SAHP shows its presidential qualities

Andrew Shaw	Darwin Brown

A big year continues for UNMC’s School of Allied Health Professions.

Not only will the school open the 2015-16 academic year as the newly-minted College of Allied Health Professions, but, for the first time simultaneously, the presidents of the faculty and student senates will come from allied health.

Second-year physical therapy student Andrew Shaw was elected president of the Student Senate and also will serve on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents as UNMC’s student regent. His one-year term began April 1.

Darwin Brown, assistant professor and clinical director of the physician assistant program, is president-elect of the Faculty Senate and also will serve as the faculty representative to the Board of Regents. His presidential term will run from June 2015 to June 2016.

“Faculty and student governance is a critical component of university life, and I applaud Prof. Brown and Mr. Shaw for their significant participation,” said SAHP senior associate dean Kyle Meyer, Ph.D. “I have no doubt they will provide exemplary leadership for their respective senates.”

Brown has been at UNMC since 1986.

Mike Huckabee, Ph.D., director of the PA program, said, “Darwin has a wealth of historical perspective from his years with UNMC, and he is gifted in listening well and carefully considering all sides of issues. We’re grateful to have his leadership and look forward to his navigation of the Faculty Senate during this significant era of health care reform.”

Shaw, meanwhile, is primarily interested in pursuing orthopedic and sports physical therapy after graduation. Originally from Lincoln, he received his bachelor’s of science degree in nutrition, exercise and health science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“I’m truly excited to take over in the President role for next year,” Shaw said. “My primary goals for the senate, at this point, would be to assist in refining IPE education (interprofessional education), increase the effectiveness of the utilization of technology and new teaching models, and aid in the formation of programs to acquire transferable skills.”