JONATHON ZIMMER SCHUCH, M.Eng., P.E.
Click Here for PDF Copy of My Curriculum Vitae
ADDRESS:
(434) 989-2065
EDUCATION:
Master of Engineering, Biomedical
Engineering,
Bachelor of Science, Biological
Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1981. Graduated with honors.
EMPLOYMENT:
July, 2012 - March, 2021
Director
of Occupational Health and Wellness
Responsible for merging Employee Health, the Employee
Same Day Clinic, and UVA-WorkMed into one business unit within the Health
System. Assess business operations and pursue strategies to improve quality,
customer satisfaction, and efficiency. Implement programs to improve employee
safety and to meet CMS, OSHA, and Accreditation Organization regulations and
standards. Take action to expand UVA's market share in employee wellness and
occupational health services. Continue to manage and oversee the delivery
of rehabilitation engineering services.
September, 2007 – July, 2012
Director,
Rehabilitative Services and UVA-WorkMed
Responsible for the strategic planning, program
development, and operational management of the Occupational Therapy, Physical
Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Rehabilitation Engineering, and UVA-WorkMed
programs within the Health System.
Develop and oversee budgets that exceed $6 million dollars. Oversee programs that employ more than 80
employees. Oversee clinical research and
grant funded activities performed by rehabilitation, occupational-medicine, and
health/wellness clinicians.
November, 2004 – September, 2007
Manager,
UVA-WorkMed
Responsible for the management and development of
a comprehensive occupational health and medicine program at the
December, 1989 - November, 2004
Manager,
Rehabilitation Engineering Services
Responsible for the establishment, management and
ongoing development of a free-standing rehabilitation engineering program
within the
June, 1985 - December, 1989
Rehabilitation Engineer, Department
of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
Established a nationally recognized wheelchair
seating program within the Division of Prosthetics and Orthotics. Developed and implemented strategies to
maximize the program’s clinical effectiveness and financial strength. Provided clinical education and supervision
to graduate biomedical engineers enrolled in the University’s federally-funded
Rehabilitation Engineering Training Program.
Participated in the clinical evaluation and refinement of new products
developed by the
June, 1983 – June, 1985
Director, Rehabilitation Engineering
Services
One of only two service-oriented rehabilitation
engineers employed at that time by the
ACADEMIC
APPOINTMENTS
2002-2021 Assistant Professor of Medical Education,
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University
of Virginia
1992-2000 Assistant Professor of Medical Education,
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
1989-1992 Instructor,
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
1985-1989
Instructor, Department of Orthopaedics
and Rehabilitation,
SELECT
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 Significant contributor to the University of Virginia’s response to COVID-19 to minimize the spread of infection among faculty, staff, students and patients. Implemented procedures for managing and testing symptomatic employees, evaluating employee exposures, addressing confirmed positive employees, and vaccinating 15,000 employees with Pfizer and Moderna vaccine under Emergency Use Authorization. In addition, facilitated Respiratory Fit Testing for the University and community health providers.
2019 As an outcome of a focused employee safety initiative within the University of Virginia Health System, helped lead a 26% reduction in OSHA reportable sharps injuries, a 15% reduction in OSHA reportable trip/fall injuries, and a 34% reduction in OSHA reportable patient handling injuries over a two year period.
2019 Co-led the implementation of a University of Virginia Health System policy to improve employee immunity to measles and pertussis diseases. Improved immunity of more than 11,000 employees from a baseline of 70% to 99% over a six month period. Current effort focusing on improving immunity for a broader set of 7,000 University employees.
2017 Trained as a “Lean Practitioner” within the University of Virginia Health System to support the Lean Management initiative of the Health System.
2016 Assigned a lead role in overseeing employee safety within the University of Virginia Health System. Charged with reducing injuries by 15% in first year and OSHA-reportable injuries by 25% in the second year. Formalizing the process by which injuries and unsafe conditions are reported, root causes are analyzed, and interventions are implemented. Focusing on reducing injuries related to patient handling, sharps injuries, blood and body fluid exposures, and falls.
2015 -
present In collaboration with the University Physicians Group (UPG) and U.S Preventative Medicine, assisted in the development and implementation of an employer wellness program. Managed the development and implementation of a comprehensive biometric screening program that resulted in the screening of the majority of UPG employees.
2011-2017
2009 Responsible for the development and implementation
of a physician occupational health surveillance program at UVA. Monitor the
compliance of more than 900 licensed independent practitioners in their participation
in annual surveillance to monitor 8 infectious disease elements.
1995-2009 Developed and implemented a rehabilitation engineering
service contract with the Piedmont Regional Educational Program, a private
non-profit corporation that provides assistive technology services to six
school districts in Central Virginia.
2006 Consultant with the
1999-2001 Reviewer, RESNA 2001 Student Scientific Paper Competition.
2000 Registered
Professional Engineer, having successfully passed, on first attempt, the Principles
and Practices of Engineering exam.
