Skip to main content
SHHS News IU Indianapolis

Community-engaged research and practice attract students to novel OT programs

Posted on by Jill Jansen

Victoria G. Wilburn, DHSc, OTR, CLT, FAOTA talks to occupational therapy students about the program

From her very first encounter with occupational therapy (OT) faculty at Indiana University Indianapolis, Veronica Martinez knew she had found something different. A resident of South Florida, Martinez had researched the options, interviewed with top 10 programs and hadn’t found what she felt was a good postprofessional fit—until IU.

“I saw people talking about Indiana University online, and I started looking into it [the OT program],” said Martinez, a master’s-prepared occupational therapist with Broward County Public Schools. “Talking with Dr. Wilburn [Victoria G. Wilburn, DHSc, OTR, CLT, FAOTA, associate professor and postprofessional doctor of occupational therapy (PPOTD) program director], our conversation was just so different. She was very excited about my research project, and I knew that IU was the right place for me.”

One of eight students in the PPOTD cohort in the IU Indianapolis School of Health & Human Sciences, Martinez is researching quality of life among domestic violence survivors. Specifically, her research focuses on how intimate partner violence survivors perceive their quality of life and their ability to re-engage in meaningful activities.

“Veronica’s research is an example of the kind of emerging, community-focused OT practice that our program is known for,” said Wilburn, who is nationally recognized for her research in occupation-based programming for families impacted by substance use disorder. “At the forefront of community-engaged research and learning, our program and faculty are pioneers in population- and community-focused practice, which is attracting students in both our entry-level and postprofessional programs.”

In recent years, the School of Health & Human Sciences has reinvented its entry-level doctor of occupational therapy (OTD) program to combine excellence in teaching and learning with a focus on community-engaged research and service first introduced by a course Wilburn developed, “Community-based and Population-focused Practice in OT.” Students then participate in a unique capstone curriculum, gaining real-world experience in occupational therapy while serving the community. After completing three capstone-related courses, students engage with community organizations for individual projects that include a needs assessment to identify gaps in service. From there, students work alongside their organizations to design and implement human-centered interventions to address a specific area of need.

Victoria Wilburn, DHSc, OTR, CLT, FAOTA poses with students at an event

For practicing occupational therapists, the PPOTD program allows students to delve further into an area of community-focused interest or clinical expertise. Morgan Fulk, an OT for First Steps Indiana who specializes in pediatric feeding disorders, is designing an intervention to study whether eating within a group setting improves behavioral food outcomes for children with feeding difficulties. With mentorship from Dr. Wilburn and OT faculty member Sally Wasmuth, PhD, OTR, Fulk, who earned a master’s degree in OT from IU, aims to fill gaps in the academic literature related to pediatric feeding disorders.

“It’s been a really great experience; Dr. Wilburn and Dr. Wasmuth have been supportive and encouraging,” said Fulk, who is also an OT instructor at Indiana University Kokomo. “As clinicians, we get used to that [clinical] world, and this has been a whole new journey being a researcher, learning how to approach this work in a different way and being cognizant of how to build good research.”

In addition to having the freedom and flexibility within the program to explore areas of research interest, both Fulk and Martinez are benefiting from a close-knit cohort of fellow OT practitioners.

“Dr. Wilburn has done a great job of building community among us,” Fulk said. “The support I’ve received from all eight students has been amazing; it’s really rewarding to be a part of a group of people who are going through the same stages, steps and experiences as I am.”

“We’ve only met once in person, but it really feels like a family, and honestly, I didn’t expect that,” Martinez added. “We’re from different areas of practice, different walks of life, and three of us are out of state. We really support each other, and that’s another reason I’m glad I chose this program.”

Novel FIT Core provides valuable physical function reference data, outcomes to medical researchers

Posted on by Jill Jansen

Designed to generate data and outcomes on bone and muscle health in both healthy people and those with disease, a novel repository at the Indiana University Indianapolis School of Health & Human Sciences is helping researchers in the United States and worldwide answer important questions about musculoskeletal disease and other health conditions.

