UNMC School of Allied Health Professions Held 2003 Faculty and Student Awards Ceremony

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.