Class of 2020 School of Health Professions graduates honored with student awards
Congratulations to School of Health Professions Class of 2020 award winners. Each year, the School of Health Professions honors exemplary students for academic achievements and leadership. This year, seven students are receiving awards that include the Raul Caetano, M.D., Ph.D., Student Research Award; the Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award; the Ruth Guy, M.D., Student Leadership Award; and the John Schermerhorn, M.D., Student Service Award.
Raul Caetano, M.D., Ph.D., Student Research Award
Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award
Ruth Guy, M.D., Student Leadership Award
John Giacona
John Schermerhorn, M.D., Student Service Award
Raul Caetano, M.D., Ph.D., Student Research Award
The award was established in honor of Dr. Caetano, who served as Dean of the School of Health Professions from 2006-2014. He has conducted extensive research examining alcohol problems among U.S. ethnic minorities and published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles. His research has been consistently supported by the National Institutes of Health for over 30 years and recognized with numerous awards. The award was established to recognize outstanding contributions in research and to honor Dr. Caetano’s own lifetime dedication to such work.
Karen "Karie" Meltzer
Degree: Master of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Career plans:
- Pursue Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UTSW
- Treat patients with chronic pain and co-occurring mental illness
Ms. Meltzer is a former journalist who transitioned to teaching Pilates before beginning her studies at UT Southwestern. She said it’s never too late to change direction in life and, once deciding on a career in health care, she chose to study at UTSW for its numerous interdisciplinary clinical and research opportunities. She now hopes to make a difference as a clinician and researcher by treating and studying mental illness, which touches so many lives.
“It is a significant honor to be recognized with this award, particularly because Dr. Raul Caetano has such an impressive legacy of meaningful psychiatric and public health research. I am very passionate about my research on interdisciplinary care for chronic pain, and I hope to continue contributing to the field for years to come.”
Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award
The award was established in honor of Dr. Green, who achieved a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and is a UT Southwestern Medical School alumnus who trained in pediatrics at Children’s Medical Center. In 1991, he was appointed Dean of the School of Health Professions and provided outstanding leadership in that role until he retired in 2006. He recently was appointed Professor Emeritus at UTSW. To honor Dr. Green’s dedication to clinical care, the award was established to recognize outstanding contributions in the field.
John Giacona
Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Career plans:
- Pursue a Ph.D. in applied clinical research at UTSW
- Practice primary care/internal medicine and advance clinical research in preventive and translational medicine
Mr. Giacona was influenced to become a physician assistant as a young child when his primary care PA detected that he had a heart murmur at age 8. It was diagnosed as a congenital abnormality that required prompt open-heart surgery. He said the discovery of this murmur saved his life and that the compassionate care provided by his PA sparked his desire to provide the same comfort to others. He chose to attend UTSW because the PA program puts a strong emphasis on student and workforce diversity, evidence-based medicine, leadership, and service – skills vital to becoming a well-rounded clinician.
“Receiving the Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award and Ruth Guy, M.D., Student Leadership Award (see below) is such an honor for me. I appreciate all those involved in making these awards possible. Additionally, I want to thank the School of Health Professions and the PA faculty and staff for all of their support during my education.”
Bailey Martinez
Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy
Career plans:
- Pursue a clinical position in inpatient rehabilitation or in an outpatient setting with an emphasis on treating neurologic patients
Ms. Martinez was drawn to a career in physical therapy because she loved learning the how and why behind the way the body moves. She said physical therapy allows her to be an expert on movement and spend one-on-one time with patients – making the career path a perfect fit for her. She elected to study at UTSW due to the requirement that faculty treat patients, which she said is crucial to effective clinical training.
“I was ecstatic to receive this award. Treating patients and making a difference in people’s lives are at the core of why I chose the field of physical therapy. I love that I’ve been able to achieve this goal while learning as a student and hopefully continue to carry these clinical skills forward as a licensed clinician.”
Ruth Guy, M.D., Student Leadership Award
This award honors Dr. Guy, who co-founded the School of Medical Technology, later becoming part of the School of Health Professions. She was a noted innovator in medical technology and blood banking who helped develop a kit for sexual assault investigation that is routinely used nationwide. In recognition of her exceptional lifetime of professional leadership, she was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1989. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in leadership.
