NeRDS Media Kit

Lauren Brigolin, Gabby Roppo and Daniel Hart

Table of Contents:

2: .....................................Media Backgrounder
6: ................................................................FAQ
7: ............................................Logo and Tagline
8: ...............................Potential Feature Stories
9: .....................................................Media clips
10: ...........Photos of the Organization in Action















NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

Neuroscience Research Driven Students

Media Backgrounder
Press Contacts:
Gabby Roppo (425)-440-1322 gabby.roppo@gmail.com
Daniel Hart (206)-471-2625 hartd4@wwu.edu
Lauren Brigolin (425)-345-9064 brigoll@wwu.edu
OVERVIEW SECTION:
Neuroscience Research Driven Students, NeRDS, is an Associated Students club at Western
Washington University. The club accepts students from all majors who have an interest in the
study of neuroscience. NeRDS is a club intended for students are interested in furthering their
understanding of neuroscience in an exciting and encouraging atmosphere. The Assosciated
Students club was founded in 2007 and since then has reached nearly 100 members. The club
meets once each month in Academic Instructional Center West building, room 210. Jos Carillo
is the Lead Officer and Claire McHugh is the Budget Coordinator for the club.

orgync.com/43000/chapter
facebook.com/WWUNeRDS
wp.wwu.edu/bnsprogram/education/nerds-club

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

NeRDS general meeting and journal club are both held monthly. Journal Club
offers a place for students to practice reading scientific articles and developing
healthy critiquing skills.
This month, Oct. 2016, a group of NeRDS members will teach students about
neuroscience at Sehome and Squalicum High Schools.
On Westerns campus, NeRDS will participate in Westerns National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI) Stigma Stomp 5K and Mental Health Fair. The club will
also take part in Mix It Up, an informational event sponsored by Westerns science
clubs.
This year, NeRDS goal is to host or participate in at least one event every week.

KEY TERMS:

Neuroscience: is the study of how the nervous system develops, its structure, and what
it does. Neuroscientists focus on the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive
functions.
Neurologists: are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage disorders of the brain and
nervous system such as dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, epilepsy, migraine, ALS,
multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and stroke. [According to the
American Academy of Neurology]

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

NAMI: The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a nationwide grassroots advocacy

group, representing families and people affected by mental disorders in the United
States. Holds local events and often invites the NeRDS to participate.

FACTS:
At Western Washington University, according to the WWU Career Services Center Employment
for recent graduates survey, indicating the trend of WWU students and this particular career
path.
In the year 2009 2010
o 168 graduated in the psychology department.
o 5 were behavioral neuroscience majors
In the year 2013 20 14,
o 187 students graduated with a psychology major,
o 23 of those were behavioral neuroscience majors.
o 2 of those are continuing education
o 9 of those who responded found employment related to their field. (Career
Service Center 2016)
In the year 2014 2015
o 194 students gradated in the psychology department
o 12 of those were behavioral neuroscience majors. (Career Service Center 2016)
These trends show a decrease in the field of behavioral neuroscience by almost half.
Which will lead to further issues for the public when they are in need of neurological
care.
Neuroscientists earn approximately $58,450 in 1 4 years (Payscale 2016)
Statistics collected and provided by the American Academy of Neurology:
Demand for neurologic care is increasing:
Stroke is ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States. (American
Academy of Neurology, 2016)
Parkinsons disease affects 1 million Americans, with at least 60,000 new cases reported
annually. (American Academy of Neurology, 2016)
In 2008, migraine-related headaches were the first-listed diagnosis for over 3 million
emergency room visits in the United States (comprising 2.4 percent of all emergency
room visits) (American Academy of Neurology, 2016)
Neurologists provide best quality care for patients with neurologic disorders:
Stroke patients seen by a neurologist (5.6 percent) were less likely to die during
hospitalization than those seen by a non-neurologist (13.5 percent) (American Academy
of Neurology 2016)
The risk of one-year mortality for stroke patients who received neurology care was 77
percent of the risk for patients who did not. (American Academy of Neurology 2016)
Neurologic care limits unnecessary health care costs
Stroke patients treated by the department of neurology were discharged an average 16
days earlier (24 vs. 40 days) than patients treated in other medical departments.
(American Academy of Neurology 2016)
NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

