Five CAHP faculty honored with statewide awards

Five UNMC College of Allied Health Professions faculty have received prestigious honors from their statewide professional organizations.

"I am grateful for these outstanding faculty, who also happen to all be UNMC alums," said Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the college of allied health professions. "The awards from their respective state associations are well deserved recognition for their significant contributions to advancing their respective professions."

The Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants recently named Mark Aksamit, assistant professor of medical sciences, physician assistant education, PA of the Year. Aksamit is a lauded teacher in both didactic and clinical aspects of PA education. He practices at Nebraska Medicine in psychiatry and was recognized for designing, implementing and leading a psychiatry rotation for PA students. His robust experience in a multitude of psychiatric subspecialties allows students to gain hands-on experience with a wide range of mental health diagnoses and patient care settings.

Betsy Becker, DPT, PhD, chair of the department of health and rehabilitation sciences, was awarded the Mary Ellen Sacksteder Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Physical Therapy by the American Physical Therapy Association-Nebraska chapter. This is APTA-Nebraska’s highest honor, going to a member who "demonstrates substantial evidence of major contributions across multiple areas of professional practice, service and other achievements to include patient care, administration, consultation, education, research, leadership in professional organizations, and other service."

APTA-Nebraska also honored Kellie Gossman, DPT, assistant professor of physical therapy education, with its Nebraska Achievement in Education Award.

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science-Nebraska (ASCLS-NE) recently honored Karen Honeycutt, PhD, with its Filter Award. Dr. Honeycutt is medical laboratory science (MLS) program director and chair of the department of allied health education, research and practice. Dr. Honeycutt was recognized for her encouragement of faculty and students to join ASCLS and be active in the society. Additionally, she has served in leadership roles to advocate for and promote the work done by MLS professionals.  

Kevin McGuire, MLS assistant professor and chemistry coordinator, received the ASCLS-NE Shirley Noble Award, which recognizes an ASCLS-NE member who actively promotes the laboratory profession and who has acted as a positive role model and mentor just as its namesake Shirley Noble did.