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Alumnus Michael Matthews wins Winthrop University’s top teaching award

Michael Matthews receives Kinard Award from Winthrop University President Dan Mahoney

Michael Matthews receives Kinard Award from Winthrop University President Dan MahonyMichael Matthews, Ph.D., alumnus of the UAB School of Health Professions’ PhD in Administration-Health Services program, has been honored by Winthrop University with its top teaching award. On December 17, 2016, Matthews received the Kinard Award for Excellence in Teaching as part of Winthrop’s Commencement Ceremony. Read more

Pondering bold moves, health-care organizations turn to our data detectives for evidence

Original story by Matt Windsor for The Mix UAB

In the Big Data era, information is plentiful. Insight is harder to come by.

Health apps are a case in point. More than two-thirds of American adults own a smartphone, and 62 percent of those smartphone owners use their devices to look up health information. They have plenty of options: A 2015 study found more than 165,000 health apps available on the Apple and Android app stores — a quarter of them focused on disease treatment and management, with the rest focused on fitness and wellness.

Thomas Morris (pictured, left) named Executive of the YearThomas Morris, a student in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Executive Master of Science in Health Administration program, was named Executive Administrator of the Year at the 2016 Healthcare Awards presented by the Gwinnett (Georgia) Chamber. The award is given annually to a professional at the director level or higher who sets the standard through dedication and leadership. Read more

PT alumna Da Silva wins Outstanding PT Faculty Award

Da Silva with Faculty of the Year awardCarolyn Da Silva, PT, DSc, NCS, alumna of the UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Physical Therapy, was awarded the 2016 Outstanding Physical Therapy Faculty Award, recognizing merit in teaching, service, and reseach. She is the first UAB alumna to win the William Gould Memorial honor from the Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA). Read more

MSHA alumni help Texas hospital win Baldrige Award

Chuck Stokes (MSHA Class 17) EVP/COO, Memorial HermannThe prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, presented annually by the President of the United States, has been awarded to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. Two alumni of the UAB School of Health Professions’ Master of Science in Health Administration program hold significant roles in the hospital and the health system.

Chuck Stokes (MSHA Class 17) is EVP/COO of the Memorial Hermann Health System, and Kate Willis (MSHA Class 49) is the director of Service Line Operations for Sugar Land Hospital.

Janelle Chiasera, CDS Chair; Lamario Williams; Kari Dugger, BMD Program DirectorLamario Williams, an undergraduate student in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Biomedical Sciences program (BMD), was chosen as a recipient of a 2016 ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence. Read more

UAB QEP demonstrates simulation learning to first-year students

Lynn Holt leads the QEP ForumThe UAB Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), designed to improve an aspect of student learning and, therefore, enhance the quality of education at UAB, held a seminar for all first-year students from the Biotechnology, Genetic Counseling, Nuclear Medicine, Health Physics, Clinical and Laboratory Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies programs. Read more

Student Spotlight: Rebecca Shapiro, Genetic Counseling

Rebecca Shapiro, Genetic Counseling Class of 2017Rebecca Shapiro, UAB Genetic Counseling Class of 2017, traveled 140 miles for her undergraduate degree (Detroit to Kalamazoo) and 718 miles for her graduate degree (Kalamazoo to Birmingham). But to do her summer rotation, she chose to travel more than 11,000 miles. Where did she go? Why did she go? And why is she going again? The answers to that and much more in our latest UAB School of Health Professions student profile. Read more

ICDI YCDI: Piloting Expansion Nationwide

The UAB Department of Physical Therapy prides itself on being first.

