Individuals aged 5 through 21 years and their families are invited to participate in this free event sponsored by the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. There will be two sessions, 10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m.

Each child will be partnered with a D.P.T. student “buddy” for a two-hour session. The physical therapy student will tailor activities such as soccer, basketball and Frisbee throwing to meet the child’s individual needs and ensure fun and safety.

Family members, including siblings, and legal guardians are invited to participate in the activities or simply relax and watch.

The goal is to create a fun and memorable day for both the children and families and to promote a healthy lifestyle, according to D.P.T. student and event co-chair Jerilyn Toubman.

This year’s event will feature a visit from Knightro and assistance at activity stations by UCF athletes. In addition, the Orlando chapter of Medals4Mettle will honor each participating child at the end of the event.

Day-of registration is available but early registration is encouraged.

The impact left the then 22-year-old woman with a traumatic brain injury that completely changed her life and that of her family’s.

After surviving four and half months in a coma, she began rehabilitation therapy that continues today. Her Lake Mary family rallied to support her recovery.

“We provide whatever she needs to help her 24/7,” said Ivan Tafur, her father and primary caregiver.

Over the years Ivan Tafur and his daughter have learned there are few opportunities for TBI survivors to be active and interact with different people. But that could change thanks to a special harness system that offers just those opportunities.

Today UCF and partner Aramark launched the Knights on the Go Café in Health and Public Affairs I as the first site to demonstrate the harness system in Florida.

Behind the cafe’s counter was Diana Tafur.

She wore a harness suspended from the top of a customized metal frame. The harness provided her with a safe, active experience outside a traditional physical therapy session. A UCF physical therapy faculty member stood nearby to assist her as needed.

The harness system was developed by Professor Cole Galloway, brothers Ralph and Steve Cope, and a team at the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Delaware in Newark. The university opened the only other cafĂ© with the harness system in the nation on its campus in 2014.

“This is a big day for all of us,” said Jennifer Tucker, a member of UCF’s physical therapy faculty who is leading the project in collaboration with Galloway. “We’re very excited to offer TBI survivors the next step in their journey of recovery.”

Tucker said people with TBI are challenged with doing two things at the same time ― walking and talking for example. The café and harness create an opportunity for individuals with motor and cognitive impairments to have an immersive experience to work on vocation and rehabilitation skills. The harness provides the safety net needed in case they lose their balance as they work.

“It places them in the real world and that can’t be created in a health care setting,” Tucker said. “It’s safe and comes with clinical supervision.”

Tucker hopes other organizations will implement the harness system to help more TBI survivors. She also sees the possibility of expanding its use to benefit people with a wide variety of motor disabilities.

“This experience should be made available to more people with disabilities,” said Ivan Tafur. “They will greatly benefit from the experience.”

Knights on the Go Café is located in the HPA I atrium and sells fresh fruit, packaged sandwiches and salads, and drinks. This spring the café is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Diana Tafur and another TBI survivor will work twice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., although their schedule may vary. Aramark is employing UCF physical therapy students to work alongside them and other UCF students to work the other days and times the café is open.

“Aramark is honored to partner with UCF on this extraordinary and innovative program,” said Stephen Corren, marketing manager for Aramark’s dining services at UCF. “This wonderful opportunity truly expresses our mission of enriching and nourishing lives daily.”

Before her accident Diana Tafur was a vital young woman who worked in television advertising. Although she is not getting paid for her shifts at the Knights on the Go Café, it offers her an opportunity to reclaim more of the life she once knew.

“It allows me freedom to get out in the world,” said Diana Tafur. “It gives me purpose.”

Rovito was invited to attend following his longstanding efforts to raise awareness of health issues facing men.

The purpose of the event was “to elevate the conversation about men’s health in this country,” said Broderick Johnson, White House Cabinet Secretary and chair of My Brother’s Keeper Task Force.

There are “very important issues that men don’t talk about,” Johnson said in his opening remarks. “We need to cultivate a dialogue that resonates but that is also stainable and accessible … and we need the help from all of you in this room.”

The three-hour event included presentations on “Why Men’s Health Matters,” “Strategies for Helping Men Address Their Health” and “Men and Mental Health.” Concurrent breakout session topics were “Get Covered,” which focused on health insurance enrollment,” and “Men’s Health & Sports – Partnerships for Men’s Health Awareness.”

At the conclusion, Johnson reminded the participants that Jan. 18 marks the beginning of Men’s Week of Action. He asked them to return to their communities and take action to elevate the conversation about men’s health across the country.

Rovito thought the event “was a fantastic opportunity.” “Networking with the top scholars, advocates and policymakers in the field allowed me to disseminate and promote my research and outreach agenda to key stakeholders,” he said. “I look forward to next year’s event and the chance to continue working with others to bring about a true public health policy for boys, men and their loved ones.”

Watch a videotape of the event at 

Rovito is a member of the Men’s Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association, which works to improve the health and well-being of men, boys and their families. He has collaborated on projects with members of the Men’s Health Network, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., including the development of the first national policy agenda for men’s health in 2011. Rovito is also the founder and chairman of Men’s Health Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to promoting healthy behaviors among men while advancing the academic and scientific fields of men’s health.

