Author: Sydney Flowers

Faculty Focus: KCH Assistant Professor Shelby Keye

Oct. 23, 2023 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Shelby Keye in spring 2024 will join the faculty of the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health as an assistant professor after completing her doctoral degree. Keye spoke about teaching at her alma mater, her research influences and the college’s diversity initiatives.

Photo by caption

Q: Is there pressure to return as faculty after just completing your Ph.D., without going to a different university first?

A: I would say so. Some of that pressure is internal. I just want to do as well as a faculty member as I did as a student. When I was doing my interview for the job, I wanted to make sure that the faculty was seeing me as more than just a student. I wanted them to be able to envision me as a collaborator and not just on the same level as the other students. There was an added level of pressure there because they’ve seen me in the last four years as a student. So I had to essentially convince them that I could go beyond that, and they could become my colleagues. 

Q: Do you have any concerns about how students will approach you, given you are so close in age?

A: Sure. Keeping things professional is always good. I do think that beyond my age, there’s another added level to it is being a woman, too. There’s extra barriers required to have students view a young woman as their superior as a professional—strategies to just make sure that I keep up with my own coursework, making sure I’m on top of my own stuff, so they respect me. If I’m falling behind, then they fall behind as well. Making sure that I’m staying on top of lessons, grading, staying on track. It’ll be a challenge, and I’ll learn. 

Q: What are your research influences?

A: Probably a series of fortunate and some unfortunate events. I grew up as an athlete. I did gymnastics for most of my life, did cheerleading later on in high school and college. So I appreciate the positive benefits of staying active. I’ve always loved working with children. My first job was as a preschool teacher. Ever since then, I’ve just really enjoyed working with children. In terms of the cognitive health piece, I didn’t know much about it until I started working with [mentor and KCH Associate Professor] Naiman [Khan]. I was interested in working with children. I had worked with children in low-income schools during my master’s. Because of that relationship between cognition and academics, I was drawn towards working with Naiman. The unfortunate piece in terms of life is that I have a family history of obesity, heart disease, cancer and dementia. That all stems from poor health behaviors, poor diet, low physical activity. Those are some motivating factors with studying what I study. 

Q: How did you get connected with Naiman? 

A: That was just a cold email to him. I was in my master’s [program]. I was finishing up. I knew I wanted to do a Ph.D. My dad actually told me to look at schools in Illinois. He did some work at U. of I. while he was in his grad program. He did not graduate from here. But he had done some work here over the summers with a collaborating lab. And he just said, ‘Take a look at Illinois. They have good programs. They have a long history of excellent research.’ I looked at the kinesiology department, and Naiman was really the only person doing the type of work that I was interested in. And I sent him an email. Good timing [since] he was looking for someone that could help with running a summer physical activity program, and I was the person that he chose. 

Q: The college has the most diverse student body on campus, but is lacking in diversity in terms of faculty. Was that part of your decision-making process?

A: That’s a good question. I thought about it a little bit, but I can’t say it was a big, driving factor. That was actually something that I thought about more as a student when I was applying for Ph.D. programs. Two things, actually: being a female and then being a part of a marginalized group of color. That played a role in terms of where I chose to go to school. Dr. Susan Aguiñaga, who’s in KCH, she’s a [Latina], and she and I had a conversation briefly about it. We recognized there’s still room to grow. But I think part of that starts with us. I do think that moving forward, it would help the department if women like Susie and I recruited students that were of similar groups and encouraged them to apply for graduate schools and enter academia, too. I understand that from a student’s perspective, it can be discouraging. But you kind of have to have some courage to enter this space so other people can see you in that space. I did think about it briefly. But I thought about it more as an opportunity and not necessarily as a negative thing. I just thought, ‘OK, well, if they need somebody to represent my group, I can do that.’ And I want to do that. And hopefully, I can bring other women of color with me as I go through my academic journey. 

Q: What made you want to teach?

A: I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to work with kids. I’ve always liked to lead and share and learn. I think that the academic setting is the best place to do that. I come from a long line of teachers. My grandparents were teachers. A lot of my aunts and uncles are teachers. My dad taught a little bit while he was at the Naval Academy. Maybe it’s just something that’s in me. I enjoy learning. I’ve always liked school, and I like to share what I learn. And doing research is the learning part. And then teaching is sharing what I have learned. 

Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from Naiman, as a mentor?

A: Something that comes to mind is Naiman is very self-aware. What I mean by that is that he knows what he’s good at, and he knows what he’s not so great at. He really hones in on those strengths and stays away from the weaknesses. But I think that makes him a really good mentor because he knows what he can do for us, and he is very honest. That’s just a level of humility that he has that I think is really good as a mentor and as a researcher, especially in a university where we have to write grants all the time to get funding for research. Humility is necessary with that because you’re getting denied almost all the time. It’s a field filled with ‘nos.’ What I’ve learned is to try to maintain my humility, and really hone in on my strengths, and focus on those, and build those up, and accept that I have weaknesses, but not to dwell on those because I can build my research around what I’m good at.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Faculty Focus: KCH Assistant Professor Emerson Sebastião

Oct. 23, 2023 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Emerson Sebastião is joining the faculty of the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health as an assistant professor. Sebastião spoke about teaching at his alma mater, his research influences and the college’s diversity initiatives.

Q: You’re from Brazil and did your undergraduate work there. How did you end up at Illinois for your Ph.D.?

A: My story might not be different than many others. But I’ll tell you what happened. During my master’s in Brazil, I had a very important mentor [Sebastião Gobbi]. He was my advisor and he completed his Ph.D. abroad in Canada. But when he got back to Brazil to start his lab he would stop by every single day and say, ‘I’m not going to advise anybody for the Ph.D. You better go away, preferably abroad.’ I loved that idea, and I always wanted to know different places. When I was doing my master’s, we started looking at potential places and potential advisors. And, obviously, we started with Canada, where [Gobbi] completed his doctoral studies. But we were unable to find anything there. And then he ended up going to a conference in Tsukuba, Japan, back in 2008 where he met Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko. And Wojtek was presenting something related to older adults, and he ended up talking to Wojtek. And when he got back, he said, ‘I believe I found the perfect advisor for your Ph.D., so you’re going to Illinois.’ That’s how I ended up at Illinois. Things ended up being facilitated because of [KCH Associate Professor] Dr. [Andiara] Schwingel, as well. That’s how I ended up in Illinois, a world-class university, well-known researchers. So I was more than happy to join the cold land of Illinois.

Q: You’ll be teaching at your alma mater. Does that lower your anxiety about a new job?

A: I’ll tell you that does not lower my anxiety. It helps a little bit … I know that I’m coming back to a world-class university and a world-class program and that sets the bar pretty high, right? So it’s a different deal when you are a student. You are being trained and learning, so we are somehow protected. But as a faculty member, you are going to be involved in everything. You’re going to take part in big decisions not only at the department level but college as well—to fulfill the mission of the college, the university, the department. But I feel well-prepared for that. I believe that my five, almost six years at Northern Illinois provided me with the skills and abilities that I need to navigate all the things that I’m going to have to be doing as a faculty member at UIUC. And I love that. I love new challenges. To be honest, coming back to teach at Illinois and work at Illinois as a faculty is a dream come true. I’m going to work with people that have been really moving and shaping the field of kinesiology for many years. So I’m really happy and excited for that. 

Q: What influenced you to study your research field?

A: In Brazil, it’s different than in the United States. For specific areas, like kinesiology and many others, you don’t really have a career outside academia to do research or even to really apply your knowledge as a researcher in the industry. So it’s either you go to a practical field, like professional, or you go to academia. I was having a lot of doubts until my sophomore year before I was invited to be part of Dr. Sebastião Gobbi’s lab. I studied physical activity and aging which was connected to an outreach program that was attending over 300 seniors in the university. So that really sparked my interest because we were conducting research and putting the knowledge we were creating in the lab into the community. So that where I fell in love and said, ‘OK, academia is the right place for me because I like to teach, but I also like to do research.’ And academia, at least at that time in Brazil, was the only environment that you could be doing that.