Stuart Warden holds a model of a spine to show a patient lying on a bed with their legs raised
Stuart Warden holds a model spine while a patient has their body scanned in the FIT Core.

Launched in 2017, the Function, Imaging and Testing (FIT) Core is part of IU School of Medicine’s nationally recognized Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health and funded by a National Institutes of Health program grant. So far, the FIT Core has recruited and tested more than 5,000 individuals.

To enroll in the FIT Core, volunteer participants perform simple physical function assessments, provide a blood sample (optional) and undergo body composition and bone health scans. The physical assessments include walking as far as possible in six minutes, balancing with the feet in different positions, walking speed tests, and assessment of hand grip strength. The FIT Core collects data from people between the ages of 5 and 100, regardless of their health condition or level of wellness.

“We’ve used the FIT Core population to create normative data that has resulted in the publication of five reference databases, including first-of-its-kind normative data on muscle density measured using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, or HR-pQCT, that we published this year,” said FIT Core Director Stuart Warden, PhD, associate dean for research and Chancellor’s Professor, IU Physical Therapy program.

Researchers in a variety of medical disciplines use the FIT Core reference databases to see how their study subjects compare to the reference populations who meet certain criteria. “This expedites the research process and reduces costs because in using data from the FIT Core, researchers don’t need to recruit and test their own normal, healthy people to compare to their research participants with disease,” Warden explained.

The FIT Core participants’ data are linked to their electronic medical record, allowing researchers to request data sets of participants with certain diseases or conditions or those taking certain medications. In addition, the data are linked to the blood samples taken from the individuals, which are stored in the Indiana Biobank. All the data and samples provided to researchers are de-identified so the participants can’t be identified.

Stuart Warden talks with a patient in the Fit Core as their lower leg is scanned.
Stuart Warden talks with a patient in the FIT Core as their lower leg is scanned.

Warden said that up to 50 researchers in the U.S. and internationally are currently using the FIT Core in their work. This includes researchers at IU and other institutions who send their research participants through the FIT Core for testing. The FIT Core is currently part of studies in breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, chronic kidney and liver disease, osteoporosis, rare bone diseases, X-linked hypophosphatemia, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, GLP-1 inhibitors and obesity drugs, and more.

“Before the FIT Core, many researchers wouldn’t have considered including physical function and bone health outcomes in their research because such collective data didn’t exist or wasn’t widely available,” Warden explained. “With this resource, investigators are now more inclined to not only study physiological and metabolic outcomes but also look at how diseases and conditions affect a person’s physical capabilities and their ability to get around in everyday life.”

As a key component of musculoskeletal research underway at IU, the FIT Core demonstrates the value of integrating physical therapy in medical research. “The FIT Core elevates the reputation of physical therapy on our campus but also in the broader research community by contributing these types of outcomes for medical research,” Warden said.

The core is also contributing to the work of a statewide IU-led consortium that was recently named one of 15 finalists in the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines competition. The recognition positions Indiana as a global hub for musculoskeletal health, advancing treatments for conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic back pain.

Research underway in PT program aims to improve early diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Posted on by Jill Jansen

When neuroscientist Laila Alibiglou, PhD, PT, came to the Indiana University Indianapolis Physical Therapy (PT) Program in 2023, she was excited to join a group of seasoned investigators and a research environment rich in opportunity.

Laila Alibiglou, associate professor instructing in the gait lab.
Laila Alibiglou, associate professor instructing in the gait lab.

“There is great potential for research here,” said Alibiglou, an associate professor whose research focuses on the intersection of neurodegenerative disorders and sleep disturbances. “We have faculty members in our department who conduct cutting-edge research at the cellular andmolecular level; there is a group working on the musculoskeletal system, and there are several faculty who are investigating neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and MS (multiple sclerosis).”

Alibiglou holds a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and earned her PhD in neuroscience from Northwestern University, where she also completed postdoctoral training with a specialization in the neurophysiology of movement disorders. Today, her research centers on neurorehabilitation and the development of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for people with Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative conditions.

