2021 Alumni Award Recipients

2021 Early Career Achievement in Health Professions Alumnus
Ming Xu, PhD'11
Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics & Genome Sciences
University of Connecticut Center on Aging

Honorary Health Professions Alumna
Marsha E. Melnick, PT, PhD
Professor Emerita
University of California San Francisco/San Francisco State University

Distinguished Health Professions Alumna
Alison L. Steiber, PhD, MS'98, I'93
Chief Science Officer
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Early Career Achievement in Medicine Alumna
Jennifer Bacani McKenney, MD'06, R'09
Owner and Family Physician, Bacani/McKenney Clinic
Assistant Dean for Rural Health Education, KU School of Medicine
County Medical Officer, Wilson County, KS Health Department

Honorary Medical Alumna
Michelle Niedens, LSCSW
Director of Cognitive Care Network
KU Alzheimer's Disease Center
University of Kansas Medical Center

Distinguished Medical Alumnus
James L. Vacek, MD, MS'10
Professor Emeritus, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
KU School of Medicine
University of Kansas Medical Center

Early Career Achievement in Nursing Alumna
Samantha A. Johnson, BSN'15
Unit Coordinator, The University of Kansas Health System
University of Kansas Medical Center

Honorary Nursing Alumna
Amy L. Garcia, DNP, RN, CENP
Clinical Associate Professor & Director, Office of Practice
KU School of Nursing
University of Kansas Medical Center

Distinguished Nursing Alumna
Gaylene (Bouska) Altman, PhD, RN, MN, BSN'67, CNS
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
University of Washington