Dr. Jon Williamson joins award-winning health professions students (from left) Kaitlyn Nolan (Physical Therapy), Emily Littrell (Prosthetics-Orthotics), Laura Jeffrey (Rehabilitation Counseling), and Kathy Chung (Physician Assistant Studies).

By Lin Lofley

The UT Southwestern School of Health Professions met recently to hand out awards, prizes, and recognition. Students, faculty, and staff took part in the 3rd annual event at the Excellence in Education Foundation Auditorium on the North Campus, with four students earning major awards.

The recognized students were Emily Littrell (Prosthetics-Orthotics), winner of the Raul Caetano, M.D. Student Research Award; Kaitlyn Nolan (Physical Therapy), Gordon Green, M.D. Student Clinical Award; Kathy Chung (Physician Assistant Studies), L. Ruth Guy, M.D. Student Leadership Award; and Laura Jeffrey (Rehabilitation Counseling), John M. Schermerhorn, M.D. Student Service Award.

“While all of our students are exceptional, there are a handful who find time to excel in research, clinic, leadership, and service,” said Dr. Kim Hoggatt Krumwiede, Associate Dean of the School of Health Professions, and Associate Professor of Health Care Sciences – Education and Research. “This ceremony provides us an opportunity to acknowledge and reward these students before they venture out and become leaders in their respective fields.”

The Alpha Eta Honor Society, the national organization for the health professions, inducted 23 students and two faculty members:

Student inductees, by program, were:

• Clinical Nutrition – Mayah Brand, Patricia Gallagher, Hallie Kaplan;
• Rehabilitation Counseling – Katherine Prindville, Katherine Rial;
• Physician Assistant Studies – Michelle Ehart, Joanna Gerber, Paul Gonzales, Molly L. Hammond, Kendall Roberts, Jennifer Sperlich;
• Prosthetics and Orthotics – Thomas Brock, Ms. Littrell, Zachary Smith;
• Physical Therapy – Maggie Bates, Matthew Boyd, Sara Cleveland, Ms. Nolan, Rachel Sloan, Brooke Wilson, Kelly Wright;
• Radiation Therapy – Haley Estep, Marlene Gonzales Martinez.

Faculty Alpha Eta awards were presented to Carolyn Bradley-Guidry, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, and Dr. Ross Querry, Professor of Physical Therapy and of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Lambda Nu National Honor Society of Radiologic and Imaging Services cited Candrea Lynch, Tonya March, and Thuy-Linh Trinh for excellence, and Pi Alpha Honor Society, the Physician Assistant honor society, recognized five students – Ms. Chung, Ms. Ehart, Mr. Gonzales, Mary Alice Neville, and Jade Webb.

Pi Alpha also gave an honorary membership to Dr. Celia Jenkins, Professor of Psychiatry.

Student Scholarship Awards went to: Brooke Landrum, Physical Therapy; Jennifer Ryan, Clinical Nutrition; and Angela Milanes, Rehabilitation Counseling; and to four Prosthetics and Orthotics students: Zoe Butler, Kenneth O’Meara, Zachary Smith, and Ms. Littrell.