Stanbridge College has partnered with Fordham University through the Interdisciplinary Collaborative on Health, Environment and Human Performance created by Debra McPhee, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) at Fordham University. The exploratory relationship begins with an initial pilot project called the Long Duration Space Exploration Behavioral Readiness Consortium for the manned mission to Mars.
The Consortium is overseen by Dr. McPhee, and Yvonne Cagle, M.D., Physician, Space and Life Science Directorate at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and visiting professor at Fordham University and Stanbridge College. Stanbridge College Occupational and Physical Therapy programs are working with the Collaborative to assist in the research.
“These are exciting times we live in with many challenges,” said Dr. McPhee, “the Collaborative offers a unique opportunity to bring together a variety of inter-professional researchers and institutions to explore, innovate and solve some of the most pressing issues we face and will face in the future — yes in deep space but also right here at home. We value our partnership with Stanbridge College and look forward to expanding our resources and skill sets in behavior and therapeutic expertise for our initial project with its faculty.”
“We are very pleased to partner with the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University in conducting research for the benefit of the health sciences,” said Yasith Weerasuriya, President of Stanbridge College. “We have the utmost respect for Fordham University’s commitment to research and Dr. McPhee’s leadership in the mission of the Collaborative.”
“The Master’s in Occupational Therapy program is looking forward to the partnership between Fordham University and Stanbridge College,” said Janis Davis, Ph.D., OTR/L, Director of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at Stanbridge College. “This unprecedented relationship provides our OT students with the opportunity to be at the forefront of a significant human endeavor as part of the Collaborative. Stanbridge College OT students and faculty are thrilled to work with Dr. McPhee and Dr. Cagle on this extraordinary project.”
The partnership officially launched in April when Dr. McPhee, Dr. Cagle, and other members of the Collaborative including NeuroEngineer, Dr. Curtis Cripe, and Forensic Psychologist, Dr. Sonnee Weedn, visited Stanbridge College to meet with the administration. Dr. Cripe led a special presentation and discussion for students and staff in the Stanbridge College Occupational Therapy program on the development of neurobehavioral models for crewmembers for the mission to Mars.
Stanbridge College hosted a luncheon to celebrate the partnership where guests included the Honorable Matthew Harper of the 74th Assembly District, as well as representatives from the occupational and physical therapy employment communities in Southern California, and several Stanbridge College Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physical Therapist Assistant alumni.
Victoria Sauer
Director of Media and Communications
Stanbridge College
The original story was published on the Morningstar website.