We face a shortage of neurologists to treat an increasing number of neurologic patients:

The supply of neurologists will fall 20 percent below demand by 2020. (American
Academy of Neurology, 2016)
Nonprocedural specialties, like neurology, experience difficulties attracting US medical
students. (American Academy of Neurology, 2016)
US medical student and residents perceive neurology as the most difficult specialty.
(American Academy of Neurology, 2016)
Current health care regulations and policies favor procedural specialties over
nonprocedural specialties like neurology; e.g., between 2000 and 2008, Medicare
payments for procedural services grew by 84 percent, while payments for nonprocedural
services grew by 48 percent. (American Academy of Neurology 2016)
SHORT BIOS:
Jos Carillo Lead Officer
Jose became an active member of NeRDS, a club that pertained to his studies
while in college and actively researching studies of the brain and its behaviours.
Meeting new people with the same passion for neuroscience was something that
kept him excited about and involved with the club. Jos claims that being a
member of the club has further benefited his college education the experience
that NeRDS has provided him with will help him with his career in the medical
field.
Carrilj2@wwu.edu
(253)-344-9883
Mickey Leytze Public Relations Representative
Mickey joined NeRDS to meet people just as interested in neuroscience as her.
Mickey believes that by joining NeRDS, her understanding of neuroscience will
increase, along with her odds of doing well in the behavioral neuroscience major.
A great resume booster, Mickey is the club public relations representative.
Leytzem@wwu.edu
(360)-317-6906

BOILERPLATE:
Neuroscience Research Driven Students, NeRDS, was founded in 2007 as an Associated Club at
Western Washington University. This club is dedicated to educating people about neuroscience,
furthering research in the field, and supporting networking among neuroscience students.
NeRDS has close to 100 members and holds its general meeting monthly in Academic West 210.
The current club president is Jos Carrillo. More information can be found on Facebook by
searching WWU NeRDS.

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

SOURCES:
American Academy of Neurology. 2016. Compelling Statistics, Accessed October 6 2016.
https://www.aan.com/uploadedFiles/Website_Library_Assets/Documents/6.Public_Polic
y/1.Stay_Informed/4.Public_Policy_Resources/compell.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016. Death and Mortality Accessed October 6
2016. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm
NeRDS Facebook Page. 2016. Accessed October 6 2016. WWU NeRDS Facebook
NeRDS Orgsync Page. 2016. Accessed October 6 2016. https://orgsync.com/43000/chapter
NeRDS. 2016. Behavioral Neuroscience Program Accessed November 1 2016. WWU NeRDS
Club
Pay Scale. 2016. Bachelor of Science (BS / BSc), Neuroscience Degree Average Salary
Accessed November 1 2016.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_(BS_%2F_BSc),_
Neuroscience/Salary
WWU Career Services, 2016. Employment Status of Recent Graduates, Accessed October 6
2016. http://webtech.wwu.edu/careerservices/SearchBachelorStudent

