The University of Nebraska Medical Centers School of Allied Health
Professions held its 2003 Student and Faculty Awards Ceremony and 16th
Annual Student Research Forum in May. The annual year in review was highlighted
by the announcement that Darwin Brown, instructor in Physicians 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.
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 Nebraskas 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.
On the other hand, the program was really about SAHP successes.
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 UNMCs students passed on their first attempt. In several
programs, 100 percent of UNMC passed while the national averages were 69
and 79 percent, respectively.
Two SAHP programs made the U.S. News and World Report list of best graduate
schools. The physicians assistance program was 14th out of 40 schools
and the physical therapy program was 33 out of 141.
Eight students won national scholarships 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. Other national
awards included the Outstanding Dietetic Student Award from the American
Dietetic Association and national deans list for Katie Wilson, Nutrition
Education; USAA All-American Scholar for Kaiti Roeder; and election 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 was recognized for her past years service as the Equity
and Opportunity Administrative Fellow for the Office of the President in
the University of Nebraska Central Administration. 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.
As Darwin 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,
thoroughness and facilitate unusually effective teaching. 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. 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.
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 Secretarys 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.
Adam 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 masters degree in health education.
Brown received $150 and 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 new record for participants.