KBOR names KU Medical Center faculty and staff of the year
The Kansas Board of Regents’ annual awards recognize outstanding contributions of faculty and staff members at state universities.
Four University of Kansas Medical Center employees have been named Kansas Board of Regents 2026 Faculty and Staff of the Year. The four were among six employees at the University of Kansas who won the award.
The honor recognizes faculty and staff at Kansas’ six state universities for their contributions to teaching, student success, research, institutional excellence and Kansas communities.
KU Medical Center honorees are Douglas Wright, tenured faculty; Alice Zhang, tenure-track faculty; Jessica Hamilton, non tenure-track faculty; and AJ Woodworth, staff.
“Faculty inspire students, advance discovery and contribute to innovation that strengthens our economy and communities. Staff bring leadership, dedication and essential support to our state universities every day,” said KBOR chair Alysia Johnston. “The winners of the 2026 awards provide exemplary service to students and to our state.”
Douglas Wright
Douglas Wright, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine.
Wright is an internationally respected neuroscientist whose research had advanced understanding of peripheral nerve biology, chronic pain and diabetic neuropathy, according to his nomination. He has also demonstrated a strong commitment to the next generation of scientists, serving as a mentor for many students and junior faculty. Wright has elevated the state’s biomedical profile through his long-standing role as director of the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, or K-INBRE.
He earned his doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky and his bachelor’s from Illinois State University, both in biology. Wright has worked at KU Medical Center since 1997
Alice Zhang
Alice Zhang, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy Education, with a joint appointment in the Department of Pediatrics.
Zhang is a behavior analyst, researcher and disability rights advocate, and a highly productive early career researcher, peers said in nominating her. In her teaching and clinical work, she is known for her ability to engage students by making complex concepts relevant and accessible. She is a leader in her field, serving on a number of professional boards and committees.
Zhang received her doctorate degree in behavioral psychology and her master’s in applied behavioral analysis from KU. She has a master’s in applied psychology and a bachelor’s in psychology from Beijing Forestry University. Zhang joined KU Medical Center in 2020.
Jessica Hamilton
Jessica Hamilton, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Hamilton is recognized for innovation and leadership that strengthens the academic medical center’s signature intersection of clinical service, education and scholarship. She founded the department’s Psychodiagnostic Evaluations for Medical Interventions Program, or PEMI, a clinical innovation that has grown into a major part of the clinical enterprise and a valuable training experience for students, interns and fellows, her nomination said. Her substantial scholarly work reflects her commitment to improving clinical care and training.
She completed her doctorate degree in clinical health psychology and master’s in psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Park University. Hamilton has worked at KU Medical Center since 2014.
AJ Woodworth
AJ Woodworth, M.Arch., is director of projects and planning at KU Medical Center.
Woodworth oversees building construction, demolition and renovation while also planning for future needs of the medical center campus. Callie Long, KU vice chancellor for operations, commended his leadership through challenging projects.
“He is thoughtful, inventive and solution-oriented, allowing him to uniquely meet the complex requirements of our faculty, staff, students and community,” Long said.
Woodworth received his master’s degree in architecture, with specialization in structural engineering, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Woodworth has worked for KU Medical Center since 2017.