1998-99 Developed a one-day educational course entitled
“Practical Approaches to Seating and Positioning” for clinicians who provide
services to individuals with disabilities. Delivered the training throughout the
1997 Elected to the Professional Advisory
Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of
1997 Co-authored
a $50,000 contract from the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
to provide management and technical support of the Department’s statewide
rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology programs.
1996 Co-author of the
1996 Co-author of CARTE, The Center for Assistive
and Rehabilitation Technology Training and Evaluation, a one-year project
funded by the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services to increase the
availability of assistive technology evaluation services in Central Virginia.
Served as Training Coordinator for the Center.
Amount of award: $125,000.
1996 Collaborated in the design of an automatic
braking system for manual wheelchairs. This design has been submitted to the
1996 Designed the front-latch subasis bar
hardware and small-diameter subasis bar. Collaborated
with Metalcraft Industries, a manufacturer of assistive technologies, in the
technology transfer process which resulted in the commercialization of these
products.
1995-96 Co-author of the RESNA document "Guidelines
for Advanced Curriculum Development for Seating and Mobility Assistive Technology
Practitioners". This work was
supported by a grant from NIDRR.
1995-96 As an activity of the Virginia Rehabilitation
Technology Training Project, developed and delivered twenty high-level seminars
focusing on the state-of-the-art in clinical and research practices within
the rehabilitation technology arena. Areas of focus included: specialized seating
and positioning; mobility; augmentative and alternative communication; technology
for personal vehicle transportation; robotics applications; assistive technology
for older adults; computer applications and adaptations; human factors engineering;
and, exemplary service models. Subject matter was delivered by nationally-recognized
clinical and research leaders to an audiences made up of professionals from
a variety of backgrounds.
1994 Author of the
1994 Assisted the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative
Services in the development of a statewide counselor training program focusing
on assistive and rehabilitation technology training. Training modules were developed for virtually
every aspect of technology. Chosen
as one of the trainers for delivering the module on Seating and Mobility.
1993-94 Developed and managed a $70,000 contract with
the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services to provide management support
to the Department's rehabilitation engineering program. Developed a CQI Plan and a Technical Supervision
Plan for the Department.
1991-94 Reviewer of Scientific Papers submitted to RESNA
for presentation at the 1992-1995 Annual RESNA Conferences and publication
in the Conference Proceedings.
1983-96 Trained and supervised 35 graduate biomedical
and rehabilitation engineers enrolled in the University of Virginia's federally-funded
Rehabilitation Engineering Training Program
1989 Co-authored the
1988 Developed new strategies to improve the
fit and function of the Contour U seating system manufactured by Pin Dot Products.
Collaborated with the manufacturer to transfer these strategies to
a commercial domain. These strategies continue to be used.
1986-88 As an invited speaker, presented rehabilitation
engineering services at the
1985-91 Professional staff member of the RSA‑funded
Rehabilitation Engineering Training Program and of the NIDRR‑funded
Rehabilitation Engineering Center on Seating and Wheelchair Design.
1985 Established the Commonwealth's first
comprehensive wheelchair seating program. This program quickly earned a national reputation
for its ability to successfully solve complex seating problems.
1984 Provided the technical lead in a three
day study of the feasibility of rehabilitation engineering technologies applied
in a total care facility at the Richfield Retirement Communities in
1984 Awarded $15,000 contract from
1984 Authored a proposal to establish the
nation's first mobile rehabilitation engineering laboratory. Received $50,000
grant from the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Human Resources for this
project. Successfully developed the
mobile laboratory that same year.
SELECT LECTURES
2021 “Legal and Safety Aspects of Transporting Passengers with Mobility Impairments in Motor Vehicles.” Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Retreat. Co-Presenter with Elizabeth Ufkes, Esq.
2018 “Influency of Respirator Change Following Annual Respirator Fit Testing at an Academic Medical Center." Poster Presentation, IDWeek 2018 Conference. (Co-author)
2017 “Characteristics of Health Care Workers
That Decline Influenza Vaccination for Varying Reasons." Poster Presentation,
IDWeek 2017 Conference.
2006 “Solving Difficult Seating Cases Associated
with Neuromuscular Disease.” 12th Annual Conference: Management
Strategies For Motor Impairments In Children With Neuromuscular Conditions.
Co-Presenter with Alan Donaldson, OTR/L, ATP
2004 “Complex Seating For the Involved Patient.”
Kluge Children’s Rehabilitation Center Grand Rounds. Co-Presenter
1995-98 “Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering.”
A three-hour credit graduate biomedical engineering course taught at the
1996 "Meeting the Seating Needs for Individuals
with Spinal Cord Injury." Management of the Patient with Spinal Cord
Injury, New Challenges - New Approaches to Recurring Problems in Spinal Cord
Injury Care, The Ninth Annual Advanced Conference for Health Professionals,
1996 "Liability and Warranty - What are
the Risks to the Users and Vendors." Tri-State Assistive Technology Conference,
1996 "Developing a Model Community-Based
Assistive Technology Evaluation Service Delivery System." Tri-State Assistive
Technology Conference,
1996 "Exemplary Service Models and Approaches."
A two-day workshop focusing on model programs and approaches to delivering
assistive technology services, Fishersville, Virginia (co-presenter).
