From-the-Dean Messages 2026
Read past issues from Dean Akinwuntan's weekly email message to faculty, staff, students and alumni.
May 29, 2026
During a farewell reception held May 15, 2026, the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences honored Rylee France with the academic excellence award, Soua Yang received the professionalism award, and Catherine Nguyen earned the outstanding student award. Dylan Gundersen was recognized with the outstanding student award from the Kansas chapter of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. France and Nguyen also received the program highest distinction awards. Congratulations!
The Department of Dietetics and Nutrition celebrated its graduating students during an awards luncheon held on May 4, 2026. The Ruth Gordon Award was presented to Cydney Willenbring. The Luke & Marilyn Lucas Award went to Cassie Meyer, and the Rowena Sherill Award was given to Megan Gomez. Congratulations!
The Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education held its white coat ceremony May 15, 2026. Junnell Capala and Matthew Pohlmann were honored with the George DeVane Excellence Award. Juan Quesada received the Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Scholarship, while Logan Price and Capala received Norton Ringle Scholarships. Congratulations!
During a graduation ceremony and reception held May 15, 2026, the Department of Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science recognized Sabine Jean-Philippe and Chase Trinkle with student of the year awards. Carsten Brandt was recognized with the academic excellence award, and Kate Hagan was honored with the award for clinical excellence. Jentry Jenkins received the First Rate Award for Clinical Excellence, and Abby Faulkner was presented with the Gary Rummel Academic Excellence Award. Congratulations!
I look forward to sharing award winners from more of our department-level graduation events in next week's message.
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: May 22, 2026
The School of Health Professions honored and celebrated its Class of 2026 graduates during our annual recognition ceremony held May 16 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. More than 200 of our graduates attended this year's event. Check out these photos and the video recording is available online.
During the ceremony last Saturday, Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member Lauren Foster, OTD, was recognized with the 2026 Stata Norton Distinguished Teaching Award. It recognizes a faculty member for an enthusiastic commitment to teaching, for effectively imparting knowledge to students, and outstanding contributions to their profession. Congratulations!
Meanwhile, clinical laboratory science student Graham Blackwood and nurse anesthesia student Logan Price received Akinwuntan Leadership Awards in honor of demonstrated excellent leadership in their academic programs as well as for significant contributions to their professions and the community. Congratulations!
On May 17, we further celebrated our Class of 2026 prior to the KU Commencement ceremony on the Lawrence campus. We greeted students and their families at the Jayhawk Welcome Center for refreshments and school SWAG before staff led graduates to their spot for the traditional walk down The Hill – the academic procession from Memorial Drive, through the Memorial Campanile and into David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium for the ceremony.
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: May 15, 2026
Well-deserved congratulations to all our 338 graduating students for their hard work and accomplishments during a truly challenging and rapidly changing period. Their commitment and resilience, flexibility and adaptability are really admirable. A special thank you to all our faculty and staff for helping our students to complete their programs successfully.
Yesterday, the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training held its hooding ceremony, and earlier this week the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition held its annual awards luncheon to honor its graduates. Also this week, the Department of Health Information Management recognized its students for their remarkable achievements, and I look forward to celebrating all the names of these individuals with you soon.
Graduating students from our school's other programs will be celebrated during departmental events held today. Those award winners will appear in upcoming From-the-Dean messages, as well.
Tomorrow, the School of Health Professions honors and celebrates all of its Class of 2026 graduates during our annual student recognition ceremony at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. You are invited to attend in person or online via the livestream link available on the school's graduation events page.
Finally, join us on Sunday prior to the 2026 University of Kansas Commencement ceremony between 9-10 a.m. at the Jayhawk Welcome Center on the Lawrence campus. There will be free food and SWAG, and we'll take a group photo around 10 a.m. before leading our students to their starting place on The Hill. Your family, friends and guests are invited.
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: May 8, 2026
Next week is graduation week, and I look forward to recognizing the hard work of our students and those important people who support them. My best wishes to all students who are graduating this year, and thank you to all faculty and staff who worked hard to train our graduates.
Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Lindsey Heidrick, SLPD, was a special guest on All Things Brain Health, a video series from The University of Kansas Health System. In the episode "Singing for Strength: Music Therapy for Parkinson's", she discusses movements required by singing that can positively impact patients. See photo. Well done!
Medical nutrition science doctoral student Bailey Foster received a 2026 Oncology Nutrition Small Research Grant from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Oncology Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group. This will support her project, titled "BALANCE – Bladder Cancer Assessment of Metabolism, Nutrition, and Clinical Evaluation." Congratulations!
Sabine Jean-Philippe, a student in our respiratory care program, was one of seven students representing KU Medical Center at this year's Undergraduate Research day at the Capitol, held February 26, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas. She presented a poster titled "Improving Access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Rural Communities" and was had the opportunity to discuss her research with state legislators and their staffs, the Kansas Board of Regents, university administrators, as well as with the public. Nice work!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: May 1, 2026
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition faculty member Tyler Titcomb, Ph.D., is co-investigator on a project selected as a winner of the Nutrition for Our Immune System Health (NOURISH) Autoimmunity Challenge from the National Institutes of Health. He contributed to a concept focused on advancing the role of nutrition in improving quality of life and symptom management for individuals living with autoimmune disease. Congratulations!
KCUR, our local National Public Radio affiliate, profiled the research of Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Lauren Mann, Ph.D., in a recent story. The piece details her work with patients dealing with tinnitus and other hearing issues, and how she's found that music can offer relief. Kudos!
Rehabilitation science doctoral student Fatimah Alkhameys was selected as one of only 12 national recipients of the 2026 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship. This is a highly competitive, national award given by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective interdisciplinary honor society. Hannes Devos, Ph.D., Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training, and Jamie Myers, Ph.D., School of Nursing, are Fatimah's faculty mentors. Congratulations!
An article by KU Medical Center News highlighted work by Alex Lopez, our school's outreach and recruitment specialist, during University of Kansas Counselor Day. Held March 25, 2026, the event was an opportunity to help local school advisors connect with our current students and gain exposure to some of our less visible programs in health care. Nice work!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: April 24, 2026
The School of Health Professions again has five programs recognized as among the top nationally in the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report: audiology, nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. While many of the school's academic programs are not reviewed by U.S. News or eligible to be ranked – and this is only one reflection of program strength – it is great to receive widespread attention with this recognition.
Next Tuesday is One Day One KU, the university's 24-hour giving campaign. Fernanda Cantu Corona, a student in our doctoral degree program in medical nutrition science, is featured in this year's campaign page video. She talks about her path to the University of Kansas and overcoming challenges to pursue her passion. You can help us reach more people by becoming an ambassador for our school. Ambassadors receive a digital toolkit and are eligible to win prizes. Thank you in advance for your support during One Day One KU, from noon April 28 to noon April 29, 2026.
The Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences is celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week with fun lab-themed games and activities for its students. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a proclamation to officially recognize the week of April 19-25, 2026, and the importance of these key health care professionals to our communities.
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition faculty member Susan Carlson, Ph.D., presented at NEO: The Conference for Neonatology. Her talk was titled "Micronutrients Matter: Key Influencers of Growth and Neurodevelopment in Neonates," part of the Advancements in Neonatal Nutrition session. The event was held February 25-27, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nice work!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: April 17, 2026
A paper by Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training faculty member Stephen Jernigan, Ph.D., was published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Education. Titled "Learner Success Model in Physical Therapy Education," it was selected as the "Editor’s Pick" for the March 2026 issue. Way to go!
Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., presented her research at the Kansas Parks and Recreation Association Annual Conference held January 27-29, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas. The session, "Building Inclusive Aquatics: University-Community Partnerships for Research and Program Innovation," was presented with community partners from the cities of Fairway, Lenexa and Merriam. See photos. Nice job!
