Latest Tenure Appointments in Inside Higher Ed

Jul 05, 2023

Inside Higher Ed reports that several New York Tech faculty members were recognized for their outstanding teaching, scholarship, service, and commitment to the university through tenure. The appointments, which are effective September 1, 2023, include faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, School of Health Professions, and School of Management.

 

Raj Interviewed for Cultural Relativism Story

Jul 01, 2023

Clinical psychologist Anu Raj, Psy.D., is quoted prominently in a Verywell Mind article about cultural relativism and mental health treatment. As noted in the article, cultural relativism suggests that ethics, morals, values, norms, beliefs, and behaviors must be understood within the context of the culture from which they arise, and, because all cultures have their own beliefs, there is no universal standard to judge those cultural norms. The article was also picked up by several other sites, including Yahoo Life.

“When mental health professionals account for the differences in values, and attitudes towards and of marginalized people (including communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities), providers develop respect for individual patients. Consequently, patients are less likely to be misdiagnosed and more likely to continue treatment,” explains Raj, who also notes that an individual’s perception of mental health, including stigma, is often influenced by their cultural identity and social values.

 

Stout Discusses VR in Medical Education, Research

Jun 30, 2023

Randy Stout, Ph.D., associate professor at NYITCOM and director of the Center for Biomedical Innovation, was interviewed by several outlets regarding the ways that emerging technologies, like virtual reality (VR), can help to educate future physicians and advance medical research. In speaking to MedicalTechnologySchools.com, he shares that he and his colleagues have used VR to help medical students better understand various topics, including kidney anatomy and neuroanatomy. During a separate interview with the research-focused podcast Autm on the Air, Stout discusses how augmented reality (AR) and VR have helped to shape understanding of neurological disorders, among other topics.

 

Vahey Shares Perspective on Admissions with Newsday

Jun 29, 2023

An article in Newsday reports on the U.S. Supreme Court decision that race-conscious admissions policies at select college were unconstitutional. Several local colleges and universities offered input on the impact of the decision; said Karen Vahey, Ed.D., dean of admissions and financial aid, “New York Tech does not need to consider race in admissions because we work hard to attract a talented pool of applicants who represent communities of color.”

 

News Sites Feature Rajnarayanan in COVID-19 Coverage

Jun 29, 2023

As seen in Becker’s Hospital Review and MedPage Today, Rajendram Rajnarayanan, Ph.D., assistant dean of research and associate professor at NYITCOM-Arkansas, shared insight on EU.1.1, a new SARS-CoV-2 subvariant that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking this week. Rajnarayanan, who manages a COVID-19 variant database, tells Becker's Hospital Review that while the new subvariant contains several spike protein mutations that make it more transmissible than its predecessor, subvariant XBB.1.5, “it doesn't have any advantage over other circulating lineages right now.”

 

Real Simple Taps Rothstein for Back Pain Story

Jun 29, 2023

Alexander Rothstein, instructor and program coordinator for the Exercise Science, B.S. program, provides stretching recommendations in a Real Simple article about sleeping with back pain. Rothstein details a lunge stretch for the thighs and hips, as tight hip flexors can aggravate lower back pain.

“Often the hips or upper back are the cause of low back pain, so instead of addressing the pain with a [back] stretch, make sure the pain is not caused by tightness elsewhere,” he says.

 

Nizich Quoted on Quantum Computing in Lifewire

Jun 27, 2023

An article in Lifewire.com reporting on Microsoft’s advances in quantum computing quotes Michael Nizich, Ph.D., ETIC director and adjunct associate professor of computer science, among the experts providing perspective. Microsoft claims that they have created a way to represent qubits and superposition combined with the hardware stability that would be required to "legitimately start moving towards a commercial quantum computer," Nizich said. "To date, the complex hardware solutions used in research-based quantum computers have been prone to errors due to their complexity, and Microsoft's discoveries may allow the next phase of discussions regarding commercially available quantum processors and, more importantly, for Microsoft, Quantum Operating Systems (QOS), to begin." 

 

Pharmacologist Shares Insight on Cancer Drug Shortage

Jun 27, 2023

Pharmacology expert Maria Pino, Ph.D., associate professor at NYITCOM, is quoted in The Ritz Herald and Daily Advent regarding a monthslong shortage of the chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and cisplatin. Low inventory of these drugs, which are viewed as ‘mainstays’ in cancer therapy, are causing hospitals and healthcare systems across the country to ration the products and postpone necessary, lifesaving treatments. Pino explains that the shortage is impacting a variety of cancer patients, as cisplatin is used to manage and treat many solid tumors, including gynecological, testicular, and lung cancers, as well as hematologic (blood) malignancies, while carboplatin is often used to manage ovarian cancer.

“Carboplatin and cisplatin remain the ‘classical drugs’ in the treatment of cancer. This shortage can delay treatment, increasing psychological anxiety to the patient, family, and all those involved in the patient’s care,” Pino tells The Ritz Herald.

 

Local News Outlets Highlight Student Achievements

Jun 15, 2023

Hyperlocal media outlets shared the news that students from their communities will attend New York Tech starting in the fall 2023 semester, including Portland Press Herald, Santa Cruz Sentinel, and Cape Coral Breeze, among many others.

Other hometown media highlighted the academic accomplishments of New York Tech students. TAPinto.net highlighted that Venkatesh Nyamagoudar of Piscataway, N.J., completed the Internship Certificate Program; the Amityville Record shared that multiple local students were inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society; and the Chicago Tribune publicized that a local student was named to the Dean's List for fall 2022.

 

Occupational Therapist Shares Parkinson's Disease Insight

Jun 15, 2023

As seen on NeurologyLive.com, a news site for healthcare professionals specializing in neurological diseases, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Ling Wan-Albert, OTD, discusses how decreased socialization in patients with Parkinson's disease can contribute to early cognitive decline. She also emphasizes that providers should encourage patients to remain connected to friends, family, and activities that encourage interaction. 

“Patients often focus on the motor aspects of Parkinson’s disease, neglecting the changes in cognitive function. Decreased social participation may not directly cause cognitive decline, but it can contribute to early cognitive deterioration, especially in social aspects,” says Wan-Albert. “It is important that we educate patients on the significance of maintaining social participation as long as possible in their lives.”