UCF’s Academic Advising Council selected Farran as the recipient based on her outstanding contributions to her advising office. Advisors who have worked for the campus for three years or less are eligible for the award.

Farran joined the Health Sciences Pre-Clinical Program as an academic advisor in 2014. The program offers one of the largest majors at UCF and includes about 3,600 students.

“For at least one semester, Jennifer was the only advisor in the program, and she was able to maintain quality while helping the entire student population,” wrote Program Director Suha Saleh in her nomination letter.

When the program added another advisor and a program assistant, Farran took the lead in training the new staff members as well as several work study students. She also launched new initiatives, such as establishing and maintaining social media accounts for the program and developing welcome information packets for incoming transfer students.

Farran recently collaborated with several student support offices and academic units on campus to organize professional development workshops for students this fall.

“She is a great team player and an outstanding student advocate,” Saleh shared.

As the winner of this year’s Sindlinger award, Farran will be the Academic Advising Council’s nominee for the NACADA Excellence in Advising — New Advisor Award for 2016 at both the regional and national levels.

Photo by Abi Bell

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.”