The Windward Institute, a division of New York-based The Windward School, featured Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Mindy Bridges, Ph.D., in its Research Education Advocacy podcast. In a five-part series titled "What We all Can Learn about Reading, Together," she spoke about the role of language in literacy development. Listen to episode. Well done!
KU's 24-hour fundraising campaign One Day One KU will be held April 28-29. Ambassadors are needed to help inspire others to give and to share the impact donors have on the success of our school and its students. Ambassadors receive a digital toolkit with social graphics and will be eligible to win prizes. Our goal this year is to expand opportunities for a diverse group of potential students to attend our programs via new scholarships and other financial assistance. Learn more at ku.edu/onedayoneku.
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: April 10, 2026
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences faculty member Hao Zhu, Ph.D., is co-author of an article published in the journal Hepatology. It is titled "Hepatic STEAP4 Promotes Liver Regeneration by Regulating Lysosomal Iron Homeostasis and Membrane Integrity in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury." Nice work!
Speech-language pathology students Zoe Lawless, Aisha Malik and Sara Petersen presented with Kristin Pedersen, SLP.D., faculty member in our Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders, at the Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference. Their talk was titled "Partnering and Connecting with Children to Build Communication Together." The event was held February 26, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas. See photo. Great job!
"Created by KU" recently highlighted the work of Patty Kluding, Ph.D., chair of our Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training, in a section on how KU faculty are shaping the workforce to better our world. The university's new storytelling platform, "Created by KU" aims to share how KU researchers, faculty and students improve people's lives in Kansas, the U.S. and the world. Kudos!
Clinical nutrition doctoral student Jessika Perkins received an oncology nutrition small research grant from the Oncology Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This will support her project titled "Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Head and Neck Oncologists Related to the NCCN Nutrition Guidelines." Congratulations!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: April 3, 2026
Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., chair of our Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, received a new research grant award. Sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, it will support her project titled "Fresh Beef Intake as Part of a Healthy Dietary Pattern: Impact on Gut Microbiome in Older Adults." Congratulations!
Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Lauren Mann, Ph.D., presented a webinar on February 26, 2026, for a series from the KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The session is titled "Sound Advice: 3 Simple Ways Your Ears Can Protect Your Brain." Great job!
The Kansas Center for Rural Health featured Dave Burnett, Ph.D., associate dean for community engagement and workforce initiatives, as its research spotlight in a recent newsletter. It details his BREATHE Lab and how it is transforming how pulmonary care reaches underserved communities. Kudos!
Rehabilitation science doctoral student Mustapha Mangdow was one of five students from our campus to participate in the Capitol Graduate Research Summit held March 24, 2026, at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka. Their poster was titled "Feasibility of WalkAfresh Robotic Gait Training Device in Non-Ambulatory Chronic Stroke Patients." The event provides students from schools across the state the opportunity to speak with elected representatives and the general public about important research underway at our universities. Nice work!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: March 27, 2026
Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Mindy Bridges, Ph.D., received a new research grant award from the U.S. Department of Education. This will support her project titled "Validity of a Nonspeech, Dynamic Assessment of the Alphabetic Principle (DAAP)." Congratulations!
The National Academy of Inventors named Lisa Stehno-Bittel, Ph.D., to its 2026 class of senior members. A professor emerita in our Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training, she received this honor in recognition of her achievements as a scholar, innovator, entrepreneur and inspiration to her colleagues. Kudos!
The American Society of Echocardiography has chosen KU cardiovascular sonography student Kiera Hess as a recipient of the 2026 Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarship Award. This is in recognition of outstanding academic and personal accomplishments; they also received a travel grant to attend the organization's 2026 Scientific Sessions conference scheduled for June 26-28 in Aurora, Colorado. Congratulations!
