Research and Innovation: June 2025

High Point University physical therapy students recently partnered with Faith Christian Academy to lead K-12 students in field day events. Pictured from left on the first row were Haley Harris, Sam Smith, Mackenzie Peacock and Jonathan Flemming. Pictured from left on the back row were Rachel Haynes, Angelly Polanco, Kayla Thompson, Dr. Renee Hamel, Addy McCarthy, Grace McKinney, Keeley Marchant, Alexis Coleman and Alexis Heath. Not shown is Abby Hall, who participated but had to leave for class before the group picture was taken.

HIGH POINT, N.C., June 12, 2025 – High Point University students, faculty and staff frequently conduct, publish and share research and creative works in a variety of ways. Below is a recap of recent research and innovative initiatives.

HPU Physical Therapy Students Serve Community Youth

Thirteen Doctor of Physical Therapy students in the Neurology and Pediatric Special Interest Group and their faculty advisor recently partnered with Faith Christian Academy (FCA) to lead K-12 students in field day events on the school’s campus.

The events were age- and development-appropriate for each grade level and included water play, teambuilding, tug of war and balance games.

Renee Hamel, an associate professor who is director of students in the Department of Physical Therapy, was excited to see the second- and third-year DPT students put their classroom knowledge into practice while serving the local community.

“Their enthusiasm and knowledge were outstanding throughout the event,” Hamel said. “Elementary school students loved the day so much that they all made thank-you cards, including drawings of themselves in HPU shirts, with dreams of becoming HPU DPT students themselves when they grow up.”

The event helped the HPU students adapt activities based on developmental stages, communicate clearly with children of varying ages and promote participation and inclusion in a fun, supportive environment, said Haley Harris, a third-year DPT student.

“This experience strengthened my ability to assess motor skills and tailor activities appropriately, which will be essential in pediatric PT — which I hope to pursue — where individualized care is critical,” said Harris, who is from Raleigh, North Carolina.

FCA Athletic Director Christi Johnson praised the HPU students for their positive energy, creativity and professionalism. She described them as great role models and as ambassadors of HPU and the PT profession.

“Our kids and teachers once again raved about how well the day went,” Johnson said. “The kids truly look forward to it every year, and the teachers go on and on about how well each of the HPU students do. We absolutely want to continue our partnership with the Department of Physical Therapy.”

Nursing Faculty Appointed to Homeland Security Advisory Roles

Three faculty members in the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing were recently selected to serve as subject matter experts (SME) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science Advice and Guidance for Emergencies (SAGE) program, a resource supporting national response to emergencies such as natural disasters, pandemics and terrorism. The SAGE program activates SMEs as needed.

DHS selected Dr. Rachel Phelps, assistant professor of nursing and simulation director; Dr. Stefanie Smoot, assistant professor of nursing; and Dr. Lorrie Davis-Dick, assistant professor of nursing, for prestigious national advisory roles supporting critical care and medical-surgical nursing. They will also be available to respond as needed during emergencies to support the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) in real-time decision-making and response efforts.

Phelps’ role will involve providing expert insight into healthcare systems, nursing practice and emergency preparedness during critical incidents. She brings to this position a strong foundation in emergency medical services, nursing experience across critical-care settings and academic expertise in simulation and clinical education.

“Serving as a subject matter expert for the DHS SAGE program is both an honor and a meaningful opportunity to contribute to national preparedness and emergency response,” Phelps said. “It reinforces the importance of staying informed, adaptable and collaborative, skills we emphasize with our students every day. By bringing real-

world insights from this experience back into the classroom, I hope to inspire future nurses to see their role not only at the bedside but also in larger systems of public health and disaster response. This connection between practice and education strengthens our mission to prepare competent, compassionate and resilient healthcare professionals.”

Smoot will provide the SAGE program with a wealth of clinical expertise and dedication to excellence in nursing education and practice. She recently presented the webinar, “Under Pressure: Hyperbaric Oxygen and Wound Healing,” in which she shared her expertise and advancing evidence-based knowledge in wound care. The webinar highlighted the critical role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in supporting complex wound healing and improving patient outcomes. Smoot’s passion for clinical excellence and education continues to inspire her students and colleagues.

“My role as a subject matter expert with SAGE and HSAC enables me to leverage my crisis nursing care experience while staying current with evolving best practices,” Smoot said. “This involvement ensures I can offer students practical, contemporary knowledge that prepares them for actual clinical situations and ultimately improves patient outcomes and safety.”

