Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) held its Summer Commencement Ceremony at the Covey Center for the Arts on Saturday, August 6. The Ceremony celebrated students graduating from Master of Science (MS), Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Clinical Science (ClinScD) in Speech-Language Pathology, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree programs.
Approximately 95 alumni traveled from across the United States to return to Provo with family and friends to participate in the weekend event. The keynote speaker was Dr. Marie-Eileen Onieal, one of the founders and past-president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and retiring Program Director of RMUoHP’s DNP degree program.
Awards were presented to Dr. Gregory Myer (Outstanding Alumni Award), Speech-Language Pathology (ClinScD) Program Director Dr. Ken Simpson (Hartgraves’ Award for Excellence in Teaching), and Speech-Language Pathology (ClinScD) alumna Dr. Amber Heape (Richard P. Nielsen Student Service Award). For the first time at RMUoHP, graduates also participated in scholarly poster presentations recognizing the quality, evidence-based coursework completed within the degree programs.
Commencement Speaker – Dr. Marie-Eileen Onieal, PhD, MMHS, RN, CPNP, FAANP
Dr. Marie-Eileen Onieal, who recently retired as the program director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at RMUoHP, delivered an inspiring address to the graduates.
Dr. Onieal began her commencement address by saying she read that most folks forget the name of the speaker, what they said and what the university president said. While that may be true, it would be safe to say that Dr. Onieal will not be forgotten by those she has served throughout her time as program director at RMUoHP or her impressive career.
She quoted the English philosopher Spencer who said “the end result of education is action.” She added, “Use what you have learned here at RMUoHP to be a changemaker. Ask the hardquestions, challenge the inequities and take the actions necessary to make improvements to yourself, our nation, and our world. Do not let any obstacles–personal, political or economical–impede you. Once you have made your changes, find new ones.”
Dr. Onieal earned her PhD in Nursing and Health Policy from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and holds a Master in Management of Human Services from The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Her Bachelor of Science in Nursing was completed at Pace University, Pleasantville, NY and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Certificate at Northeastern University in Boston.
Dr. Onieal is one of the founders of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and a Past President of that organization. In 1997, she was selected as a US Public Health Service Primary Care Policy Fellow, representing the AANP. In recognition of her advocacy for Nurse Practitioners at the local, state and national levels, in 2000 Dr. Onieal was inducted as a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Dr. Onieal’s clinical expertise is in Pediatrics and Orthopedics. She has developed, initiated, and maintained the Nurse Practitioner (NP) role in multiple healthcare settings. She is the NP Editor in-Chief for Clinician Reviews, a peer reviewed publication for NPs and Physician Assistants.
Her past administrative and policy roles with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health include Health Policy Coordinator – Bureau of Health Quality Management; Hospital Preparedness Coordinator – Center for Emergency Preparedness; Executive Director Professional Licensure Board.
Alumni Speaker and Richard P. Nielsen Student Service Award Recipient – Amber Heape, ClinScD, CCC-SLP, CDP
We were honored to have Dr. Amber Heape as both our alumni commencement speaker and the recipient of the Richard P. Nielsen Student Service Award for her contributions to her profession, the healthcare industry and RMUoHP.
Dr. Heape’s interest in speech language pathology began at sixteen years old, when she was a baby-sitter for a little boy who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. When she saw the gains he was able to make through speech therapy, she decided to look into the profession. That little boy is now a man, who is applying to law school.
“You don’t choose a profession in healthcare for the hours, money, or let’s face it, the vast amount of paperwork that comes with it,” said Dr. Heape in her commencement address. “There is something much more important to most practitioners, and that includes service. As healthcare professionals, our life’s work revolves around the differences we make in the lives of our patients.”
“Where do we go from here?” she asked her fellow graduates. Dr. Heape then encouraged everyone to become leaders in their professions. “Be the person others can look up to as an example of one who leads with integrity. Show others who you truly are by your actions and uphold the highest standards leading with humility, sincerity and honesty.”
Dr. Heape is a speech language pathologist, adjunct professor, national speaker and consultant and a graduate of the first cohort of the Clinical Science Doctorate in Speech Language Pathology program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is a regional clinical specialist for PruittHealth Therapy Services, where her focus is clinical programming and compliance for speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy departments in 30 skilled nursing facilities.
Dr. Heape also is the former president of South Carolina Speech Language Hearing association, board member of the National Council of State Association Presidents of Speech Pathology and Audiology, and on the Board of Visitors at Columbia College. Dr. Heape lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to geriatric practice and leadership.
Alumni Award Recipient – Greg Myer, PhD, FACSM, CSCS*D
Dr. Myer is a graduate of the PhD program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Athletic Training. He is an accomplished scientific investigator who raised millions for research grant funding from the National Basketball Association, National Institute of Health and the National Football League.
He has authored and co-authored over 200 peer reviewed medical journal articles, books, and book chapters focused on the bio mechanics of the knee, pediatric sports injuries, injury prevention in sports, and concussions.
He has also collaborated in a multi-setting partnership with 3 major children’s hospitals to study pediatric athletics, served as the ACL Study Group’s international traveling scientist and led the authorship team for the 2014 international consensus position statement on youth resistance training.
Dr. Myer has served as a scientific consultant for RMUoHP’s Institutional Review Board. He is a sought after international speaker, teacher, and mentor. He has been a research mentor for over 140 undergraduate, masters and doctoral students from over 40 universities, provided numerous invited presentations to national and international audiences, and served as a mentor and consultant for coaches across the globe for coaches wanted to update their own injury prevention strategies.
Kenneth O. Simpson, PhD, CCC-SLP – Hartgraves’ Award for Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Kenneth O. Simpson is the graduate program director of the Clinical Doctorate in Speech-language Pathology Program (ClinScD) at RMUoHP. Dr. Simpson earned a master’s degree at the University of South Dakota, after which he worked in Head Start, elementary, middle and high schools in Iowa as a certified speech-language pathologist for over a decade.
He then earned a PhD at the University of Nebraska, subsequently joining Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) where he earned the rank of associate professor, teaching graduate courses in speech-language pathology, as well as supervising graduate students in clinical practicum.
At SIUC Dr. Simpson also served as the program director for 14 years, and was honored with the Dr. Mark and Susan Ashley Endowed Professorship in Speech-Language Pathology. Dr. Simpson’s areas of research interest include communication of persons with severe speech impairments, as well as the measurement of human interaction.
