Medical training group receives five-year grant
In conjunction with the University of Utah, a medical training group at USU has received a five-year grant to help prepare health care and medical employee professionals to work with children suffering from neurodevelopment disabilities.
URLEND, Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelo-pment Disabilities, received their second five-year grant from the Federal Bureau of Maternal and Child Health.
Judith Holt, co-director of URLEND and director of the Interdisciplinary Training Division of the Center for Persons with Disabilities, said this is a highly competitive grant and is pleased to have received it again.
The money will be used to continue the program’s work in preparing medical professionals for the work force, Holt said. It is also used to pay for faculty time and training stipends.
“We prepare health care professionals to be leaders in the systems of care for children and youth with special health care needs and their families,” Holt said. “Our goal is to improve how care is provided, prepare leaders and help them look at ways challenges can be addressed. It is very intense.”
Kelly Smith, Information Specialist for URLEND, said there are two main focuses of the URLEND program.
The first, Smith said, is to prepare advanced-standing trainees in different disciplines of the medical and health field.
The disciplines include pediatric medicine, genetics, dentistry, psychology, special education, nursing, social work, nutrition, health administration, occupation therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology and audiology.
The second purpose of URLEND is to provide training to health care professionals and technical support to state health departments, Smith said.
In the five participating states, a total of 20 long-term and 35 immediate trainees take advantage of the services offered. URLEND trainees participate in research/leadership projects, clinical activities and didactic seminars.
Holt said they also work to involve family members of the patient in the medical process. She said it is important for health care professionals and family members to work together and support one another.
“Each trainee completes 300 hours of training throughout the year. This prepares them for their professional roles through interdisciplinary, clinical research, leadership activities and seminars that prepare them to work in interdisciplinary teams to meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families,” Holt said.
URLEND is one of 34 programs nationwide and works in conjunction with other programs in the surrounding area. Those working in collaboration with USU’s program include the University of Utah’s Medical Center, the Utah Department of Health, Utah Family Voices and Primary Children’s Medical Center.
Aside from working with other state health departments, Holt said universities in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota are also involved.
Holt said, “We couldn’t ask for a more impressive group of faculty and partners working with URLEND. URLEND reaches more than just Utahns.”
More information regarding URLEND can be found at www.cpd.usu.edu.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu