On Aug. 27, two staff and seven faculty members packed 53 boxes, contributing to the community total of 168 boxes and 36,288 meals, which is enough to feed 99 children a daily meal for a year.
The group donned hairnets and gloves while they hand-packed each meal, which consists of a mix of rice, soy, dried vegetables, and vitamins. The nutritious meals, called MannaPack™ meals, are specifically formulated to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent AI in Library Resources sessions hosted by ITS and the library. Part of our broader AI Show & Share series, last week offered a great opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence is being integrated into key library tools.
Each session provided a deep dive into specific AI features designed to streamline your work:
Monday, September 8: We kicked off the week with a look at the Scopus AI Research Assistant, exploring how its features can help accelerate your evidence synthesis process.
Tuesday, September 9: The focus from research to practice as we explored the new AI features within UpToDate, showcasing how they enhance clinical decision support. *Please note that if you would like access to UptoDate AI Alpha, please contact hbright@atsu.edu.
Wednesday, September 10: The spotlight was on the SciteAI Research Assistant, highlighting its ability to show how research papers have been cited and evaluated.
Thursday, September 11: The AI features in Still OneSearch were demonstrated, revealing how the campus’s main discovery tool is using AI to improve search results.
Friday, September 12: The week concluded with a session on Covidence, where we learned about the AI features that simplify systematic and scoping reviews.
We hope these sessions provided valuable insights into how you can use AI to support your research and academic goals. Whether you were in attendance, or viewed these recordings, we appreciate your participation as we continue to build a culture of AI experimentation across the university.
“We’re honored to be here in this historic building, built in 1892,” said O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses, “the same year our university was founded in Kirksville, Missouri.”
Jackie Carrera, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF), delivered the commencement address. Prior to her remarks, Carrera was presented an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, and ATSU-CHC Dean Eric L. Sauers, PhD, ’97.
SBF is the California Central Coast’s oldest and largest community foundation. In her role, Carrera has been a strong advocate for advancing access to healthcare, promoting healthy communities, and helping ATSU-CHC build and strengthen community relationships on the Central Coast.
“Under her guidance, the foundation has flourished, growing its assets such that they were able to award over $51 million in grants in 2024 alone. These investments reflect not just financial stewardship, but a deep, abiding commitment to equity, empathy, and impact,” Dr. Sauers said. “For ATSU, Ms. Carrera has been a trusted partner and advocate, helping us strengthen our community ties and further our mission to prepare a diverse, compassionate healthcare workforce for underserved communities. Her life’s work embodies the values of service, stewardship, and social responsibility that we seek to instill in every graduate within the College for Healthy Communities.”
Carrera spoke about her visit to ATSU-CHC’s campus in 2023, where she first felt the class of 2025’s determination.
“What I remember about that visit is a campus full of happy, healthy, smiling, hopeful students. The feeling was infectious,” Carrera said. “This campus was filled with beaming pride, excitement, and perhaps even a little touch of attitude. That attitude said, ‘We have an ability to change healthcare, and in doing so, maybe even change the world.’ Optimistic? Yes, and audacious, absolutely. And that’s one of the many things that sets you all apart from the others. You, graduates, will change lives.”
ATSU is a nonprofit university with campuses in Arizona, California, and Missouri. The CCPA program is a 24-month master’s program with a goal of educating community-oriented physician assistants (PA) who will provide whole person primary care to underserved communities along the Central Coast and across the nation.
ATSU-CHC is committed to expanding higher education pathways on the Central Coast and focused on growing the healthcare workforce by educating the next generation of diverse professionals who will provide essential care locally.
Speakers included ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, and O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses. Efren Torres, PA, ’24, led the alumni induction.
Watch the full ceremony and view more photos below!
Presented annually to a physician who has held an appointment in the SSOM Department of Family Medicine for at least three years, the Batt Award honors and recognizes outstanding commitment to medical education. Recipients must actively teach in one or more clerkships or courses and consistently receive high evaluations from both students and faculty.
Dr. Weber currently serves as a clinical professor at the Sanford School of Medicine and maintains a full-time practice in family and sports medicine at Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C.
August’s Staff Profile Highlight is Carlo Caroli, our long-time library tech in Kirksville. This “get-to-know” Carlo is more of a farewell as he retires later this month. Congratulations on many wonderful years with ATSU and enjoy your retirement and move back to your home country of Italy!
Position title: Library tech
How long have you worked for the library: 17 years
What made you want to work in libraries? I have always loved books and being in a school environment.
