Washington, D.C. – The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) recently recognized numerous higher education health professionals from across the country for their leadership, contributions and excellence in the fields of health sciences and health professions. The awards were presented at ASAHP’s annual conference. “Leading the Charge - Advancing Innovation in Higher Education and the Health Professions” which took place October 19-21, 2022 at the Westin Long Beach hotel in Southern California.

Innovations from some of the awardees included researching interventions aimed at improving chronic illness care, creating functional locomotor behavior post stroke, attracting diverse populations of students to universities health programs, learning how to cope with background noise during communication, and increasing interprofessional education in the curriculum and in clinical settings across communities.

“Commitment to excellence and collaboration is the lifeblood of our organization,” said ASAHP President Deb Larsen PhD, FASAHP. “We were proud to recognize these individuals at our annual conference in honor of their dedication to improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare and health professions education for all.”

At a ceremony on the first day of the conference the following awards were presented:

Legacy of Excellence AwarD

Patricia Walker, EdD, FASAHP
Dean Emerita, College of Health Professions
Sacred Heart University

This award signifies an exceptional and enduring level of contributions to the health professions. As such, this lifetime achievement award is rarely given and has not been awarded since 2017. The Legacy of Excellence Award recognizes an individual whose career is exemplary in terms of contributions to ASASHP as a national or internationally recognized leader in the health professions who publicly promotes the contributions of the health professions to the health care workforce on a national and/or international level and is a strong advocate for health sciences and health professions.

President's Award

Phyllis King, PhD, FASAHP
Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
Immediate Past President, ASAHP
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

This awardee is chosen by the ASAHP current President to express gratitude to an individual who has dedicated him/herself to helping maintain the qualities of excellence that characterize a truly professional Association.

Distinguished Service and Achievement Award

Celia R. Hooper, PhD, FASAHP
Dean Emerita, School of Health and Human Sciences
UNC Greensboro

This award recognizes an individual who has brought recognition and credit to health sciences and health professions through their involvement in either health policy, development, or education.

*Photo courtesy of Seton Hall University*

Outstanding Member Award

Brian Shulman, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, FASAHP, FNAP
Dean, School of Health and Medical Sciences
Director, ASAHP Board of Directors
Seton Hall University

This award recognizes members who have contributed significantly to ASAHP during the previous year and who, by example, have inspired others through their demonstrated leadership and active involvement in ASAHP affairs.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

Jesús García-Martínez, MD, PhD
Dean and Professor, Vera Z. Dyer College of Health Sciences
Chair, ASAHP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Indiana University South Bend

This award recognizes an ASAHP Member with outstanding leadership in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in an academic setting.

Fellows Program Award

Fevzi Akinci, PhD, FASAHP
Dean & Professor, Rangos School of Health Sciences
Director, ASAHP Board of Directors
Duquesne University

David Brown, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FASAHP
Senior Vice President and Dean/George T. Bryan Distinguished Professor
Chair, ASAHP Research, Discovery, and Innovation Committee
School of Health Professions, The University of Texas Medical Branch

Jesús García-Martínez, MD, PhD
Dean and Professor, Vera Z. Dyer College of Health Sciences
Chair, ASAHP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Indiana University South Bend

Susan Gordon-Hickey, AuD, PhD
Interim Dean, Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions
Secretary, ASAHP Board of Directors
University of South Alabama

David Henzi, EdD
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, School of Health Professions
UT Health San Antonio

This award provides meaningful recognition to those members who have contributed significantly to health professions as administrators, educators, clinicians, or researchers. Recipients must be an active ASAHP member for five years with demonstrated leadership, publication in professional journals and professional creativity.

Scholarship of Excellence - Elwood Scholar

Kacey Barahona
The Ohio State University

The Scholarship of Excellence recognizes outstanding individuals who excel in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in the health professions. Starting in 2014, the title of Elwood Scholar is to be awarded to the most outstanding Scholarship of Excellence recipient.

J. Warren Perry Award

Anne Wildermuth, PhD, PA-C, EM CAQ, RD
Assistant Professor
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, School of Medicine

Each year, the winner of an award named after the Association’s 2nd President and the founder of the Journal of Allied Health in 1972 is selected. Candidates for this honor are the authors of the 46 original research articles and commentary papers that appeared either in the Journal of Allied Health Fall 2021, Winter 2021, Spring 2022, or Summer 2022 issues of the Journal. Based on an average of their respective scores, the paper ranked highest was Dr. Anne Wildermuth’s “Predictive Ability of Multiple Mini-Interviews in Admissions on Programmatic Academic Achievement: A Systematic Review” that appeared in the Summer 2022 issue.

Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care
UT Health San Antonio, School of Health Professions
Winston- Salem State University, School of Health Sciences

Through the Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care, ASAHP looks to recognize a member institution for outstanding achievement in interprofessional education and interprofessional collaborative practice.

About ASAHP
The Association of School Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) is a national professional organization of 130 universities and employers focused on critical issues affecting health professions education. ASAHP’s mission is to advance health professions education and discovery through interprofessional collaboration, leadership, excellence, and innovation.

Contact:
Kristen Truong
kristen@asahp.org
Director of Public Affairs
ASAHP