Welcome to the School of Health Sciences
HPU Names Dean for New School of Health Sciences
Dr. Daniel Erb - dean of the School of Health Sciences. He will be involved in developing the curriculum in the health sciences programs, and will also hire faculty and staff, and work with the area medical community in the establishment of clinical sites. Dr. Erb served as the director of Graduate Studies and associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University Medical Center for the past 11 years. Erb graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in physical therapy, and received a master's degree and doctorate in anatomy from the Medical College of Virginia. He was a postdoctoral fellow in the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine.
"With our already strong undergraduate science programs, the health sciences seems to be a natural next step as the university seeks to broaden and improve our current academic programs," says Dr. Dennis Carroll. "Also, the entire High Point community will benefit from these new programs as we will be training a new set of health care professionals in our own community."
HPU Names Director Of Physical Therapy For New School Of Health Sciences
Dr. Eric J. Hegedus - director of the proposed Physical Therapy program. Chair of the new Department of Physical Therapy, Hegedus comes to HPU with a 20-year career as a leader and innovator in physical therapist education, research and clinical practice. Hegedus previously served as an associate professor and immediate past vice-chief in Duke's Doctor of Physical Therapy Division. He is also founder and director of Targeted Enhancement of Athletic Movement (TEAM) - a community-based health and wellness program designed to improve athletic performance and to prevent injury. In addition to directing TEAM, Hegedus was a four-time recipient of Duke DPT's "Excellence in Teaching" award, a three-time nominee for Duke Medical Center's prestigious Master Clinician Educator Award, and the 2011 recipient of the James A. Gould Teaching award given to the exemplary teacher of musculoskeletal physical therapy by the American Physical Therapy Association's Orthopedic Section.
Hegedus graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, as well as a master's degree in health science from Duke University, and a doctorate in physical therapy from Slippery Rock University. He also received a board specialty in orthopedic physical therapy, and a specialty certification in strength and conditioning.
Hegedus has authored 25 peer reviewed PubMed articles, a book chapter on manual therapy of the shoulder, as well as a textbook, titled "Orthopedic Physical Examination Tests: An Evidence-Based Approach," all since 2006. He has also received the OPTP/JMMT Literature Review award and the TherEx Award for excellence in a published case study. Finally, Hegedus serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Manual Manipulative Therapy, is a reviewer for 10 other peer-reviewed journals, and is a noted speaker, with more than 100 national and international presentations.
HPU Welcomes Sekhon as Chair of New Department of Physician Assistant Studies in School of Health SciencesDr. Linda Sekhon has joined the School of Health Sciences at High Point University as the Chair of the new Department of Physician Assistant Studies. In her role at HPU, she will work with Dr. Daniel Erb, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, to lay the groundwork for a Physician Assistant Studies curriculum. Sekhon says that the immense growth in the last 40 years of the PA occupation makes this an exciting time to chair the new department at HPU.
Sekhon has been a physician assistant educator since 1996, and joins HPU most recently from serving as assistant professor in the department of Physician Assistant Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. At Duquesne, she provided experiential learning by helping to develop the simulation laboratory for the PA program. She has since presented at several national conferences on how to incorporate clinical simulation technology into a PA curriculum.
During her academic career, Sekhon served as a member of the Site Development Committee for the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to encourage and support student involvement in medically underserved areas. Her professional career outside of academia included practice as a Physician Assistant in such specialties as Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Oncology. For the past 10 years, her clinical practice has focused on Rheumatology during which time she has had multiple presentations and publications focusing on Rheumatologic conditions.
"I would like to impact PA education at High Point by ensuring professional growth and personal excellence for each graduate, keeping in line with the High Point vision of helping students lead lives of significance and the mission of the PA profession," Sekhon says. "High Point University is focused on holistic education, experiential learning and values-based living, which compliments Physician Assistant education. With an already strong undergraduate science program, the transition to Physician Assistant education is a natural step and we have already seen an outpouring of support from the local medical community."
Sekhon has been honored as the Key Note Speaker for the University Of Pittsburgh Physician Assistant Program's Inaugural White Coat Ceremony, the Lock Haven University Physician Assistant Program White Coat Ceremony, and the Gannon University Physician Assistant Program Oath and Recognition Ceremony.
Tony Kemerly - Director for Exercise Sciences
Kemerly received his B.S. in Health Promotion from McNeese State University, his M.S. from Louisiana Tech in Exercise Science, and his Ph.D. from The University of Mississippi in Exercise Science. Kemerly's research interests include exercise behavior and the development of exercise programs for weight loss as well as strength and conditioning programs for improving athletic performance. Kemerly teaches Health Behavior Change, Strength and Conditioning, and Biomechanics. He is the author of a biomechanics textbook titled "Biomechanics: Understanding Human Movement", a book analyzing Taekwondo techniques titled "Taekwondo's Hidden Grappling", and a children's fitness book titled "Acting Like an Animal: Playful Activities for Kid-People. Kemerly has also presented at conferences on the state, regional, and national level on topics ranging from children's fitness to biomechanics to attitudes toward obesity in the U.S..
Jolene Henning - Chair of the Department of Athletic Training
As chair of the Department of Athletic Training, Dr. Henning will oversee all aspects of the accredited athletic training education program. Her major task over the next two to three years is to transition the current undergraduate degree in athletic training to a Master of Athletic Training (MAT) degree program. Students completing the degree program will be eligible to take the national board examination to become a certified athletic trainer. Dr. Henning will also be teaching coursework in emergency care of athletic injuries, professional issues in athletic training, and concepts of evidence based clinical practice.
Dr. Henning has a great deal of experience as an athletic training educator. Her experience earned her the 2007 Educator of the Year by the North Carolina Athletic Trainers' Association, as well as the Gail Hennis Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Faculty at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2008. She was recently inducted into the inaugural class of the Athletic Training Hall of Fame at Catawba College in February 2011.
She previously served as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology at UNCG, and served as the program director of the highly regarded entry-level Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) degree. Under Dr. Henning's leadership for seven years, UNCG established the MSAT degree, developed an innovative clinical education plan and obtained a full 10-year continuing accreditation designation.
"I am extremely excited to join the HPU family and be part of such a positive, student-centered environment," Dr. Henning says. "HPU's commitment to the School of Health Sciences will have a very positive impact on the High Point community as we prepare health care professionals who will provide a continuum of care across the lifespan."
Dr. Henning, a native of Landis, N.C., is also a very active member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), where she serves in several leadership positions. She is also a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal, where her work has been published amongst numerous other professional journals.
Dr. Henning holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Medicine from Catawba College, a Master of Education in Athletic Training from the University of Virginia, and Doctorate of Adult and Higher Education from Ball State University.
Undergraduate programs