Ep. 26 - Special Olympics! Dr. David Jenkins and Alicia Stevons of AZCPM discuss Special Olympics.

Dean's Chat host, Dr. Jeffrey Jensen, is joined by Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine (AZCPM) faculty member Dr. David Jenkins and AZCPM 2nd year student, Ms. Alicia Stevens. Our discussion centers on two topics that are closely related, 1) Special Olympics and 2) the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). Ms. Alicia Stevons chose the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine partly because of its involvement with Special Olympics and is now the President of the AADMD at Midwestern University and is also the President of the American Limb Preservation Society at AZCPM. Dr. David Jenkins is no stranger to the world of Podiatric Medicine having been a past President of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. He is a long-time faculty member both at the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and at the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine. However, the discussion in this episode of Dean's Chat centers around his remarkable involvement in Special Olympics for the past 17 years culminating in his recent visit to Berlin, Germany for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. In Berlin, he was the recipient of the highest honor within Special Olympics, the Global Golisano Health Leadership Award. Join us for a great discussion on individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and the wonderful support and leadership Dr. David Jenkins and Midwestern University's President, Dr. Kathleen Goeppinger, have provided to the community. This episode emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary curriculum that includes various healthcare professions, such as podiatry, speech therapy, and pharmacology, to develop effective communication skills for working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. They mention that Midwestern University is an ideal venue for such a curriculum due to its diverse range of healthcare programs. They discuss an interdisciplinary event where students from various healthcare programs come together to share their knowledge and expertise. Physical therapy students, for example, participate and contribute their knowledge and skills related to fitness and physical therapy. This collaboration allows students from different programs to learn from each other and contribute their unique perspectives. Dental students also participate in the event by providing dental checkups, showcasing the importance of oral health in overall healthcare. This demonstrates how different healthcare programs can come together to address various aspects of patient care. Overall, the podcast emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare. By bringing together students from different programs, the event allows for the sharing of knowledge and the development of a comprehensive approach to patient care. This interdisciplinary nature is seen as beneficial for both the students involved and the patients they serve. Dean's Chat Website  Dean's Chat Episodes  Dean's Chat Blog Why Podiatric Medicine?  Become a Podiatric Physician