“I’m especially interested in how the body’s circadian rhythm, or our internal biological clock, influences movement in people with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease,” Alibiglou explains. “We’re studying how sleep and circadian disruptions affect movements by closely examining changes in biomechanics of movement, both in the presence and absence of sleep disorders, in people with neurodegenerative disorders. Our goal is to understand how sleep disturbances may contribute to motor problems such as tremor, slowness, and impaired balance and gait.”

In the state-of-the-art gait analysis lab Alibiglou established at the IU Indianapolis School of Health & Human Sciences, she uses advanced motion capture systems, a fully instrumented walkway, and both standard and high-density surface electromyography (EMG) to detect subtle changes in patients’ movement. By combining this data with actigraphy and light therapy, she is exploring how disruptions in the brain’s sleep-regulating networks affect motor control, and whether sleep may hold a key to improving movement in people with neurological disorders.

Alibiglou’s research focuses on individuals with Parkinson’s disease, including different clinical subgroups, to better understand how circadian rhythms influence motor function. In a recent pilot study, participants completed gait initiation and walking tasks while researchers recorded data on joint angles, step and stride length and duration, interlimb coordination, muscle activity, and more. Participants were then randomly assigned to receive either real or placebo light therapy—delivered through specialized goggles worn at a specific time of day—to help reset their circadian rhythms. After two weeks of light therapy, they repeated the same walking tasks to assess changes in movement.

“We saw meaningful improvements in gait—including step size, stride length, stride duration, and coordination—all pointing to the connection between sleep abnormalities and motor function,” Alibiglou said. “It suggests that by targeting the brain’s sleep networks, we may be able to find new ways to improve the function of motor network in people with neurological disorders.”

Alibiglou is contributing to emerging research that shows a strong link between certain sleep disorders and the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’sdisease. She is particularly interested in potential predictive patterns related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a sleep disorder in which individuals physically act out their dreams due to the loss of normal muscle atonia that typically occurs during REM sleep.

Physical therapy student Hope Campbell participates in class instruction in the Gait Lab.
Physical therapy student Hope Campbell participates in class instruction in the gait lab.

“Research shows that after RBD diagnosis, 60 to 80% of patients develop either Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease within 10 to 15 years,” Alibiglou explained. “That makes RBD one of the earliest visible signs of neurodegeneration and a powerful window of opportunity. If we can better understand how disordered sleep is linked to neurodegenerative disorders, we may one day be able to intervene earlier, slow progression, or even delay the onset of debilitating symptoms.”

Alibiglou is currently collaborating with the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine on an interdisciplinary study using artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate multimodal biological, sleep, and neuromuscular data to identify novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

The gait analysis lab that Alibiglou established is contributing to other ongoing PT research at IU Indianapolis. Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Tracy Dierks, PhD, and Peter Altenburger, PhD, PT, associate dean of the School of Health & Human Sciences, are using the lab to examine movement patterns across age groups.

To gather benchmark data, they are studying obstacle navigation and walking among three age groups—young, middle-aged, and older adults—who do not currently have mobility issues. The goal is to use the data to validate a simpler, more practical method of identifying fall risk in clinical settings.

IU Indianapolis OT program builds on success with unique wheelchair skills training program

Posted on by Jill Jansen

Growing from four wheelchair participants to 40 in just four years, Skills on Wheels is a multifaceted success story. Launched in 2021 by the IU Indianapolis Occupational Therapy (OT) Program, Skills on Wheels is a free wheelchair skills training program that teaches children and adolescents, ages 6 to 17, how to use their wheelchairs to gain more independence. Adapted from wheelchair skills training developed for adults at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, the IU Indianapolis Skills on Wheels program is the first and only wheelchair skills program offered for children in the United States—and just the second worldwide.

Tony Chase interacts with Skills on Wheels participant in Health Sciences lobby.
Tony Chase interacts with Skills on Wheels participant in Health Sciences lobby.

“Programs like this aren’t easily transferred to the pediatric population because of all the safety concerns with kids,” said Tony Chase, PhD, assistant professor of occupational therapy. “Working with our partners at Riley Children’s Health, we developed a program that covers the same 33 skills—everything from how to correctly roll forward in the chair to more advanced skills like getting in and out of the chair, breaking it down, and going up curbs and stairs—in a way that’s targeted, safe, and fun for kids.”

