Yvonne Beth Alles, DHA is a diagnostic instructor for the Kent Intermediate School District in Grand Rapids, Michigan and works with the Health Sciences Early College Academy to provide Career and Technical Education to high school juniors and seniors. Yvonne was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Health Services Administration, and a Masters in Business Administration with a healthcare emphasis from Davenport University. She received her DHA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix. Before coming to Kent ISD, Yvonne worked at Davenport University where she served as the Department Chair of Allied Health, including the areas of Medical Assisting, Health Services Administration, Medical Case Management, and Occupational Therapy. Yvonne has also worked at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a healthcare administrator in the Healthcare Information Management department and as a medical language specialist. Yvonne’s current research explores the development of career exploration and soft skills to prepare beginning students for success in healthcare careers. As the healthcare system becomes increasingly mechanized, Yvonne believes that emphasis on the humanities will be an area which must be included while considering career options. For example, music therapy has been shown to improve communication with Alzheimer’s patients. Narrative medicine is another area of interest for Yvonne secondary to her strong background in health information management.
Sue Klappa, PT, PhD, and colleagues discuss how Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students created visual art projects to gain a deeper understanding of how physical therapy transforms society and improves quality of life for patients.