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Quinnipiac University

School of Health Sciences Our Work and Research

Our students never miss an opportunity to put our philosophy of patient-centered care and evidence-based research into practice. They provide pro-bono physical and occupational therapy services to uninsured local citizens at our student-run clinics. They earn National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and collaborate with their professors on immersive medical research. Thanks to our global partnerships, they bring crucial health services to countries such as Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua and the Philippines.
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Actively making a difference

You can find our award-winning faculty sharing their expertise with the national press, publishing in the most respected peer reviewed journals and even testifying before the United Nations. Our alumni continue to raise the standard for compassionate and professional health care around the globe. They are working to fight diseases and improve human health through research and the promotion of new evidence-based practices.

Student Spotlight

Headshot of Delilah Dominguez wearing a white coat and a stethoscope
Soon-to-be physician assistant named national student of the year
Delilah Dominguez, MHS ’20, was selected as the national Student of the Year by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, a professional organization that represents nearly 140,000 members.
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Student speaks with patient during a health fair
Physician assistant student Thomas Dominguez performs a blood pressure screening on Audrey Richards of New Haven during an interprofessional health fair sponsored by the Urban Service Track in November 2017 at the East Shore Senior Center in New Haven.
A group of students speak with patients during a health fair
Physician assistant students volunteer during an interprofessional health fair sponsored by the Urban Service Track in November 2017 at the East Shore Senior Center in New Haven.
Professor sits at a table and speaks with a patient at the health fair
Magdalena Lukaszewicz, clinical assistant professor of physician assistant studies at Quinnipiac, speaks with Audrey Richards of New Haven during an interprofessional health fair sponsored by the Urban Service Track in November 2017 at the East Shore Senior Center in New Haven.
Student performs a blood glucose test for patient during a health fair
Physician assistant student Natalie Wolanski performs a blood glucose test for Audrey Richards of New Haven during an interprofessional health fair sponsored by the Urban Service Track in November 2017 at the East Shore Senior Center in New Haven.

Every year Quinnipiac University hosts Camp No Limits, an annual event that supports children affected by limb loss and their families. In 2015, Quinnipiac became the first and only institution of higher education in the country to host Camp No Limits.

The camp is purposefully designed to increase the functional independence of children living with limb loss. Camp participants and their families experience a network of support through adaptive recreational activities and life skills programs. The activities are led by physical and occupational therapists, prosthetists, Quinnipiac students and faculty, and teen and adult amputee mentors.

“Camp No Limits really gives us a sense of community,” said Kim Hartmann, a professor of occupational therapy and director of the Center for Interprofessional Healthcare Education. “Everyone just comes together and makes these incredible bonds. That’s the biggest reward that people feel.”

 

A health sciences student rides flat scooter boards with a child
Two teenagers with limb loss play basketball using wheelchairs
Two health sciences students assist a teen with limb loss riding a bicycle
A health sciences student holds a child as they go down a slide
Two health sciences students play a game with a child wearing leg blades
A young child with limb loss participates in a dance competition
A young woman with limb loss steers a specially designed car
A health sciences student hugs a camp attendee

Alumni Spotlight

Turnier in a classroom cooking with a teacher in the background

Alumna finds nourishing work

Yadley Turnier ’19 knew majoring in health science studies would lead to many career possibilities. Courses she took during her junior year on nutrition and preventable diseases steered her toward the field of public health.

After graduating, Turnier landed a position at FoodCorps, a national nonprofit that trains and places emerging leaders in limited-resource schools for a year of service. As a FoodCorps AmeriCorps service member at Green Village Initiative, Turnier teaches students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds to grow and cook their food, steers them towards the healthiest food options and promotes a schoolwide culture that celebrates healthy food.

“If kids learn nutritional fundamentals early, they won’t be as prone later on to obesity and diet-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers,” Turnier said.

She teaches healthy eating habits, cooking, gardening and nutrition fundamentals to children in kindergarten through fifth grade at both the Read School and the Interdistrict Discovery Magnet School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She also collaborates with the Thomas E. Carroll Nutrition Center to integrate local, farm-fresh foods into the schools’ breakfast, lunch and snack programs.

“If my students are getting two of their meals each day from school, then they should be the most beneficial meals possible,” Turnier said.

Turnier is motivated by the difference she has made. In 2020, she returned for a second year with FoodCorps and began a master’s degree in global public health.

