Next Science on Tap to focus on Flu Strains, Vaccines

Clarksville, TN – When Science on Tap returns to Strawberry Alley Ale Works on November 1st, an Austin Peay State University (APSU) professor will share the history, development, and future of the seasonal influenza vaccine.

“People always ask, ‘How do they know what influenza strains to put in the influenza vaccine?’ and, ‘Why do we have to get vaccinated every year?’” Dr. Heather L. Phillips said in a description of the presentation. “Those questions will be answered.”

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New minor at APSU to help pre-professional health students prepare for graduate programs

Clarksville, TN – When a student comes to Austin Peay State University wanting to be a doctor, he or she can pretty much major in any field. Typically, students enroll in biology, chemistry or psychology programs, but a few have been known to get degrees in subjects such as English or history.

“But they have to fulfill a number of prerequisites in order to go to med school,” Dr. Cindy Taylor, professor of biology, said.

Those prerequisites include several courses in science-related fields, such as biology and chemistry, and many professional health graduate programs mandate that students complete a certain number of volunteer hours and job-shadowing experiences before they apply for admission. [Read more]

New APSU Class Informs Students About Different Health Care Fields

Clarksville, TN – Every fall, dozens of incoming college freshmen go off to school harboring dreams of becoming medical doctors. Some are drawn to the field because of the paycheck, while others are attracted by the excitement and emotional rewards of the health care field. They leave home with high hopes that, unfortunately, don’t always come to fruition.

“We see it all the time,” Rex Ameigh, chair of the Austin Peay State University Allied Health Sciences Department, said. “Students come in here with the idea that they’re going to be a doctor. Then they get started and the realization comes in of all the things that must occur for that to really happen.” [Read more]

APSU’s Scanlan Named Section Editor for Scholarly MT Journal

Clarksville, TN – Dr. Perry Scanlan, director of Austin Peay State University’s medical technology program, occasionally gets phone calls from potential students, asking him where in Texas the University is located.

“That makes me chuckle,” he said. “Because of our name, they always think we’re from Austin, Texas.”

This confusion will likely end in the next few months now that APSU’s MT program is getting a little more national recognition. Earlier this year, Scanlan was named clinical practice editor for the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science, meaning both his name and the University’s name will appear prominently on the first page, under the masthead, of the nationally renowned publication.

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APSU Rad Tech Student Earns Scholarship to National Symposium

Clarksville, TN – Enock Langat, an Austin Peay State University student in the Radiologic Technology Program, recently received a scholarship to the 2011 American Society of Radiologic Technologists Educational Symposium in Albuquerque, NM.

This all-expenses-paid scholarship will enable Langat to learn more about management, education and scholarly writing. He will also meet with the ASRT House of Delegates to learn about leadership roles in medical imaging. [Read more]

APSU Allied Health Programs Appealing to Students Interested in Health Care

Clarksville, TN – Rex Ameigh, chair of the Austin Peay State University Radiologic Technology program, occasionally forgets to take off his I.D. badge when he leaves work. If that happens, he usually receives several confused looks from the people he runs into.

“I am surprised at the number of places, even at Wal-Mart, where they will say, ‘I didn’t know they had that program at Austin Peay,’” Ameigh said. “We’ve been around for just about ever, but people don’t know about us. I think our students internally a lot of times don’t know we exist.” [Read more]