January’s staff profile highlight is our new cataloging and metadata librarian, Jessica Richardson. You can find Jessica on the Kirksville campus.
Position title: Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
How long have you worked for the library: Just over ninety days.
What made you want to work in libraries? Libraries are one of my favorite places in the world. They are one of the last true democratic spaces. I have chosen to be a librarian because I believe that I can truly serve people through my work and hopefully make the world a more equitable and wondrous place to live in.
What do you like most about your job and about working for ATSU? I love being part of the ATSU community because my values align with the holistic values and mission of the University. I get to do multiple types of technical services work in collaboration with a team that supports my autonomy.
This team fosters an environment where we all are able to enrich our knowledge in support of providing the best library services for the ATSU community. I absolutely love it here!
What is a fun job you had before ATSU? Prior to becoming a librarian, I was a software quality assurance tester for pharmacy robotics software and hardware.
What is a fun/unique/exciting tidbit to know about you, or how do you spend your free time? In my free time you can find me awkwardly beginning a yoga practice, crocheting while listening to audiobooks, watching history documentaries, mysteries, or sci-fi/fantasy series, and snuggling with my two furry feline overlords. In the future, I hope to travel and see more of the U.S., Canada, and someday Europe.
In her first year as a speech-language pathologist, Mackenzie Gulka, SLP, ’25, is already helping patients regain communication skills and return to daily activities that bring meaning to their lives. She credits the hands-on education and mentorship she received in A.T. Still University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program for preparing her to start her career with confidence.
After earning her degree from ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) in May 2025, she stepped directly into a clinical fellowship at Sun West Choice Healthcare and Rehabilitation, a skilled nursing facility in Sun City West, Arizona. In addition to this full-time role, she also provides pediatric home health care in the evenings.
“I chose ATSU’s program because of the opportunity to gain experience in all settings and complete multiple off campus clinical rotations,” she said. “I valued ATSU’s commitment to evidence-based practices and serving culturally diverse populations. I wanted to become the most well-rounded clinician I could to make the best impact in the lives of those I serve.”
The Speech-Language Pathology program prepares professionals to deliver culturally responsive care for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders. Rooted in whole person healthcare, the curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and advancing the scientific foundations of the field. Students complete a variety of clinical rotations during both their first and second years.
“I ended up taking a job at a facility where I completed a clinical rotation as a student so I felt very prepared when starting work,” she said.
Additionally, Gulka credits the program’s instrumentation lab with strengthening her confidence in making clinical recommendations and interpreting results for developing plans of care.
“Whether advancing a patient to a regular diet or helping them recover their communication skills following a stroke or traumatic brain injury, these moments are especially meaningful to me,” she said.
Gulka’s first year in practice has allowed her to build on the foundation she developed as a student, growing in confidence as she supports patients with a wide range of communication and swallowing needs. Each new case has affirmed her decision to pursue a career centered on serving the underserved.
“I am proud and grateful to be an alum of ATSU’s SLP program and the network of professionals who strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others,” she said.
The NBOME is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides competency assessments for osteopathic medical licensure and related healthcare professions. The Santucci Award is presented to members of the NBOME’s board, staff, or committees with 10 or more years of service in recognition of outstanding contributions to the organization’s mission.
Dr. LaBaere is the immediate past chair of the NBOME Board of Directors and was first elected to the board in 2010. He served as chair of the NBOME’s Special Commission on Osteopathic Medical Licensure Assessment from 2020 to 2022 and previously served on the NBOME’s Blue Ribbon Panel on enhancing COMLEX-USA from 2010 to 2016.
Throughout the past 30 years, he has held numerous leadership roles, including family medicine residency program director, director of medical education, and regional assistant dean, focusing on developing new graduate medical education programs in high-need areas and advancing the integration of osteopathic principles and practice throughout clinical education.
In 2007, Dr. LaBaere was inducted into the American Osteopathic Association’s Mentor Hall of Fame. He was named a fellow of the Association of Osteopathic Directors and Medical Educators in 2008 and recognized as a fellow of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators in 2022.
Located on the second floor of Building 5845, the updated lab offers an enhanced environment for faculty- and student-led research across multiple health disciplines. The former lab was repurposed into an innovative, state-of-the art laboratory classroom for student learning.
“Our goal is to provide a shared space with state-of-the-art equipment for faculty and students to conduct high-quality research that improves education and health outcomes,” said Kellie Huxel Bliven, PhD, ATC, chair, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences department. “The lab is intentionally interdisciplinary, so projects can bridge clinical practice, education, and translational science.”
The IRL, originally established in 2004, houses a mix of instrumentation and support resources, from balance testing and rehabilitation equipment, motion and performance testing tools, ultrasound for musculoskeletal and blood flow testing, and multiple work spaces for group meetings and private testing. Students and faculty have access to technologies such as NeuroComm, EMG, IMUs, GaitLite, and iMotions.
