Each year the School of Health Professions recognizes outstanding students for their talents and service. Thirteen students were honored at an assembly on Nov. 3 with awards for service, leadership, research, clinical skills, and overall excellence.

Below, learn more about each of these outstanding student award winners and what has inspired them to pursue careers in health professions.

Congratulations to the following honorees:

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John Schermerhorn, M.D., Student Service Award

This award is named for Dr. Schermerhorn, who served as Dean of the School of Health Professions from 1971 to 1986. He guided and shaped the School, then known as the UT Southwestern School of Allied Health Professions, through its early years. The Schermerhorn Award is presented to students who have made outstanding contributions in service activities related to their profession.

 

Richelle Lewis

Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (2022)

Ms. Lewis became interested in physical therapy through personal experience. A competitive gymnast as a child for nine years, she suffered a number of injuries, including several ankle injuries. Physical therapists worked with her throughout her recovery, sparking an interest in how the body works.

During her School of Health Professions studies, Ms. Lewis took part in a patient navigator program for people experiencing homelessness. She took an elective course to learn about the needs of homeless people prior to joining a UT Southwestern multidisciplinary team that works with them.

“We helped them with things like setting up doctors’ appointments and signing up for online classes. I really loved it. During school, you spend the majority of your time doing book work, so it was nice to help real people achieve real goals,” Ms. Lewis said.

She also worked with an organization called Tribe Wellness that promotes exercise for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Ms. Lewis, who grew up in Flower Mound, Texas, earned her undergraduate degree in kinesiology/exercise science at UT Austin in 2019.

 

“I was always interested in biology, anything where I could learn about the human body, coming from a gymnastics background.”

 

Gabi Griffith

Degree: Master of Prosthetics-Orthotics (2022)

As a biomedical engineering undergraduate, Ms. Griffith went to Kenya for two weeks for a school research project. Her interest in prosthetics-orthotics was sparked when she witnessed the joy of a boy as he received a prosthesis for an amputated leg. The boy was eager to play soccer.

Continuing her passion for helping those with physical disabilities, Ms. Griffith has done extensive volunteer work with adaptive sports. She is a volunteer with United Rocks and Go Beyond, two organizations that provide adaptive rock climbing activities for children with cognitive difficulties or physical disabilities.

Additionally, she is the Class President for the Prosthetics-Orthotics Program, which meant she participated in student leadership conferences discussing such issues as parking and financial aid.

Ms. Griffith grew up in Maryland and graduated from Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in 2021. Following graduation from UT Southwestern this weekend, she will do a residency in orthotics at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas. She hopes to follow that with a residency in prosthetics and certification in both disciplines.

“When I was in Kenya, I saw a boy of about 9 years old who had a below-the-knee amputation get a prosthesis that would allow him to play soccer. Seeing the joy that brought him was the moment that inspired me to enter this field.”

 

Cristina Garcia

Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (2022)

Ms. Garcia is not only the first member of her family to earn a graduate degree, but also the first to graduate from high school. “I have been the one to pave the way for education in my family,” she said. “UT Southwestern gave me the tools to succeed, and also helped provide a pathway to give back.”

When Ms. Garcia completed her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, she worked in research at Baylor College of Medicine. During that time, Ms. Garcia shadowed a physician assistant who worked predominantly with Hispanic patients, and recognized the need for more representation in this population. “Being a Mexican-American woman myself, I thought that I could help bridge that gap.”

At the University of St. Thomas, Ms. Garcia was involved with the UNICEF club. “We had the opportunity to go to Washington and advocate for the Reach Every Mother and Child Act, which has the goal of ending maternal and child deaths.”

She also served as the global health chair for her class at the University of St. Thomas.

Ms. Garcia plans to go into pediatric primary care.

“One of my passions is to help address inequities in medical care. Community service has helped me stay connected with my community so that I can better understand the challenges and barriers they may face when it comes to receiving quality medical care.”

L. Ruth Guy, Ph.D., Student Leadership Award

This award honors L. Ruth Guy, Ph.D., who co-founded the School of Medical Technology, which became part of the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions in 1969. Dr. Guy was an innovator in medical technology and blood banking, and she helped develop a rape test kit in the 1950s. She was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1989. This award is presented to students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills.

