Pictured are Dr. James Ishee, dean of the UCA College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. Dee Lance, chair of the UCA Department of Communication Science and Disorders; Richelle Weese, UCA clinical instructor; Jessica Dewberry, director of Therapy Services at Conway Regional Health System; and Sarah Ellington, speech pathologist at Conway Regional Health System
The University of Central Arkansas College of Health and Behavioral Sciences has received a donation of equipment from Conway Regional Health System to enhance student learning.
The health system gifted a KayPENTAX Videostroboscopy System to UCA’s Communication Sciences and Disorders department within the college. Using a video camera attached to a tube that can enter the nose or mouth, the system allows for imaging and photos of the throat and vocal folds. Health care professionals such as speech language pathologists use videostroboscopy equipment to diagnose patients.
“Having this equipment donated to the UCA Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is a game changer for our students because it will enhance our students’ educational experiences,” said Dee Lance, chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. “This equipment has significant implications for our graduate students training to be speech-language pathologists because it will allow us to provide our students with specialized training needed to work in medical settings.”
The equipment is an older system that was no longer in use by Conway Regional Health System. Though it is no longer considered state of the art, it serves clinical training needs for UCA students.
“The Speech Pathology department of Conway Regional has always had a great relationship with UCA’s Communication Sciences and Disorders Department. For years, we have worked closely with their faculty to provide opportunities for observation or clinical rotations with their students,” said Jessica Dewberry, director of therapy services at Conway Regional Health System. “So when the videostrobe was reaching the end of life and we were utilizing it less and less, we saw an opportunity to donate this to UCA so that they could continue to utilize the equipment for educational [and] training purposes.”
The videostroboscopy system will be used to conduct demonstrations in undergraduate classes. Graduate students will first be able to use the system in clinical simulations and then later use the equipment with patients in the UCA Speech Language Hearing Center.
“The UCA Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is very grateful for this donation,” Lance said. “Its addition to our department will help make our graduates even more prepared to serve patients with communication and swallowing disorders.”
