Alumni Spotlight

Rebecca Morsch, MD, MPH was awarded the prestigious Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine at the 2013 Excellence in Medicine Awards ceremony. She is one of three recipients of this prestigious award this year. Dr. Morsch is the Director of the Community Based Health Care program of the Nazarene Health Ministry in Papua New Guinea, which trains community-chosen Community Health Volunteers and Village Birth Attendants in one of the United Nation's designated Least Developed Countries. Read more…

Jean Giddens, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, a nationally recognized expert in nursing education, curricula and evaluation, has been named dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing effective June 30.

Giddens currently serves as professor and executive dean of the College of Nursing at the University of New Mexico. The author of numerous journal articles, nursing textbooks and electronic media in nursing education, she is widely recognized for creating innovative teaching and learning models in nursing sciences, including The Neighborhood, a web-based virtual community used to enhance integrative approaches in nursing education. Read more…

Charles H. Cozean, Jr., MD'62, was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award. After graduating from University of Kansas School of Medicine, completing a rotating internship and residency in ophthalmology, he served in the U.S. Air Force in Abilene, Texas. He is an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at St. Louis University Hospital, has published more than 20 articles in numerous ophthalmology periodicals and has served as a faculty member for international courses at the University of Lublin in Poland and Friendship Hospital in Beijing, China. In addition to holding U.S. patents for an intraocular lens design and the capsulorhexitome, a surgical instrument, he was the principal investigator for VISX Inc.'s Excimer laser. Dr. Cozean established a learning resource center at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO., where he serves on the directorial board.

Thomas Coppinger, MD'62, received the Xavier Medal of Honor from Rockhurst University. This award honors an alumnus who has made a substantial impact through service. His volunteer leadership is extensive, including involvement through a variety of leadership positions at Rockhurst. Dr. Coppinger has been involved with the Rockhurst Century Club, Rockhurst University Alumni Board, Rockhurst Regents, serving as co-chair and chair, and most recently as chairman of the Rockhurst University Leaders Council. Read more...

Marilee Means, PhD'94, director of the School of Health Professions' cytotechnology program, has been selected to receive the 2012 American Society of Cytopathology's Cytotechnologist Award for Outstanding Achievement. A member of the ASC since 1978, Means serves on the ASC Executive Board and chairs the Cytotechnology Program Review Committee. Means recently organized a volunteer effort to create a core curriculum in molecular technology that's been adopted by the ASC for those taking the Molecular Biology certification test given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. The Award for Outstanding Achievement is the highest honor that the ASC bestows.

Rebecca Reddy, MD'98, opened a solo pediatrics practice in Wichita, bucking the trend of joining large medical groups and hospitals. Dr. Reddy is looking forward to seeing her own patients and developing a relationship with them. Read more...

Jared Grantham, MD'62, was honored by the American Society of Nephrology with the John P. Peters Award. His research into kidney disease is internationally renowned. Read more...

George Sheldon, MD'61, FACS, received the second Lifetime Achievement Award of the American College of Surgeons, during the Convocation ceremonies at the 2012 Clinical Congress. Dr. Sheldon is the Zack D. Owens Distinguished Professor of Surgery at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and a Past-President of the ACS. Read more about Dr. Sheldon's career and accomplishments that led to receiving this honor...

Jennifer Brull, MD'98, switched her practice to electronic health records and was the first certified "meaningful use" physician in Kansas. She says using electronic health records has greatly benefitted her patients in a number of ways. Read more...

Brad Poss, MD'87, started July 11 as the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the KU School of Medicine–Wichita. Dr. Poss will provide the leadership that ensures the academic quality and integrity of the 13 Wichita residency programs while maintaining accreditation. Read more...

Jeff Robinson, MD'11, is a recent Wichita graduate who's headed to the Mayo Clinic to start his Pediatric Residency. Check out this graduation profile of Dr. Robinson, who has a passion for medicine and music. Read more...