 

Megan Pierson

Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (2022)

Ms. Pierson, who grew up in Grapevine, Texas, attended a health care career day during high school. One of the speakers was a physical therapist who spoke with such emotion about her work that she teared up. Ms. Pierson, who was just 14 at the time, knew that day that she had found her own future.

She attended the University of North Texas in Denton, graduating in 2019 with a degree in integrative studies with concentrations in biology, psychology, and kinesiology. During her undergraduate days, she held several leadership roles in UNT’s pre-physical therapy organization.

While at UTSW, she has served in state-level leadership roles in the Texas Student Physical Therapy Association, serving as Vice President and then President. She is also one of the student founders of the Society of First Generation Students for the School of Health Professions and served as Vice President and President of the group.

After she graduates this weekend, Ms. Pierson is excited to have the opportunity to work at a private practice clinic in West Linn, Oregon, where she will have a caseload split between orthopedics and pelvic floor care.

“I’m very excited to be moving to Oregon, and I’ll be moving after Christmas at the end of the year. I’m a very outdoorsy person who loves hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. In fact, I broke my arm rock climbing this year before the start of my pediatric rotation. I missed a couple of days, but fortunately was able to complete the rotation.”

 

Aisha Khan

Degree: Master of Clinical Nutrition (2023)

When Ms. Khan was a child, her father was diagnosed with diabetes. “To support my father, the whole family learned about nutrition and changed the way we ate,” she said.

Ms. Khan grew up in California, but did her undergraduate studies at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, where she earned a degree in nutrition and dietetics in 2019. Her sister did her pediatrics residency at UT Southwestern and spoke highly of the institution, so when Ms. Khan was applying to master’s programs, UTSW was an easy call. She will graduate in August 2023.

At UT Southwestern, Ms. Khan served as a student member of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. The international organization works to protect the quality of education programs for students preparing for nutrition and dietetics careers.

“My passion for the field of nutrition started with my dad’s diagnosis, but grew with seeing how much effect diet and nutrition can have on conquering chronic diseases, and what an impact it can have on quality of life. Along with working as a clinical dietitian, I am really interested in advocacy and leadership to advance the future of my field.”

 

Andie Keller

Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (2022)

Ms. Keller, who grew up in Decatur, Texas, always planned to be a physician assistant, but she took a slight detour – call it a parallel path – getting there.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas A&M University in 2017, then worked two years on a cardiac progressive telemetry unit at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. “I initially wanted to be a PA, but worried I wouldn’t get in, so I changed my major to nursing after getting my prerequisites for the physician assistant program,” Ms. Keller said. Pursuing an advanced practice degree brought her back to her original goal.

The award recognizes her leadership in several roles. “I was the School of Health Professions representative on the UT Southwestern Student Leadership Council, and also the PA Class of 2022 representative on the School of Health Professions Student Advisory Committee. From working on those councils, I was then nominated to be a UT Southwestern representative on the University of Texas System Student Leadership Committee,” she said. Ms. Keller was the first physician assistant student from UTSW to sit on that body.

Having been coached by great leaders, she hopes to become a clinician and preceptor herself.

“Being surrounded by all the powerful leaders at UT Southwestern makes it easier to be a leader yourself. I was continually surrounded by people who were always doing extra and that inspires you to do more as well.”

Raul Caetano, M.D., Ph.D., Student Research Award

This award was established in honor of Dr. Caetano, who served as Dean of the School of Health Professions from 2006 to 2014. Dr. Caetano has published many peer-reviewed papers, including extensive research into alcohol problems in U.S. ethnic minorities. This award is presented to students in recognition of noteworthy research they conducted during their studies.

 

John Giacona, M.P.A.S., PA-C

Degree: Ph.D. Applied Clinical Research (graduation date 2023 or later)

Mr. Giacona has been a star at the School of Health Professions for several years. In 2020, he received both the L. Ruth Guy, Ph.D., Student Leadership Award and the Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award while working toward his Master of Physician Assistant Studies at UT Southwestern, which he completed in 2021.

