Something spooky is happening at Marywood University...

This Halloween, Inside Marywood Health Sciences is taking a mysterious turn!

When seven departments within the College of Health Sciences can't seem to agree on how to work together, a series of strange events sends students on an unexpected adventure.

A mysterious patient with no heartbeat. A computer with a mind of its own. Whispering voices echoing through the hallways. And a shadowy figure running through campus...

Who — or what — is the Midnight Pacer?

Join host Samantha Miko for a special Halloween storytelling episode as students from Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Physician Assistant, Science, Math and Computer Science, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Psychology and Counseling, Social Work, and Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science put their skills to the test.

Along the way, they'll discover that solving a mystery, much like working in healthcare, takes more than one area of expertise.

Seven departments. Seven unique perspectives. One College of Health Sciences.

Because the future of healthcare isn't built by one profession. It's built together.

Turn down the lights, grab your Halloween candy, and enjoy The Midnight Pacer, a completely fictional Marywood Halloween mystery!

Happy Halloween from Inside Marywood Health Sciences! 🎃

What does it really take to prepare the next generation of social workers?

In this episode of Inside Marywood Health Sciences, Samantha sits down with Dr. Michelle Ostroski, Assistant Professor and Director of MSW Field Education at Marywood University, to explore the important role field education plays in helping students make the transition from the classroom to professional practice.

Whether you're considering a career in social work, currently preparing for field education, or part of a community organization interested in mentoring future professionals, this conversation offers a look at how classroom learning becomes meaningful, hands-on experience.

This Week’s CHS Check-In

Before the conversation, we’re also catching up on what’s happening around the College of Health Sciences, including CHS faculty members moving with purpose through running, cycling, and fitness events; celebrating Physician Assistant Week and the PA Program’s commitment to community service through Laundry Love; and recognizing a Nursing student selected for the AICUP McLean Scholarship.

Connect with Marywood CHS

Follow Social Work at @marywooduniversityssw

Follow the College of Health Sciences on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @MarywoodUniversityCHS

Learn more about the College of Health Sciences: marywood.edu/healthsciences

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we learn, work, communicate, and interact with the world around us—but what can psychology teach us about navigating these changes?

In the first installment of our new Faculty Focus series, host Samantha Miko sits down with Dr. Randi Spiker, Assistant Professor in Marywood University’s Psychology and Counseling Department, to explore technology through the lens of human behavior and development.

Dr. Spiker’s research examines how technology—including generative AI—affects human development, health, and well-being, with a particular focus on adolescents and emerging adults. Her work also explores digital safety, technology-facilitated violence, and the ways our increasingly digital world shapes our experiences and relationships.

In this episode, Dr. Spiker discusses her journey into developmental science, common misconceptions surrounding AI, and the opportunities and concerns that come with emerging technology. She and Samantha also explore responsible AI use in education, where we might draw the line between AI supporting our thinking and replacing it, and why understanding ourselves may be just as important as understanding the technology itself.

Plus, Dr. Spiker shares insight into her own research, including work surrounding nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, well-being, digital safety, and technology-facilitated violence.

Learn More & Connect with Dr. Randi Spiker

🌐 Dr. Randi Spiker: randispiker.com 📱 DIVA Psych Lab on Instagram: @diva_psych_lab 📖 Book Chapter/Resource: Navigating Your PhD — navigatingyourphd.com

To learn more about Marywood University’s College of Health Sciences, visit marywood.edu/healthsciences.

Follow the College of Health Sciences on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @MarywoodUniversityCHS for new episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and the latest from around the College.

CHS Check-In:

-Mountain Top Counseling and the PA Play Therapy Association - October 3rd

-First Week of October is PA Week

-Psy.D Program Virtual Information Session - October 5th