Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences - WMU

10/06/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense
Candidate: Misaki Naito
Date: October 23, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83790105737

Dissertation Title: Predictors and Time to Competency Restoration: The Role of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Primary Language

Dissertation Committee: Dr. Rob Lyerla (WMU) Chair, Dr. Kieran Fogarty (WMU), Dr. Hugh Potter (University of Central Florida) and Dr. Chadley James (California State University, Fresno, CA).

Abstract: Competency to stand trial (CST) is a critical requirement in the United States legal system. However, defendants with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and those whose primary language is not English may face distinct challenges during competency restoration. This retrospective chart review examines demographic, clinical, legal, cognitive-developmental, and language-related factors associated with competency attainment among 399 defendants admitted to a state-operated psychiatric hospital for court-ordered competency restoration. Analyses include multiple logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Of the 399 defendants, 251 were recommended as restored and 148 as not restored. Lower odds of restoration are associated with older age; non-English primary language; psychiatric hospitalization history; sexual offense charges; and mild, moderate, or unspecified intellectual disability. Among male defendants with IDD, placement in an IDD-specialized unit alone is not a significant independent predictor after adjustment. Time-to-restoration analyses also reveal differences by IDD-related diagnosis, crime category, race/ethnicity, and primary language. The findings support developing competency restoration services that are developmentally informed, linguistically accessible, legally responsive, and functionally tailored.

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09/17/2026

We’re excited to share that Behishta Sadaat (Cohort 2026) will be a featured panelist in the Kalamazoo Refugee Resource Collaborative’s upcoming virtual event on September 21st from 10:00AM - 11:00AM.

Behishta will join fellow voices in an important conversation about cultural humility, mental health, and creating stronger, more inclusive support for refugee and newcomer communities.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Behishta and learn from this meaningful conversation!

Scan the QR code to register and join virtually

09/14/2026

Dr. Diane Dirette and IHS PhD doctoral student Jaimie Farrington proudly presented to a standing-room-only audience at the Brain Injury Association Conference in Lansing, Michigan, on September 11, 2026.

Their presentation, “The Self-awareness Enhancement through Learning and Function (SELF): A Comprehensive Approach to the Evaluation and Treatment of Impaired Self-awareness Following Brain Injury,” highlighted a comprehensive approach to evaluating and treating impaired self-awareness following brain injury.

Congratulations to Jaimie Farrington and Dr. Diane Dirette on a successful and well-received presentation

09/10/2026

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program Alumni Dr. Alejandro Azofeifa Leads Prestigious JAMA Network Publication on 9/11 Health Legacy.

The IHS-PhD Program proudly celebrates the achievement of alumnus Dr. Alejandro Azofeifa, who is the lead author of a prestigious publication in JAMA Network examining 25 years of lessons and impact from the World Trade Center Health Program.

Titled “Twenty-Five Years After 9/11—Lessons from the World Trade Center Health Program,” the article highlights the enduring public health legacy of September 11 and the critical lessons learned through more than two decades of research, surveillance, and healthcare for individuals affected by the attacks.

Dr. Azofeifa is a member of the World Trade Center Health Program at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Washington, DC. His leadership on this publication underscores his contributions to occupational and public health and reflects the far-reaching impact of research conducted through the IHS-PhD Program.

This recognition is a source of great pride for the IHS-PhD Program and exemplifies the accomplishments of its alumni, whose scholarship and professional leadership continue to advance public health and inform policy and practice nationally and internationally.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853932?guestAccessKey=2b2e65c3-0464-47eb-9dff-5cd1b8923bde&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=091026

This Perspective explores key developments in care delivery and clinical understanding of the population exposed to the 9/11 terrorist attacks through data from the World Trade Center Health Program.

09/09/2026

https://wmich.edu/hhs/news/2026/06/day-oxford

WMU Interdisciplinary Health Programs Ph.D. program alumna earns prestigious Oxford appointment Contact: Jillian Fraze June 8, 2026 KALAMAZOO Mich.—Dr. Angelique Day, Legislative Director at CRISP (Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy), has been appointed Senior Academic Res...

09/03/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Lyndsay Nuyen, the 2026 Pisaneschi Prize Winner! 🏆

Lyndsay Nuyen was awarded the Pisaneschi Prize for Best Scientific Presentation at the 2026 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference. Pictured here with her Cohort and faculty.

