Chapman University Faculty Experts Available for May Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke Boot Camp, a program run by faculty and students, is a NO-COST,  2 week intensive, interdisciplinary treatment program for chronic stroke survivors.

It’s estimated one in four people may have a stroke in their lifetime. There are over nine million stroke survivors just in the U.S. and it is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The risk of long term disability from stroke can be significantly decreased with a healthier lifestyle that includes healthy eating, exercise, and regular health checks, says Chapman University assistant professor,  Natalia Sanchez Aldana. 

With Stroke Awareness Month on the horizon, Chapman University’s faculty experts are available to offer perspectives on stroke care and management including:

• Early warning signs and symptoms

• Risk factors and prevention strategies

• Cutting-edge advancements in stroke treatment and rehabilitation

• The importance of community outreach and education in stroke awareness

Pharmacists play a vital role in stroke education, emphasizing the importance of recognizing early warning signs and symptoms and activating emergency medical systems promptly. Viet-Huong Nguyen, associate Professor in Chapman’s School of Pharmacy, leads this charge, stating, “I teach all pharmacy students that it is a fundamental role of pharmacists to be able to teach patients about the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of activating the emergency medical system when anyone is showing signs/symptoms of stroke.”

With their extensive research, clinical experience, and dedication to improving patient outcomes, the following Chapman University experts are available to speak to your stroke stories with specific expertise:

• Kimberly Won, Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy, is an emergency medicine and critical care pharmacy specialist. In the emergency department, she is a part of the emergency medicine team that assesses and manages patients who present to the emergency department with acute stroke. In the ICU, Dr. Won works with the critical care team to optimize therapy for patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. She has presented at conferences about stroke management and has provided stroke education to clinicians and learners in the hospital setting.
• Viet-Huong Nguyen, Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy is a neurology specialist and also treats stroke patients in the hospital. She can speak to patient safety in stroke, the impact of stroke education on stroke outcomes including the role of pharmacists in stroke education. 
• Natalia Sanchez Aldana, Assistant Professor in Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Sánchez’s research has been funded by the NIH and the American Heart Association and focuses on the mechanisms that shape walking behaviors in healthy individuals and individuals after neurologic injury. The research is to understand the individual differences in walking after stroke. To accomplish this goal, technology is used for motion analysis, sensors to measure how muscles control movement. 
• Lisa LaChance, Assistant Professor in Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences leads the community Adult Learning Lab which serves people with aphasia, a speech challenge caused by brain damage. The stroke support group helps participants get comfortable communicating with a special device and gives them a place to interact socially while challenging them to communicate. 
  

About Chapman University

Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 60 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.