Q: Has having Pedro Hallal (director of the MPH program) created a pipeline for Brazilians to come to Illinois and AHS?

A: We hope so. That pipeline already exists in other departments. If you look at the economics department, by the time I was part of the doctoral program, I learned about this pipeline from Brazil, particularly, I believe, the Federal University of Pernambuco. And now I hope that’s going to be the same with kinesiology and Applied Health Sciences with Pedro. Pedro is a great scholar, a well-known researcher. He really is a scholar that we look at when it comes to physical activity and health. He led a very important study in Brazil regarding COVID, and he has a lot of connections, not only where he completed his studies in Pelotas, but throughout Brazil and across the globe to be honest. So I believe that he being there, now, is going to draw even more attention to Illinois, and not only for Brazilians that want to come and work but for students, as well. That’s very important. Brazil has a really good, strong scientific program … they send visiting scholars and students for a short period of time—say, one year—to work and learn new techniques and come back to Brazil and apply that there, to help training the future researchers in the field. So I believe, with Pedro being there, that will increase drastically. 

Q: You look at the factors that influence physical activity participation and the consequences of physical activity. What were your influences to study that?

A: Since I was seven years old, I have been involved in sports—competitive sports, leisure sports. I come from a poor family, and growing up we did not have access to color TV or video games, VHS to watch movies. So most of the way I had fun was outside, mostly playing soccer, running around, those old-school type of activities, and I think that shaped me. Before college, I was thinking about something related to computer science—people said it was among the professions of the future. I wasn’t happy, and I found myself in kinesiology. And then my mom—my mom was almost 63 years old when I got into college. She had little time for leisure activity because she had to work. But she was always walking to everything—for work, to go to places. I saw how, based on the amount of movement that she had in her life compared to people at the same age, how different she was, physically different—being able to walk, do things, never getting so easily tired. So by the time I got into college, and I met Dr. Sebastião Gobbi, who was studying physical activity and aging and coordinating the physical activity program for seniors, I started to be more curious about it. What are the benefits of physical activity for older adults? Are these people participating because it is free of charge and close to their home or because of the social element involved in it? [Does] the environment matter? So all of these questions and talking to people and other researchers involved in that aspect shaped my interest to pursue this career. 

Q: The college has been more intentional in recent years to address the lack of people of color in faculty roles. Did that influence you in coming back to Illinois?

A: I am aware of the efforts that the college and university have been doing to address this issue. For me it is very important, and I’m happy that the college is taking those concrete steps, drawing upon the Office of the Vice Chancellor on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Representation is important not only for students but also for faculty and staff. So, yes! That did influence my decision to coming back to Illinois. In Brazil, for example, throughout my education, I noticed that I was the only [person of color] in my class. And that was not different during college. Although I had excellent teachers, not a single one of them looked like me. So I started being more curious about it, and wonder, why is that? So definitely, this is something that I looked at when I applied to Illinois. I think this is very important, not only to provide an environment that people feel more comfortable but also for, as you said, a diverse student body to recognize that they can follow that path. Being intentional about faculty hiring will help create a more diverse next generation of leaders and researchers. Applying for jobs in academia, people normally look at the directory, at least I did. And if you see diversity, you immediately link that to place committed to the cause, so probably it is a good environment to work. Knowing all the college efforts, I am happy to join the department/college and help support the initiatives, and put my ideas to help move that agenda forward. 

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Can the use of AI and predictive modeling speed up long waits at emergency rooms?

April 03, 2024 | Ethan Simmons

KCH Assistant Professor Hyojung Kang is a co-investigator on a nearly $100,000 Jump ARCHES grant to develop innovative models aimed at reducing ER wait times.

Pronounced staff shortages and a lack of hospital beds have led to prolonged wait times for patients in emergency rooms around the United States, recent studies show. Those studies also show that patient congestion is one of the main factors threatening efficiency, safety and quality of care.

Now two researchers, including one from the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois, are looking at ways to reduce emergency care wait times.

Hyojung Kang, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health in AHS, is a co-investigator on a nearly $100,000 Jump ARCHES grant to develop innovative models aimed at reducing wait times. The Jump ARCHES program is a collaboration between OSF Healthcare, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. It was established in 2014 by a $62.5 million gift to provide direct access and competitive grants to engineers and physicians working together to combat problems in the realm of health care.

