Throughout his presentation, “The White Coat in Birmingham Jail: The Perils of Waiting,” Dr. Andrion reflected on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through the lens of healthcare, equity, and service, sharing how his upbringing in the Philippines and professional journey have shaped his commitment to social justice.
Dr. Andrion completed a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy at Capitol University in the Philippines, his Canadian equivalency studies in physical therapy at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and both his master’s in critical disability studies and PhD at York University in Toronto. Additionally, he earned a certificate in global health delivery from Harvard University in 2023.
Dr. Andrion has served as a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto since 2007. His primary research interests include critical physical therapy labor-migration studies, decolonization of education, global health, and critical disability studies. His teaching interests are in the fields of sociology of health, sociological theories, ethics, professionalism, determinants of health, and qualitative research.
From left to right: O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses, Jeffrey Andrion, PhD, PT, MA, and Clinton Normore, EdD, MBA, chief diversity officer.
Zarin Mehta, PhD, CCC-A, FAAA, a tenured associate professor in the Departments of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS), has been named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (DFAAA), one of the profession’s highest honors.
Individuals selected for this fellowship are recognized as innovators who are redefining leadership in audiology, and whose extraordinary work has advanced the profession in meaningful and lasting ways.
In addition to her role at ATSU, Dr. Mehta previously served as an assistant professor at Wichita State University and a clinical associate professor at Arizona State University, where she also chaired the audiology admissions and program committee.
She serves as a reviewer for two professional journals and on convention committees for the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association and the American Academy of Audiology. She has presented at the national and state levels consistently since 1999 and received the ATSU-ASHS Educator of the Year award in 2020.
We are excited to announce that UpToDate AI Expert (also referred to as UpToDate AI) officially launched on Monday, Jan. 5. AI Expert is a new GenAI-powered tool grounded strictly in UpToDate’s trusted, evidence-based content. Designed by clinicians for clinicians, this innovation allows you to tap into the expertise of over 7,600 contributors in real time, answering complex questions with clear rationales and source citations. This new era of clinical support is designed to help you make faster, more confident decisions at the point of care. Alongside this launch, we are introducing (and reintroducing) several powerful UpToDate features.
Kidney Dosing Tool: Prescribing for patients with renal impairment is now safer and more efficient with the Kidney Dosing Tool. It provides quick, expert-reviewed guidance across multiple medications and complex dialysis modalities, including intermittent hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, CRRT, PIRRT, and SLED. It is developed by a global panel of nephrology-focused PharmDs and clinicians and even includes augmented renal clearance data for critically ill patients.
Rx Transitions for Mental Health: Switching antidepressants can be a delicate process. This tool provides step-by-step, personalized guidance to help clinicians safely transition medications while minimizing the risk of adverse reactions or loss of symptom control. Clinicians can select specific medications, doses, and transition speeds to tailor the plan to your patient’s unique needs.
Lab Interpretations: When abnormal results raise questions, the Lab Interpretation monographs enable you to interpret findings more quickly and accurately, helping you decide on the next clinical steps with confidence.
UpToDate Pathways: These are interactive guides designed to help you navigate specific clinical questions. They provide evidence-based recommendations synthesized exclusively from UpToDate content, society guidelines, and the latest medical literature.
We hope you enjoy exploring these new tools and testing out the UpToDate Expert AI. Please contact your liaison librarian or libaz@atsu.edu for any further questions or assistance.
The library provides specialized LibGuides designed to help faculty and students easily locate and integrate high-quality media into their academic work. Whether you are building a course in Canvas or preparing a student presentation, these two guides offer a wealth of curated resources.
The Streaming Media Resources LibGuide serves as a central hub for the library’s large collection of educational videos. These resources range from short clips covering single procedures to full-length films that provide broad perspectives on medical topics.
Collections include videos from:
Access Medicine
Access Physiotherapy
Acland’s Video Atlas
Bates/OSCE
Echo360 Library Media
Films on Demand
ICE PT/OT Video Library
Lippincott’s Osteopathic Clinical Skills
Medical Safety Training Videos by MedCom
Oral Surgery Videos
POEM of the Week Podcasts
Procedures Consult
Sage Research Methods Video
States of Grace
Unnatural Causes
Search & Integration: Users can find content by searching Still OneSearch and filtering results by “video”. Faculty can easily embed these videos directly into Canvas courses or provide direct links, with the guide offering step-by-step technical instructions for both.
For those seeking visual aids, the Image Resources LibGuide provides access to millions of medical and dental images. These materials are generally permitted for educational use through fair use and the library’s negotiated licenses.
The guide features powerful tools such as ClinicalKey, which hosts over 3.5 million images, and Anatomy TV, which offers highly detailed, interactive 3D models of the human body. Another great anatomy atlas resource is Anatomy Teaching Assistant from Thieme.
The guide also links to various government and open access image databases, such as Images from the History of Medicine, Open-I from the National Library of Medicine, and the CDC’s Public Health Image Library (PHIL).
Photo credit: Banerjee T, Mukherjee S, Ghosh S, Biswas M, Dutta S, Pattari S, Chatterjee S, Bandyopadhyay A -PloS one(2014) CC BY 4.0
Need Assistance? If you have questions about searching for media, navigating copyright, or embedding content, you can contact your liaison librarian or libaz@atsu.edu.
The Teaching & Learning Center (TLC) at A.T. Still University (ATSU) held its annual Innovation in Teaching for Learning Awards ceremony on Nov. 19, 2025. This award honors the creative and impactful teaching innovations developed by ATSU faculty, including strategies, technologies, and collaborative practices that significantly enhance student learning.
2025’s Innovation in Teaching for Learning Award was awarded to Erin Maruska, DMD, MPH assistant professor, and Janet Woldt, PhD, MS, associate dean, associate professor, ATSU-Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH), for their project, “Innovative Approach to Professionalism and Ethics Education: AI Role-Playing.”
The second runner-up was Rachel Geoghegan, DAT, ATC, assistant professor, ATSU-ASHS Athletic Training Department, for “Empowering Learning: AI Tutors for Flexible and Engaging Online Learning.”
In this role, Dr. Oshikoya will lead the development of clinical protocols and the implementation of person-centered policies aimed at expanding access to evidence-based substance use treatment, including MAT, for individuals within the criminal justice system.
Dr. Oshikoya brings more than 10 years of clinical experience in urgent and emergency care, infectious diseases, psychiatric care, and addiction medicine. In addition to completing his DMSc at ATSU, Dr. Oshikoya earned his Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from University of Florida.
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.
