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Health Professions

Learn about the mission of the alumni board and meet the current members.

Mission of the KU Health Professions Alumni Board

To serve as a resource for the Dean of the University of Kansas Medical Center’s School of Health Professions and to support and promote a positive image of the School of Health Professions and its advancement of professional and academic endeavors.

The board accomplishes this mission primarily by:

  • Advocating and promoting networking, fellowship and lifelong learning amongst present and former students from the School of Health Professions.
  • Assisting in guiding the activities of the Association, as managed by the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Director of Alumni Relations (“Director of Alumni Relations) or their designee.
  • Assisting the Dean of the School of Health Professions by providing key contacts, information, knowledge, skills or expertise on matters relating to alumni relations and the field of health care.

The KU Health Professions Alumni Association serves the University of Kansas Medical Center graduates, health profession students, the KU School of Health Professions and potential students. 

Learn more about the KU Health Professions Alumni Association

Current Board Members

Marlon Addison, DPT'17
Member-at-Large

Physical Therapy

Dr. Marlon Addison is a physical therapist at The University of Kansas Health System’s Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Services. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Kansas in 2014 and a doctorate degree from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions in 2017. Addison volunteers with the JaySTART Clinic, a free physical therapy and occupational rehabilitation clinic serving the Kansas City community.


Judy Bielby, MBA, BS'87, RHIA
Treasurer

Health Information Management

Judy Bielby, MBA, RHIA, is a coding educator and auditor at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri. Bielby received a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Record Administration (now known as Health Information Management) from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions in 1987 and an MBA from KU in 1995.


Kaitlyn Brown, MHSA’17, BS’16, RHIA
Membership/Elections Chair

Health Information Management

Kaitlyn Brown, MHSA, RHIA, is a clinical assistant professor in the University of Kansas Health Profession’s Department of Health Information Management. An alumna of KU's bachelor's degree program in health information management, Brown returned to the medical center campus in June 2019 where she now teaches and trains future professionals in this field. She earned a master's degree in health service administration from KU in 2017.


Darshan Deole, DPT'11
Member-at-Large

Physical Therapy

Dr. Darshan Deole is a Regional Director for SERC Physical Therapy. Deole received his Master of Science in Education from University of Kansas in 2007 and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions in 2001. He started with SERC Physical Therapy after graduation and has progressed through his professional career, from to staff clinician to Clinic Director role, a multi-site director role, Area Director role, and now to his current role as Regional Director.


Julie-Ann Dutton, MS'99, RD
Member-at-Large

Dietetics & Nutrition

Julie-Ann Dutton is a Dietitian/Study Coordinator at the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Atherosclerosis & Lipid-Apheresis Center. Dutton received her Master of Science in Dietetics & Nutrition from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions in 1999. She is a member of the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition, as well as the National Lipid Association.


Kayla Hamner, MOT'21, OTR/L
Member-at-Large

Occupational Therapy

Kayla Hamner is a licensed, registered occupational therapist at Tallgrass Creek (SNF) with Erickson Living. She also currently serves as Program Manager of Sensory Enhanced Aquatics at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) with the Occupational Therapy Education Department. Kayla received bachelor's degrees in health studies and psychology from the University of Central Missouri in 2017 and a master's degree in occupational therapy from the KU School of Health Professions in 2021.


John Harris, MBA, BS’12
Immediate Past President

Respiratory Care

John Harris is a Respiratory Therapist Supervisor in the Department of Respiratory Therapy at The University of Kansas Health System. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions in 2012. In 2017, Harris earned his Master of Business Administration from Baker University.


