UWS hires new functional medicine doctor for clinic system

Posted on by Dana Schatz

Dr. Rachel Fischer will also teach, serving as the Integrative Therapeutics distinguished professor in functional medicine

PORTLAND, Ore., March 11, 2015 – University of Western States (UWS), a leader in the education of health care professionals, recently added Rachel Fischer, MD, MPH to the UWS clinic system. Dr. Fischer’s background in preventive and functional medicine also earned her a role as a faculty member in the new Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine (NWCLFM) at UWS. In this role, she will serve as the Integrative Therapeutics distinguished professor of functional medicine, teaching functional and preventive medicine to students in the HNFM program.

Functional medicine integrates the most recent Western medical data and practices with a focus on prevention and reversing disease progression through nutrition, exercise, stress management, as well as with drugs, supplements or therapeutic diets.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Fischer join our clinic and teaching staff. Her experience as a medical doctor with a background in functional and preventive medicine not only broadens the scope of services we can provide to patients, it also aligns with the goals and visions of the university’s new Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine. She shares in our belief that treating disease must start with finding the root cause,” Dr. Will Evans, provost and executive vice president at University of Western States said.

Dr. Fischer obtained her medical degree from University of Utah, where she also completed two years of medical residency in internal medicine. Dr. Fischer then completed her residency and fellowship in occupational and environmental medicine at University of Washington. Additionally, she completed a Master of Science with a focus in epidemiology from University of Utah and a master of public health focused in environmental health from University of Washington. Dr. Fischer is board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and is currently pursing certification by the Institute of Functional Medicine.

“While my experience and education made this position a perfect fit for me,” Dr. Fischer said, “ultimately, it was the people and their shared belief that a transformation in patient care is necessary to address the complex, chronic diseases that so significantly impact public health.”

About Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine

The Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine was launched in 2014 as a center of excellence highlighting ways to reduce lifestyle-related health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The center’s vision is to promote healthy behaviors and positive lifestyle changes in order to achieve optimal quality of life for the members of our community through service, education and research. The center believes in integrated, conservative, patient-centered approaches to address lifestyle-related health conditions. To learn more about the center visit uws.edu/nwclfm.

UWS and the Institute for Functional Medicine Sign Global Agreement

Posted on by Dana Schatz

Alliance allows for further integration and collaboration

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 17, 2015 – Since its inception, the Master of Science in human nutrition and functional medicine (HNFM) program at University of Western States (UWS) has incorporated innovative content from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). Recently, the two institutions forged a stronger alliance and signed a global agreement that will lead to further collaboration between the two institutions, including integration of IFM’s novel patient assessment criteria into the UWS program and IFM training for HNFM faculty. As part of the agreement, UWS and IFM have issued the following collaborative joint statement.

“University of Western States (UWS) and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) are pleased to announce a joint collaboration to incorporate functional medicine and functional nutrition coursework in the Master of Science in human nutrition and functional medicine (MSHNFM) program at UWS. UWS is an innovative university with a mission to improve the health of society and advance the science and art of integrated health care. This collaboration will enable UWS to better prepare health professionals to address the 21st century epidemic of chronic diseases. IFM, the global leader in functional medicine education, is pleased to provide faculty training, faculty scholarships, and curricular materials and tools to support this innovative master’s program. The MSHNFM program has been met with enthusiasm and interest among students from around the world and from a variety of backgrounds, including dietitians, nurses, physicians and several other professions.”

Daniel Redwood, DC, director of the HNFM program, welcomed the signing of the UWS-IFM agreement.

“In our efforts to create the strongest possible program for our HNFM master’s degree students, we are committed to providing our students and faculty with expanded opportunities for professional growth. This new agreement with IFM will help us to achieve both of these important goals,” Redwood said.

He added, “Both IFM and UWS are institutions that increasingly embody what so many of us have hoped for and spoken about for many years – interprofessional relationships that include not only mutual respect but active collaboration. We aspire to practice what we preach, enhance the quality of what we offer, and enlarge the range of ways we serve. Functional medicine principles and practices provide our students with a 21st century foundation.”

University of Western States and Legacy Health establish a partnership for a chiropractic rotation in Portland-area emergency rooms

Posted on by Dana Schatz

UWS sports medicine fellows will be shadowing hospital nursing staff

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 2 – University of Western States (UWS), a leader in the education of health care professionals, and Legacy Health, the largest nonprofit locally-owned health system in the Portland-Vancouver area, have joined together in a groundbreaking partnership. The agreement enables UWS sports medicine fellows to experience observational clinical rotations in various emergency room settings in the Legacy system.