Mr. Giacona is currently working as a physician assistant in the Hypertension Clinic at the UT Southwestern Clinical Heart and Vascular Clinic while working on his Ph.D. in applied clinical research. His dissertation will come from his work in the Clinic. His proposal includes evaluating the usefulness of standing office blood pressures as a diagnostic tool, and the impact of nutritional factors on lipoprotein metabolism and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in pre-hypertensive adults.

Research is a team effort, said Mr. Giacona, who makes a point of crediting his co-workers and, especially, his Ph.D. adviser, Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and in the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. “She’s always pushing me to be a better clinician and investigator,” he said.

Mr. Giacona, who earned his bachelor’s degree at UT Austin in 2017, said his overarching goal is to be a successful clinician-scientist.

“I had a pretty impactful PA who served as my primary care provider when I was growing up, so that influenced my career choice. But I like the opportunity to do things outside of clinical work as well. I’ve always been interested in what drives medical decision-making, and I want to be a part of discovering better ways to care for patients and enhance their outcomes.”

 

Brandon Kelley

Degree: Master of Clinical Nutrition (2023)

Mr. Kelley’s decision to study clinical nutrition was influenced by his family history. “Growing up, my family and I had ferocious appetites for the typical American diet. My mother, father, and brother were all obese and opted for lap-band surgery. Yet their diets remained unchanged, and their weight loss was minimal,” he said.

The Fort Worth, Texas, native earned his undergraduate degree at Texas Woman’s University in 2021. He then chose UT Southwestern for his master’s degree studies because of the program’s emphasis on both clinical work and research.

His master’s thesis work is a literature review exploring possible anti-inflammatory benefits of the bacterium Bifidobacterium longum in treating leptin resistance caused by chronic inflammation. Leptin is a hormone that helps make you feel full, and the bacterium he is studying is found in the digestive tract. “Other plans include compiling a dossier on the alleged purpose and benefits of various probiotic supplements for consumers,” said Mr. Kelley, who will graduate in August 2023.

“When I finally decided to begin college, I chose the field of nutrition. Most of my research has been on nutrition policy and the study of satiety. I sought to understand some factors that led to my family’s situation and seek solutions to prevent this situation from happening to other families.”

 

Rachel Archer

Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (2022)

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students in Ms. Archer’s physician assistant studies class were limited in their interactions with classmates and others, conducting many of their interactions virtually. She turned that experience into research examining the impact of virtual learning.

Ms. Archer said she believes it will become common to mix in-person interprofessional education activities with virtual ones. She is hoping to get her research published and is working with faculty advisers on edits.

The Flower Mound, Texas, native earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from UT Austin in 2019. Following graduation this weekend, she already has her first job lined up: working as a hospitalist at a Dallas medical facility starting in the spring of 2023.

One of her long-term goals is to work with medically underserved patients. She also likes the idea of working at an academic medical center so that she can pursue research opportunities.

“As part of my master’s project, I conducted a literature review on virtual education and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted interprofessional education. I looked at educational opportunities involving students from multiple disciplines, such as medical students and PA students. I found that in general, most interprofessional education was done in person prior to the pandemic, so a lot changed. During the pandemic, instead of in-person interactions, there were live videoconference platforms, going through activities together.”

Gordon Green, M.D., Student Clinician Award

This award honors Dr. Green, who was Dean of the School of Health Professions from 1991 to 2006. Dr. Green, a pediatrician and Professor Emeritus in the School of Health Professions, also participated in studies of birth defects at the National Center for Toxicological Research and served a six-year tour of duty with the U.S. Public Health Service. He was director of the Dallas County Health Department and health authority for the city and county of Dallas for seven years. This award recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional clinical skills during their training.

 

Thomas Samaan

Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (2022)

Mr. Samaan was initially interested in becoming a physician. But after shadowing a physical therapist who did manual therapy, he became interested in that field and the systemic approach practitioners take to treat the whole body. “They assess the entire movement system and how it works together, as opposed to just looking at one piece of the puzzle,” he said.

The physical therapist Mr. Samaan shadowed was from UT Southwestern, and that influenced his choice of school. “A big part of it was UT Southwestern’s reputation and the excellence that they are known for. Additionally, though, the PT that I shadowed from UTSW was very diligent about staying up to date with the current research, and that work ethic really made an impression on me.”