H.A.P.S. began last fall with 30 members and a mission to promote healthy living and disease prevention through education, according to H.A.P.S. President Katherine Masten. This spring its membership reached about 100 students.

H.A.P.S. also gained a corporate partner, Orlando Health, which provided $2,500 in support, as well as giveaways and learning opportunities for UCF students.

In its first year H.A.P.S. sponsored activities to increase awareness of alcohol abuse, diabetes, safe sex, the risks of smoking, eyesight care and other health matters. Most occurred under a portable tent outside the Student Union, where H.A.P.S. members used displays, demonstrations and games to educate passersby.

The organization also hosted members of the Orlando Health family, including the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit bus, which opened its doors for tours near the Student Union. In addition, it held a canned food drive and multiple team-building and social activities.

H.A.P.S. reached out to the local community as well. Its members provided breakfast for about 100 elementary school students before the students took a statewide test. They also hosted an educational event for a group of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and another for children with a cleft palate or lip.

During a Knight-Thon fundraiser, 12 H.A.P.S. members stood for 20 hours to help raise $3,700 for Orlando Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

“This organization has exceeded all of my expectations,” said Masten, a health sciences pre-clinical major who graduates this week.

Masten attributes H.A.P.S.’ success to the efforts of its members and the “unbelievable” guidance and support of its faculty advisor, Suha Saleh, program director for the health sciences pre-clinical major and an assistant professor of health professions.

Saleh routinely attended the organization’s general meetings and met with Masten and other H.A.P.S. officers to offer advice as they planned and organized activities.

In turn Saleh praised Masten and two other founding officers who graduate this week, Lauren Broberg and Gerarda Shehu, for their strong leadership and dedication.

“They really believed in the mission of their major and took it to a whole new level,” Saleh said. “They always impressed me with how much they were willing to give to their UCF community and the local community.”

Masten said one of her favorite activities was an alcohol awareness event held just before spring break. Orlando Health brought its drunk-driving simulator and rehabilitation team to the campus to teach UCF students about the hazards of drinking and driving.

“Approximately 100 students participated,” Masten recalled. “It was a very enlightening experience for them to feel the effects of alcohol while sober.”

“I like to think we may have saved lives,” she added.

To learn more about H.A.P.S. or to become a member, please write suha.saleh@ucf.edu.

(Photo by Abi Bell)

Assistant Professor Suha Saleh, who directs the program in the Department of Health Professions, attributes the rapid 10-fold increase in enrollment to identifying a need and meeting it.

“While other majors may include the prerequisites required for admission to graduate programs in health professions, the health sciences pre-clinical major integrates the prerequisites with course work directly related to human health,” Saleh said.

Specifically, the curriculum includes basic science courses and courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, preventative health care, epidemiology of chronic disease and clinical nutrition. This gives students an opportunity to learn basic science and relate it to clinical practice, she explained.

Prompted by the student demand, the department has increased the program’s faculty from one full-time faculty member in 2006 to six full-time and seven adjunct faculty members this fall.

Saleh joined the faculty as program director in 2010. Since then, she has revised the major to include a more clinically based curriculum, expanded academic and pre-professional advising, and identified opportunities for clinical internships.

Advising is an important component of the health sciences pre-clinical program, Saleh said. “Our advising services help students achieve their graduate school goals and help them devise alternative paths if there is an unforeseen change in their career plans.”

Erik Diaz, a 2012 graduate in health sciences pre-clinical, found great opportunities to become involved in faculty research and help plan events for the program. “The major is constantly evolving and proactively working toward excellence by preparing well-rounded future health professionals,” he shared. “It is a huge asset to the university and the community.”

Now a first-year student in UCF’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Diaz has developed an interest in neuropathology and ways to help people with central nervous system disorders increase their functional abilities.

Lisa Soler, a senior majoring in health sciences pre-clinical, will graduate this fall and pursue admission to medical school. She said she likes “that the core sciences and health-specific sciences are part of the major.” She also noted program’s close-knit atmosphere.

“Even though the major is growing incredibly, class sizes are small and individual relationships with professors are feasible, which adds to a small school feel in such an enormous campus,” Soler said.

According to responses from a recent survey, health sciences pre-clinical alumni have been accepted into graduate programs or have taken off a semester or two after graduation to complete their application materials and clinical experience requirements.

“So far, the program has been a huge success,” Saleh said, “and we will continue to modify it to meet the needs of our students and the communities they’ll eventually serve.”

Angela Ritten, a faculty member in the College of Nursing, who was the recipient of a Certificate of Merit in the category of Faculty New Advisor.

Jesse Sunski, coordinator of Freshman Explorations in First Year Advising and Explorations, who was honored as an outstanding new advisor in the category of New Advisor-Primary Role.

Kristen Schellhase, director of the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training program and interim director of the Health Professions department, who received a Certificate of Merit in the category of faculty advisor.

Layla Archer, assistant director of Undergraduate Student Services in the College of Health & Public Affairs, who was recognized as a top advisor in the category for employees whose primary role is advising.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science, which earned a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Program for their Academic Alert program.