In recognition of Women's History Month, School of Health Professions faculty members Neena Sharma, Ph.D., Lisa Trujillo, DHSc, and Alice Zhang, Ph.D., participated in a panel discussion on campus yesterday titled "Making History at KU Medical Center: Resilience, Innovation and Impact." The trio are also highlighted on special posters displayed in the Murphy Building lobby this month. Nice work!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: March 20, 2026
Steve Jernigan, Ph.D., faculty member in our Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training, received the Pauline “Polly” Cerasoli Lectureship Award. Presented by American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Education, this recognition honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to physical therapy education. Congratulations!
Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member, Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., and program manager, Kayla Hamner, MOT, presented their research funded by the National Institutes of Health at the International Aquatics and Water Safety Conference. Their presentation was titled "Drowning Prevention for Children with Autism: Research Findings Comparing Adapted vs. Standard Swim Instruction." The event was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on February 17, 2026. See photos. Nicely done!
Research by Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Lauren Mann, Ph.D., was featured in a recent article from KU Medical Center News. It details her work on a novel way to help patients with concussion. Excellent!
An article by Melissa Jones, a student in our doctorate program in clinical laboratory science, was published in the journal Voices in Bioethics. It is titled "Specimens and Data, Not Evidence: Ethical, Legal, and Policy Boundaries on Law Enforcement Access to the Clinical Laboratory." Nice work!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: March 13, 2026
Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Marion Leaman, Ph.D., is first author on a paper published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. It is titled "Improving Language in Individual Conversation-Level Therapy: Group and Individual Results of ECoLoGiC Treatment for People With Moderate and Severe Aphasia," and one of the co-authors is School of Nursing faculty member Kristi Williams, Ph.D. She was also invited to present on the intervention and study findings on an episode of the podcast Speech Scope. Great job!
Rehabilitation Science doctoral student Samuel Durairaj received a new research grant award from the American Physical Therapy Association's Kansas Research Foundation. This will support his project titled "Low-fidelity Driving Simulator Training and Driving Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease – A Pilot Study." I am proud to be his mentor. Congratulations!
An article by occupational therapy doctoral students Jordan Earley and Haven Herndon appears in Quarterly Practice Connections, a publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association's Children and Youth Special Interest Section. It is titled "Role of Occupational Therapy in School-Based Practice and Mental Health." Nice work!
Eric Walradth, a student in our doctoral program in clinical laboratory science, was co-author on a letter to the editor published in the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In it, they report on a review of nucleated red blood cell values to determine if an updated reference interval may be appropriate. Well done!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: March 6, 2026
Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., chair of our Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, presented as part of the Lefeber Hughes Winter Series on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Her lecture was titled "Food for Thought – How Nutrition Shapes Your Aging Brain." The event was held February 17, 2026, in Galveston, Texas. Nice work!
Faculty and students from our Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training were a significant presence at the American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting held February 12–14, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Rebecca Bliss, DHSc, presented a platform presentation, two education sessions and four posters. Linda D'Silva, Ph.D., delivered an education session and two posters. Stephen Jernigan, Ph.D., presented a pre-conference session, a platform presentation and an education session. Katie Siengsukon, Ph.D., delivered two education sessions and a poster. Jacob Sosnoff, Ph.D., presented for an education session. Presenting posters were rehabilitation science students Dylan Bassett, Samuel Durairaj, Joo Hyun Lee, Taylor Rees and Veronica Vabishchevich, along with physical therapy student Kacee Coast. Super job!
Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Susan Koerner, Ph.D., attended the Kansas Speech Language Hearing Association Legislative Day along with speech-language pathology students Lily Rasmussen, Brookelyn Schettler, Polina Sterkhova and Taylor Stewart. While there, they shared information about pending legislation for licensing speech-language pathology assistants in Kansas. Also during the February 3, 2026, trip they had the opportunity to learn about the legislative process, attend a house session and listen to speakers. See photo. Well done!
