Sebelius, Hemenway among award winners at KU Medical Center Gala

Oct 22, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The University of Kansas Medical Center bestowed two awards upon Kansas leaders at its annual Gala celebration on October 17. 

The Life Sciences Leadership Award was presented to U.S. Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  The award recognizes significant and sustained effort by a remarkable community leader to advance the cause of the life sciences in Kansas and the Kansas City region.

The Distinguished Service Medallion was presented to Robert Hemenway, PhD, former chancellor of the University of Kansas.  The medallion honors a civic leader whose commitment and dedication to the University of Kansas Medical Center has significantly advanced its mission and, in turn, improved the Kansas City community.

“The Gala provides us with the opportunity to recognize the outstanding efforts of two dedicated advocates for the University of Kansas Medical Center,” said Barbara Atkinson, MD, executive vice chancellor, KU Medical Center, and executive dean, KU School of Medicine.  “These awards reflect our desire to bring notice to the many outstanding individuals whose efforts contribute to our success.  As an academic medical center, our strength is a reflection of our faculty, the excellence of our students and the support of many others who choose to invest their time and resources in advancing our mission.”

The Gala coincided with Alumni Weekend, which provides alumni of the Schools of Allied Health, Medicine and Nursing an opportunity to reunite, tour the campus, obtain continuing education credit and learn about the current education, research and clinical efforts of the Medical Center.

Nine annual alumni awards were also given at the Gala for career achievements of alumni and honorary alumni of the three schools:

Distinguished Alumnus Awards

·        Allied Health – Nancy R. Hudson, MS, RD ’69. Hudson is currently assistant program director for dietetics in the Department of Nutrition at the University of California–Davis. She has been able to transform dietetics education through working with students and entities outside of the university environment.

·        Medicine – Robert G. Gish, MD ’80.  Dr. Gish is a hepatologist and medical director of the Liver Disease Management and Transplant Program at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He has made it his mission to help stop the spread and devastating effects of hepatitis B and C, and during the last two decades of work he has become a national and international leader in hepatology and the study of viral hepatitis.

·        Nursing – Janalee Isaacson, RN, BSN ’93, MSN ’98. Isaacson is a professor of nursing at Johnson County Community College. She is one of the founders of the RN Refresher Academy at Johnson County Community College, which helps RNs who have been away from the profession for awhile and want to re-enter the workforce.

Honorary Alumnus Awards

·        Allied Health – Virginia F. Johnston, PhD.  Dr. Johnston was the first chair of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at KU Medical Center’s School of Allied Health. Under her leadership, the curriculum was updated, and new courses were developed in education and management.  She currently lives in Lawrence.

·        Medicine – Frederic C. Chang, MD.  Dr. Chang has had a long and exceptional career at the KU School of Medicine–Wichita.  He has served as a professor of surgery, associate dean for academic and student affairs, associate dean for graduate medical education, interim dean, and emeritus professor of surgery.  

·        Nursing – Nancy E. Dunton, PhD.  Dr. Dunton is a research professor for the School of Nursing and the Department of Health Policy and Management at KU Medical Center. She has transformed the way hospitals around the country use data to improve quality improvement and nursing administration activities.

Early Career Achievement

·        Allied Health – Brian T. Stewart, MSPT ‘01, CSCS.  Stewart is the chief marketing and acquisitions officer for the Athletic and Rehabilitation Center, a large network of private practice physical therapy clinics in the Greater Kansas City area. He is also dedicated to training physical therapy students at KU Medical Center.

·        Medicine – Karin Porter-Williamson, MD ’98.  Dr. Porter-Williamson is currently the medical director for palliative care services for The University of Kansas Hospital. She works tirelessly to incorporate the principles of palliative medicine into the fiber of medical care for all individuals facing serious illness and life change.

·        Nursing – Julie E. Wilhauk, RN, MSN ‘98, CS, FNP.   Wilhauk is an inaugural member of the University of Kansas Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Her education and wide-ranging experience as a nurse have allowed her to exhibit best nursing practices, and she is often lauded by many of her patients for her sensitivity and her informative explanations of diseases or procedures.

“The recipients of our alumni awards reflect the great traditions of excellence at KU,” said Atkinson.  “They represent the best of our institution, and we are pleased that so many alumni joined us for this celebration.”

The theme of the 2009 Gala is “No Limits,” which also served to honor the gold-medal, or 50^th anniversary, class of 1959.

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