Students interested in research are encouraged to connect with their faculty to learn about ongoing projects that align with their interests. Opportunities include joining active research teams, serving as research assistants, or completing mentored capstone and scholarship work.
“We’re excited to be in our new home and grateful to the many people who helped make it possible,” Dr. Bliven said. “Whether you’re a seasoned investigator or a student taking your first steps, we’re here to help you ask good questions, gather trustworthy data, and share findings that make a difference.”
For tours, project inquiries, or collaborations, please contact Dr. Bliven at kbliven@atsu.edu.
Organized by instructor Kat Bauer, OTD, MS, OTR/L, ’23, students first learned how to switch-adapt toys from members of the Arizona Assistive Technology Access Program (AzTAP). Because electrical toys often demand fine motor movements, many children with disabilities find them hard to operate. Switch adaptation provides an alternative by enabling play through large, easy-access buttons.
Over 50 children signed up to receive a switch-adapted toy on the Mesa campus, where they also had the opportunity to meet Santa and some of his elves.
At the end of the event, the OT department delivered the remaining toys to the East Valley Family YMCA, giving children in their low-income daycare a chance to take photos with Santa and bring home a toy of their own.
Check out more photos below!
Did you know the library has a presence on YouTube? The official A.T. Still University Memorial Library Youtube channel is @A.T.StillMemorialLibrary. Check out our videos to learn more about research, literature searching, evidence-based practice, and scholarly publishing here:
To make it even easier to find exactly what you need, we’ve organized some of our content into convenient playlists. Whether you’re looking for “how-tos” on citation managers or protocol registration, or want the entire step-by-step approach to scoping or systematic reviews, our playlists group related videos together, saving you time and ensuring you don’t miss any relevant information.
Take a moment to browse our curated collections and see what resources are available to you!
Please remember to hit that subscribe button and turn on notifications to ensure you’re always the first to know when we upload new content.
If you have questions about the content of our videos, reach out to your liaison librarian for help, or email libaz@ats.edu.
*Please note that our former YouTube channel, @ATSULibrary, is no longer active. We have moved all content to our current channel and it is where we will add new content.
Dr. Gosalia is a board-certified audiologist who is the co-owner of West Valley Hearing Center in Woodland Hills, California, and CEO of AudBoss, an international organization dedicated to empowering private-practice doctors through education, collaboration, and leadership development.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized as a Distinguished Fellow,” said Dr. Gosalia. “My education laid the foundation for the work I do today, and I’m grateful for the mentorship and experiences that shaped my journey. This recognition isn’t just mine, it belongs to every educator and colleague who’s guided me along the way.”
Dr. Gosalia was honored in 2017 with the Distinguished Service Award from ATSU-ASHS’ Alumni Chapter Board. He has also served in numerous leadership roles, including a position on the Board of Governors of the American Board of Audiology, the Marketing Subcommittee of the American Academy of Audiology, the Arizona Licensure Review Board for Audiology, and the American Auditory Society.
The entire ATSU Memorial Library staff wishes you all a very Happy Holidays! Please take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the festive season.
Moravec is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education (EdD) program at ATSU-CGHS, where she earned a Certificate in Leadership and Organizational Behavior in 2024. She earned a bachelor of science in dental hygiene from University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Dentistry in 2002 and a master of science in dental hygiene from Idaho State University in 2011.
With more than 20 years of experience in dental hygiene education, she serves as adjunct faculty for Idaho State University’s dental hygiene graduate program. Moravec has also served as president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), president of the Nebraska Dental Hygienists’ Association, and as chair of the ADHA Institute for Oral Health.
She has been recognized as Nebraska Dental Hygienist of the Year and received the 2021 Nebraska Dental Hygienists’ Association Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also earned numerous faculty recognition awards from her students and was honored with Idaho State University’s Professional Achievement Award in 2023.
December’s staff profile highlight is one of our library assistants on the Kirksville campus, Hannah Steele.
Position title: Library Assistant
How long have you worked for the library: I have been working at the library for about two and a half years.
What made you want to work in libraries? I’ve always wanted to work at a library since I had the opportunity to work with my middle school librarian. I enjoy being surrounded by books and working in quiet environments, so working at a library would be a dream come true. Similarly, I have always wanted to learn more about the inner workings of what goes on in a library besides checking in and out books. Working at this job has provided me the opportunity to achieve that goal, while learning new information such as 3D printing and Libguides.
What do you like most about your job and about working for ATSU? What I like the most about my job is getting to work with an array of wonderful people and being able to work with 3D printers. Working at ATSU has been a wonderful experience and I hope I get to continue working with my amazing coworkers.
What is a fun/unique/exciting tidbit to know about you, or how do you spend your free time? A few fun facts about me is I like to collect enamel pins from media I enjoy and have a calico cat named Fleur. During my free time, I like to draw and bike whenever it is warm out.
