Texas State Faculty and Graduates Achieve Board Specialization Status

Congratulations to the five new clinical specialists - Bassima Hammonds, Jessica Poteet, Shanan Richard, Brandi Smith and Ryan Stukel.  They join faculty and other graduates in accomplishing this recognition.
    A number of graduates have achieved board certified specialist status in orthopaedics, pediatrics and sports.Jeff Cowan and Matt Parker were recognized at CSM in Nashville in 2008. Michael Benson, Brent Dunbar, Arthur Hastings, Stacy Yount, Benjamin Keene, Toko Nguyen, and James Harris were recognized in Boston in 2007 at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting. They join a number of other graduates in this accomplishment -  Steve Edwards, Ben Keene, Julie Mankinen, David Penn, and Steven Vinson. Terri Flynn is a Certified Pediatric Specialist. Certified as Sports Specialists - Kevin McHorse and Catherine Ondrusek. If we have missed anyone, let us know. This is a major clinical achievement - recognition of master clinician status through a volunteer route which requires demonstration of advanced clinical competence in the practice area as well as competence in critical inquiry, education and administration. Congratulations!
    We are proud to have on our faculty these board certified specialists -  Rob Wainner, PT, PhD, OCS, ECS; Suzanne Dougherty, PT, MSPT, SCS, ATC; Barbara Sanders, PT, PhD, SCS, Jason Hardage, PT, DScPT, NCS, and Mary Elizabeth Parker,PT,  MSPT, PCS.

Local SWAN Chapter developed with assistance of Mary Elizabeth Parker

Syndromes Without a Name (SWAN) is an organization that offers support to families of children with undiagnosed or rare medical conditions.  Founded in 2008 by Texas State University-San Marocs alumnae Jennifer McKay of Austin and Hether Long of Cedar Park and the assistance of Mary Elizabeth Parker, an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, the local chapter of SWAN is a non-profit organization.  The international parent organization was founded in the United Kingdom and Australia. 

McKay became involved through personal experience.  Her son died just a month after his first birthday, suffering from an undiagnosed syndrome that began at three months of age.  In looking for support, McKay found little but found out about SWAN USA on the internet.  She joined the board of SWAN USA and with the assistance of Long and Parker they started the local chapter.  The first meeting was June 2008 and has been growing ever since. 

Parker became involved through her work in physical therapy and the many experiences that she had with children with undiagnosed illness.  Actively studying this issue, she is working on undaignosed syndromes as part of her PhD dissertation.  Long lost her son after three long years with no diagnosis at the age of 5. She was frustrated with the medical establishment's lack of urgency in diagnosis.

The ultimate goal of SWAN is to assist families in getting a correct diagnosis and proper treatment.  By pooling resources, families who have been through the experience can offer resources and emotional support.

The local SWAN chapter meets once a month and maintains a Yahoo Group to facilitate contact among members.  For more information, visit http://www.swan-austin.org/.