Fuchs, Newland honored at SAHP awards program

Bob Fuchs with his wife, Linda Fuchs, left, daughter Theresa Fuchs and Mary Haven.

Mary Haven, retiring associate dean of UNMC’s School of Allied Health Professions, wouldn’t allow anything to upstage announcing SAHP’s two highest awards, so staff members waited until the 2005 SAHP Awards program was finished before honoring Haven with a bouquet of roses and commemorative plaque.

The 2005 Award for SAHP Teacher of the Year went to Robert Fuchs, assistant professor, physical therapy education. Fuchs is known as an “unsung hero” who always gives credit to others before taking a bow himself. He has provided instruction to students and practitioners from many disciplines in the classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. These include physical therapy students and practicing physical therapists, occupational therapy students, psychology students, medical students, social worker students, and members of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

James Newland, M.D., emeritus professor in the department of pathology/microbiology, received the 2005 Outstanding Service to the Allied Health Professions Award. Dr. Newland has been a teacher, mentor and friend of SAHP programs, faculty and students since 1974. He was medical director of the UNMC Medical Technology Program for more than 20 years and regularly lectured to physician assistant, clinical perfusion, cytotechnology, medical technology and radiologic science students. He also was known for his touch of humor in the classroom.

James Newland, M.D., with Mary Haven, right, and his wife, Myrna Newland, M.D., professor in the department of anesthesiology and director of gender equity, Office of the Chancellor.

The 18th Annual School of Allied Health Professions Research Forum – which features posters in research and education – preceded the SAHP Awards program. This year, 103 students created 77 posters.

There were 171 new allied health students admitted last August, including 141 from Nebraska.

Haven noted, that once again, SAHP graduates passed their board certification and licensure exams on the first test at a much higher rate than the national average. But, unlike the previous class, there wasn’t a 100 percent first-time pass rate for all programs. Three programs didn’t make the 100 percent mark this year and Haven reminded the audience that just because SAHP has a reputation for 100 percent pass rate, students must not get lax and fail to study adequately.

Two SAHP programs made the U.S. News and World Report on Best Graduate Schools — physician assistant education ranked 14th out of 40 and physical therapy education ranked 31 out of 141.

Mary Haven received a framed copy of her testimonial poem from Fran Higgins, left, Susan Miyeno, second right, administrator I, and Sue Prusia, accounting technician, SAHP health services administration division.

There were crucial site visits by national accrediting agencies for four SAHP programs during the past year – nuclear medicine technology education, physician assistant education, clinical perfusion education and clinical laboratory science/medical technology. All four were rated among the nation’s top programs. The first three programs already received maximum accreditation lengths of eight to 10 years and clinical laboratory science is expected to receive a similar extension.

“We are really proud of our accreditation review results,” Haven said. “Nuclear medicine was praised for the organizational skills it takes to run our program with all the affiliation sites. The PA program was cited for the experienced and stable faculty and especially the level of support received from the College of Medicine. They said our clinical perfusion program could be a national model for the future of clinical perfusion programs. The phrase ‘national model’ was also used with reference to our medical technology/clinical laboratory science program, especially in terms of the knowledge of the faculty and the Blackboard classes.”

Phyllis Muellenberg, center, with Linda Fell, left, associate program director, clinical laboratory science/medical technology, and Ellen Davis-Hall, Ph.D., associate professor, physician assistant education.

Guest speaker John Gollan, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, emphasized the value of research to the growth of SAHP and the unending need to acquire new knowledge on a daily basis.

“Research is absolutely critical to the development of UNMC as a world-class biomedical center,” Dr. Gollan said. “One type of research is the large NIH grants and the kind of financial support that builds big buildings and big labs like the Durham Research Center and The Lied Transplant Center. Then there is the research done by allied health. There is no fame and glory, as such, like the large million dollar grants, but your work is connected.

“We are doing extremely well. This year, for the first time, the College of Medicine will exceed $50 million in outside funding. I cannot stress enough how important it is for every school of allied health to pursue research. As individuals, each of you must make life a continuing search for new knowledge and fresh ideas.”

Tracy Wagaman, a 2005 graduate in nuclear medicine technology, finished third at the 2005 Nebraska Society of Radiologic Technologists student exhibit freestanding competition.

Haven noted that SAHP received $1.57 million in outside funding last year. She also singled out soon-to-retire Phyllis Muellenberg, program director of the clinical laboratory science education, for her career contribution of more than $2.5 million in grant funding for SAHP.

SAHP ended the year with a host of student and faculty awards. In addition to Fuchs and Dr. Newland, eight SAHP students won national scholarships. Mark Christiansen, assistant professor of physician assistant education, was named Physician Assistant of the Year by his Nebraska professional association and Carol Larson received the Filter Award, the state’s highest award for clinical laboratory scientists.

In addition, two new memorial scholarship funds were announced — the Frances Brinkman Memorial Scholarship and the Laurie M. Schaefer Memorial Scholarship. Mrs. Brinkman was the mother of Diane Landon, program coordinator, physician assistant education. The Brinkman scholarship will be awarded to qualifying students in the PA program.

2005 radiography graduate Christina Araujo with her poster on Crohn’s Disease.

Schaefer was a student in the nuclear medicine technology education program when she was killed in a car accident on Jan. 3, 2004. She would have been in the 2005 graduating class. Her scholarship will be awarded first to a Pius X High School graduate who enrolls in nuclear medicine technology, or any other Pius X student who enrolls at UNMC.

Along with flowers and plaque, Haven, who has been associate dean of SAHP for 10 years, also received a tribute poem, “The Strength of Allied Health Professions at UNMC,” written by Fran Higgins, Haven’s staff assistant. Each line starts with a letter to Haven’s name.

Mary Clare Haven is a an awesome Achiever,
Always smiling, she makes you a believer
Regarding the greatness of allied health. A Learner?
Yes! Books are her passion, but even a page-turner
Can’t keep her from graphing our stats. Her invaluable Input
Has saved programs from folding. We never know when, but
“Ach tu lieber” always announces her Futuristic
Vision sensing trouble afoot…intuitive as a mystic!
Even outsiders don’t miss her Significance, and
No one in allied health doubts Mary’s magnificence!