Popular with young wheelchair users and their caregivers, Skills on Wheels also attracts graduate students to the IU Indianapolis OT program. A model of community-engaged learning, Skills on Wheels is integrated into the OT curriculum and receives robust administrative and program support from both the IU School of Health & Human Sciences and the university. OT students engage in every aspect of the program—from planning the skill-building activities and helping with instruction to motivating the young participants.

Two recent IU Indianapolis OT graduates are using their experience with Skills on Wheels in the workforce—one in the wheelchair skills lab at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, Illinois, and the other in adaptive equipment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

“Every year we have at least two or three students who say that Skills on Wheels is one of the reasons they chose our program,” said Chase. “Every OT student at IU Indianapolis receives some level of wheelchair skills training, which helps them stand out in the job market because very few OT graduate programs offer this.”

Chase is exploring the benefits of wheelchair skills training as part of a series of research projects connected to Skills on Wheels. Currently, he’s studying how occupational therapists’ knowledge and awareness of wheelchair skills training programs can impact OT for wheelchair users, including ways the training can be leveraged to improve overall occupational therapy outcomes for these patients. Chase and IU Indianapolis OT students are also researching graduate student participation in Skills on Wheels—why students get involved, how they benefit, and the outcomes of participation. To date, research related to Skills on Wheels has resulted in four journal publications.

Occupational student supports a Skills on Wheels participant during hands-on activities
Occupational student supports a Skills on Wheels participant during hands-on activities

Extending the benefits of Skills on Wheels beyond the pediatric program, in early 2025 IU Indianapolis OT began offering free wheelchair skills training for adults. OT faculty and students partnered with NeuroHope, a nonprofit organization in Indianapolis that provides outpatient rehabilitation services for people living with paralysis. The department has also launched a wheelchair skills dance program and a summer camp.

 

“Skills on Wheels has been such a great experience for the participants as well as our students; it just makes sense to continue offering it and expanding the program,” Chase said. “To offer something that’s so impactful and life changing—that’s also free and accessible—is rewarding for our department, our students and our partners in the community.”

IU Indianapolis School of Health & Human Sciences launches three year accelerated-degree programs

Posted on by Darcy Tayler

Left: a Kinesiology student shakes hands with someone at a fitness center Right: Dr. Hollender shows a student a muscle model while pointing out features
Left: Kinesiology student shakes hands with AFC client at NIFS. Right: Clinicial associate professor, Heaven Hollender, teaching anatomy model lesson to health sciences students.

Indiana University Indianapolis School of Health & Human Sciences have announced the launch of new three-year accelerated undergraduate degrees, helping students save money and kickstart their careers sooner.

These programs include: a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Kinesiology with a concentration in Applied Fitness and Sport Performance.

By enrolling in summer classes and engaging in hands-on learning, students can complete their degree in three years instead of four, while also gaining valuable experience through internships and community partnerships.

“Every student’s journey is unique, and we are committed to meeting them where they are,” said Rafael Bahamonde, founding dean of the IU School of Health & Human Sciences. “Our new three-year undergraduate degrees give students the chance to learn from leading faculty while benefitting from both real-world experience and the opportunity to step into their career with confidence sooner.”

The B.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Applied Fitness and Sport Performance is designed for students passionate about fitness and performance. The program prepares graduates for a variety of careers such as sports performance coaching, health and fitness specialist, corporate wellness specialist, and exercise psychologists.

The B.S. in Health Sciences provides students with a broad exposure to clinical health, wellness, and rehabilitation fields. Students explore topics such as the physical and psychological aspects of aging, global perspectives on healthcare delivery, rehabilitation and disability services, nutrition and wellness promotion, and research on improving patient outcomes. On the three-year degree track, this will be available for students who wish to study on campus or online.

Completing an undergraduate degree in three years not only helps students save on housing and living costs, but also accelerates their professional development, giving them a head start in the job market.

Prospective students interested in enrolling in the new three-year undergraduate degrees can find out more and apply via shhs.indianapolis.iu.edu.

