Allied health appoints two to leadership positions

The UNMC College of Allied Health Professions has appointed two new faculty to assume key leadership positions: professor Yvonne Golightly, PhD, will be assistant dean for research, and assistant professor Ashley Balliet will be program director for the radiography and computed tomography programs.

Dr. Golightly will direct the college’s growing research enterprise. A well-established researcher herself, she is an epidemiologist and physical therapist focused on chronic disease prevention.

She comes to UNMC from the University of North Carolina, where she had multiple appointments. Dr. Golightly served the university in the divisions or departments of physical therapy and orthopaedics and in UNC’s centers for injury prevention and arthritis research.

Dr. Golightly currently is co-principal investigator of two large studies of rural health and health disparities in Johnston County, North Carolina: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project and the Johnston County Health Study.

She is not originally from Nebraska, but her mother grew up on a Nebraska farm. She has been a frequent visitor throughout her life to see family in the Kearney area.

"I enjoy visiting with my Nebraska family, riding horses, riding in the combine and watching the beautiful sunsets," she said.

Balliet was hired as director of the radiography and computed tomography programs following a national search. She most recently served as program director of Mercy/St. Luke’s School of Radiologic Technology in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She previously worked at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in a variety of clinical and educational roles.

"My passion is engaging the development of world-class health care professionals through innovative, learner-centered educational opportunities teaching empathy, compassion and humility," she said.

Balliet is originally from Nebraska, "a true farm girl at heart," she said. She graduated from Emerson-Hubbard High School. She received her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in radiologic technology from St. Luke’s College and Briar Cliff University, both in Sioux City, Iowa, and her master of education, with an emphasis in e-learning, from Northcentral University.

Alisha Wright, assistant professor, UNMC Department of Clinical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences, and Kearney clinical education coordinator of radiography and computed tomography, served as interim director of those programs.

"I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Golightly and Ms. Balliet to the college and UNMC," said Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Professions. "They are outstanding individuals. The breadth of knowledge and experience they bring to their respective leadership positions will no doubt help the college continue its success and upward trajectory."