·         1^st in the region to start a PT program

·         1^st in Birmingham to start a DPT program

·         1^st in the region to be nationally ranked

It goes without saying that when the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition needed someone to launch the I Can Do It, You Can Do It (ICDI YCDI) program in this area, UAB Physical Therapy was the first. Read more

Bill Parker establishes 1st endowed scholarship for PA program

Bill Parker, UAB PA, Class of 1972Bill Parker, a 1972 graduate of the UAB Physician Assistant Studies program, has established the first endowed scholarship for the program. The Bill Parker Endowed Scholarship in Physician Assistant Studies will provide scholarships for current and future students – it will be awarded for the first time in the spring. Read more

PA students serve medical mission in Guatemala

Students in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Physician Assistant Studies program spent a portion of their summer on a medical mission in Guatemala. The second-year students served more than 700 patients in the rural village Chiquimula. For many of the patients, their encounter with the UAB PA students will be their only healthcare check up this year. Read more

PA Alumni Spotlight: Marvin Racowsky

Billie and Marvin Racowsky (pictured left)Marvin Racowsky developed an interest in medicine while serving in the air force. After service, he was looking for opportunities in medicine and discovered UAB’s PA program in LIFE magazine.

At this time, UAB PA was one of only two programs in the United States so Marvin moved to Birmingham where he met his wife Billie (who also became a PA) and gained invaluable support and experience from the faculty team at UAB. Read more

PA student selected for national minority mentoring program

Christophe Jackson serving at Firehouse ShelterChristophe Jackson, Ph.D., a student in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Physician Assistant Studies program, was selected for the 2016 Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program for Medical Technology (SMDP MedTech). SMDP MedTech supports its fellows to create and produce a wide-range of products to further the growing number of discoveries and advances in the industry to create medical technology products and health information systems that improve human health and enhance the quality of life for people around the world. Read more

UAB OT Low Vision course earns Quality Matters certification

Elizabeth Barstow, Ph.D., OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational TherapyUAB School of Health Professions’ Occupational Therapy course focusing on the study and treatment of age-related eye disease received Quality Matters certification. Read more

UAB Nuclear Medicine Technology first in U.S. to transition to entry level Master’s

UAB is home to the most powerful medical cyclotron in the U.S.The UAB School of Health Professions Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT) program was the first in the U.S. to transition to a Master of Science entry level status. The entire educational system is transitioning in response to the expanded demands in the field for technologists that can manage the complexities of blended imaging technology.

UAB NMT’s world class faculty and recently renovated facility made them the perfect choice to launch the new Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology entry level program. Read more

Double alumnus Ferniany receives 2016 UAB Distinguished Alumni Award

(L/R) Tee Hiett, Scotty McCallum, Howard Houser, William Ferniany and Bob HernandezWilliam Ferniany, Ph.D., CEO of the UAB Health System and double alumnus of the UAB School of Health Professions, was named the 2016 UAB National Alumni Society’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Ferniany is a graduate of our #2 in the nation Master of Science in Health Administration (1975) program and our Doctor of Philosophy, Administration-Health Services (1984) program. Read more

Dean Jones receives 2016 UAB Honorary Alumni Award

Harold Jones, Ph.D., and William Ferniany, Ph.D.UAB School of Health Professions Dean Harold P. Jones, Ph.D., is the winner of the 2016 UAB Honorary Alumni Award. Jones, who is the longest tenured dean at UAB, received the award given to “a member of the UAB family who has made exceptional contributions to UAB and its programs” at a ceremony at the UAB National Alumni Society House on Friday, September 30, 2016. Read more

S. Robert Hernandez appointed Distinguished Service Professor

Hernandez Distinguished Award Lemak, Hernandez with Distinguished Service Professor proclamationS. Robert Hernandez, DrPH, has been appointed Distinguished Service Professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions. The position of Distinguished Service Professor is appointed by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and recognizes a professor’s academic service to UAB and their international accomplishments.

Weech-Maldonado with Fottler at AOM HCMRobert Weech-Maldonado, Ph.D., professor and L.R. Jordan Chair of Health Administration in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Health Services Administration, has been awarded the Myron D. Fottler Exceptional Service Award by the Health Care Management (HCM) Division of the Academy of Management (AOM). Read more

UAB partners with IAG to help public service officers safely interact with people with special needs

This new partnership will provide curriculum and training for law enforcement, first responders and more to interact with people who have special needs.The UAB School of Health Professions has partnered with the Interaction Advisory Group to provide curriculum and training to help public service officers — law enforcement, first responders, educators and more — interact safely and effectively with people who have special needs.

The partnership is a unique initiative in which the school has an equity stake in IAG. Read more

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