IU Indianapolis launches sport management and law accelerated-degree program

Posted on by Darcy Tayler

An interdisciplinary accelerated degree program is launching at Indiana University Indianapolis that will offer students aunique opportunity to gain expertise in both sport management and foundational legal principles. 

The innovative program — which combines a Bachelor of Science in tourism, event and sport management, with a major in sport management, from the School of Health & Human Sciences and a Master of Jurisprudence from the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law  — will prepare students for leadership roles in the dynamic and highly regulated sports industry. The curriculum will integrate sport marketing, event production and venue operations with legal coursework in areas such as legal process, sports law and regulatory compliance. 

This 138-credit hour program is the first of its kind in Indiana.  

“Indianapolis is a living classroom for sport,” said Rafael Bahamonde, founding dean of the IU School of Health & Human Sciences. “Our tourism, event and sport management students already learn in venues where some of the world’s most famous major events are planned and executed. Pairing that experience with legal literacy through McKinney’s Master of Jurisprudence gives graduates a real edge, allowing them to run the operation on game day and speak the language of regulation. This program is a real game changer designed to train the workforce for our city’s unique ecosystem.” 

In addition to a robust understanding of both sport management and foundational legal studies, students will gain hands-on experience through the School of Health & Human Sciences’ partnerships with major sports organizations, including the NCAA and Horizon League. This experiential learning provides real-world exposure and networking opportunities, culminating in a senior-year summer internship that aligns with the IU McKinney School of Law externship, making graduates highly versatile in the field.

“This program reflects Indiana University’s commitment to interdisciplinary education and experiential learning,” IU McKinney Dean Karen Bravo said. “By combining sport management with legal training, we’re equipping students with the tools they need to navigate complex industry challenges and emerge as leaders.” 

Key advantages of the program Include: 

  • Accelerated pathway: Students will complete both degrees in just five years, saving time and tuition.
  • Experiential learning: Students will benefit from real-world experience through externships with top-tier sports organizations.
  • Career versatility: Graduates are prepared for roles in sports administration, legal compliance, contract negotiation and more.
  • Enhanced marketability: Legal knowledge empowers graduates to make informed decisions and communicate effectively with legal counsel.

Graduates of the program will be uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand for professionals who understand both the business and legal aspects of the sports industry. With a strong foundation in sport management and legal education, they will be equipped to lead in a competitive and evolving marketplace. 

“The new accelerated master’s program is both innovative and practical. The world of sports is complex with legal issues intersecting nearly every key facet,” said Julie Roe Lach, Horizon League Commissioner and McKinney alum. “From game contracts, to media rights management, to event revenue share, to the impact of the courts and legislature on the regulatory environment, the need to have a foundational understanding of sports law is critical.  

“This program will prepare graduates to reframe the current and future challenges facing sports into opportunities.” 

Prospective students interested in enrolling in the program can apply to the Bachelor of Science in tourism, event and sport management with a major in sport management via the School of Health & Human Sciences website. Once students are enrolled, applications for the Master of Jurisprudence from the IU McKinney School of Law will open Sept. 1 of their junior year.  

Learning through service benefits students and the community

Posted on by Jill Jansen

Learning can also mean giving something back. Each year, IU School of Health & Human Sciences students step outside the classroom to apply what they are learning in the community. Through a robust network of academic and community-integrated partnerships, IU SHHS departments and programs prioritize “service learning” – practical experiences that benefit both students and the larger community.

“Weaving real-world service learning into coursework enables students to apply classroom learning while serving communities with unmet needs,” said Julie Bednarski, OTD, MHS, OTR, clinical associate professor and occupational therapy program director. “Service learning not only enhances student learning but also provides valuable support to the populations we serve.”

Across SHHS undergraduate and graduate programs, service learning is built into degree programs and offered as volunteer opportunities for students to engage in experiences that help prepare them for the future.

“Service learning promotes civic mindedness, revealing ways in which the knowledge and skills students are acquiring can be used for the greater good,” said Mark Urtel, Ed.D., chair and associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology “At the same time, students develop leadership skills and gain experience working with and for others—all of which leads to career readiness.”