Kang’s co-investigator is William Bond, an emergency department physician at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. 

“To acknowledge that suffering [in the waiting room] is to use compassion, which is part of us at OSF HealthCare, and to address those needs as quickly as we can; to acknowledge that timeliness is part of the quality of care and we really want to have as timely of care as we can for our emergency department patients,” Bond said.

Improving time to treatment

The project is called: STREAM-ED: Simulation to Refine, Enhance and Adapt Management of Emergency. The team is creating models to predict short-term, mid-range and long-term demand using historic data in de-identified electronic medical records. The goal is to combine machine learning prediction, discrete event simulation (a method to test processes and interventions ideally prior to intervention) and optimization techniques to determine best possible operational changes in emergency department management.

Kang specializes in discrete simulation, which provides a layered analysis of non-linear relationships among factors such as patient flow, availability of resources and operational policies that influence where patients are placed and for how long. The process provides a more comprehensive understanding of the way the system performs.

“Discrete-event simulation is a powerful technique used to model and analyze dynamic behaviors of complex systems, such as emergency departments,” Kang said. “In an ED DES model, individual entities like patients are simulated, along with their interactions with various resources like physicians and nurses.”  

Kang says the EMR information leveraged by researchers to create predictive models includes chief complaints, acuity levels, whether a patient was discharged, and timestamps collected throughout the patient’s time in the emergency department. They’ll also use data about physical resources and providers, including nurses and technicians who deliver assessments or care in different pods within the emergency department.

Bond says it also offers a way of testing interventions and timing without having to do it in real life. 

“Instead, we may find that staffing an area with a more balanced team is the thing to do, staffing the team earlier in the day or later in the day. These types of things may make significant changes in our ability to care for patients.”

Running those scenarios will help identify high-reward interventions that can make the biggest impact with the fewest resources to increase efficiencies that can also help providers from feeling burnt out.

There have been studies that use forecasting and modeling approaches in the past, but Kang says their practical application and integration into real-world operations have been limited. The project should result in helping decision-makers understand feasible actions they can take to improve emergency department flow.

“Our research team aims to empower [emergency department] leaders with the necessary, data-informed tools to navigate the complexities of resource allocation, making a tangible difference in the daily functioning of the ED,” Kang said.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Alumni Spotlight: Libby Knight

Oct. 23, 2023 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Libby Knight, the assistant director of marketing and communications at Carle Illinois College of Medicine, is an RST alumna, graduating in December of 2011 with a M.S. in Sport Management. She answered questions about picking RST, her favorite course and her most memorable on-campus experience.

Q. Why did you pick RST?

A: After graduating with a B.S. in Sport Management and Communications from Indiana State University and having played college soccer at ISU, I wanted to continue my education to better prepare myself for my professional career in sports management, namely collegiate athletics. I chose RST as it aligned with my professional goals and allowed me the opportunity to also complete a graduate assistantship with the Illinois athletics communications department.

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: While it has been a number of years since I was at AHS, I remember my advisor, Dr. Carla Costa, and the legend himself, Dr. Michael Raycraft, having the most impact on me when I was in school. Dr. Costa was a great advocate and someone who I know would give supportive, constructive criticism, while also pushing me to my best effort. Dr. Raycraft’s classes were always engaging and fun and very educational in a real-world way. I vividly remember his RST 515 “Marketing in RST” class being one of my favorites during my graduate program.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: I think I would say that Dr. Raycraft’s RST 515 “Marketing in RST” class was one of my favorite classes during my time at Illinois. I remember one of our assignments was to attend an event at State Farm Center and look and experience the event through a critical eye. Dr. Raycraft apologized in advance for the result being we would never see an event that we attended the same way again.

Q: Did you enter RST knowing your career path, or did RST help you decide?

A: I entered RST knowing the career path I wanted to pursue, with my experience at Illinois cementing that working in college athletics was something I wanted to do for a living.

Q: Did your RST experience lead to your current job?