An article published by the Brazilian newspaper Estado de Minas spotlighted Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member Adriana Queiroz, Ph.D. In the piece titled "Women in Science: The Challenges of Motherhood in Graduate School," she shares her journey balancing motherhood alongside her graduate school and international studies, while joining other researcher-mothers in highlighting both challenges and resilience in academia. Excellent!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: February 27, 2026
David Slusky, Ph.D., co-director of our Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders, is one of four recipients of the University Scholarly Achievement Award. This award recognizes significant scholarly work and their achievements demonstrate how KU benefits society as one of the nation's leading research universities. He will be honored April 14, 2026, at the University Research Awards ceremony at the Jayhawk Welcome Center on the Lawrence campus. Congratulations!
An article co-authored by Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences faculty member Hao Zhu, Ph.D., was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. It is titled "Donepezil Treatment, Alone or Combined with Exercise, Enhances Skeletal Muscle Function in Healthy and Advanced Aging Disease Mouse Models." Nice work!
Our respiratory care program has accepted the first student for the new international degree-advancement program: Arksuccess Okereafor, a citizen of Nigeria. This innovative program is delivered entirely online and is geared for those working in health care outside the U.S. who wish to earn a bachelor's degree from KU. Excellent!
Nichole Cortez, DCN, a graduate of our doctorate program in clinical nutrition, hosted a roundtable discussion at the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's Nutrition Science and Practice Conference. The event was held February 14-17, 2026, in Long Beach, California. She is currently employed by St. Luke's Health System. Great job!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: February 20, 2026
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition faculty member Tyler Titcomb, Ph.D., was awarded a competitive pilot grant from the ASPEN Rhoads Research Foundation. It will support his project, "Malnutrition in Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Study of Electronic Health Records." Faculty colleague Anna Arthur, Ph.D., is co-investigator. Congratulations!
An article by Renee Hodgkins, Ph.D., chair of our Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, was published in the Journal of Interprofessional Education. Titled "Enhancing Interprofessional Teaming and Communication Through a Standardized Patient Tele-Health Simulation," the project was a collaboration with the schools of Medicine and Nursing. Great work!
Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Lauren Mann, Ph.D., was a special guest on "All Things Brain Health," a video series from The University of Kansas Health System. In the episode, she discusses her research into how music and rhythm can improve recovery from concussion and cognitive decline due to age. Well done!
Occupational therapy student Haile Bartlett has accepted a competitive fellowship with Mayo Clinic's Neurorehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fellowship. The 54-week program is designed to advance clinical skills while providing mentorship to transition to independent practice. She'll begin the program in August. Congratulations!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: February 13, 2026
The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs has appointed Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education faculty member Laura McDonald, DNAP, to serve as a team onsite reviewer. She will begin training this August for the important role in ensuring academic programs in this field meet the highest national standards for the profession. Congratulations!
A innovative program led by Dave Burnett, Ph.D., our school's associate dean for community engagement and workforce initiatives, aims to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who live in rural Kansas. Through a partnership with Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, his research combines in-person care with easy-to-use technology so patients can get help closer to home. Read more. Great work!
KU Medical Center News published an article highlighting research led by Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Lauren Mann, Ph.D. With co-investigators Michael Rippee, M.D., from the School of Medicine, and Linda D’Silva, Ph.D., from our Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training, she is working to develop a novel way to help patients with concussion. Excellent!
A book co-authored by Ann Marshall, SLPD, a graduate of our speech-language pathology program, was the topic of an article from KU News. Her book, "Gamification Made Simple: A Guide for Higher Education Professionals," details how two educators brought gaming into their classrooms and guides anyone interested in doing the same. Nice job!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: February 6, 2026
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition faculty member Anna Arthur, Ph.D., received a new research award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It will support her project "Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Head and Neck Oncologists Related to the NCCN Nutrition Guidelines." Congratulations!
Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member Lacy Wright, OTD, presented two posters at the American Occupational Therapy Association's Children and Youth Specialty Conference. The event was held December 12-13, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Adaptive Aquatics: A Pilot Swim Program for a High School SPED Class" and "Grip & Grow: Enhancing Developmental Skills Through OT-Led Play Stations in a Children's Museum" were co-authored with occupational therapy students she mentored and detailed their service learning experiences in our program. See photo. Great work!
