Welcome to the February issue of spectRUm. 
By now, most of you are back into the rhythm of school, work, and life. The close of January and the beginning of February has brought with it many exciting and interesting things.
Our students are deep into their next blocks of study while our BSN class of 2018 is looking ahead to their next chapter after their Pinning ceremony, a practice started with Florence Nightingale’s receipt of a pin of the Maltese cross, commemorating her work with the Wounded Warriors in the Crimean War. Nursing schools around the country award their own pins to students upon graduation as a mark of their journey and as a medal of excellence.
We watched excellent television coverage of the Roseman DAAT team’s Henderson Drug Take Back Event on January 20th during which hundreds of pounds of prescription drugs were disposed of properly at various locations around the Valley. Our Utah campus also kicked the year off with their Give Kids a Smile event, where they treated 645 kids to preventative dental care at no cost.
In the news, there has been much to note. Sports fans enjoyed the nail biting Super Bowl, Utahans and Nevadans eagerly send athletes to the XXIII Winter Olympics in South Korea and the start of Spring Training calls with hints of warmer, longer days. Let’s also not forget that the Las Vegas Golden Knights are currently second in the league standings and perhaps one of the greatest stories of an expansion teams’ success.
Training minds through education is just as exciting as training bodies through sports. I think of our in-school programs, with the Goolsby Elementary partnership and the DiscoverMED programs, that seek to inspire the young minds of boys and girls through the sciences but to also introduce them to the variety of professions that are open to them with training in the sciences.
Healthcare professions remain a strong employment option for men and women alike. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare sector is poised to see the greatest growth in jobs during the period of 2016-2026. The healthcare industry also remains one of the highest paying industries. Roseman graduates are preferentially sought and quickly transition from graduation into well-paying positions. For women in healthcare, there are options in job flexibility as well as a defined skill set (and degree) which promises security in times of uncertainty, whether that be in times of economic ups and downs, or during times when personal goals (like taking time off to care for a child or loved one) take precedence.
February is also Heart month, during which the issue of Heart Health is a focus. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 103 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure—that is nearly half of all adults in the U.S. Most U.S. women don’t know their own risk for heart disease, with the disease being the third greatest health problem facing women after mental health and cancer. Knowing your risk is tied directly to risk factors that are uncovered during routine screenings. I encourage women and men to talk to their physician, nurse or pharmacist about heart health. During this month, many pharmacies are offering free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. Both Henderson and South Jordan campuses are holding free screenings as well at various locations. Please check the events section on the website to find a location and date that works for you.
As we get deeper into February, I send good wishes that our Roseman family and friends stay healthy during this difficult flu season. The FDA Commissioner asks that we ready ourselves for what will be the worst of the flu season in the next few weeks, expecting the peak to come mid-February. Remember it is not too late to get your Flu shot, and practice healthy habits now more than ever. Stay home if you have symptoms and encourage family members to do the same.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy February,
Renee Coffman, BS Pharm, PhD
President
Roseman University of Health Sciences