A: In a roundabout way, my RST experience did have an impact on my current job. Following my graduate program at Illinois, I worked in the athletics departments at Morehead State, Kennesaw State and finally came back to Illinois to work in the same office I did as a graduate assistant in fall of 2015. I worked in the Illinois Athletics communications department for seven years and loved it. I had so many wonderful opportunities and experiences, including going to the 2018 NCAA national semifinals with the volleyball team and hosting the 2022 NCAA tennis championships as co-communications coordinator. In September 2022, I decided to step away from college athletics for a little more work/life balance in my life and through the skills I learned from my AHS education and the work experience I gained professionally, I was able to move over to the Carle Illinois College of Medicine where I serve as the assistant director of marketing and communications.

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A: My favorite on-campus experiences were always working or attending Illinois athletics events. It was such an amazing experience to see the behind-the-scenes work of a major athletics department and as a Champaign native, cheering for my hometown team!

Q: What would you say to recommend RST to a prospective student?

A: I would tell prospective students that RST offers an amazing experience to learn about everything there is to offer in recreation, sport and tourism professions. In my experience, the professors were passionate about educating students and providing real-world examples for hands-on learning opportunities. One of the main reasons I chose RST and wanted to work in sports is that sports is fun! There is a time and place to be serious and work through issues or problems, but most people who work in sports do so for the love of the game. Choosing RST allows you to learn about professions in sports (as well as recreation and tourism) and sets you up for success in the future.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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People who viewed sex as a leisure activity enjoyed more, better sex during the pandemic

Oct. 23, 2023 | Sharita Forrest

People who found ways to explore their sexuality and use it as a coping mechanism during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had more active and fulfilling sex lives, according to studies conducted by RST Associate Professor Liza Berdychevsky.

The fear, uncertainty and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on adults’ mental and physical health – and their sex lives, several studies reported. However, new research suggests that individuals who embraced sex as a leisure activity found creative ways to cope with the effects of the pandemic and enjoyed more satisfying and active sex lives compared with people who did not view sex the same way.

Researcher Liza Berdychevsky, a professor of recreation, sport and tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, conducted an online survey of 675 adults in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada between February and May 2021. Published in the journal Leisure Studies, the first paper from the project examined people’s views of sex as leisure before and during the pandemic and the effects those outlooks had on the respondents’ quantity and quality of sex.

The sex-as-leisure perspective was defined in the study as engaging in sexual activity for purposes such as recreation, relaxation, self-gratification or personal development.

“When sexual activity is pleasurable, freely chosen, and intrinsically motivated, it aligns with most definitions of leisure activity,” Berdychevsky said. “The sex-as-leisure mindset affects sexual inhibitions, attitudes and practices, and it is congruent with the view of sexual health as key to our overall wellbeing and quality of life.”

The paper “Sex as leisure approach during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the quantity and quality of sex life” is available online.

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KCH Abroad: Students travel to Italy, Greece

ITALY

In May 2023, 24 students traveled to Italy in a faculty-led Study Abroad program focused on the Italian public health system. Students attended tours and talks at prestigious Italian sites in Rome and Florence, and also enjoyed some amazing cultural activities, including Italian cooking and art classes, guided tours to the main historical attractions in Rome and a visit to a winery. Some of the places visited were the Catholic University, the Italian National Institute of Health and the Department of Planning and Organization of the National Health Service, a regulatory agency within the Italian Ministry of Health.

KCH faculty members Andi Schwingel and Aline Lamas led the group. The students also visited Agenas, the Department of Planning and Organization of the National Health Service, a regulatory agency within the Italian Ministry of Health, which deals with regulating pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other health products. They met with AREU (Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza), which handled the Covid pandemic in the Lombardy region, to learn about their emergency preparedness operations and experiences with Covid-19.

In addition, students visited the Sapienza Università di Roma and University of Florence in Florence to learn about their public health training programs. There they met with officials, professors and students. Additionally, they visited the University Hospital Meyer Children Hospital in Florence to learn about the work of this hospital, which is an official member of the European Network of Health Promoting Hospitals of the World Health Organization. Additional site visits included Community of San Egidio, Caritas Roma, First Med, Institute of Neuroscience/Tuscany Stroke Network and Terme dei Papi in Viterbo. Students also enjoyed some cultural activities including Italian cooking classes, guided tours in historical Rome and the Colosseum, a visit to a winery and art class.

