UNT Health Division of Academic Innovation

03/26/2026

We’re celebrating one of our own! Congratulations to Ana Rodriquez on being named a 40 Under 40 award recipient by the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions.

This award recognizes the next generation of leaders transforming healthcare education — and Ana is doing just that.

In her role, Ana is constantly finding new ways to improve how healthcare professionals learn, collaborate and grow. From streamlining processes that better serve learners to helping develop programs that promote compassionate, evidence-based care, her work is making a real difference.

She’s also a strong advocate for interprofessional collaboration and inclusive learning — ensuring every voice is represented and every learner feels seen and supported.

Behind every project is someone who leads with heart, resilience and a genuine desire to improve care for others.

We are so proud of you, Ana!

03/12/2026

April 24, 2026 is not far away. By that date, public entities must ensure digital content complies with updated ADA Title II regulations and WCAG 2.1 standards.

For many organizations, the question is no longer if compliance is required — it’s whether teams have the applied skills to meet it.

UNT Health Fort Worth is offering a new, eight-week, online microcredential that provides hands-on training to help professionals build practical skills and strengthen digital accessibility and organizational compliance.

The first of three 2026 cohorts begins March 16.

Enroll at this link now: https://learningplus.unthsc.edu/courses/creating-and-remediating-digital-content-for-accessibility-dev

The deadline is coming. The time to build expertise is now.

Together, we're building a more digitally accessible world, one course, one learner at a time.

02/27/2026

Help us celebrate a special milestone — Jiaqi Yu, Ph.D. is marking five fantastic years with DAI! 🎉 Jiaqi, your passion, creativity, and curiosity inspire us every day. We’re so grateful to have you on the team and can’t wait to see all the great things ahead.

Check out this video to hear about Jiaqi’s journey and what she’s looking forward to next!

02/18/2026

How do spiritual beliefs shape medical decisions—and how should clinicians respond?

Healthcare in a Civil Society 2026

Caring for the Whole Patient: The Interplay of Spirituality & the Delivery of Care

Join the conversation Feb 21 from 8:30-1:00. Registration is .

02/04/2026

DAI is honored to earn the first Sustainability Office Certification at UNT Health Fort Worth.

Congratulations to the Division of Academic Innovation for earning our first and highest Sustainable Office Certification (SOC)! They excel in providing reusables inthe breakroom, communicating efforts with staff, and providing a connection to nature. If your UNT Health office is interested in participating, email us at sustainability@unthealth.edu.

02/02/2026

We’re so proud of our colleagues, Vivian Seki and Cindy Edwards, for becoming published authors! Their passion for digital accessibility shines through in chapter 11 of "Advancing Accessibility: Practical Strategies for Instructional Designers and Educators," an open educational resource (OER) book published by EdTech Books.

The timing couldn’t be better, as institutions prepare for the ADA Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule compliance deadline on April 24, 2026.

Read the book here: https://bit.ly/4qJf6tU

Beyond the book, Vivian and Cindy have also led the development of a digital accessibility matrix, gathering feedback from multiple communities along the way. And they’re not done yet. Something new is coming soon…let’s just say it may involve a digital badge. No more hints!

Learn more about Open Educational Resources (OER): https://bit.ly/3ZFGixE

01/25/2026

Open to healthcare providers and the community. Register today.

How do spiritual beliefs shape medical decisions—and how should clinicians respond?

Healthcare in a Civil Society 2026

Caring for the Whole Patient: The Interplay of Spirituality & the Delivery of Care

Join the conversation Feb 21 from 8:30-1:00. Registration is .

01/23/2026

Check out this video to hear what our team and clients have to say about our CE Team. Behind every skilled healthcare provider is a team of dedicated continuing education professionals. Today, Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day™, we celebrate the creativity, expertise and commitment of our remarkable team and all that they do to impact the healthcare workforce and health and well-being of communities.

Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions

https://bit.ly/4jXqbVL

01/23/2026

Join us in celebrating our amazing CE Team on Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day! CE professionals play a vital role in keeping healthcare teams informed and prepared. Give a shout out to our award-winning crew for all that they do! Here's to lifelong learning and the pursuit of excellence in patient care!

Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions

11/13/2025

What does your sleep say about your health?

In a new joint episode of the UNT Health College of Health Professions Life Pods and Vivos Therapeutics’ If Your Mouth Could Talk podcasts, host John McKenzie talks with three experts about how breathing, nutrition and lifestyle shape our sleep — and our overall health.

- Dr. Bahar Esmaili, DDS, vice president of clinical innovation at Vivos Therapeutics
- Robin Kovacs, MS, RDN, LD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition
- Cynthia Powell, MS, NBC-HWC, assistant professor and engagement ambassador

Together, they connect medicine, dentistry, nutrition and coaching to help people breathe better, sleep deeper and live well.

Check out the podcast episode here: https://bit.ly/4qSFAK9

Sleep isn’t just rest — it’s a mirror of our whole health. In this special joint episode of the UNT Health College of Health Professions Life Pods and Vivos ...

11/11/2025

Honoring Our Veterans at UNT Health Fort Worth 🇺🇸

Today, we honor the service and dedication of all who have served — and we’re especially proud to recognize two of our own: Juli James and M.D. Taylor, MBA.

(Left) Instructional designer Juli James stands on an airfield in Würzburg, Germany, as part of the 1st Infantry Division, where she served as a U.S. Army broadcaster from 1997 to 2000. She was deployed to Macedonia and Kosovo during that time and describes this photo as “back in the dark ages when broadcasters carried around 20-lb Betacams and shot video on something called video tape.”

(Right) Instructional designer M.D. Taylor, MBA, is a retired E-8 MSG Master Sergeant who served 23 years across multiple stations. When asked what the military has brought to his life and work, he said, “structure and vision.” Marcus, we see that every day.

We are grateful for your service and for the unique perspectives you bring to our UNT Health Fort Worth community.

11/06/2025

It’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and James L. West Center for Dementia Care and UNT Health Fort Worth have partnered to support the professionals who care for those living with dementia. Check out this story in Fort Worth Business Press https://bit.ly/47K6VFt.

Together, through the James L. West Dementia-IQ program, we’ve created the Dementia Care Specialist program, a free, self-paced course that helps caregivers and healthcare workers build new skills, grow in confidence and lead with compassion.

Learn more about this program at this link:
jameslwest.org/training-healthcare-professionals or enroll directly here: https://ce.unthsc.edu/content/james-l-west-center-dementia-care-2025-2027-understanding-alzheimers-diseases-and-related

In a world where technology is rapidly reshaping careers and opportunities, there is one field that remains deeply human at its core: caring for those who live