of his professional future.

In the mid-1990s Devine acquired part ofIntelicus, a company offering a distance educationprogram in life care planning through a partnershipwith the college’s department of rehabilitationcounseling.

With that introduction, Devine developedrelationships with Horace Sawyer, Ed.D., chair of

rehabilitation counseling, Robert Frank, Ph.D., deanof the college, and John Lombardi, former presidentof UF. The partnership evolved into Intelicus work-ing with UF to launch a working professional Doctorof Pharmacy with the College of Pharmacy and theDoctor of Audiology.

UF provides the curriculum for the distanceeducation programs, and Devine’s company handlesthe marketing, recruiting, student support andlogistics of running a distance program.

Beginning in 1999, through a newly formedparent company to Intelicus, Compass KnowledgeGroup, Devine’s team expanded their business toinclude higher education institutions like the Univer-sity of Cincinnati, Mountain State University,Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences andFisher College. Compass Knowlege partners withthese institutions on bachelor’s and master’s degreesin disciplines such as criminal justice, educationaladministration, nursing, radiological sciences andclinical laboratory science.

But Devine admits that UF is the university thathas a special place in his heart.

“My parents always gave back to the commu-

Dan Devine

Distance learning education company CEO to assistin fundraising efforts

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alumni U P D A T E S

Save the dateAlumni Reunion 2004

W H A T ’ S N E W

Ginny Cruz, physical therapy ’83, hasreceived board certification as a clinicalspecialist in pediatric physical therapy. Sheworks at Pearl Nelson Child DevelopmentCenter in Pensacola, Fla.

Sam Engle, rehabilitation counseling ’96, isthe director of the Kenneth Cole Fellowship inCommunity Building and Social Change atEmory University in Atlanta, the only one ofits kind in the United States. Students learnabout advancing positive change andachieving equity with respect to housing,health, civil liberties and environmentaljustice. She also serves as the program chairfor Leadership Atlanta, a civic leadershipdevelopment program.

Tiffany Galvin, occupational therapy ’03,recently moved to Jackson, Tenn., aftergraduation and works at Jackson-MadisonCounty General Hospital in stroke inpatientrehabilitation and acute care. “I am one of thefew Gators in Tennessee since this is Volcountry,” she said. “Don’t worry, I am keepingthe orange and blue alive in Tennessee.”

Betsy McKenzie, occupational therapy ’01,gave birth to a daughter, Avery, in March2004. She is now working in home health andenjoys the new challenge. She wrote, “It iswonderful to work in a profession that allowsyou to have a family and your career at thesame time.”

Rhona Gorsky Reiss, Ph.D., occupationaltherapy ’75, is the director of research anddevelopment at Spectrum Center Inc. inBethesda, Md. She is interested in collaborat-ing with UF faculty, students and alumni onresearch projects related to sensory process-ing and Tomatis Listening Therapy.

Todd Sullivan, physical therapy ’97, hasachieved board certification as a specialist inpediatric physical therapy. He works at BlakeMedical Center in Bradenton, Fla.

Brian Unell, master’s in health administration’00, was promoted from senior consultant tomanager in Capgemini’s health-care consult-ing practice in July 2004. He lives in Atlanta.

Henrietta Goldstein, medical technology ’72,lost her battle with cancer on June 26,surrounded by friends and family at home.She was 54. An avid Gator fan who attendedalmost every home game, she was the wifeof college advisory board member BobGoldstein, physical therapy ’72, and motherof UF graduates Tracey Walding, physicaltherapy ’03, and Brian Goldstein. l

I N M E M O R I A M

2004Alumni Reunion

By the numbers

Occupational therapy graduates (left to right) Michael Doub,’94, and Laura Johnson, ’00, with occupational therapy facultymember Joanne Foss, Ph.D.

250 Alumni and guests attended this year’s reunion, a new record!

2 Shuttle buses ferried attendees to Florida Field for the UF-LSU game

2,120 Miles traveled by alumnus who came the farthest to attend (from Dubois, WY)

90,377 Football fans in the stands

5 Months spent planning the reunion by development and alumni staff

50 Yard line tickets were available to reunion attendees

10 Tackles and 2 sacks made by sophomore linebacker Channing Crowder during the game

Married graduates Katie (medicaltechnology ’79) and James (master’sin health administration ’86) Barnesare joined by their daughter Elizabeth(left), a UF freshman.

To view more reunion photos, visit www.phhp.ufl.edu/alumni