Clinical Nutrition grad receives Schermerhorn award
By Lin Lofley
Lilian Nwora, a December 2015 graduate of the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions’ Master of Clinical Nutrition program, has received the 2015 Student Service Award in Honor of Dr. John W. Schermerhorn.
Ms. Nwora, now working at Endocrine Associates of Dallas, specializes in diabetes care, and plans to continue the community outreach efforts that have been a part of her life since her days as a Rice University undergraduate.
She admitted that she didn’t specifically know why she was selected for the Schermerhorn Award, but said “I tried to engage in activities beyond the School of Health Professions during my time on campus, and there was no shortage of opportunities to do that.”
Lona Sandon, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition, said, “Lilian has a caring and kindhearted attitude toward others less fortunate than herself, and a desire to find a way to help while selflessly giving of her personal time. This award was made for people like her.”
Ms. Nwora held only elementary Spanish proficiency levels when she arrived at UT Southwestern, but that has changed. Early on, she became involved with an SMU student leading a small health fair. At that event she taught a nutrition class for members of the Dallas community at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, where most of the people who participated were Spanish-speakers.
“At that point,” she said, “I realized that if you’re going to claim to help as many people as you can, then you need the language skills – especially with a population that will, at some point in the future, be the largest group in Texas.”
So Ms. Nwora added to her student load the Spanish-language components. And she began to travel, seeking to help people in those areas. Before graduating, she had been on medical mission and/or service trips to Guatemala, Argentina, and Costa Rica, and to El Paso during both spring break sessions.
She also led a campuswide food drive, organized and provided a free six-week African heritage cooking class to UT Southwestern students, faculty and staff as part of her research; and served as a booth coordinator during United to Serve, the student-led health fair held each year at the nearby T.J. Rusk Middle School.
Ms. Nwora earned her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at Rice University, where she ran middle-distances on the track team. As a junior, she was honored by Conference USA, the athletic conference in which Rice competes, with the league’s Spirit of Service Award.
“The Schermerhorn award focuses largely on service,” said Ms. Sandon. “From the start, Lilian sought opportunities to serve the community and get involved in activities outside of academics. She sees the benefit of taking nutrition education and therapy beyond the walls of the clinic and into the community to people who otherwise might not have access to such an important piece of maintaining health.”
The award is named for Dr. John Schermerhorn, who served as Dean of the School of Health Professions – then known as the UT Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School – from 1971 to 1986. He died in 2008.
