How is it already 2016?

2015 has been a year full of exciting changes and developments within the College of Health Science. 184 students graduated in the spring of 2015 from our college. We said farewell to our founding dean, Dr. Sands, who is now the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. We gained an awesome new dean, Dr. Pearson, who has done an incredible job throughout all the transitions within the college. We changed our name from the College of Allied Health to the College of Health Science. We moved across the street onto our own campus. 33 students graduated this past semester with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Health Science, and 6 students graduated from one of our master’s programs, in December of 2015.

As we venture into this new year, it is important to not only focus on the previous year’s accomplishments, but to look to the future. Imagine the things we will do this year!

Paul writes in Philippians 3:14, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” We need to set our minds on the things that Christ wants us to focus on: loving others and expanding his kingdom. Here at the College of Health Science our goal is to transform lives through the health professions. This includes the lives of not only our students and faculty, but all those we come across in the field.

This year, I encourage you to “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” – Colossians 3:2. Focus on giving God the glory in everything you do.

 

Amber Leigh Sands // Student Worker // College of Health Science

 

Well, it’s that time of year again. Pilgrims and cornucopias line every hallway, grocery stores are overflowing with pumpkins and cotton candy, and you’re probably headed home to see family. Once you arrive, you and all of your other relatives will catch up on the latest family news, and sit down for a huge turkey dinner. However, before you can dig into your piled-too-high plate of food, Grandad will say, “so, what is everyone thankful for this year?”

You’re thinking – “I’m exhausted. Midterms stressed me out to my breaking point. I could be sleeping right now. Why can’t I eat!?” All of which are understandable. But there are always things to be thankful for. Be thankful for the opportunity to receive a higher education. Be thankful for the crazy California weather – it’s God showing us his spunky, creative side. Be thankful to be with all of your loved ones – even though they drive you crazy. Be thankful for a week of rest.

Even more importantly, be thankful for God’s grace and love. Everyone makes mistakes, college students probably a little more than average. Be thankful that his love is unending and unchanging. Be thankful that he is forgiving.

I am learning that when you choose to have a thankful mindset, your eyes are opened to the beauty all around you, and your heart is filled with joy. Now, being joyful does not mean being happy all the time. Joy is not an emotion, but rather a state of mind. Choosing to be thankful and joyful does not mean that everything in your life is working out the way you planned.

Having this joy from Christ is so much more rewarding than being circumstantially happy. Choose to be thankful this holiday season!

— Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 107:1

 

Amber Leigh Sands

Student Worker

College of Health Science

We are five weeks into the semester already! This year has already been full of exciting changes here in the College of Health Science. Our name has been officially changed from the College of Allied Health to the College of Health Science, as you probably have heard. We have our own campus on Monroe Street, directly across from the baseball field, an approximate 7 minute walk from Wanda’s. To save those 7 minutes between classes, a new eatery has opened adjacent to our main office called “Monroe To Go”, a perfect spot to grab a drink or a snack on your way to class.

Now that everything and everyone has started to settle in, it’s time to kick it into high gear in preparation for midterms in only two weeks! Here are a few tips that will (hopefully) guarantee an passing grade.

Start studying NOW! Everyone knows that college students are known for late night cramming sessions right before a big test – and most people know that this approach is not very beneficial. Instead of overwhelming your brain to the point where it won’t retain anything, study small portions each day leading up to the test. Make sure to review the information you learn each day as well.

If you don’t have a planner already – get one. Organization is a key factor in success anywhere, but especially in college. Use the monthly tabs to write down important dates such as quizzes, exams, midterms, practicums, etc., and use the weekly or daily pages to write down new assignments given, and things that you need to get done that day. Don’t let yourself fall behind and get overwhelmed simply because you don’t know when things are due.

Another organization tip – create an assignments list. Either compile all assignments for all classes into one spreadsheet, by date, or use separate sheets within one Excel book for each class. Every professor has a syllabus, and almost all of them include all the assignments and their due dates. It becomes a bit irksome trying to find the syllabus each time you need information on an assignment, so copy and paste the info all into one place. Organization will help reduce your stress levels, and help you create a clear, focused plan for what needs to get done and when.

Prioritize! Figure out which subjects you need to prepare more for, and allocate your time accordingly. Don’t spend all your time reviewing things you have mastered, use your time wisely and go the extra step and do some extra problems or read extra material on topics that you are fuzzy on.

