The UNMC School of Allied Health Professions held its 2003 Student and Faculty Awards Ceremony and 16th Annual Student Research Forum last month. The annual year in review was highlighted by the announcement that Darwin Brown, instructor in Physician Assistant Program, received the 2003 Teacher of the Year Award, and Adam Stevens, coordinator of CT/MRI education in the radiation science technology division, received the 2003 Outstanding Service to the Allied Health Professions Award.
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From left, Adam Stevens, Mary Haven and Darwin Brown. |
“This is a good time to be an allied health student because the health-care workforce is facing shortages – salaries are increasing and many positions are available,” said Mary Haven, associate dean of SAHP.
“A recent survey of Nebraska’s needs in the allied health professions showed shortages in both rural and urban Nebraska in every allied health specialty we educate at UNMC. The highest shortages are for nuclear medicine technologists (21 percent) and diagnostic medical ultrasonographer and radiographer (14 percent), followed by slightly lower shortages in cytotechnology, radiation therapy and physicians assistant.
“In response to these shortages, we have increased the class size of the radiation sciences by 50 percent for the incoming class, as well as increased access through distance learning courses in medical technology and cytotechnology. In addition, next year we will expand distance learning courses to Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois in medical technology and cytotechnology.”
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Many SAHP successes were celebrated during the May program. Once again, all allied health students passed their board, certification and licensure exams at a much higher rate than the national average – 97 to 100 percent of UNMC’s students passed on their first attempt. In several programs, 100 percent of UNMC passed while the national averages were between 69 and 79 percent.
Two SAHP programs made the U.S. News and World Report list of best graduate schools. The physician assistance program was 14th out of 40 schools and the physical therapy program was 33 out of 141.
Eight students won national scholarships. Those students included Kylie Woods, Kellie Merrigan, Martin McCann, Lee Steffen, Karen Witherspoon, and Tianyu Yang from the clinical perfusion program, Rachael Eller from the medical nutrition program and Brandie Dahlberg from the medical technology program. SAHP students earned several other national awards. Katie Wilson of the Nutrition Education Program earned the Outstanding Dietetic Student Award from the American Dietetic Association and was named to the national dean’s list; Kaiti Roeder was named a USAA All-American Scholar; and Amy Meeks was elected as director of Internal Affairs for the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants for Amy Meeks. Robert Beery and Jessi Maxwell won awards for their essays at the Chicago Area Radiation Therapist Symposium.
Ellen Davis-Hall, Ph.D., was recognized for her past year’s service as the Equity and Opportunity Administrative Fellow for University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D. Jim Temme, associate professor and interim associate director of the radiation science technology division, and executive committee member of the Alpha Eta Allied Health Professions National Honor Society, inducted four students into the UNMC chapter of the Alpha Eta Society – Brandi Dahlberg and Tracie Marie Gray, Medical Technology; Sandra Baldwin, Nuclear Medicine; and Jennifer Gasseling, Radiography.
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Jim Temme inducts Brandi Dahlberg, a medical technology student, into the Alpha Eta Allied Health Professions National Honor Society. |
As Brown received the Outstanding Teacher Award, his approach to teaching was described by Haven as organized, informal, infused with a sense of humor, enthusiastic, focused, clinically relevant, complete and very clear. His methods promote inquiry, openness, clarity, understanding and thoroughness, Haven said. He is concerned that students not only grasp the material, but that they apply it to the real world and anticipate its need in their practice, Haven said. He raises the bar and tries to know each student on a personal level. He can be tough on them at times, but students know that he is dedicated to their success and they appreciate it, Haven said.
In addition, Brown continues to develop himself professionally. He is the chairperson of the American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference Education Program Committee through 2005. He recently completed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship – a coveted and prestigious fellowship for healthcare providers. He also is pursuing his masters degree in public health from the UNO/UNMC combined MPH program.
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Lindsay Kammann, left, and Candice Dziowgo, both of the radiation science technology division, with their poster detailing their research into craniosynostosis. |
Stevens, the recipient of the Outstanding Service to the Allied Health Professions Award, devotes considerable time and effort to the CT/MRI program throughout the year, Haven said. He is always willing to assist in case studies or preparing digital images for student research posters and or answering any student questions. He continues to be involved in patient care, keeping pace with advances in technology and providing an example for his students and developing innovative methods of clinical instruction along the way. Stevens is active in a number of professional organizations at the state, national and international level. In addition, he is pursuing a master’s degree in health education.
Brown received $150 and a plaque for his award. Stevens received a plaque and, for five years, a $500 scholarship in his name will be awarded to an allied health student each year. In addition, his name will be added to a plaque kept in the library.
There were 150 students involved in the 66 posters submitted to the Student Research Forum – a record for participants.