Perspectives Spring 2015

PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2015 22 PROGRAM ESTABLISHES PI THETA EPSILON CHAPTER Pi Theta Epsilon recently approved the establishment of its newest chapter at NSU’s OTD Program, which held its inaugural induction ceremony in November. Pi Theta Epsilon, the honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni, only extends a mem- bership invitation to the top 35 percent of each class. Pi Theta Epsilon’s mission is to encourage research and scholarship with occupational therapy students. The three Greek letters of the society’s name stand for the first letters of the words advancement, thera- peutic, and occupation. FACULTY MEMBERS INDUCTED TO ALPHA ETA SOCIETY Alpha Eta Society is the national scholastic honor society of the allied health profession and has an NSU chapter named Nu Sigma Upsilon. Mirtha M. Whaley, Ph.D. , assistant professor, and Rick D. Davenport, Ph.D. , OTR/L assistant professor, participated in the formal induction ceremony at the Signature Grand in Davie prior to the honor awards dinner and com- mencement ceremony. To showcase his support, Ri- cardo C. Carrasco, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA , program director, transferred his membership from the Georgia Regents University Alpha Omega Alpha chapter where he had been a member since the late 1980s. The Alpha Eta Society inaugurated its first charter in Florida in 1975 and re-chartered in Georgia in 1998. It currently has 80 chapters and over 25,000 initiated members. The Nu Sigma Upsilon chapter of Alpha Eta Honor Society was created date in December 2008. Whaley McCarthy Carrasco As part of his community engagement activities, Dennis McCarthy, Ph.D., associate professor, attends quarterly meetings for the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition (SM4L) in Tallahassee. The latest occurred on July 16-17, 2014. In 2009, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), through its SM4L program in the State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office, reached out to the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy at Florida State Uni- versity to establish a statewide coalition to address the specific needs of Florida’s aging road users. The SM4L’s mission is to improve the safety, access, and mobility of Florida’s aging road users by developing a comprehensive strategic plan to reduce injuries and crashes among this vulnerable population. With a safety grant from the FDOT State Safety Office, the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy assists the SM4L to reach its overall goal to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities among Florida’s aging road users through the implementation of our Aging Road User Strategic Safety Plan. The SM4L has developed a very comprehensive Aging Road User Strategic Safety plan to reduce injuries and fatalities for Florida’s aging population. To accomplish these goals, the SM4L has established baseline data on population, drivers, and crashes by age and is currently develop- ing, implementing, and evaluating resources and programs to help meet the 10 emphasized objectives. Dr. McCarthy is the team leader for the objective titled “Assessment, Re- mediation, and Rehabilitation Emphasis Area,” which aims to enhance aging road user safety and mobility through assessment, remediation, and reha- bilitation. One of the first resources the team has developed is the Guide for Aging Drivers to help older adults continue to drive as long as safely possible while sharing information to help prepare for the day when they retire from driving. To access the guide, please visit the following Web site: http://www.safe- andmobileseniors.org/FloridaCoalition.htm#Safe_Mobility_for_Life_Elec - tronic_Mailing_List. DR. DENNIS MCCARTHY ENGAGED IN SM4L COMMUNITY By Ricardo C. Carrasco, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA Program Director News Briefs OT Tampa