Take time to care for your health – mentally, physically, and spiritually. All three can be covered in one, by taking a long walk and listening to worship music, for example, or in separate events for each. It is extremely important to take time for yourself to relax and unwind, especially when there is a lot going on and so many things to study for. Make sure you are eating right, sleeping enough, getting some exercise, spending time alone with God, with yourself, with friends. These all seem like little things that aren’t related to a midterm, but they are extremely relevant. Take care of yourself, and your brain (and your grades!) will thank you for it.

I hope you will find these tips relevant and helpful in preparation for your midterms! I want to leave you with one final thought – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3

You can do it!

 

This week was quite busy for the Bo Hua Global Health Engagement Team. We started out the week siting in on a bi-yearly meeting that focused on the hospital’s income report for the past six months. It was interesting learning about the significant growth of Bo Hua’s yearly income, increasing from ¥1,880,000 in 2001 to ¥4,600,000 in the first half of 2015! The Global Health Engagement Team was blown away by these figures. In the afternoon we explored the IT and Finance departments. Mr. Du, the vice president of the IT department, explained the hospital service system that collaborates information regarding patient service, storage, income, nurse station, and insurance. He also showed us the surveillance system of the hospital, accessible from his phone! After learning about IT we headed for the Finance department, where Mr. Shu taught us about this department’s responsibilities, which included clinical costs, purchased medications, and Bo Hua’s pay roll. In this department, we found out that it is ¥25 to stay in the hospital overnight and that surgery makes up the majority of the hospital’s income.

The next day we spent the morning climbing a steep mountain, located just outside the city. None of us made it to the top, but we did make it to a platform that had an incredible scenic view of the city. It was safe to say that this mountain gave all of us a major calf burn! In the afternoon, we travelled to Jin Shu’s house for a delicious lunch followed by a boat ride on Soong Hwa Lake around Turtle Island.

On Wednesday, we were given a tour of an affiliated hospital in Jilin City. First we learned about the capabilities of the CT and MRI machines. On another floor we were able to see the extensive laboratory that included microbiology, routine blood testing, urine analysis, and a room dedicated to PCR (Polymerase chain reaction). Additionally, we were able to observe a heart surgery from the viewing room, which we met Dr. Lu, a renowned heart surgeon in China. Soon after we headed for the Stroke Rehabilitation area. It was interesting to learn that stroke rehabilitation is a fairly new concept in China and reassuring that its prevalence is growing due to the importance of motor therapy directly after a stroke occurs. The last floor, and most noteworthy experience on the hospital tour, was the surgery floor where the Global Health Engagement Team was able to scrub in and observe surgeries up close. We saw many surgeries being done, such as on a thyroid and bilateral calcaneus fractures. It was an awesome opportunity and we are extremely grateful for it!

The following day Mr. Gao and Miss Miao took us to a Western shopping mall. At lunch, they brought us to a place frequented by the local Jilin people, including Bo Hua hospital employees. Nurse Li and a few others from the hospital met us there. This restaurant served “Malatang,” which allowed us to make our own bowl of noodles. We soon discovered why it was such a popular place. The food was delicious, and arguably the best noodles we ate during our stay in China! After lunch we ventured into the countryside looking for the horseracing track and became lost within a few rural villages. Though becoming lost is typically associated with frustration, it was actually great team bonding time along with us realizing that Miss Miao is quite the jokester! Additionally, seeing the way many Chinese people live in the countryside was a good reminder for us to be grateful for what we have in America. Later that night, Miss Miao invited us to her apartment and we enjoyed a popular dinner called “hot pot,” a Chinese style soup loaded with noodles, vegetables, and meat. She stuffed us with yummy food and brought us back to the hospital.

On Friday the Global Health Engagement Team gave our final presentation to Dr. Sands, Jin Shu, and several of the Bo Hua staff that taught us during our stay in China. After the presentation, it was an emotional time for us all, especially when Jin Shu started crying when thanking Dr. Sands and the Global Health Engagement Team. This moment made us realize that this practicum exceeded our expectations and though we learned much about working in a hospital, it was blatantly obvious that the relationships formed on this trip was by far the most important aspect of this entire experience. After our presentation, The Global Health Engagement Team and the Sands family went to the shopping district one last time. In the evening, our Farewell Banquet took place at Jin Shu’s favorite Brazilian Restaurant. It was wonderful learning about Jin Shu’s life under Chairman Mao. Despite the adversity she faced, she persevered and founded Bo Hua Hospital. Jin Shu is an incredible lady that inspired the Global Health Engagement Team to always be the best we can be.

The final day in China, Dana and Ashlee went on their last morning run around the river, feeling more nostalgic than ever before. In Chinese culture, the first meal one has when coming to China is noodles and the last meal is dumplings. The Global Health Engagement Team was thrilled with this tradition, and savored our last meal of dumplings! We said our goodbyes and departed Jilin City. After many hours of standing in lines and sitting on planes, we finally arrived home. We were very excited to be reunited with our families.