Athletic training faculty member Ken Wainwright, M.S., attended the Kansas Athletic Trainers Society annual symposium and business meeting held November 9, 2025, in Manhattan, Kansas. While there, he co-presented a learning lab titled "A Modern Approach to Athletic Shoulder Health." See photos. Nice job!
Current audiology student Shelby Cooper received an Auditory Research Travel Award from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. She presented "Provider Recommendations vs Patient Understanding & Adherence to Treatment" at the association's annual convention held November 20-22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. While there, she was also able to attend a presentation by Angela Loucks-Alexander, Au.D., a 2010 graduate of our audiology program and now a widely recognized leader in central auditory processing disorders. See photos. Well done!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: January 30, 2026
The School of Health Professions was well represented at the Physical Therapy Education Leadership Conference held October 17-19, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training faculty members Scarlett Morris, DPT, Marcie Swift, Ph.D., and Ken Wainwright, M.S., presented "Scaffolding AI Literacy in Health Care Education: Preserving Clinical Reasoning and Professional Identity." Fellow faculty members Becky Bliss, DHSc, and Crystal Funke Davenport, DPT, presented "Playback with Purpose: Elevating Performance Through Game Film." In addition, athletic training student Maggie deNoyelles shared her experience with practical rotations during a session titled "Three Courses, Two Professions, One Assessment Advancing Early Clinical Competency Through a KSA-Aligned OSCE." See photos. Nice work!
A paper by Nida’ Al Worikat, Ph.D., a graduate of our doctoral program in therapeutic science, was published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease. Titled "Frailty and Its Association with Mental Health and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study," the study was done in collaboration with Jake Sosnoff, Ph.D., associate dean for research, Tobia Zanotto, Ph.D., Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member, Anna Zanotto, Ph.D., post doctoral fellow, and School of Medicine faculty Sharon Lynch, M.D., and Amanda Thuringer, D.O. Great job!
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation selected student Riley Burghart to be a resident advocate for our nurse anesthesia program. In this role, she will serve as a liaison between our organizations, attend state and national meetings, and participate in conference calls while receiving mentorship as a rising leader in the profession. Excellent!
Students from our doctoral program in audiology visited The Children's Place in early November to provide hearing screenings for children at no charge to families. These screenings help identify potential delays in areas like speech, language and academic development. See photos. Well done!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: January 23, 2026
A paper co-authored by therapeutic science doctoral student Kara Hansen and Department of Occupational Therapy Education faculty member Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., was published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine. "Prenatal Psychosocial Distress Screening for Individuals Experiencing Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Anomalies" lays important groundwork for future research and clinical practice. Great job!
An article by KU News highlighted research by Panying Rong, Ph.D., a faculty member in our Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders. She is co-author of a paper titled "An Explanatory Model of Speech Communication Centered on Multiscale Rhythmic Modulation: Implications for Motor Speech Assessment and Intervention for Individuals With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. Nice work!
Nurse anesthesia doctoral student Alisa Schemmel presented a poster on November 19, 2025, as part of campus recognition of International Education Week. Titled "Global Health Experience Lima, Peru," it outlined her visit to the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Peru's national cancer institute. Well done!
Rehabilitation science doctoral student Bria Bartsch recorded an episode for the Kansas Public Radio series Research Matters, which is a collaboration with KU to profile graduate students doing work that has obvious impact on Kansas and Kansans. The episode, "Seeking the Best Exercise for Vascular Health Post Stroke," is based on her dissertation work. Excellent!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: January 16, 2026
The University of Kansas recognized Department of Hearing and Speech faculty member Mindy Bridges, Ph.D., with its Spotlight on Faculty Excellence. The program honors scholars of national or international stature who have contributed significantly to society, their disciplines and the local community who also develop future leaders through mentoring. Chosen from nominations submitted by deans, department chairs and center directors, she was recognized on the court during halftime of the KU men's basketball game on December 16, 2025. See photos. Kudos!
