SAHP announces top awards

The School of Allied Health Professions last week honored three individuals and one program for their broad impact in teaching, research and service.

Kyle Meyer, associate dean of the SAHP, announced the 2007 recipients during the school’s annual ceremony. The awards and the honorees are as follows:

• Community Service Award — Radiation Science Technology Education Program;
  
• Outstanding Teacher of the Year — Tammy Jones, assistant professor in the division of radiation science technology education;
  
• Outstanding Researcher of the Year — Elliott Bedows, Ph.D., associate professor in the division of physician assistant education; and
  
• Outstanding Service to the School of Allied Health Professions — Mary Haven, associate dean emeritus of SAHP and professor emeritus, pathology and microbiology and clinical laboratory science.

Earlier, SAHP students showcased their findings on a variety of topics at the 20th annual Student Research Forum. The forum — featuring 99 students and 80 posters — enabled students from all 10 SAHP programs to share scholarly activity supporting evidence-based clinical practice. The posters filled the Durham Research Center atrium and spilled over into its auditorium on such topics as:

• The importance of understanding the transmission, diagnosis and current vaccine research of avian influenza A;
  
• Whether water-based exercise is as effective as land-based exercise in controlling symptoms for fibromyalgia patients; and
  
• The best skin care following external beam radiation therapy.

SAHP, which boasts of 362 on-campus students, as well as an average of 550 distance education students across its 10 programs, celebrated the recent successes of its students and faculty during an awards ceremony in a near-capacity Durham Research Center Auditorium.

This year’s Community Service Award went to students in UNMC’s Radiation Science Technology Education Division for doing health screenings for rural Nebraska, decorating the Ronald McDonald House for the holidays, helping with the Douglas County Disaster Drill and helping with tours and recruitment. Students also created their own Coats and Caps for Kids Drive to benefit children at Miller Park Elementary School. SAHP students collected winter coats and monetary donations to buy stocking caps and gloves and then delivered 50 coats and 60 caps and gloves to children 5 to 12 years old.

Kyle Meyer, associate dean of the School of Allied Health Professions, with Tammy Jones, who received SAHP’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

The Outstanding Teacher Award was given to Tammy Jones for serving as a strong academic and clinical teacher and role model to students on, and off, campus. Jones, who has served as clinical education coordinator within the radiography program since 2001, “demands professionalism and competence while providing guidance and understanding,” one nominator said. “She is a classic role model to students in clinical assignments.”

Jones has a professional rapport with students, a nominator said, while maintaining an “open door” policy to discuss professional or even personal matters.

Jones has a master’s degree in public administration and holds memberships and offices in professional societies, as well as SAHP and Radiation Science Technology Education committees.

Kyle Meyer recognizes Elliott Bedows, Ph.D., with SAHP’s Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award.

This year’s Outstanding Researcher in SAHP was given to Dr. Bedows for discovering what could be a revolutionary way to purify recombinant proteins for use in medicines and other products. Recombinant proteins are natural proteins that are artificially replicated in large quantities for use in commercial industry, drug development, research and diagnostic applications. If patented and adopted universally, the process could cut costs in the pharmaceutical industry.

“Elliott is an innovative and creative scientist,” Meyer said, “whose research has been recognized on the front page of the Omaha World-Herald business section, as well as in USA Today.”

The protein purification technology discovered by the UNMC team already is being applied to help Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo. He and his team are purifying novel, engineered hormones for use in vitro fertilization for reproduction of tigers, a highly endangered species.

Kyle Meyer with Mary Haven, who received the Outstanding Service to the School of Allied Health Professions Award.

A familiar face graced the stage when Haven was given a standing ovation for receiving SAHP’s Outstanding Service Award. Haven, who served as associate dean for SAHP from 1995 to 2006, was honored for her vast contributions to the program. Her name will join others on a plaque that hangs in the McGoogan Library and an allied health student will receive a $500 scholarship in her name for the next five years.

“Mary encouraged faculty to be leaders in their fields which resulted in highly competent and recognized graduates,” Meyer said in announcing the award. “Mary was the recipient of this award in 1988 and her dedication and service to allied health continues today.”

Haven’s foresight in distance education has allowed students from across the country to obtain their SAHP degrees online. Haven was a champion in security grants in bioterrorism and developed relationships, which continue today, with tribes in Winnebago and Macy. She continues to teach a course in retirement.