 

Examples of service-learning at IU SHHS
Examples of service-learning at IU SHHS

 

Here are some examples of service-learning at IU SHHS:

Kinesiology

For students interested in helping people engage in physical fitness, the Department of Kinesiology offers a wide range of opportunities for service learning. Each year, students participate as part of their coursework or volunteer in partnerships such as Live Laugh Dance, a dance and rhythm-based program for young adults with Down syndrome. Through INShape, students gain hands-on experience as personal trainers while helping campus faculty and staff meet their health and fitness goals. Kinesiology students are instrumental in providing physical activity programming for area children with disabilities through the Motor Activity Clinic and the Ability Fitness Clinic.

Health Sciences

As part of the Disability and Society course, Health Sciences students at IU Fort Wayne coordinate activities for individuals enrolled in the adult daycare at Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities. The students also volunteer at Gigi’s Playhouse, a center supporting people with Down syndrome.

Tourism, Event and Sport Management

Senior capstone courses in both Sport Innovation and Event Production provide TESM students with opportunities to make an impact with community partners. In late 2024, capstone students worked with Indy Parks and Recreation to enhance programming and facilities for the city’s youth. In another capstone project with Mudsock Youth Athletics and the Center for Sports Transformation, students examined the recruitment, retention and quality of youth sports coaching. Their ideas centered on ways to develop a healthy ecosystem for volunteer coaches. TESM students in introductory-level courses volunteer at the Future Farmers of America conference in Indianapolis during the fall semester.

Occupational Therapy

With ongoing opportunities to engage with the community, occupational therapy (OT) students benefit from a service-learning curriculum that spans all three program years. An adaptive waterski clinic helps first-year OT students gain early understanding of the importance of community-based programming for people with disabilities. Second-year students adapt toys for children with disabilities through a partnership with Hoosier Christmas Hope and Riley Children’s Health. Partnerships with the child development center and adult day program at Flanner House, as well as Skills on Wheels, a wheelchair mobility training program, give second- and third-year students practical experience in community-engaged settings.

Physician Assistant Studies

For the past three years, the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program has partnered with ParentLife to host a health fair to provide education on topics such as car seat safety, safe sleep, vaping, exercise, first aid and dental hygiene. As part of the Healthcare Across the Lifespan course, the students develop educational materials and staff the booths at the fair. PA students also volunteer at the IU Student Outreach Clinic, a health clinic run by students in IU’s health professions programs, that provides free medical care to underserved communities on Indianapolis’ near east side.

Nutrition and Dietetics

Sharing expertise on nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics (N&D) graduate students plan and staff a booth at the IU Indianapolis health fair held at the beginning of the academic year. The event gives N&D students practical experience developing educational materials for a specific target audience. In recent years, the graduate students have distributed information and tips on eating and cooking on a budget, and healthy packable lunch options. N&D also partners with a variety of community organizations to facilitate students’ supervised practice rotations.

Physical Therapy

In addition to structured service-learning activities that are part of the physical therapy (PT) doctoral curriculum, PT students lead several community-based programs. GoBabyGo!—a collaboration between the students and community volunteers—furnishes adapted battery-powered cars and four-wheelers to children with motor and cognitive developmental delays. PT students also participate in the IU Student Outreach Clinic, working in collaboration with other IU health professions students to deliver free health care to underserved populations. Other student-led volunteer programs include MS Swim, a program for people living with multiple sclerosis, and the Goodwin Exercise Program, which engages low-income older adults in group exercise.

“These opportunities allow students to grow as professionals and complement the didactic knowledge they are learning in the classroom,” said Kristine Miller, PhD, PT, associate professor and physical therapy program director. “At the same time, they’re seeing firsthand the needs of the wider community and exploring ways they can continue to serve.”

Internships in opportunity-rich environment boost career readiness

Posted on by Jill Jansen

Through the IU School of Health & Human Sciences required internship, students have a built-in opportunity to gain experience and insights to better define their future. All SHHS undergraduates complete a 300- or 350-hour internship, depending on the program, in their senior year.

