Students in Baylor’s School of Allied Health Sciences were recognized for their achievements at three annual end-of-year events – the J. David Holcomb Allied Health Student Research Day, the Allied Health Awards Ceremony and 2015 Commencement.

Award winners are listed below.

J. David Holcomb Allied Health Student Research Day

Held Dec. 2, the annual student research day poster competition included 38 physician assistant students and 18 orthotics and prosthetics students who presented their master’s papers research and product development projects via poster presentations. Thirty-five judges, chosen from the BCM faculty, critiqued the posters. Each poster was evaluated by three judges.

Physician Assistant Program Winners

First place ($500) – Katherine Brawner, “The Impact of an Electronic Medical Record Training Workshop During the Didactic Phase of Physician Assistant Student Education,” mentored by Elissa Love and Stephanie DeSandro, assistant professors, School of Allied Sciences.

Second place ($250) – (Tie) Serene Ansari, “The Impact of Religiosity on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Minority Women Participating in the HIP (Health is Power) Study,” mentored by Dr. Rebecca Lee, director of the Texas Obesity Research Center, University of Houston, and Dr. David Johnson, assistant professor, School of Allied Health Sciences. Neil Doherty, “Assessment of CPR Skills in Physician Assistant and Medical Students,” mentored by Dr. Tyson Pillow, assistant professor of medicine; and Stephanie DeSandro.

Third place ($100) – Sarah Broeker, “Impact of Adenovirus Infection in Pediatric Lung Transplant Recipients,” mentored by Dr. Flor Munoz-Rivas, associate professor of pediatrics, and Elizabeth Elliott, assistant professor, School of Allied Health Sciences and department of pediatrics.

Orthotics and Prosthetics Program Winners

First place ($500) – James Schweitzer, “Database to Aid Prosthetic Foot Selection,” mentored by Lorin Merkley, instructor, School of Allied Health Sciences. In a separate judged event, Schweitzer placed first and was awarded $150 for a product pitch he developed in association with his research.

Second place ($250) – Jared Rammell, “Factors Limiting the Adoption of Stance Control Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses: A Survey Study,” mentored by Jared Howell, assistant professor, School of Allied Health Sciences.

Third place ($100) – Rebecca Cook, “Trends in Values and Goals of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients as it Pertains to Orthosis Wear Compliance,” mentored by Dr. Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, associate professor, Center for Ethics and Health Policy, and Joshua Utay, instructor, School of Allied Health Sciences.

Allied Health Awards Ceremony

The ceremony was held Dec. 4 at the Marriott Medical Center.

Alumni Association Lehmann Outstanding Student Award

Fanny Schultea of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Program, Anna Schrader of the Physician Assistant Program and Daniel Bell of the Nurse Anesthesia Program. Presented by the Baylor Office of Alumni Affairs to one student from each Allied Health program who demonstrated outstanding leadership in professional and community activities.

Physician Assistant Student Award for Excellence in Psychiatry

Ashley Helmes received the award as the physician assistant graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, demonstrated outstanding knowledge and skills in the practice of psychiatry.

Nurse Anesthesia Student Awards

Scott Joyce received the Nurse Anesthesia Spent Bullet Award for countless and stressful hours providing life-saving care to the victims of violence in the community.

Scott Joyce received the Virginia Apgar Award as the nurse anesthesia graduating student that provided outstanding knowledge, skills, motivation and dependability in obstetrics and gynecologic anesthesia services.

Jingjing Sparrow received the Helen Lamb Award as the nurse anesthesia graduating student who achieved the highest scholastic ranking during the didactic phase of the curriculum.

Hannah Melton received the Alice Magaw Award as the nurse anesthesia graduating student who achieved the highest scholastic ranking during the clinical phase of the curriculum.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Elissa Love, assistant professor, School of Allied Health Sciences, chosen by the Physician Assistant Class of 2016.

Lurie McAdow, instructor, School of Allied Health Sciences, chosen by the Physician Assistant Class of 2015.

Aimee Langley, instructor, department of anesthesiology and School of Allied Health Sciences, chosen by the Nurse Anesthesia Class of 2016.

Megan Chen, instructor, department of anesthesiology and School of Allied Health Sciences, chosen by the Nurse Anesthesia Class of 2015.

Ashley Mullen, instructor, School of Allied Health Sciences, chosen by the Orthotics and Prosthetics Class of 2016.

Thomas V. DiBello, clinical assistant professor, School of Allied Health Sciences, chosen by the Orthotics and Prosthetics Class of 2015.

David Holcomb Achievement Award

Presented to Dr. Ramachandra Reddy, professor, department of pharmacology and School of Allied Health Sciences, in recognition of sustained contribution to Allied Health education, research, faculty development and scholarship.

Allied Health Commencement

Nichole Morales received the Lewis A. Leavitt Award as the physician assistant graduate with the highest academic record of achievement.

Aimee Hariramani received the Henry D. McIntosh Award as the graduate who achieved the highest degree of academic excellence and service and who best exemplified the concept of the physician assistant.

TJ Little received the Agatha Hodgins Memorial Award as the outstanding graduate who, based on academic achievement and clinical performance, demonstrated the dedication and enthusiasm that best symbolize the qualities desired in a nurse anesthetist.

Abigail Caswell received the John F. Garde Distinguished Graduate Award. The award is presented annually to a post-masters DNP graduate who exemplifies outstanding professional vision, leadership and accomplishment.

Ryan Butler received the Orthotics and Prosthetics Academic Excellence Award. This award is presented to the O&P student with the highest scholastic ranking in the graduating class.

James Schweitzer received the Orthotics and Prosthetics Clinical Achievement Award. This award is presented to the O&P student for outstanding performance in the clinical year of the program.

Ashley Watkins received the Orthotics and Prosthetics Clinical Achievement Award. This award is presented to the O&P student for outstanding performance in the clinical year of the program.