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

Nerds Top Ten FAQ

Neuroscience Research Driven Students
1. Who are NeRDS?
We are Neuroscience Research Driven Students!
2. What does NeRDS do?
NeRDS want to educate people about neuroscience, further research in the field,
and support networking among neuroscience students!
3. Why should I get involved how does this impact me?
About 1 in 5 adults in the US experience mental illness in a given year. We want
you to find out how neuroscience can help address mental health and solve other
problems and then we want you to play a part!
4. How often does NeRDS meet?
We meet once a month in Academic Instructional Center West, room 210.
5. Do I have to be a Behavioral Neuroscience major, or have any prior
experience or knowledge of the field to join the club?
You do not have to be in the major to be in NeRDS! If you have that lovable gray
organ in your head and like talking about it, youre in!
6. What kind of events does NeRDS hold?
Journal Club offers a place for students to practice reading scientific articles and
developing healthy critiquing skills.
Community Outreach: this month, a group of NeRDS members will be teaching
students about neuroscience at Sehome and Squalicum High Schools.
On campus, NeRDS will be participating in Mix It Up, an event sponsored by
Westerns science clubs.
7. Wait; can you explain to me what neuroscience is? I think I know, but I am
not too sure.
Absolutely! According to Dictionary.com, neuroscience is the field of study
encompassing the various scientific disciplines dealing with the structure,
development, function, chemistry, pharmacology, and pathology of the nervous
system.
8. Will I need to pay any fees?
Nope! NeRDS is free for WWU students.
9. If I have more questions who can I contact?
You can reach Jos Carrillo, NeRDS lead officer, at carrilj2@wwu.edu or (253)
344-9883.
10. Im interested in joining how can I stay connected?
You can like our Facebook page for upcoming events, meetings, and other news
by searching WWU NeRDS or here is the link: http://bit.ly/2fmsByw
NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

Logo and tagline

NeRDS: Know your noggin!

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

Potential Feature Stories

WWU NERDS CLUB PROVIDES WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR

CHALLENGING SUBJECT
SOURCES: NeRDS Public Relations Representative Mickey Leytze leytzem@wwu.edu.
Ask Leytze if there is a particularly devoted or involved club member that would be interested in
speaking with you.
ART IDEA: Photo of said involved student working with fellow club members in Academic
Instructional Center West Room 210 at monthly meeting or photo of club members volunteering
at schools as a part of community outreach.
STORY IDEA: Neuroscience Research Driven Students partakes in once-monthly community
outreach at local schools. Interview a particular person that shines as a member of the club and
who finds community outreach beneficial to their education experience at Western. Also
interview a teacher or student from the classroom that the club member is volunteering in to get
the perspective of how the clubs community outreach is impactful.

DEMAND FOR NEUROLOGIST INCREASES, WHILE NUMBER OF EXPERTS

DECREASE
SOURCES: Mike J. Mana, Ph.D Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Academic
Instructional Center 598 (360) 650-7311 mike.mana@wwu.edu, Yuliya Rybalka, Program
Coordinator, BNS@wwu.edu,
ART IDEA: Graph of neurological demand and supply over the past few years.
STORY IDEA: The Neuroscience Research Driven Students are working to help people
understand the brain, shedding light on their interest and struggle and investigating why more
students are invested in choosing this specialty could shed some light on the situation and
looming future coming for us if more people dont learn.

NERDS CLUB PRESIDENT FINDS MULTIPLE MEANINGS IN

NEUROSCIENCE
SOURCES: Jos Carillo, NeRDS Lead Officer: Carrilj2@wwu.edu (253)-344-9883
ART IDEA: Photo of Jos interacting with other NeRDS members.
STORY IDEA: Jos has a great story, including working at Highline Colleges writing center
before coming to Western, finding people with similar passions for science in NeRDS, and
discovering connections to his future medical career.

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

NeRDS Media Clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0-ZQHFGnAM
o NeRDS clip begins at 6:12 as the video description explains.

http://www.westernfrontonline.com/2016/01/07/behavioral-neuroscience-crowdfundsfreezer/
o WWU NeRDS club is briefly mentioned in this Western Front article.

http://www.westernfrontonline.com/2015/04/03/an-evening-of-brains-and-brews/
o Another Western Front article mentioning the club.

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

Photos of the Organization in Action

All photos are available on WWU NeRDS Facebook page
Stigma Stomp:

Pictured: (left to right): Jos Carrillo, Rachel Gatlin and fellow NeRDS member

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

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NeRDS booth at Neuroscience on Tap at the Glow Nightclub:

Pictured: (left to right) Rachel Gatlin, Lauren Hoffmann and Mickey Leytze

NeRDS Media Kit

Nov. 22, 2016

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