“The value of the internship really stems from bringing coursework to life; it’s one thing to understand something on an academic level, but to see and experience it in action, that’s where the real benefit lies,” said Jill Dempsey, MS, internship director for the school’s kinesiology program. “There is a big ‘a-ha’ moment when a student realizes they’ve found exactly what they want to do, and internships help make that happen.”

Determined to make the most of his internship at Community Health Network, exercise science major Eli Stewart considered it like a 12-week job interview.

“I was always asking my site coordinator and the people I worked with what I could do to help,” said Stewart, who worked in cardiac rehabilitation at Community Hospital North. “They started me out slow but by the end of the internship I was doing a lot more and learning how to manage my time and contribute.”

Stewart’s hard work paid off. At the end of his internship this summer, he was offered a part-time PRN (as needed) position as an exercise physiologist at Community Health Network hospitals in Indianapolis.

For Lilly Brandt, a 2025 health sciences graduate, her internship at Hendricks Regional Health helped solidify her decision to become an occupational therapist.

“What I found most rewarding was talking with the occupational therapists and hearing their insights and advice,” said Brandt, a first-year occupational therapy graduate student at Western Michigan University. “Some of the therapists had recently graduated and some had practiced in the field for many years, so it was really valuable to have their advice and mentorship.”

With prior approval from their program’s internship director, SHHS students can apply for and choose their internships. Across all the degree programs, the senior-level internship courses include networking and career resources such as assistance with resume and cover letter development, mock interviewing, strength finder assessments, and one-on-one consultation and meetings with the internship directors.

“There are so many different directions students can go with a health sciences degree, we let them pick their internships because we want them to have an experience that’s interesting to them and matches their career ambitions,” said Jessica Isom, PT, DPT, health sciences internship director. “Being part of a university in an urban area that’s surrounded by hospitals, we have a lot of opportunities available for our students.”

IU Indianapolis’ location in central Indiana offers a wealth of internship options for students in the Tourism, Event, Hospitality & Sport Management (TESM) program. Students have completed internships with Indiana Sports Corp, the Indiana Pacers, White Lodging, the Indianapolis Zoo, White River State Park, Live Nation and more.

“Our school’s location in the heart of downtown Indianapolis is so ideal for internships,” said Amy Vaughan, MA, clinical assistant professor and internship coordinator for TESM. “With the long-standing relationships that our faculty have with leaders and organizations in these fields, our students are in such a great position to take advantage of opportunities for internships and other real-world experiences before they graduate.”

New applied fitness and sports performance degree prepares students for high-value careers in evolving industry

Posted on by Jill Jansen

Strength and conditioning students pose for a photo.
Students enrolled in strength and conditioning pose for a photo in the weight room.

 

This fall, the IU Indianapolis School of Health & Human Sciences is launching a new Bachelor of Science degree program in Applied Fitness and Sports Performance. Designed for students who plan to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, this degree prepares graduates for roles in sports performance, strength and conditioning, corporate and community fitness/wellness, or personal training.

“We designed this degree to appeal to students with a wide range of interests, equipping them for success in a variety of industry settings,” said Mark Urtel, Ed.D., chair and associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology. “The curriculum includes unique areas of study, such as a focus on the behavioral and psychological aspects of fitness, and an early introduction in the first year to a course in human movement and motor skills.”

The new degree program at IU Indianapolis is aligned with academic guidelines from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Program graduates will be prepared to sit for industry certification exams through these organizations to earn credentials as a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), certified personal trainer (CPT) or a certified exercise physiologist (ACSM-EP).

As part of the degree planning process, Urtel and department faculty surveyed industry and community partners, school alumni and current students to gather feedback on the new offering.

Baylor Sleziak engages with a client during his internship at Body Outfitters.
Baylor Sleziak engages with a client during his internship at Body Outfitters.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive, with stakeholders indicating the new degree was in line with current industry needs,” Urtel said. “They told us that the program addresses what today’s health and fitness clients expect, especially the focus on behavior change and helping people overcome barriers to exercise and make choices to engage in a healthy lifestyle long term.”

