JCU College of Health Newsletter

Dear College of Health Community,

This year, our newsletters will highlight the four pillars of the College of Health’s strategic plan. Each month, I’ll share how these pillars come to life through the work of our students, faculty, alumni, and partners. Together, they capture who we are becoming as a College and the future we are shaping for healthcare.

We begin with Pillar 1: Shaping Tomorrow’s Health and Wellness Leaders. Leadership at John Carroll starts with discernment. Our students are encouraged to explore, reflect, and find the path that best fits their purpose, whether clinical or non-clinical. From their very first year, they are supported through advising, mentorship, and opportunities with Cleveland’s world-class health systems.

What sets our College apart is that leadership is not reserved for after graduation, it is practiced daily in classrooms, labs, and communities. Our students are already leading: mentoring peers, engaging in service, conducting research, and shaping conversations about equity and wellness.

As we move through the year, you’ll see how all four pillars - leadership, innovation, partnerships, and compassion connect to form a vision of health education that is bold, student-focused, and grounded in Jesuit values.

Warmly,
Melissa Cole, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC
Dean, College of Health

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these important College of Health events. Join us for engaging professional development, networking, and learning opportunities.

Health Professions Expo

September 25, 2025

The JCU Pre-Health Professions Office presents the Health Professions Expo. This event will feature admissions presentations from a variety of professional health programs across the region and offers a valuable opportunity for post-graduate exploration. Students will have the opportunity to:

Gain insight into program offerings, admissions requirements, and career pathways
Build connections with admissions personnel from a range of institutions
Explore options for medical, allied health, and graduate-level study
Speak with local industry leaders to gain valuable shadowing, research, and work experience

Counseling Department Webinar Series

September 26, 2025

The Department of Counseling is excited to continue our Monthly Webinar Series, where faculties share insights on current topics in counseling practice. These sessions are open to students, faculty, and professionals looking to expand their knowledge and skills.

Next Webinar: September 26, 2025

Presenter: Dr. Kevin Tate

Topic: Seeking Purpose and Solutions: Integrating Solution-Focused Counseling & Logotherapy

In this engaging session, Dr. Tate will explore how Solution-Focused Counseling (SFC) and Logotherapy can be integrated to support client growth. SFC emphasizes building practical solutions through collaboration, while Logotherapy highlights the pursuit of meaning and purpose in life. Together, these approaches offer a framework that combines pragmatic change with existential depth, empowering clients to take ownership of their choices while connecting solutions to their broader values.

📌 Registration is now open! Attendance fees are $20 for professionals and FREE for JCU faculty and staff. A follow-up email will also be sent with details.

News and Past Events

Featured Story

Blessing of the Hands Ceremony

On August 19th, the JCU Nursing Department celebrated a significant milestone as 44 Sophomore nursing students participated in the cherished Blessing of the Hands Ceremony. This meaningful tradition, deeply rooted in Jesuit values and nursing practice, symbolizes the sacred responsibility these future healthcare professionals are undertaking.

Led by Father Fitzpatrick, the ceremony brought together Junior and Senior nursing students, the Director of Nursing, and Faculty members in a powerful display of community support. Together, they blessed and welcomed these aspiring nurses as they prepared to begin their clinical practice journey, embodying the healing spirit of the nursing profession.

Students Gain Real-World Healthcare Experience Through JCUEMS

For our health sciences students, JCUEMS provides invaluable hands-on emergency care experience right on campus. This student-run organization operates Thursday through Saturday (5pm-7am) and Sunday (5pm-11pm), allowing participants to balance their academic commitments with real-world medical practice.

Following this summer's EMT certification course, our program has grown to 29 students from various health-focused majors. Under faculty guidance, these future healthcare professionals develop critical emergency response skills while serving their campus community - creating a unique bridge between classroom learning and practical experience.

Beta Chi 2025-2026 Officers Announcement

Beta Chi, John Carroll University's chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), is proud to announce its newly elected officers for 2025-2026. As the international honor society for counseling, CSI promotes academic and professional excellence while fostering a strong professional identity among counselors, educators, and students.

Our new leadership team includes:

President	Melonie Welchans
Vice President	Patrick Cutujian
Treasurer	Emily Zenda
Secretary	Eryn Hill
Clinical Mental Health Rep.	Sofia Kraska
School Counseling Rep.	Lauren Kane
Social Media Chair	Martina Starkey

Faculty and Alumni

We are proud to share that Dr. John R. Queen '90, MD, FACEP, has been honored with the 2025 Bill Hall Award for Service by Ohio ACEP. This award, named for Dr. William Hall, recognizes members of the Ohio ACEP Board of Directors for their dedication to advancing emergency medicine and patient care.

Dr. John Queen '90 Receives the 2025 Bill Hall Award for Service

Dr. Queen is an Emergency Medicine Physician at Cleveland Clinic and Associate Residency Program Director for the Case Western Reserve University/ MetroHealth/Cleveland Clinic Emergency Medicine Residency Program.

In addition to his professional leadership, he regularly supports JCU students—most recently hosting a suturing workshop for the Premedical Society and inviting a colleague to provide an ultrasound demonstration.

Student Research

Lauren Koppelmann '26

Under the direction of Dr. Greg Farnell, professor of Exercise Science and Sports Leadership, Lauren Koppelmann '26 (Psychology major, Exercise Science minor) presented her research “Impact of enjoyment on sustained swimming propulsion and athletic performance” at the 2025 North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference in Lake Tahoe, California. This study aimed to explore whether burnout, often linked to low enjoyment, negatively impacts sport performance in swimmers.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Department of Counseling is proud to celebrate Mariam Hammoud, one of our students, who has been awarded a $1,000 Graduate Student Scholarship from the Ohio School Counselor Association (OSCA)! This competitive award recognizes outstanding graduate students preparing to enter the school counseling profession and reflects Mariam’s dedication to the field. Congratulations, Mariam, on this well-deserved honor!

About the OSCA Graduate Student Scholarship

The OSCA Graduate Student Scholarship supports future Ohio school counselors in their academic journey. Each year, OSCA awards scholarships to 3 graduate students who demonstrate a strong commitment to the school counseling profession and meet specific eligibility requirements.

Interested in applying? Learn more about the scholarship and its requirements here.

Learn about the scholarship

Free Nursing Tutoring Available in the Learning Commons

The Learning Commons (2nd floor of Grasselli Library) now offers free tutoring in Nursing for all JCU students.

Our tutor this semester is: Kayla Trogu - ktrogu28@jcu.edu

Nursing Tutoring Hours:

Monday: 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Friday: 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Tutoring is offered in a drop-in study table model, and students may also make appointments through WC Online.

Make a tutoring appointment

Physicians and Nurses on Campus at Student Health Services

Physicians from the Cleveland Clinic Health System staff are on campus every Monday and Thursday afternoon to address your medical concerns.

Registered Nurses are available on campus daily to see any student with medical questions/concerns. There is no fee to see the nurse for undergraduates.

For questions or to make an appointment, please call 216.397.4349.

Call to make an appointment

Mentor the Next Generation of Health Professionals

Do you work in healthcare or a healthcare-related field and are interested in mentoring current JCU College of Health Students? Please complete the survey form below to express your interest in providing networking, shadowing, or research opportunities for our students!

SUBMIT INTEREST FORM

We Value Your Feedback!

Help us make the College of Health newsletter a valuable resource by sharing your thoughts, suggestions, and stories. Let us know what topics interest you, how we can improve, or if you have an inspiring healthcare or education story to share.

Please send your input to coh@jcu.edu - we greatly appreciate your contributions!

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