What do you like most about your job and about working for ATSU? My greatest joy is to see these young students become future doctors of America. I have enjoyed working and associating with a great creative and team-playing crew at the Kirksville campus
What is a fun job you had before ATSU? Working with both the U.S. military and U.S. Customs at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy. Working at the maternity ward at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
What is a fun/unique/exciting tidbit to know about you, or how do you spend your free time? My greatest weakness is travel. I have traveled extensively from Hawaii to India and everything in between. I am also passionate about Ancient Roman history, especially the period from the first Roman emperor Caesar Augustus to Nero – from around 5 B.C. to around 68 A.D. or basically covering the time period of the Gospels. This is indeed the most interesting time in human history. Other things are that I love, love, love the sea, and I admit to being a details-oriented freak.
In November, Dr. Maldonado de La Rosa will participate in ASHA’s Capitol Hill Day, meeting with policymakers to advocate for legislation and initiatives that advance diversity, equitable health services, and improved access to care. Additionally, she will be a featured speaker at the ASHA National Convention, where she will present on the topic of pediatric feeding disorders.
Earlier this year, Dr. Maldonado de La Rosa also celebrated a personal milestone, earning a master’s in legal studies from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, furthering her commitment to advancing health justice.
“Understanding the law is essential for breaking down systemic barriers, shaping inclusive policies, and ensuring that every patient and family has access to equitable care,” she said.
“In the classroom, I strive to embed these same principles, teaching future speech-language pathologists to approach assessment and intervention through a lens of equity, cultural humility, and responsiveness. This includes exploring relevant laws, policies, and systemic barriers that impact service delivery, as well as preparing students to identify and address inequities they may encounter in their future practice.”
Dr. Maldonado de La Rosa serves on the board of ASHA’s Hispanic Caucus and as the faculty advisor for ATSU’s National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter. She was previously a Stanford University Innovation Fellow, developing user-centered, equity-minded solutions.
Through her teaching and national leadership, Dr. Maldonado de La Rosa reflects ATSU’s dedication to whole person healthcare, driven by her passion to further health equity, inform policy, amplify diversity, and dismantle health disparities.
In this role, Mota-Beeks will represent the voice of PA students nationwide, and her contributions will directly influence important decisions regarding PA education, practice, and the future direction of the profession. The HOD serves as the AAPA’s policymaking body, responsible for establishing policies that guide the PA profession, advocate for PAs, and influence the broader landscape of healthcare across the country.
“I am beyond thrilled for this opportunity, and it has always been a dream of mine to become a PA. I am happy to represent my Hispanic community as a first generation college graduate. A huge thank you to the AAPA and ATSU for seeing my passion and commitment to medicine, and for allowing me to take an even further step towards positive change in our healthcare system. As a good friend of mine always says, ‘Mi gente Latino,’” Mota-Beeks said.
Mota-Beeks is the second ATSU-CHC student selected as an AAPA student delegate this year.
“As an educator with 16 years of experience in PA education, I can personally attest to the rarity of this feat,” said Jennifer Harrington, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, department chair and program director. “To have two from CCPA elected simultaneously is truly unheard of and speaks volumes about the caliber of our students.”
As a student delegate, Chidalu will play a crucial role in representing the voice of PA students nationwide. Her contributions will directly influence important decisions regarding PA education, practice, and the future direction of the profession. This appointment reflects both her dedication to leadership and the program’s commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.
The HOD is the policy making body of the AAPA, responsible for enacting policies that govern the PA profession, advocate for PAs, and ultimately shape healthcare across the nation.
“My commitment in this role is to work tirelessly to excel in my education as a PA student, with the support and guidance of my professors, to join the PA workforce that diligently and continuously works to expand access to equitable healthcare, especially in medically underserved areas, while advocating for positive changes that impact the PA profession and reflect the interests of PA students,” Mbonu said.
“I am truly honored and humbled by this opportunity. I am also deeply grateful to my professors and the ATSU-CHC CCPA staff for their continued guidance and encouragement,” she added.
Working in small groups, students observed 18 children as they played with toys, rolled, crawled, walked, and interacted with other children, caregivers, and students. Following the observation period, students analyzed each child’s fine and gross motor skills, identifying developmental sequences and patterns.
This interprofessional lab offered a unique learning opportunity for the students, who spent the prior few weeks of the semester learning about motor development skills and the role of reflexes in early growth.
A graduate of ATSU’s Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education (EdD) program, Dr. Helmbrecht has been a member of the college’s faculty since 2015. In addition to her doctorate degree, she also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Central Michigan University and a master’s in physical education from the University of Nebraska Kearney.
In her community, Dr. Helmbrecht is president of the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association, a member of the American College of Health Association, a certified group fitness instructor by the American Council on Exercise, and former secretary of Bike Walk Nebraska.