The Applied Fitness and Sports Performance degree is one of three undergraduate degrees offered in the Department of Kinesiology. Students can also earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or physical education teacher education.

“With the depth and breadth that this new program offers, we believe students will be well prepared to step into the workforce, make a difference in people’s lives and take advantage of new opportunities in an ever-changing industry,” Urtel said.

Graduate Health Professions programs ranked among the nation’s best

Posted on by Jill Jansen

The IU School of Health & Human Sciences Graduate Health Professions programs made a strong showing in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of Best Graduate Schools. Breaking into the top 50 for the first time, the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program ranked No. 48. The Occupational Therapy (OT) Program claimed the 37th spot, and the Physical Therapy (PT) Program ranked 46th. All three programs earned the rankings in their respective fields, which are ranked separately by U.S. News.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy students partner to work with patients at the NeuroWellness clinic.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy students partner to work with patients at the NeuroWellness clinic.

“It’s really exciting to be on the leading edge of the field and to be recognized nationally for advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning in physician assistant studies,” said Lauren Gilliam, MPAS, CHA/PA-C, clinical assistant professor and program director of the IU PA program. “We’re attracting high-performing students who have heard about the strength of our program and want to come here.”

Last year, more than 1,400 applicants vied for just 44 spots in the IU PA program, which started in 2013 and graduated its first cohort in 2015. One of just 312 PA programs in the nation, the IU program is led by faculty engaged in novel best practices in teaching and learning. During the past year, IU PA faculty have presented at national conferences on topics in PA education, including clinical reasoning and best practices in ensuring student success and tracking student performance.

Physician assistant studies student practices suturing during a clinical skills lab.
Physician assistant studies student practices suturing during a clinical skills lab.

In recent years, the IU Occupational Therapy Program, the top-ranked OT program in Indiana, has reinvented its program to combine excellence in teaching and learning with a strong focus on community-engaged research and service. A self-directed capstone project allows students to gain leadership, communication and professional skills in areas of interest. The program has a strong network of central Indiana community partners, including Flanner House, Overdose Lifeline and its affiliates, Camp Mariposa and Heart Rock Recovery Center.

Within the past three years, the program has added new state-of-the-art facilities, including an activities of daily living apartment specially designed for instruction. This year, OT students are learning functional anatomy with four new anatomage tables—a human cadaver-based 3D medical education tool.

Occupational therapy students practice fabricating orthoses on one another.
Occupational therapy students practice fabricating orthoses on one another.

“We train our students to excel in the traditional medical model of occupational therapy, while working to ensure they have the skills to extend the OT profession into the community as well,” said Julie Bednarski, OTD, MHS, OTR, clinical associate professor and OT program director. “Thanks to the research we’re conducting and the relationships we’ve built, some of our community partners now have occupational therapists integrated into their services.”

The IU Physical Therapy Program, launched in the late 1950s, is the longest-standing PT program in Indiana. A strong clinical education curriculum is a hallmark of the program, with program graduates achieving a 100% all-time pass rate on the national physical therapy licensing exam. Last year the mean score for the class of 2024 was 50 points above the national average.

The program recently moved into new facility space that includes a high-tech gait lab and functional assessment areas for research.

“We have several active research labs that engage students in the research process with more than 20  students per year over the past several years traveling to national and international conferences to present research data from their work in faculty labs,” said Kristine Miller, PT, PhD, associate professor and director of the PT program.

Expanding IU PT’s educational offerings, the program, in collaboration with Indiana University Health, will launch a 16-month PT residency program in August 2026. One of the few PT residency programs in the Midwest, the program will include specialization in physical therapy for neurological conditions, cardiovascular conditions and wound care. The goal of the residency program is to increase the number of specially trained physical therapists in these fields of practice.

All three program directors agree that support from the School of Health & Human Sciences and the university contributes to the programs’ continuing success.

“We are led by strategic thinkers who keep us focused on a vision for the future,” said Gilliam. “Our leaders motivate us to think about how we can lead as educators in our field and instill in us the belief that the moment we’re staying the same is the moment we’re falling behind.”

Skip to toolbar