 

The surrounding community becomes an extension of the classroom, as student-led clinics for physical and occupational therapy work with uninsured or underinsured patients throughout Connecticut.

Some examples include:

  • EQUIP Rehabilitation Clinic: This student-run, pro-bono clinic offers physical and occupational therapy services.

  • The Lions Low Vision Center: Staffed by social work and occupational therapy students and faculty, the center offers evaluation and recommendations for patients with vision impairments.

Two health sciences students assist a patient with his crutches
Physical therapy students, from left, Jessica Stearn ’20 and Steven McCormack ’19 help patient Scott Scialabba with his treatment at EQUIP (Quinnipiac University Interprofessional Practice) Rehabilitation Clinic, a student-run organization located on the North Haven Campus founded in 2012 to serve the OT and PT needs of patients who are uninsured or underinsured in the Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
A health sciences student reaches her hands to the sky in leading a class for seniors
Occupational therapy student Kristen Flammini leads a rehabilitative course for seniors at EQUIP (Quinnipiac University Interprofessional Practice) Rehabilitation Clinic on the North Haven Campus.
A social work student leads a group of seniors in a low vision clinic
Social work student Amanda Panniello, MSW ’19, co-facilitates the Lions Low Vision Center monthly Low Vision Support Group on Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus. Staffed by social work and occupational therapy students and faculty, the center offers evaluation and recommendations for patients with vision impairments.
A professor holds a baby sitting on top of an exercise ball
Quinnipiac University School of Health Sciences occupational therapy student Allison Zuccaro, right, interacts with 13-month-old Penelope Fidanza as she is held by Clinical Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Valerie E. Beckert Strange on top of an exercise ball during Baby Day Observation and Play in the Movement Lab at the North Haven Campus.

Skiers Unlimited

Students in the School of Health Sciences regularly team up with their peers in the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine to teach children with disabilities how to ski.

It’s all part of the 7-week Skiers Unlimited program, which dates back more than 30 years. During the program, volunteers use adaptive equipment such as snow sliders, outriggers and tethers to help the children control balance as well as turns and speed.

“With a lot of the kids, you can see the confidence building,” said Steve Balcanoff, manager of non-clinical community programs at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. “They feel enthused and proud. The parents will tell you it’s making an impact at school and in the home. Frequently, the parents get inspired to learn how to ski when they are out here. It can have a lasting effect on families.”

Quinnipiac became involved with the program 2 decades ago when Richard Albro, now associate professor of physical therapy emeritus, discovered the ski program while on sabbatical and was so impressed that he got students involved.

“It is great for our students to see the kids in a holistic manner and just having fun like other kids,” said Martha Sanders, associate professor of occupational therapy. “It’s really one of the goals of therapy that we rarely get to see.”

Two health sciences students smile with a skiing camp participant, starts video

Skiers Unlimited

Do you like to ski? Are you interested in helping others? Follow Annemarie Allen ’22, MOT ’24, an occupational therapy major, as she volunteers with the Skiers Unlimited program.

Faculty Spotlight

Professor and students in lab coats use microscopes

Offering industry-leading research

Professor Martine Mirrione brings the experience of a research institution to Quinnipiac — with her focus on neuroscience, pharmacology, neuroimaging and behavior. She is currently examining the link between neuronal circuits and depression symptoms, and the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation therapy for treating depression in individuals.  Mirrione’s research has been published in national journals, including Nature, The Journal of Neuroscience and Synapse. She regularly speaks at conferences and has received many scholarships and awards for her work, including one from the National Science Foundation. 

For Mirrione, an associate professor of biomedical sciences, the lab is not a solitary place for individual pursuits, but one where she expands her role as an educator. She is most inspired — personally and professionally — when mentoring undergraduates on their own research projects, or guiding graduate students through their thesis projects.

Mirrione frequently uses visuals to aid in the learning of important principles and concepts. She also believes in connecting ideas through hands-on experiments, which in turn exposes her students to emerging technology and techniques in the process. 

“Technology and research methods are constantly changing,” she said. “It is important that our students are not intimidated by that change.”

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Contact the School of Health Sciences

We’re always here to help provide additional information and answer any questions you may have.

203-582-8600
SHSDeans@qu.edu

370 Bassett Rd.
North Haven, CT 06473

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