Her winning presentation, “Disease of Body, Disease of Mind: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Alcoholism Among Members of Alcoholics Anonymous,” showcased the depth and significance of her research.

Congratulations, Lyndsay, on this well-deserved achievement!

09/03/2026

In with the new, out with the old! 😊✨

Celebrating the 2024 and 2026 Cohorts at the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference on July 24, 2026

09/03/2026

Announcement: IHS/PhD Program Dissertation Defense

Candidate Name: Jodi Haugen, MS, OTR/L, HPCS, PhD Candidate
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 12:00pm -1:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada))
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82123801252
Meeting ID: 821 2380 1252

Dissertation Title: A Mixed Methods Study Comparing Insurance-Billing and Non-Billing Payment Models in Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy Incorporating Hippotherapy

Dissertation Committee: Chairperson: Kieran Fogarty, PhD, Director - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD. Program, Western Michigan; Committee Members: Nancy Hock, Ph.D., OTRL, CHT, Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy Western Michigan University, Mary. D. Lagerwey, PhD, Professor Emerita, Western Michigan University and Deborah Silkwood-Sherer PT, DHSc, HPCS, Chair, Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Central Michigan University.

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: Hippotherapy is a treatment tool incorporated into an occupational, physical, or speech therapy treatment plan that uses equine movement to achieve functional outcomes. Therapy practices integrating hippotherapy face unique financial challenges, balancing both equine and clinical costs against complex reimbursement and funding factors. While the benefits of using hippotherapy are well documented, literature is limited on how practices cover high overhead costs under today's healthcare landscape. This study examined the funding practices of organizations integrating hippotherapy and challenges to long-term sustainability. METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. In the initial quantitative phase, a secondary analysis (𝑁=67) of 2023 survey data from therapy practitioners was completed. Demographic, operational, and financial parameters were analyzed between insurance-billing (𝑛=31) and non-billing (𝑛=36) cohorts using non-parametric statistical testing. In the subsequent qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five practice leaders (𝑛=5) from well-established U.S. organizations incorporating hippotherapy. Qualitative data were analyzed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis approach and integrated with quantitative results. RESULTS: Quantitative findings revealed no statistically significant differences between billing and non-billing groups regarding discipline, experience, practice size, or session revenue. However, Cramér’s V indicated a moderate effect size in session fee distribution with billing practices clustering in a higher fee category ($101–$151) than non-billing practices ($51–$100). Within the billing cohort, practices using internal billing systems generated significantly higher session revenue than those outsourcing billing. Qualitative analysis yielded five themes: The Financial Mismatch, The Moral Pricing Tension, Playing the Insurance Game, Treat It Like a Business, and It’s All About Relationships. Specifically, results demonstrated that combined equine and clinical overhead routinely exceeds what standard session fees cover. Organizational leaders described a notable moral tension between professional altruism and covering this cost deficit, which was often mitigated by donating personal time. The choice to bill insurance was strongly influenced by local policies and reimbursement rates, with some citing insurance exclusions as a primary barrier. Insurance-billing practices relied on strategic CPT coding and creative scheduling, though two also used donations to bridge financial gaps. Non-billing practices depended heavily on donor support and fundraising, while also using lower-cost equine programming to supplement revenue. Finally, all participants emphasized the vital role of community and family support in starting and sustaining operations. CONCLUSIONS: While practices successfully use both insurance-billing and non-billing models, high overhead routinely exceeds standard single-session fees. To explain how practices navigate these deficits, this study proposes a new conceptual framework: “The Subsidy Model.” Defining a subsidy as any resource leveraged to offset true operational costs, the model identifies four essential mechanisms: Human (donated personal time), Reimbursement (creative scheduling and CPT coding), Diversification (lower-overhead supplemental programming), and Relational (community and family support). The Subsidy Model reveals that financial viability is not achieved through a single operational structure, but through a leader's ability to dynamically layer these strategies within sound business practices to bridge revenue gaps. Whether limited by regional insurance barriers or client self-pay constraints, the findings suggest that both insurance-billing and cash-based practices often rely on subsidization strategies to maintain operations.

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07/24/2026

Dr. Ashley Lubbers (IHS-PhD Alumni) speaking about her charity foundation.

