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Joyful Accompaniment: Student and Alumni Spiritual Leadership Development within an Immersive Service Trip
Full text linkThis ethnographic action research case study illustrates how undergraduate student and alum participants in a week-long service trip describe their development of spiritual leadership skills. From a mission-focused spiritual leadership perspective, there are inherent problems with the current definition of student leadership in higher education. Currently, student leadership emphasizes positional authority and action-oriented goals, neglecting deeper dimensions of leadership which include service, humility, and moral integrity. For this study, I will be redefining leadership as justice-oriented accompaniment and adapting the Spiritual Leadership theory to better suit a Catholic Dominican mission-focused leadership model. This adaptation creates a shift from productivity-focused behaviors to spiritually grounding behaviors, acknowledging the inherent value of each individual’s gifts. The case was bounded by the participants and activities included in the Blue Ridge Service Trip, a week-long program where students and alums from Coastal Beacon University worked together to provide youth with positive mentors. Through qualitative methods of semi-structured interviews, observations, field notes, and reflexive journaling, I examined participants\u27 lived experiences to understand how participation in a service trip influenced spiritual leadership development. The findings illustrate three themes regarding spiritual leadership development. These findings include the three stages of spiritual development, the benefit of repeated service, and programmatic elements that support the creation and sustaining of community. Based on the findings and their connection to current literature, implications for theory and practice include an argument for the addition of formation stages to the spiritual leadership theory, an emphasis on spiritual leadership development in higher education, the option for repeated service to support leadership development, and the use of fun, inclusion, and traditions to create and sustain community. The findings of this study bring forth implications for theory, policy, and practice of spiritual leadership in higher education. These implications include a call for the addition of formation stages to spiritual leadership, a focus on spiritual leadership development, increased opportunities for repeated service, and an emphasis on intentional community building. These implications also inform recommendations for future research regarding spiritual leadership in higher education, expanding research to longitudinal studies and expanding research across various programs
The Lived Experience of Women who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence in Trinidad and Tobago
Full text linkBackground: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an increasing public health issue worldwide and is predominantly committed by males against females. One in every three women worldwide has experienced IPV (World Health Organization [WHO], 2024). The Pan American Health Organization studied IPV in 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries (Bott et al., 2019), and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was included. At the inception of this study in 2018, the prevalence and effect of IPV, though captured in the media by Fraser (2014) and others, were recognized as a widespread monumental problem in Trinidad and Tobago. However, it appeared to be underrepresented in the data of the Domestic Violence Hotline, the Judiciary System, and the National Family Services Division in 2016 and 2017. The sparse results from the research databases from 2017 to 2024 indicated that women\u27s experience with male-on-female IPV in Trinidad and Tobago was not sufficiently researched, resulting in a gap in the knowledge. This knowledge gap was the impetus for this study, in an attempt to bridge the gap.
Objective: The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of women subjected to male-on-female intimate partner violence (IPV) in Trinidad and Tobago. In understanding this phenomenon, insight will be gained into the problem of male-on-female IPV in Trinidad and Tobago. The insight gained from the findings of this study can help develop policies and strategies for the prevention and management of the IPV problem and add to the research library on IPV in Trinidad and Tobago. Method: This study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, guided by the philosophical framework of Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty and van Manen\u27s methodological methods to best capture and understand the lived experiences of these women. Nine participants were interviewed. The researcher analyzed the data manually, resulting in 25 emerging themes condensed to produce six essential themes defining the phenomenon.
Results: The research question is: What is the lived experience of women who have experienced male-on-female intimate violence in Trinidad and Tobago? The findings indicated that the lived experience of IPV for this group of women living in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) was an ongoing manifestation of the multidimensional nature of distress, coercive control, and visceral responses they endured. The participants in this study experienced ambivalent support from family, law enforcement, and the healthcare system as they navigated life within their environment. They adopted ways of coping with the situation until they arrived at a turning point. At this point, a change or diversion from their life course was necessary for their survival and the safety of their loved ones. The findings of this study indicated that male-on-female IPV is a public health problem in Trinidad and Tobago, supported by cultural and social norms. The lack of support from family members and social systems delayed the women’s escape from IPV
The MC1R Pathway: A Potential Treatment of Osteoarthritis
No full textOsteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degradation in the synovial joints. Over 525 million people around the world suffer from this disease and the most common solution is surgical. A less invasive procedure to treat OA is highly desired. We sought to investigate a potential non-invasive treatment for OA. Previous studies have shown that the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) has protective qualities and reduces the degradation of cartilage. The NDP melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-MSH) is a stable agonist of MC1-R. When MC1-R is activated by its agonist, it has restoration and anti-inflammatory properties in cartilage. We hypothesized that the interaction between NDP-MSH and MC1R should help decrease inflammation and in turn, decrease the degradation of cartilage. Mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were grown in 2D and 3D cultures and exposed to NDP-MSH. Gene expression of early differentiation markers in the 2D cultures were analyzed using a PCR array to determine effects of MC1-R activation on early chondrogenic development. To examine the impact of MC1-R activation in mature chondrocytes, the 3D cones were differentiated and exposed to NDP-MSH. RNA was isolated from some 3D cultures and others were embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained with Masson’s trichrome. Reverse transcription PCR was used to measure gene expression specific chondrogenic markers. The PCR array of 2D cultures revealed NDP-MSH down-regulates inflammatory genes such as Tnf-ɑ. ZFP42 and Pouf5.1, genes that prohibit differentiation, were also down regulated. In the 3D cultures, Acan1, Col2a1, and Mmp13 genes were upregulated, while Adamts4.1 and Adamts5.1 were not. Histologically, there was a trend toward higher cellularity in the NDP-MSH 3D cultures. These data point to increased matrix turnover and not degradation, as a result of MC1R activation. Overall, activation of the