While Mr. Samaan was first drawn to physical therapy by manual and orthopedic therapy, he has since developed an interest in neurological physical therapy. UT Southwestern’s gait disorder clinic drew his interest.

The Grapevine, Texas, native, who graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019, said he feels especially grateful to have received this honor because he has so many highly skilled classmates.

“I am very interested in neurologic physical therapy and the potential that rehabilitation technology has in the field. I’m hoping to complete a neurologic physical therapy residency and I would ultimately like to use my PT background to serve as a consultant for rehabilitation technology companies.”

 

Adriana De La Rue

Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (2022)

After graduating from Baylor University, Ms. De La Rue got an EMT certification and ended up working as an emergency room technician at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital for two years.

As a high school student in Carrollton, Texas, Ms. De La Rue planned on becoming a physical therapist. However, during her freshman year of college, she had become more aware of the role played by physician assistants. She joined a pre-PA society at Baylor and was able to visit with professionals in the field, which clarified what their roles were and solidified her interest in the profession.

Having worked at UT Southwestern, she naturally wanted to earn her master’s here when the time came to take the next step in her education. During her clinical rotations, she said, she always asked for feedback from her preceptors. “Sometimes it’s hard to hear feedback, but it is always going to make you a better provider and a safer provider,” Ms. De La Rue said.

Another attitude she brought with her was to treat every patient with respect and compassion, and to really listen to what they say.

After Ms. De La Rue graduates this weekend, she hopes to find a job that gives her a broad variety of experience, such as in emergency room medicine or internal medicine.

“I got a lot of experience being part of a critical care team [working in the ER at UT Southwestern]. I enjoyed walking with patients in what can be a dark and scary time for them. Being in an emergency situation can be nerve-racking, and getting to encourage patients was great.”

 

Brooke Evans

Degree: Master of Clinical Nutrition (2023)

During her junior year at Rice University, Ms. Evans took a nutrition class. The professor who taught the course was also the sports dietitian for the school’s sports teams. Ms. Evans, a runner who is currently training for a half-marathon, was so impressed by what her professor had to say about nutrition for athletes that she decided to enter that field.

So far, her clinical experiences have been a highlight of her education. One patient experience particularly stands out. The patient was malnourished, and Ms. Evans had a 30- to 40-minute conversation with him about his life as well as his nutrition status. “He asked if I would come back, because he had enjoyed talking. I was able to go back that afternoon and talk with him some more, and it made me feel good that I had been able to interact with him in a meaningful way,” she said.

Ms. Evans, who graduated from Rice in 2021, hopes to someday be a sports nutritionist for a college or professional team. Team nutritionists, she explained, oversee things like meal and hydration plans, body-composition testing, supplement recommendations, and game-day meals. She is also interested in working with patients who have eating disorders, especially pediatric patients.

“I spent three weeks over the summer at Texas Health Resources in Fort Worth. I worked with diabetic patients, patients with chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and patients with feeding tubes. I loved every minute of it.”

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award is awarded to a student deemed to have shown overall excellence.

 

Martin Ortuno

Degree: Master of Prosthetics-Orthotics (2022)

Mr. Ortuno learned about the field of orthotics and prosthetics during a biomechanics class he took during his junior year in college.

He was born in California; lived in Morelia, Mexico, from age 7 to 11; and then lived in Houston through high school. Mr. Ortuno spent the next four years in the U.S. Army, including a year of service in Turkey, before returning home and starting college. He earned an associate’s degree at Houston Community College and then a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Houston in 2020.

Only a handful of schools offer programs in prosthetics-orthotics, and Mr. Ortuno said he wanted to go to a public school so that his military benefits would cover the tuition. That made it an easy decision to apply to UT Southwestern.

Mr. Ortuno spent a lot of time volunteering as a UT Southwestern student, including participating in community outreach events showcasing the work done at the Medical Center. He was also a member of the School of Health Professions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

After graduating this weekend, Mr. Ortuno plans to work at a clinic in Chesapeake, Virginia, assisting patients with scoliosis. He is also strongly interested in working with prostheses that are controlled by electrical impulses from muscles.

“I love that we are able to help people reach their full physical potential. Most of the patients have some sort of limitations that keep them from doing things they love and we help them overcome that, providing them either with orthotic devices or prostheses allowing them to do whatever they want.”