It is crazy to think that we have already returned and that we are in the process of readjusting to American culture. Though America and China have tense political relations, it did not seem to have an effect on the life lasting bonds that were created between the Global Health Engagement Team and Bo Hua. Dr. Sands stressed the concept that “Life is all about relationships,” and we cannot help but to agree. With America being an individualistic culture, it is easy to become so focused on our own success that we lose sight of the importance of relationships. As followers of Christ, it is our primary calling to be in relationship with God. This entails glorifying Him through our relationships with others in a loving manner.

At the end of the day, it does not matter how much money you have or what kind of car you drive. What does matter is the quality of our relationships with Christ and with those around us. This is a life long lesson that the Global Health Engagement Team will always remember!

Ashlee, Dana, Juan, and Stephanie
Global Health Engagment Bo Hua Team

 

 

 

The month of July has been established as Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. According to the Arthritis Foundation:

Juvenile arthritis (JA) is not a disease in itself. Also known as pediatric rheumatic disease, JA is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions or pediatric rheumatic diseases that can develop in children ages 16 and younger. Juvenile arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children in the United States.

What can you do to make a difference in the lives of these children?

1. Learn more about juvenile arthritis. Be informed about the types, causes, symptoms, treatments, and self-care options.
2. Wear your arthritis awareness gear. Show your juvenile arthritis support by wearing a blue Cure Arthritis bracelet or by picking up the official Cure Arthritis Action Pak! Click Here to get your bracelets, and here to become part of the Cure Arthritis team with the Action Pak.
3. Take Action to Cure Arthritis. Help raise awareness and connect on social media. Here are some arthritis facts and tweets for you to share.
4. Tell Someone! These children deserve our support! This July tell at least one other person that it is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.

It’s been a busy week in Jilin, China as we have spent our time rotating through the hospital and exploring more of the city. We started the week by helping institute a cardiac rehab program at the hospital. The GHE team taught various exercises to the doctors who will be leading the program. It was fun to demonstrate how to preform squats, bicep curls, and balance exercises. That night we had one of our favorite meals in Jilin. We were treated to Mongolian BBQ where they cooked meat right in front of us. Monday and Tuesday we participated in morning rounds with the doctors. The doctors are very attentive and spent a vast majority of their morning explaining the history of the patients and the medications they are currently on. Later on in the week we had the opportunity to watch several ultrasounds on the heart, liver, and thyroid. Afterwards we made our way to the lab where we were introduced to the various tests that are run on patients’ urine and blood. We had the opportunity to look at urine samples under the microscope and were taught how to differentiate between a normal and infected sample. One of the lab technicians allowed us to run tests on the blood to determine the pH and electrolyte composition. One of our favorite activities is working with the cardiac rehab patients who are so willing to learn and improve their quality of life.

This week we were also introduced to the business side of the hospital. We spent time in HR where Mr. Gao explained the hiring process, the role of the staff, and performance salary. In the IT department they showed us how to use the hospital information system and explained the basics of insurance. On Sunday we made our way to a countryside church about an hour outside of the city where the doctors conducted a clinic for the rural residents. They preformed EKGs, blood pressure screenings, and prescribed medication. It was nice to get out of the city and see a small glimpse of how the majority of China lives. Another excursion that we went on was to Bei Hua University, which is the city’s largest university. The campus was huge compared to CBU and the library was five stories. We also had the chance to see Jilin Medical University where they grow herbs for traditional Chinese medicine. This week for fun we took two of our Chinese friends to karaoke, more commonly known as KTV in China. We sang the night away in our own private room and woke up the next day with raspy voices. During our free time we are spending time in deep discussions about God and China. We can’t believe we only have five days left and we plan on making the best of the remainder of our time here in Jilin.

Ashlee, Dana, Juan, and Stephanie
GHE Bo Hua Team

On this day, remember your freedom…

Your freedom to live in a land where you have a voice and opportunities.

Your freedom to love, serve, and worship your God.

Your freedom to attend school, get a job, raise a family, and own a home.

Your freedom to visit your local Starbucks and drink your favorite latte.

Your freedom to dress the way you want, read what you want, watch what you want.

Your freedom to read this blog.

On this day, remember the people…

Who have sacrificed their own freedoms in order to fight for yours.

Who have left behind their family and friends so you can stay at home.

Who have given their life so you don’t have to.

But most importantly, on this day, remember the greatest freedom you have in Jesus Christ…

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
1 Peter 2:16

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

On this day…we remember.

Happy 4th of July.