1995 "Wheelchair Seating and Positioning:
Improving your Services From Assessment through Follow Up." A two-day
seminar focusing on state-of-the-art in clinical and research practices, delivered
as an activity of the Virginia Rehabilitation Technology Training Project,
1992 "Fundamentals of Seating."
A one‑day workshop on seating principles and applications for physical
and occupational therapists.
1991 "Funding and Reimbursement Issues
for Assistive Technologies." 2nd Mid‑Atlantic Regional Conference
on Rehabilitation Engineering,
1990 "Options in Custom Seating For Solving
Difficult Seating Problems." 1st Mid‑Atlantic Regional Conference
on Rehabilitation Engineering,
1989 "Sit Right." A two‑day
workshop on seating principles and applications for
1988 "Design for Success." A two‑day
workshop on effective design of assistive devices for
1988 "Custom Seating at the
1987 "Custom Seating at the
1987 "Options in Customized Seating For
Severely‑Involved Residents." A multiweek training symposium on
the selection; fabrication; and fitting of customized seating for residents
at
1987 "Rehabilitation Engineering at the
1986 "Seating Fundamentals and Applications."
A one‑day workshop for the Richmond Pediatric Interest Group,
1986 "Customized Seating for Persons
with Head Injuries, Principles and Applications.”
1985 "Rehabilitation Engineering at WWRC."
1984 "Rehabilitation Engineering at WWRC."
1984 "Rehabilitation Engineering at WWRC."
National Rehabilitation Association, Annual Conference on Rehabilitation,
1984 "Worksite Modification for Effective
Job Placement." West Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation,
Conference on Employment of Persons With Disabilities,
1983 "Rehabilitation Engineering Applications
for Persons with Cerebral Palsy." United Cerebral Palsy Association,
Maryland District, Conference on Rehabilitation Technologies,
2022 Eby, JC, et al. Influence of critically appraising exemption requests from healthcare personnel along a spectrum of influenza vaccine hesitancy. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1-7. doi:10.1017/ice.2021.513
2007 Farrell WJ, et al. Comparison of Pressure-Relieving Characteristics
of Mattress Overlays and Head Supports Used In Pediatric Intensive Care Settings.
Proceedings of the WOW 2007 National Conference on Advanced Care.
2000 Schuch J, Donaldson A, and Baumgartner
P. Carving a Niche. Rehab Management. 2000; 13(6):84-90.
1996 Schuch J, Breeden B. Managing the Legal
Liabilities and Risks Inherent in the Delivery of Assistive and Rehabilitation
Technology Services and Devices. Proceedings of the RESNA 1996 Annual Conference.
1996;16:26-28.
1996 Schuch J. "Quality Assessment and
Improvement Within the
1995 Schuch J, Pelegano JP. Development of
a Bed Overlay to Control Extensor Tone, Improve Respiration, and Reduce Mattress
Interface Pressures. Proceedings of the RESNA 1995 Annual Conference. 1995;
5:5-7.
1995 Hughlett NS, Schuch J. Development of
a Car Safety Restraint for Children who Escape Commercial Systems. Proceedings
of the RESNA 1995 Annual Conference. 1995;15:11-13.
1994 Schuch J, Margolis SA.. Modifying the
Subasis Bar to Enhance its Performance. Proceedings of the RESNA 1994 Annual
Conference. 1994;14:284-286.
1994 Hughlett NS, et al. Modifying Commercially-Available
Walkers to Meet Individual Needs. Proceedings of the RESNA 1994 Annual Conference.
1994;14:28-31.
1993 Sprigle S, Schuch J. Using Seat Contour
Measurements During Seating Evaluations of Individuals with SCI. Assistive
Technology. 1993;5(1):24-35.
1992 Smith J, et al. Prosthetic Management
of Hemicorporectomy Patients: New Approaches. Archives of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation. 1992;73(5):493-497.
1990 Schuch J, Sprigle S. Using Seat Contour
Measurements as an Evaluation and Prescription Tool for Seating SCI Persons.
Proceedings of the Sixth International Seating Symposium. 1990;6: 24-28.
1989 Cross L, et al. Multidisciplinary Approach to the Rehabilitation
of a Hemicorporectomy Patient. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting
and Scientific Symposium of the
1988 Schuch J. Flexible Joint Pipe: An Orthotic/Prosthetic
Tool. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Rehabilitation
Technology. 1988;3:110-111.
1986 Hope RC, et al. Multidisciplinary Approach
To Rehabilitation. Thirteenth Institute on Rehabilitation Issues.
1985 Law D, Schuch, J. The Nation's First
1985 English J, Knorr K, and Schuch J. Rehabilitation
Engineering Technology Applied in a Total Care Facility: A Feasibility Study.
Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Conference on Rehabilitation Technology.
1985;5:148-151.
1984 Schuch J, and Law D. REACH: An Innovative
Approach To Service Delivery for Rural Rehabilitation. Proceedings of the
First International Conference of Rural Rehabilitation Technologies. 1984;1:136-142.
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