Fear of falling can lead to bigger health problems, particularly those with Parkinson’s disease -- and there are more than 16,000 people in Southern Nevada affected by the disorder. According the Merrill Landers, chair of UNLV’s physical therapy department, that fear makes people more likely to have a sedentary life style, which results in loss of strength, social isolation, depression, and a greater risk of falls. Landers and his team are researching how to rebuild confidence in people with Parkinson’s and are also studying a brain chemical related to exercise that may help protect against the development of Parkinson’s.
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Bill Speer, director of UNLV’s Math Learning Center, recently was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the world’s largest mathematics organization, with more than 60,000 members. His textbooks, scholarly articles, and presentations have influenced thousands of math teachers in the U.S. and Canada. Speer’s latest project is redefining remedial math for UNLV students by using digital learning programs and other strategies to take a fresh approach to mathematical concepts.
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Several donors, ranging from the MGM Grand Resort Foundation, to NASCAR, to Expedia, to Charles Schwab Bank, have made sizeable donations to support various UNLV programs that have played a key role in helping the community deal with the Oct. 1 mass shooting. The corporate contributions are a way of thanking and supporting university programs that have had a direct impact on the community in the aftermath of Oct. 1. The donations are supporting emergency medicine training, UNLV’s community mental health center, and hospitality emergency event planning. Individual donors are also recognizing the need as well and are contributing to healing efforts.
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The UNLV School of Medicine’s department of surgery recently celebrated its first class of graduating surgeons (who started their studies with UNR). Three of the graduating surgeons have decided to stay in Nevada to practice. Members of UNLV’s first class is a special one – recognized for the exemplary service they provided in the aftermath of the Oct. 1, 2017 shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. As the new surgeons enter practice or pursue fellowships and advanced training, the next generation of 95 medical residents started their clinical rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, and orthopedics July 1.
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Sociologist Ranita Ray's research suggests that risk prevention programs targeted to improverished young people are less effective than educational enrichment and practical support needs like housing, transportation, and health care. She says, “When policies, intended to challenge poverty, start with a premise that black and brown kids are social problems that need solving, they actually end up perpetuating race and class inequalities.”
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UNLV research indicates that women suffer more from neck and shoulder pain caused by extensive use of tablets, likely caused by sitting without back support or slouching over a laptop device. The condition also affects younger people to a greater degree. The research is helping physical therapists suggest ways to improve the condition or prevent it.
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Communications Studies grad Sage Sammons, Director of Communications for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, is helping tell the story of the team’s improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in its inaugural season. He’s seen firsthand how the team has come to embrace its new home in Las Vegas and support the community during its darkest time, an impressive story he's just as determined to tell. He's also made a point to hire several UNLV interns and graduates, giving them valuable experience.
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Sociologist Simon Gottschalk studies how there’s a price to pay for the technology that’s supposed to make lives easier. His new book, The Terminal Self: Everyday Life in Hypermodern Times, explores the social and psychological toll that increasing online activities have on work, education, family life, and self worth.
Funding from the National Institutes of Health will support human genetics research and develop a pipeline of scientists to develop a center of excellence in personalized medicine. The research will be spearheaded by the Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, which will be working with UNLV’s health sciences programs and School of Medicine.
More than 3,000 students graduated in May, changing the future for themselves, their family, and their community. All should be applauded for completing their degrees. Some student's academic accomplishments and ability to overcome obstacles are especially impressive. The graduates highlighted come from many different areas of study but share a sense of purpose and strong work ethic.
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The May 14, 2018 Supreme Court Decision that grants New Jersey (and by extension, possibly other states) the right to offer sports wagering has many people wondering about how this will affect Nevada. UNLV experts weigh in on the anticipated impact this decision will have on the state.
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Javon Johnson, director of African American and African Diaspora Studies, and acclaimed spoken word poet, has written a book, Killing Poetry: Blackness and the Making of the Slam and Spoken Word Communities, which combines ethnography with autobiography to explore social justice issues.