The program begins in February 2015 and is designed for sports medicine fellows who have recently completed the UWS Master of Science sports medicine degree and Doctor of Chiropractic programs. The one-year sports medicine fellowship allows graduates to gain more in-depth knowledge of the industry and practice. The year is spent observing and participating in care at a variety of sports medicine clinics, supervising students in the sports medicine program, and teaching clinical and laboratory classes. The partnership with Legacy Health allows fellows additional clinical experiences and clinical exposures.

“This opportunity is incredibly important for a variety of reasons. It allows the fellows to see medical situations beyond what is typically seen in a chiropractic office or training room,” said Sara Mathov, DC, director of the exercise and sports science department at UWS. “It also allows them to see what happens when patients are referred to the emergency room.”

About University of Western States

University of Western States provides a science-driven curriculum that delivers a solid foundation and competitive edge in preparing students for clinical practice. UWS is a regionally accredited, non-profit institution dedicated to improving the health of society through its educational programs, research and clinical services. Founded in 1904, the university offers a doctor of chiropractic degree program; master’s degrees in exercise and sports science with four new concentrations, human nutrition and functional medicine, and diagnostic imaging; a massage therapy certification program; approved continuing education programs for licensed health care professionals; and we provide clinic services in five locations through Health Centers of UWS. UWS is a founding member of the Oregon Collaborative for Integrative Medicine, an organization that aims to advance integrative health care through education, research, patient care and advocacy. To learn more about University of Western States and its academic programs, go to www.uws.edu.

 

Dr. Woolsey’s energy drink and alcohol consumption study gains attention

Posted on by Dana Schatz

University of Western States (UWS) associate professor, Dr. Conrad Woolsey, is principle investigator on energy drink and alcohol consumption study

Links the combination of alcohol and energy drinks to an increased incidence of drunk driving

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 9, 2015 – Conrad Woolsey, PhD, an associate professor in the college of graduate and professional studies at University of Western States (UWS), recently published a study suggesting that people who combine alcohol and energy drinks drive drunk more frequently than people who consume alcohol only.

The survey questioned 355 college students regarding their perceptions of drinking and driving as well as energy drink consumption patterns. Two hundred and eighty-one participants said they drank alcohol within the last month, with 107 from that group acknowledging they used alcohol and energy drinks together.

“Dr. Woolsey is an internationally recognized expert on the risks associated with energy drinks,” Dr. Will Evans, provost at UWS and a contributor on the study said. “This paper will be another important scientific study showcasing the potential dangers of combined use of those drinks with alcohol.”

Dr. Woolsey’s findings include:

  • Among combined-users (i.e., those who consumed alcohol with energy drinks), 57 percent indicated they had driven while knowing they were too drunk to drive compared to 44 percent of those who consumed alcohol only.
  • 56 percent of combined-users said they had chosen to ride as a passenger in a car with a driver who they knew was too drunk to drive safely, compared with 35 percent of alcohol-only group.
  • Combined-users reported episodes of getting drunk and heavy binge-drinking more frequently than those who used alcohol only.

Dr. Woolsey recently published another study indicating that an increase in energy drink use was a significant predictor of increased illicit prescription stimulant pill use, with the odds for using prescription stimulants increasing by 6 percent with each day additional day of energy drink use in the past 30 days.
These finding are important to medical practitioners because of the harmful interactions that can occur when mood-enhancing energy drink ingredients, such as ginseng and yohimbe, are mixed with prescription stimulants and alcohol.

“The mixture of herbal supplements with prescription stimulants is dangerous and can have many harmful psychological and neurological effects,” said Dr. Woolsey. “Our findings showed that all participants with and without a valid prescription misused prescription stimulants as they had mixed energy drinks with their prescriptions which is contraindicated due to potentially dangerous interactions.”

To learn more about Dr. Woolsey’s findings, read his manuscript “A Comparison of the Combined-Use of Alcohol & Energy Drinks to Alcohol-Only on High-Risk Drinking and Driving Behaviors,” published in the January 2015 edition of Informa.

Dr. Woolsey’s earlier manuscript, “Frequency of Energy Drink Use Predicts Illicit Prescription Stimulant Use,” published in Substance Abuse, the official journal of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA), was selected as best manuscript for 2014. A follow-up study and manuscript was recently published by Substance Abuse. The article entitled “Increased Energy Drink Use as a Predictor of Illicit Prescription Stimulant Use,” takes a more comprehensive look at the topic of energy drink consumption and illicit prescription stimulant use.

How to remain fit after the playing days are over

Posted on by Dana Schatz

By: Phillip Dugas, ESS adjust faculty

As a former college athlete, it’s important to me to remain in shape after the playing days are over. I think this is a goal of many athletes, but after years of keeping your body in top condition, eating a certain way, and being active on a daily basis, it is easy to fall into a lazy lull. Taking a few months off turns into taking a few year away from exercise and then we find ourselves out of shape and our once athletic bodies are no longer. How can we avoid this negative change? For me, it has been simple. Stay active and make this a top priority.

