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School of Health Professions

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School of Health Professions

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OT professor receives service award from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America

 

Hooding ceremonies mark scholar-to-professional transition for graduates in four programs

 

Four School of Health Professions programs held hooding and awards ceremonies for their graduates in May, adding another tradition to the memory-rich commencement season.

Here are a few takeaways from the ceremonies.

 

Doctor of Physical Therapy 

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program held its first hooding ceremony in 2024, making the May 16 event the second in the program’s history.

Communication Sciences and Disorders professor wins Award of Honors at Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention

 

Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education Angela Kennedy, SLPD, CCC-SLP, received the Award of Honors at the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, which was held in San Antonio in May.

The Award of Honors is awarded to speech-language pathologists and audiologists who have been members of TSHA for at least 10 years, while contributing significantly to TSHA and demonstrating outstanding leadership and professional excellence. 

Occupational therapy and PA programs celebrate white coat ceremonies

 

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Master of Physician Assistant Studies programs held white coat ceremonies in May to highlight their students’ transition to the clinical phase of their respective programs.

The OTD Class of 2026 gathered on May 9 for their white coat and recognition ceremony, which featured awards and recognitions of leadership, research and scholarship in addition to the traditional donning of the white coats.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2027 students stand during their white coat ceremony on May 12, 2025.

MS in Imaging Sciences program achieves three-year programmatic accreditation in radiologic technology, celebrates inaugural graduating class

 

The Master of Science in Imaging Sciences program received programmatic accreditation in radiologic technology from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) in April.

The accreditation award is for a period of three years — the maximum length for an initial accreditation, said Jamie Tucker, EdD, RT (R)(CT)(ARRT), assistant professor and MS in Imaging Sciences program director.

The students in the first cohort of the Master of Science in Imaging Sciences program stand in their graduation robes awaiting their hooding ceremony.

OT faculty present at American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference

Department of Occupational Therapy faculty presented at the AOTA INSPIRE | 2025 Annual Conference and Expo held April 3–5 in Philadelphia.

, co-presented “Exploring the Global Pandemic of COVID-19 on the Transition to OT Graduate Programs” with Roland Martinez, OTR, a recent graduate of the OTD program.

Assistant Professor Mei-Ling Lin, PhD, OTR, stands with a poster displaying her research at the American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference.

Medical Laboratory Sciences program faculty and students win multiple awards at state conference

 

Medical Laboratory Sciences Assistant Professor Tiffany R. Wafford, MTSM, MLS (ASCP)CMSBBCM, began her two-year term as president of the Texas Association of Clinical Laboratory Science at the organization’s annual meeting on April 11.

Wafford also received the TACLS Member of the Year Award.

Assistant Professor Tiffany R. Wafford, Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences

Physical therapy class of 2026 marks transition to clinical phase of program with white coat ceremony

 

During their white coat ceremony symbolizing the transition from the classroom to the clinical phase of their program, students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2026 received one more lesson from their keynote speaker.

Assistant Professor Selina Morgan, PT, DPT, NCS, shared her practice of choosing one word to focus on each year. This year, she told the students, her word is “gratitude.” She encouraged the students to focus on what their patients need — and to be grateful for their guidance. 

Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2026 gathers after their white coat ceremony

Respiratory care alum credits program with helping him achieve his dream of becoming a physician

 

For Martin Valdes, MD, RRT, the path to become a physician would take him to a heart failure intensive care unit as a respiratory therapist and through a hurricane.

Martin Valdes, MD, RRT

A second career brings a season of firsts for Master of Science in Imaging Sciences student

 

After 15 years working in the environmental consulting field, Laura Baird was ready for a change. 

“I worked with endangered species, wetland survey and bird surveys — with a lot of alone time and hiking, which I love,” she said. 

Master of Science in Imaging Sciences student Laura Baird poses on campus.

PT faculty present at American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting

 

Department of Physical Therapy faculty presented research and led educational sessions at the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting.

Held Feb. 13–15, APTA-CSM drew thousands of attendees to Houston. At the conference, Assistant Professor Anjali Sivaramakrishan, PT, PhD, was awarded the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Balance and Falls Special Interest Group Research Award.

Physical Therapy faculty pose at the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting.

Respiratory care class of 2026 receives white coats — and encouragement — at ceremony

 

With family and friends filling Holly Auditorium, the Respiratory Care Class of 2026 celebrated the responsibility that comes with caring for patients during their white coat ceremony on Feb. 7.

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