Rehabilitation science doctoral student Samuel Durairaj received a research grant from the Kansas chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. This will support his dissertation project titled "Low-Fidelity Driving Simulator Training and Driving Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease – A Pilot Study." This research can advance science in the field of simulator technology and rehabilitation. I am proud to be Samuel's faculty mentor. Congratulations!
Occupational therapy student Becca Mitchell participated in a virtual international experience with Brazilian students from the Federal University of Pernambuco. They discussed case studies based on occupational therapy theories, models, and approaches, and also the Social Determinants of Health. Her group also created a poster about their case study that was selected for presentation at a future international conference. See photos. Nice work!
Grant White, B.S., a graduate of our respiratory care program, was elected treasurer of the board of directors for the Kansas Respiratory Care Association. He will serve a four-year term and was placed in his new position during the association's board meeting held December 18, 2025, in McPherson, Kansas. Way to go!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: January 9, 2026
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition faculty member Matthew Taylor, Ph.D., was awarded a new research grant. The sponsor is the Hass Avocado Board, and it will support his project "AvoN – The Effect of Daily Avocado Intake on Nutrient Status in Older Adults." Congratulations!
For the past two summers, Melanie Somogie, M.A., clinical assistant professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech, has led a “Swallow Boot Camp” for individuals with chronic dysphagia, at no cost to patients. At the Kansas Speech and Hearing Association Conference, current speech-language pathology students Brookelyn Schettler and Savanna Stanley, with support from doctoral student Saja Alsulaimani, presented a poster on their experience. It was titled "Swallow Boot Camp: Impact on SLP Student Perception of Competency and Confidence in Dysphagia Practice." The event was held September 29-30, 2025, in Manhattan, Kansas. See photo. Well done!
On December 2, 2025, athletic training faculty member Ken Wainwright, M.S., spent time at the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies. While there, he met with students from the center's sports medicine program and gave an informal talk on general manual rehabilitation techniques for the upper extremities. See photos. Nice work!
Rehabilitation science doctoral student Samuel Durairaj presented at the Midwest Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit held December 16-17, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. His talk was titled "Cognitive and Simulated Driving Performance: A Comprehensive Study of Commercial and Non-Commercial Drivers." It took place during a university research session moderated by Tiffany Pollard, executive officer in the Office of the Dean. Great job!
Please be safe, and thank you for all that you do.
From-the-Dean: January 2, 2026
As we reflect on our progress during 2025, we have many positives to celebrate together.
Our fall 2025 enrollment is at another all-time high of 828 students, which continues our streak of record enrollment for 11 consecutive years. Read more about it in this article from KU Medical Center News.
Scholarship funding and opportunities for our students continue to expand, especially for those students facing financial difficulties. We distributed $769,096 in scholarship awards to our students last year.
Our academic programs continue to excel. The dietetic internship, nuclear medicine technology, and respiratory care programs achieved successful re-accreditation in 2025. We welcomed the first students to our physical therapy doctorate hybrid pathway, the new bachelor's degree in diagnostic science, and the master's degree in health informatics.
The school's research enterprise remains strong. In 2025, our research portfolio included 48 active funded awards totaling $26 million. We also achieved a record-breaking year for submissions, with 55 proposals totaling more than $66 million under review. Several early-career investigators secured their first external awards, positioning us for sustained growth and future success.
The achievements are too numerous to include all of them here. You can read about some of our activities over the past year in this recent article from KU Medical Center News. Please visit the From-the-Dean page of our website and The Insider newsletter archive to explore the many positives from 2025.
Our accomplishments, which are due to your contributions and hard work, inspire us to look forward to 2026 with high hopes and expectations. Our faculty, staff and students have continuously demonstrated exceptional determination and resilience. I am impressed and grateful for your individual efforts as well as our work together as a team.
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy New Year, and thank you for all that you do.