Fresh off a college or short professional career it was easy to stay involved in big games of basketball, softball, and men’s league baseball. Going to the gym was a no brainer and I could still eat whatever I wanted. As this phase of my life ended and family life began, I hung up my weekend warrior attire and traded it in for bottles and diapers! It is important that we keep our bodies in good physical shape as we start families and careers. Keeping our bodies physically fit helps to improve our eating and sleeping habits, which in turn makes each more productive at work and as parents and spouses.

Five key things actions:

  • Keep a daily schedule journal – write it down
  • Start your day with some type of exercise – sit-ups, a run, or gym time
  • Eat a healthy breakfast – this is a must to curb your appetite and give you energy for the day
  • Use a plyo ball instead of a desk chair – this will strengthen your core
  • Make time for your healthy lifestyle – wake up 5 minutes early and get it done

Online vs. Traditional Education

Posted on by Dana Schatz

Written by Sara Mathov, DC, DACBR, ATC

In 2013, there were 7.1 million higher education students taking at least one online course, which represents 33.5 percent of all higher education students.* With so many students now enrolling in online courses, it is important to look at the differences between learning online and learning in the traditional face-to-face classroom setting.When online courses started being offered, there was a common belief that the education received from an online course was inferior. But that is not true of today’s online courses. Similar to the traditional classroom model, online classes have clearly stated learning objectives and outcomes. In addition, most online courses are designed to have interactive components. It is common to see a mix of videos, group assignments, discussions on a given topic, and many other strategies to increase communication with fellow students and instructors. These activities increase the active learning of the student. Many believe that online courses can be superior to traditional classroom learning because of this “active learning” strategy. As with everything, however, you get out of it what you put into it.

Below, I have listed my top five strategies to succeed in an online course and get the most out your learning experience:

1. Check in more than once a week. One of the biggest downfalls of online courses is that it is very easy to procrastinate and get behind. The easiest way to avoid this is to log into the course regularly – ideally once a day (even if just for five minutes), but realistically a few times per week. This allows you to catch important course announcements, review upcoming deadlines, participate in the discussion forum and possibly interact more with other students and your instructor.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Some courses will have a forum specifically designed for this purpose. Other courses may require you to email the instructor directly with questions. Don’t be shy, just ask! In a traditional classroom, it may seem easier to get information because the teacher is in front of you and there are classmates close by. In the online setting, they’re still all around you just can’t see them. You can usually assume that if you have a question, there are others wondering about it too. By posting in a forum, not only is the instructor able to address the question but other classmates can also weigh in and give feedback.

3. Read announcements and emails. One of my biggest frustrations as a teacher is when I make an announcement in class and then get asked the same information moments later. It is no less frustrating when that information is given in the form of a course announcement or class email only to find out that very few people actually read it. In this digital era, it is very easy to access email and online courses from nearly anywhere on nearly every device. It’s also easy to be overloaded and therefore ignore information coming at you on a regular basis. I recommend setting an alert or having a specific folder so that you never miss a course announcement. It’s never an acceptable excuse to say, “I didn’t read the email/announcement” if you miss an important deadline.

4. Be active in the discussion forum. Yes, I know that it can seem frustrating to be forced to reply to other posts, but the intention is to help you learn. There is a lot of research behind various learning styles and it is well known that if you participate in your learning you are much more likely to retain that information. The purpose of the discussion forum is to create the discussion that might occur in the traditional classroom setting: teacher asks a question, long silence follows, finally someone answers and often there is some discussion that occurs afterward. It is also a great place to pose a question (see #2 above) of both the teacher and your classmates and see what discussion may arise from that. When you create a thoughtful post that answers a question, it forces you to digest the material enough to be able to form an opinion about it. Each response afterward helps reinforce that knowledge and can also help others see things in a different way.

5. Don’t count on your exams being “open-book”. When online courses started, this was one of the biggest criticisms. Not only did we question who was actually taking the exam, but also whether the student was using something to help (whether the book, notes or Google). These days, most courses have strict time limits that do not allow one to search various sources for every question and many courses will also use proctoring websites which monitor you while you take the exam (and make sure you are who you say you are). Just as you need to study and prepare for an exam in advance for a face-to-face course, you must prepare for an online exam and not expect that you can use materials to help you.

If you haven’t already taken an online course, the chances are quite high that you will soon. I hope that the suggestions above help you succeed in those courses.

*Reference: Allen IE, Seaman J. Grade Change: Tracking Online Education in the United States. Babson Survey Research Group, 2014.