At Wayne State University, undergraduate students’ learning opportunities extend well beyond the classroom, allowing them to put knowledge “to work” in real-world settings. Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), students can connect with world-class faculty mentors to conduct, publish and present research and collaborate on interdisciplinary projects that broaden their horizons. Such opportunities are a critical part of Wayne State’s College to Career initiative.
Mark Grove II, a senior majoring in management at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, discovered his passion for sports medicine through a UROP project in the College of Education’s exercise physiology lab. Guided by his belief that "movement is medicine" and experience with exercise and health-focused habits during the pandemic, Grove joined a research study analyzing handgrip strength and well-being in college students.
The study, led by Tamara Hew-Butler, DPM, Ph.D., a podiatric physician and associate professor in the College of Education, provided Grove with hands-on research experience in lab techniques, safety, communication and scientific writing — all skills he’ll use as a health professional.
Grove contributed to the 10,000 Warriors Project, a first-of-its-kind study launched in 2019 to assess college students' overall health. Participants underwent screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, body composition, fitness, strength and mental health, building a baseline health database for Wayne State students. The assessment also included a handgrip test using a dynamometer to measure strength.
Handgrip strength is a widely accepted indicator of longevity, revealing factors like bone density and metabolic function through a simple squeeze. Hew-Butler and Grove’s findings reinforced that handgrip strength correlates with overall health.
“We’ve been able to get an accurate assessment on the overall health of the metro Detroit population, all the while tackling a public health issue in a novel way,” Grove said. “It's impactful to not only assess the participants, but to counsel them on what’s next and be a part of their journey to optimum health.”
Due in large part to this research experience, Grove is now considering a career in sports medicine, with aspirations to attend medical school.
“I’ve always been inclined towards health and wellness, but I never considered it as a career,” Grove said. “Now, I recognize how critical wellness and health education are. This project allowed me to learn as a researcher and educate others about the importance of their health.”
For Hew-Butler, it’s what College to Career is all about.
“This is the epitome of learning; it’s hands-on doing. It's creating knowledge from the research that you do that informs us,” said Hew-Butler. “It’s taking our students and having them create knowledge and interact with people, but also putt their skills to use. It's true learning.”
By Darlene A. White