Hannah John
Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy
Career plans:
- Practice and teach in underserved countries in need of physical therapy education
Ms. John, a Texas native of Indian descent, moved to India 10 years ago and then returned to Texas for college. Passionate about travel, she said her experiences in other countries exposed her to the needs of patients and clinicians who lack access to quality health care education and resources. Ms. John would like to be a clinician and educator in places with limited resources. She said the School of Health Professions faculty taught her the importance of being a lifelong learner and advocate for the profession and patients.
“While in PT school, I made a goal. I wanted to grow as a person during this program, academically of course, but also in character and experiences. To me, this award represents the challenge of walking that line and the desire to continue so I can be the best clinician I can.”
*John Giacona is also a recipient of the Ruth Guy, M.D. Student Leadership Award. He is recognized above for receiving the Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award as well.
John Schermerhorn, M.D., Student Service Award
The award honors Dr. Schermerhorn, the first full-time Dean of the School of Health Professions remembered most for guiding the school through its early years. The award was established to recognize outstanding contributions in professional service activities.
Christina Martinez
Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy
Career plans:
- Pursue residency in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy
- Specialize in acute care management of critically ill patients
Ms. Martinez said she’s always wanted to go into the health field. Physical therapy was the career path that blended aspects of her passion for physical activity and helping others. She decided to pursue physical therapy because it allows her to utilize medical science principles to adapt physical activity interventions to help people achieve their personal goals no matter their fitness level or medical status. Ms. Martinez said she is grateful for the substantial growth she has seen in herself from an academic, clinical, and leadership perspective in her three years studying at UTSW.
Ms. Martinez was also the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship for Community Service Award in January. Watch her award acceptance speech below.
“I am overjoyed to receive the John Schermerhorn, M.D., Student Service Award. Serving my community has always been a passion, and I am lucky to attend an institution that fosters an incredible environment to serve others. Throughout my time at UT Southwestern, I have sought opportunities to serve my community and get involved in activities outside of academics, which would not have been possible without the support of the School of Health Professions and the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion. Receiving this award is a reminder of the importance of bringing physical activity education and therapy beyond the walls of the clinic to people who might not have access to such an important aspect of health.”
Tiffany Mathews
Degree: Master of Clinical Nutrition
Career plans:
- Pursue a position in an outpatient clinic or long-term care facility
Ms. Mathews started learning about the impact of food on health in her 20s when she developed some medical issues and grew tired of managing them with medication. Dietary modifications alleviated some of her symptoms and sparked her interest in nutrition. Now her goal is to help patients improve their health and find balance through nutrition. Ms. Mathews said she elected to attend UTSW because the Coordinated Master’s Program allowed her to complete her degree and internship requirements in 24 months. She said faculty members did an excellent job of preparing students and placing them in rotations that met their interests.
“I am honored to be nominated for this award by faculty in the Clinical Nutrition Department. Receiving this award reminds me that it’s important to be of service and advocate for my patients and profession whenever necessary.”
Emily Worthington
Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Career plans:
- Pursue clinical opportunities in emergency medicine, family medicine, or pediatric medicine
Ms. Worthington said she chose the PA profession because it is a perfect coupling between medicine and service, two areas she is passionate about. She was also drawn to the team-based approach to patient care, the ability to practice medicine at a high level, and the flexibility of the profession. She elected to study at UTSW because of its prestigious reputation, close-knit culture, state-of-the-art facilities, and connection to the Dallas community, and said that her education has equipped her with vital tools as well as professional connections to take into her future career.
“I am extremely honored to receive the John Schermerhorn, M.D. Student Service Award for 2020. I have been continually devoted to community and professional service throughout my pre-collegiate, collegiate, and graduate careers. I believe that these experiences have made me who I am today. I am specifically inspired by the communities within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex that I have had the privilege to serve thus far, and I am looking forward to the opportunities that my future career as a PA will provide. I want to express my appreciation for the UT Southwestern PA faculty and staff, my classmates, as well as the School of Health Professions for providing me with the opportunity to succeed throughout my PA education.”