Davis-Dick will contribute her expertise in mental health and public health emergencies to help shape national preparedness and response strategies. With more than two decades of experience in higher education and deep knowledge in psychiatric mental health nursing, her selection reflects a career dedicated to advancing public health, education and emergency resilience.

“Serving on the SAGE program and HSAC allows me to apply my mental health expertise to real-world emergencies while strengthening the academic-practice connection for HPU nursing students,” Davis-Dick said.

 Faculty Co-Author Article Published in Leading Journals

Dr. Matthew Sayre, chair and an associate professor of anthropology, and Dr. Silvana Rosenfeld, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology, were among the co-authors of an article published in the “PNAS” journal and  “Science” magazine, which are among the world’s top scientific journals.

The article, “Psychoactive Drugs Found in Mysterious Temple May Have Helped Ancient Peruvians,” delved into the roles of ritual activities in complex social and political formations. A variety of evidence found in an underground gallery of an archaeological site showed rituals often included inducement of altered mental states.

During excavations in 2017 and 2018, tubular objects made of bird and mammal bone were recovered inside an underground gallery, which was used exclusively for ceremonies. Independent chemical and microbotanical analyses demonstrated the use of psychoactive plants in institutionalized rituals in the first millennium. This direct identification of psychoactive paraphernalia from pre-Hispanic Peru sheds light on the content and function of ritual at early monumental centers.

“We believe publishing in ‘PNAS,’ one of the world’s most highly ranked journals, indicates that HPU researchers are capable of great research,” Sayre said. “The article was of such significance that a separate news article about it was also published in ‘Science,’ one of the top scientific journals in this country. So, our research is reaching audiences around the world. Our article demonstrates the importance of ancient rituals in the development of political authority in the ancient Andes.”

The Peruvian Ministry of Culture also wrote about the research in an article titled, “Ancash: Archaeological find in Chavín de Huántar reveals ritual use of psychoactive plants more than 2,800 years ago.” The article notes this finding represents one of the oldest records of ritual use of psychoactive plants and the first of its kind in Chavín de Huántar, obtained from systematic and controlled archaeological excavations. The research was carried out by an interdisciplinary team of experts and laboratories from Peru, Argentina, Chile and the United States.

“The sacred plants used in their rituals, for which we have the oldest evidence in Peru, were not only useful in the past but are also the subject of current research,” Rosenfeld said. “Pharmaceutical companies and therapists are interested in the use of entheogens, particularly for the treatment of PTSD for veterans.”

Congressman Tours HPU Lab with Physical Therapy Students  

North Carolina Congressman Addison McDowell visited HPU’s Department of Physical Therapy for the first time on May 29 to discuss issues impacting the physical therapist profession and its effect on patients in the Piedmont Triad community.

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy is to create “autonomous, ethical and compassionate evidence-based clinicians and scientists who maximize the quality of life in the communities they serve,” said Dr. Lance Mabry, assistant professor of physical therapy. The curriculum is designed to have students engage with the local community to develop healthcare solutions beyond direct patient care.

“High Point University is leading the way with one of the top Physical Therapy programs in North Carolina. They’re not just teaching, they’re changing lives,” McDowell said. “I had the chance to tour their state-of-the-art facility and saw firsthand how they’re helping folks get back on their feet. It’s the kind of hands-on, real-world training that makes a difference in our communities.”

The tour included exploring the capabilities within the Human Biomechanics & Physiology Lab. The 16,000-square-foot facility fuels a high level of scholarly activity while providing an inspiring environment for students to engage with healthcare innovations.

“At High Point University, we are dedicated to giving our physical therapy students a premier educational experience,” Mabry said. “Educating our students on the proper way to collegially engage their legislators is foundational to their development as future leaders in healthcare.”

Justyn Gray, a third-year physical therapy doctoral student who focuses on prevention of athletic injuries, provided a medical simulation demonstration within the Congdon School of Health Sciences Center during McDowell’s visit.

“Meeting with Congressman McDowell has been a pivotal moment in my professional journey, empowering me to advocate more effectively and create greater opportunities for my patients to access high-quality physical therapy care,” said Gray, who is from Greensboro, North Carolina

Madison Kamer, a second-year physical therapy doctoral student, assisted with a presentation of HPU’s Willed Body Program.

“This experience exemplified HPU’s commitment to experiential learning, deepening my growth mindset by challenging me to engage in the future of physical therapy,” said Kamer, who is from Jamestown, North Carolina.