Link:

One of In The Image's initiatives in providing basic needs in the community is its SHOES program, or Shoes Help Our Elementary Students.

06/29/2026

2026 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Research (IDR) Conference
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program
Western Michigan University

Date: July 24, 2026
Location: CHHS Building 1010
Time: 08:30 AM – Noon, Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Conference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83733103899
Meeting ID: 837 3310 3899

2026 IDR Alumni Conference Judges

Barbara Cliff, PhD, RN, LFACHE (Cohort 2004) – 2008 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, Adjunct Faculty - George Washington University, Washington, DC; Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Texas A & M, TX.

Angelique Day, PhD, MSW (Cohort 2008) - University of Washington, Seattle, WA, and University of Oxford, England.

Erica Fernandes, PT, MS, DPT, PhD (Cohort 2020) - Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI.

Patricia Geels, PhD, CCC-SLP (Cohort 2020) - Indiana University South Bend, Elkhart, IN.

Nancy Hock, Ph.D., OTRL, CHT (Cohort 2016) - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI.

Heather Isaacson, PhD, CCC-SLP (Cohort 2020) - Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI.

Sonia Manuchian, Ph.D., CO, MSc (Cohort 2020) - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA.

Duduzile, Mashinini, Ph.D., EIS-24 (Cohort 2014) - 2016 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA.

Samantha McDaniel, PhD, CCC-SLP (Cohort 2018) - 2020 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA.

Michelle A. Padley, PhD, CRTM (Cohort 2018). Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI.

Sarah Renner, Ph.D., OTRL, RYT (Cohort 2018) – Concordia University Ann Arbor, MI.

Kristen Smith, PhD, LCSW (Cohort 2018) - Rush University, Chicago, IL.

Katie A. Strong, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Cohort 2010) - Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI.

Amy M. Yorke, Ph.D., PT (Cohort 2010) - 2012 Pisaneschi Prize Winner, University of Michigan - Flint, MI.

2026 IDR Oral Presentations

U.S. Validation of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Experiences Scale (LGBTQ+ HCES), Mandy Cox, MSW, Kalamazoo, MI.

Predictors of Enrollment in Center-Based Educational Programs: A Retrospective Study. Nicole Grace, M.A. CCC-SLP, EdS. Roscommon, MI.

Disease of Body, Disease of Mind: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Alcoholism Among Members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Lyndsay Nuyen, LMSW, CAADC, CCS, DBT-LBC. Kalamazoo, MI.

A Mixed Method Examination of the Content Validity of the Physical Environment Instrument for Senior Living Facilities. Allison Chamberlain Miller, MS, OTRL, CAPS. Schoolcraft, MI.

Examining the Face and Content Validity of the Self‑awareness Enhancement through Learning and Function-Inventory. Jaimie Farrington, M.A., CCC-SLP, CBIS. Grand Rapids, MI.

A Secondary Data Analysis of the Relationship Between Unmet Social Determinant of Health Needs and the Likelihood that an Eligible Patient Returns a Cologuard Screening Kit. Amber Duddy, MS. Madison, WI.

Variation in Estimated Age of Entry into Special Education Services for Specific Learning Disability: Why Timing Matters. Jessica France, M.S. OTR/L. Madisonville, KY.

Calculating an Adequate System Tool (CAST): A Data-Informed Behavioral Health Planning Framework for Kalamazoo County. Blaire Zielke, LMSW, CAADC, CCS-DP. Portage, MI.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Perceptions Among Clinicians in Underrepresented Minority Clinical Practices. Ty Faulkner, M.A, CHIT. Canton, MI.

Content validity of the Five-Step Evidence-Based Practice Process Instrument: A Formative Self-Report Assessment for Healthcare Professionals. Sharyn Coates, OTD, OTRL. Grand Rapids, MI.

Instrument Development and Pilot Validation for a Study on Su***de Death Classification. Kelsey Thorsby, LMSW. Grand Rapids, MI.

A Comparative Multiple-Case Study Examining the Capacity of Large Language Models to Conduct Discourse Analysis in Domestic Violence Narratives. Evie Jefferies, LMSW. Kalamazoo, MI.

Preliminary Psychometric Assessment of the Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education Survey. Elizabete Schramm-Ayers, MBA, MPA, MPH. Grand Rapids, MI.

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