MC1R pathway leads to cartilage growth and turnover while maintaining an anti-inflammatory profile. Agonism of this pathway represents a potential therapeutic in the treatment of OA
Perceptions of clients, student clinicians and clinical supervisors in Communication Sciences and Disorders clinics housed in universities
No full textThis study is designed to understand how different stakeholders in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) clinics, housed in universities, perceive the services they are provided with. Specifically, we seek to know how clients, clinical supervisors, and student clinicians perceive each other’s work and whether that influences the perceived effectiveness of the treatment clients receive. This information will help improve clinical services at university CSD clinics and student clinicians’ experiences with clinical education. Based on previous research, we predict that the relationships between groups influence the effectiveness of treatment and students’ experiences with clinical education. We will use IRB-approved anonymous online surveys to collect data from clients, student clinicians, and supervisors. There will also be optional one-on-one interviews conducted through video calls. We aim to gain additional insight into each group\u27s experiences and perceptions in university-run clinics. This study is a research proposal without human or animal participant data involvement
Factors Influencing Emergency Department Utilization Among Heart Failure Patients in the Home Health Care Setting: A Secondary Data Analysis
Full text linkHeart failure is a chronic, progressive condition affecting over 6 million adults in the United States and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, contributing to approximately 380,000 deaths annually. Disparities in health outcomes for individuals with heart failure are further exacerbated by social determinants of health (SDoH), including socioeconomic status, healthcare accessibility, and availability of social support, particularly among vulnerable populations. Insurance coverage plays a critical role in influencing access to care, treatment adherence, and overall health outcomes among patients with heart failure. For patients receiving home health care (HHC) services, limited caregiver support and inadequate socioeconomic resources are associated with increased emergency department (ED) utilization, poor treatment adherence, and higher hospitalization rates. This study examined the relationships between type of insurance, living arrangement, SDoH factors, and ED utilization among adults with heart failure receiving HHC services. A retrospective, descriptive, and exploratory design was used to analyze secondary data extracted from the electronic health records (EHR) of one of the largest non-profit HHC agencies in the Northeastern United States. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize patient demographics, clinical profiles, and SDoH indicators. Exploratory analyses assessed the associations among caregiver availability, type of insurance coverage, and ED utilization within 30 days of HHC admission. Study findings demonstrated a significant association between the type of insurance coverage and ED utilization. Additionally, limitations in social resources were identified as a significant predictor of ED use. These findings highlight the critical role of SDoH and caregiver support in influencing health outcomes among adults with heart failure receiving HHC services.
This study supports the need for targeted interventions to implement strategies that promote health equity and develop a validated SDoH screening tool within HHC.
These efforts are essential to reducing preventable ED utilization and improving outcomes for adults with heart failure
Academic and Linguistic Demands: Creating Access to the Next Generation Learning Standards in English Language Arts for Linguistically Diverse Learners (ALDs)
No full textWhat does it mean to support English language learners\u27 language acquisition through the content instruction? In this workshop, participants will explore the layout, structure, and implementation of the Academic and Linguistic Demands of the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards for English Language Arts (ALDs). Participants will explore tools that help identify the words, phrases, and language structures embedded in the English Language Arts standards, to provide equitable access to standards-aligned, grade-level instruction to English Language Learners (ELLs). Come learn more about this essential resource for planning successful and targeted instruction for ELLs
Sustainable Mental Wellness Practices Through Contemplative Art
No full textColleges prepare students for careers by providing knowledge and skills essential for practical application in their fields. Emphasis on social-emotional learning skills in higher education is vital as students transition to adulthood. Mindfulness practices through the arts can help students effectively manage stressors that arise during their transition to adulthood and in their professional experiences. This presentation shares insights from contemplative art workshops for educators, focusing on stress management through art and reflection, held during the 2024-2025 academic year. Its potential for future research and the implications of establishing sustainable mindfulness practices through the arts will be explored
Nurses’ understanding of skin cancer, sun protective behaviors and their ability and comfort level in teaching and screening patients
Full text linkAbstract
Background:
Health promotion and patient advocacy are part of nursing practice. Nurses are in an ideal position to educate and assess patients for skin cancer. Skin cancer has reached epidemic proportions and is the only cancer increasing in frequency.
Aims:
The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ understanding of skin cancer, sun protective behaviors and their ability and comfort level in teaching and screening patients.
Methods:
This survey study was designed to evaluate nurses’ understanding of skin cancer, sun protective behaviors and their ability and comfort level in teaching and screening patients. Participants were nurses in practice for at least one year and remained members of the National Student Nurses’ Association.
Results:
This study revealed large gaps in basic knowledge of skin cancer and a small percentage of nurses who were knowledgeable and felt comfortable in teaching and examining patients for skin cancers
Working Musician Documentary Series
No full textThis documentary film project sets out to tell the stories of working musicians who have taken interesting, unusual, or under-represented paths towards building a life in music. It serves as a celebration of these musicians and a repository of practical information for the next generation of upcoming musical talent. From touring rock and roll sidemen to professional bagpipers, from heavy metal guitarists in Gorilla suits to a saxophone player who must continually prove to the United States government that he is talented enough to stay in the country, these musicians all have stories to tell and valuable advice on issues such as finances, artistic expression, life on the road, and much more