GREECE

In the summer of 2023, students—led by KCH faculty members Kristin DiFilippo and Beth Frasca—embarked on a two-week tour of Greece for IHLT 498: Interdisciplinary Health in Greece.

Students spent two weeks exploring health from an interdisciplinary perspective. Participants experienced campus life at Perrotis College, connected with academic staff, and interacted with Greek culture. Greece provided an opportunity for students to experience the Mediterranean lifestyle while learning about health from the perspective of the whole person.

Participants toured cultural, historic and religious sites in Thessaloniki and Athens, learned about the public and private health systems, and gained knowledge of Greek culture through shared meals, winery visits and Greek dancing lessons. Greek experts on the Mediterranean lifestyle, olive oil and the healthcare system interacted with students. Undergraduate students who are interested in learning about health while exploring Greece gained an appreciation for the role that various dimensions of health and culture play in quality of life. Students took part in cooking classes and learned to make several different Greek foods. They also did an olive oil tasting and learned about the Mediterranean diet. Students also climbed Mount Olympus and visited the Parthenon.

AHS 2023 Convocation

May 22, 2023 |

The 2023 AHS Convocation took place on Sunday, May 14, at the State Farm Center

Photo by Fred Zwick

Dean Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell delivered her remarks:

I’m Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, Dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences and three-time graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

There are so many great events in the college, but this has to be my favorite. Not only does it make me nostalgic about my own graduations—were they really that long ago? It also fills my heart with joy and pride, and, yes, it makes me a little overcome with emotion to look upon these graduates, knowing that AHS helped them to develop into the outstanding individuals they are today, well-prepared to go out and make a difference in this world. 

I know that wherever your journey takes you from here—to jobs, graduate studies, post-doctoral fellowships, or a time of exploring the possibilities—you take with you a solid foundation on which to continue building. 

You take values that have been reinforced through coursework, research experiences, and community involvement—respect for all peoples and cultures and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

You take a firmly-held belief in the mission of the college: to promote individual and community health throughout the lifespan, to facilitate optimal living with disability, and to foster the development of livable communities in a diverse society.

But let’s be real. You’re not thinking of any of that today. 
•    You’re thinking about all the great friends you’ve made here.
•    You’re looking around the State Farm Center and remembering events you’ve attended here. 
•    You’re thinking about what you’re going to do after the ceremony. 
•    You’re feeling a myriad of emotions, and maybe your head is swimming and you can’t focus on anything!

I recall from my own graduation ceremonies that rush of feelings—excitement, a little nervousness about the next step, pride, a little sadness about moving on, but mostly just gratitude and happiness and thank the stars, I made it!

It’s a bittersweet moment. I think the psychological concept of reframing can come in handy at times like these. 

You’re not losing friends as you all go your separate ways. 
You’re gaining a whole lot of people to visit across the country, possibly around the world, while you’re also making new friends in your new life. 

You’re not leaving a safety net of faculty and staff colleagues and mentors who offered sage advice when you needed it and supported you throughout your studies. 
You’re expanding your professional network of people who will always enjoy hearing from you, finding out what’s new in your life, and, yes, offering sage advice when you need it. 

Being amazed by what you’re learning, from people you respect and admire, doesn’t end here. You have a whole lifetime of being amazed ahead of you. Just be open to it.

Look ahead to a bright future. Take advantage of every opportunity life offers to grow, to learn, to help, and to have fun. Take life seriously, but remember that it’s the only one we have, as far as we know, and time goes by quickly. 

It sounds cliché, but live in the moment, and see even challenging times as chances to learn something new, something valuable. 

Of course, I wish you all the best. Stay in touch and stay involved, if you can. One of the college’s greatest strengths is a strong and active group of alumni. Which you will soon be!

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Fritz: ‘Fitting In Is Overrated’

May 22, 2023 | Janasia Phillips

From as young as seven years old, Kevin Fritz knew something was different. But the alum of the College of Applied Health Sciences never saw different as a negative.

