October 2023 Dean's Message

Dear CHP alumni and friends,

As we begin a new academic year in the College of Health Professions (CHP), we are reminded of our guiding vision to improve the health of populations by developing and inspiring health scientists and leaders. With you, our alumni, friends and supporters in mind, we continue to move forward serving the needs of our community through our mission. I am proud to share the latest accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students.

• In August, we celebrated with the Division of Speech-Language Pathology as they graduated their inaugural cohort of 41 students from the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. The program provides students with a unique educational experience rooted in clinical practice and prepares them for a career across the scope of practice in speech-language pathology, with an emphasis on the knowledge and skills to treat complex medically based communication and swallowing disorders.
• MUSC was ranked 22nd in neurorehabilitation and 17th worldwide in stroke rehabilitation by Expertscape. Congratulations to our faculty and researchers!
• Dr. Zahi Jurdi, MHA division director, received The Real DEIL (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader) Award. This award highlights employees at various levels and in many different areas of MUSC who are owning and sharing DEI work and principles.
• Dr. Sara Knox was named co-director of the Health and Rehabilitation Science Ph.D. Program in coordination with Dr. Jesse Dean, replacing Dr. Annie Simpson.
• Dr. Sara Kraft, co-chair of the first annual Residency Education Research Symposium, led a successful event with over 130 participants in this virtual workshop representing residencies from all over the country.
• Dr. Michelle Woodbury has been invited to be the keynote speaker at an upcoming lectureship at Georgia State University.
• Drs. Alan Phipps and Aiko Thompson recently published a paper titled, “Altered cutaneous reflexes to non-noxious stimuli in the triceps surae of people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury” in the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Your feedback and engagement are always welcomed and greatly appreciated. I hope you feel inspired to continue making a difference with CHP and in our communities.