From as young as seven years old, Kevin Fritz knew something was different. 

He had spent the past three months in the hospital, but for someone born with muscular dystrophy, that was not unusual. What was unusual was the reception he received.

“I remember, there were three garbage bags of cards from my first-grade teacher’s class and videos of kids wishing I would get better,” Fritz said via Zoom from his home in Miami. “I kept thinking, ‘Why am I sick and other people not sick? I think that was the first recognition of (being different).”

But the alum of the College of Applied Health Sciences never saw different as a negative.

“I think I’ve always just wanted to be included,” said Fritz, who is now employment counsel at Gusto, an human resources management software company. “I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that fitting in is very overrated.”

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic neurological disease that causes muscle weakness and decreased mobility, not just of arms and legs, but vital organs as well. With MD, everyday tasks progressively become extremely difficult to manage without assistance. Given the progression of the disease, many people with MD don’t survive into adulthood, which makes Fritz’s life and career that much more inspiring.

MD made Fritz’s childhood a challenge, but when his health stabilized, he started thinking about college. A Pennsylvania native, Fritz wasn’t sure where Illinois was, but he knew it was ranked among the best schools to accommodate students with disabilities.

He called the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) and spoke with Susann Sears, who is now director of the Beckwith Residential Support Services program for people with severe physical disabilities. After a campus visit, Fritz was sold.

A Community Health major, Fritz set out to make an immediate impact, displaying an inner resolve he is proud of.

“I think that I’ve always had a drive to be just as good as the other person,” Fritz said. “When I was much younger, I used to do a lot of theater. I remember, there was a dance audition for a musical. And the director said, ‘Obviously, Kevin, you don’t need to do this.’ I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to do it.’ And I put like a muscle shirt and a headband and really went all out on it.

“It was really embarrassing but also very empowering.”

Armed with that new skill, Fritz became a student senator and acclimated himself with health care issues that were challenging to people with disabilities. One of Fritz’s internships while at Illinois was working with Lynne Barnes, the then-president at Carle Foundation Hospital. Although Fritz enjoyed working in health care, it was Barnes whose advice took him down a different path.

Barnes encouraged him to apply his “analytical mind” and passion to law school, Fritz said. Barnes introduced him to Carle’s vice president of legal affairs and she said that Fritz would make a good lawyer because he’d “like to fight the issues.”

Fritz’s interest in law was also shaped by his time as a student senator, during which he accepted a job in Washington, D.C., interning for then-Sen. Barack Obama where his work was heavily health-policy related. Another chance meeting again diverted Fritz’s path.

Upon meeting Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), who also uses a wheelchair, Fritz saw the possibilities for himself.

“When I met him, my whole world changed because there’s a guy like me 20 years later, with an assistant just like me, wearing a suit that’s like perfectly fit to his disabled person, just like I like to do,” Fritz said. “I only met him that one time, but I realized that it can happen. I could run for Congress. I could have a job. I could be successful.”

Pursuing law came with its challenges, Fritz said, but he knew that he wanted to be on the employer’s side of accommodation and representation for disabilities.

He started in employment law and spent nearly 10 years as working to defend Fortune companies against lawsuits. Not only was Fritz the first wheelchair user at his firm but to this day he is one of the only wheelchair users with a “significant disability” at a top-50 law firm in the United States.

Today, Fritz has a significant position in counseling and litigation at Gusto, playing a role in employee relations and policy review. Although Fritz has had his share of challenges living with MD, he continues to view his condition not as something to heal or fix, but something to thrive with.

“I don’t have time to just sit around and pray that everything will be better for me physically. I have to live the life I was given and make the best of it. You should always be yourself, and that’s exactly enough.” 

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2023 SHS Awards

May 21, 2023 |

Congratulations to the recipients of 2023 scholarships and awards. The undergraduate and graduate students recognized within these pages have shown outstanding dedication and creativity in the pursuit of their personal and professional goals. We are very proud of your achievements. Click the link to read the PDF program.

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College of Applied Health Sciences
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