Tiffany Johnson, PhD, CCC‐A
Member-at-Large

Hearing & Speech

Dr. Tiffany Johnson, Doughty-Kemp Chair and Associate Professor, is the chair of the Department of Hearing and Speech at the University of Kansas Medical Center’s School of Health Professions and is Co-Director of the KU/KUMC Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology (1992) from Creighton University. She also received a masters in arts degree in Audiology (1995) and a doctor of philosophy degree in Hearing Science (2003) from the University of Iowa. She’s been a faculty member at the University of Kansas since 2006, moving to her chair and co-director roles in 2018. Dr. Johnson worked as a clinical audiologist in Nebraska and Minnesota prior to returning to the University of Iowa to complete her doctoral training. In addition to her administrative and teaching responsibilities, she directs the Auditory Research Lab, which has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the American Speech-Language Hearing Foundation, and the American Academy of Audiology Foundation for research related to hearing and hearing loss.


Drew Jones, MBA, BS'12, MLS(ASCP)cm
President

Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Andrew Jones is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He lectures for undergraduate courses in management principles in health care, bacteriology, parasitology and mycology. Jones also leads undergraduate student laboratory courses mycology/parasitology in the clinical laboratory science program. Additionally, Jones teaches Advanced Topics in the Doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS), serves on advisory councils for doctoral capstone projects and mentors DCLS students. In 2012, Jones earned a bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions. He became an ASCP-certified medical laboratory scientist the same year. In 2015, Jones earned his Masters in Business Administration from Baker University. Jones is currently pursuing a PhD in Biostatistics and Health Informatics with a focus in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Missouri Kansas City.


Donna Nyght, DNP’11, MS’93, BSN’77, CRNA
Member-at-Large

Nurse Anesthesia

Dr. Donna Nyght is a clinical assistant professor, department chair, and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education at the University of Kansas School of Health Professions. She has almost 30 years of CRNA experience, working 10 years as a staff nurse anesthetist in the Kansas City area for Anesthesia Associates of Kansas City and Northland Anesthesiology, Inc. Dr. Nyght served six years as a reservist in the Army Nurse Corps, joining the Army STRAP program while in nurse anesthesia training. Dr. Nyght received a BSN from the University of Kansas in 1977, and an MS in adult education from Pittsburgh State University in 1991. In 1993, Dr. Nyght graduated from KU with an MS in Nurse Anesthesia. In 2010, she earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the KU School of Nursing.


Natalie Scott, OTD’21, MOT’17, BS’15, OTR/L
President-Elect

Occupational Therapy

Dr. Natalie Scott is an Occupational Therapist, OTR/L at Jefferson Healthcare in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy Education at the University of Kansas School of Health Professions. Dr. Scott received her bachelor of science in occupational therapy is 2015, a master of occupational therapy is 2017 and a doctor of occupational therapy in 2021.


Francie Stoner, BS'73
Member-at-Large

Medical Technology

Francie Stoner received a bachelor's degrees in microbiology from the University of Kansas in 1972 and medical technology in 1973. Currently, she is president and founder of the LAUGHH Foundation and serves as a clinical assistant professor in the University of Kansas School of Health Profession’s Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. She is CEO of DifCom Designs, LLC working to help people learn great ways to communicate. She also served as an executive at Cerner Corporation for 29 years. In 2011, Stoner was awarded the Soul of First Hand Award – only the second recipient of this award – for her dedication to changing the lives of children. Also that year, she received the KU School of Health Professions Distinguished Alumni Award for her work in changing health care around the world. She currently serves as President of the University of Kansas School of Health Professions Board of Advocates.


LesLee Taylor, Ph.D., LAT, ATC BS‘93
Member-at-Large

Athletic Training

Dr. LesLee Taylor is currently the Vice-chair for the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training and Founding Program Director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education administration and as an educator and has practiced clinically in both the collegiate and secondary school settings. Dr. Taylor earned her master’s degree from the University of Arizona and her PhD from Texas Tech University. She is a Kansas native and has her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.


Become a Board Member

Interested in becoming a KU Health Professions Alumni Board Member? Fill out this form >> 

Board Member Expectations

  • Attend meetings of the board annually, at own expense
  • Adhere to the Bylaws of the Association
  • Board members should maintain membership in the Association, as well as actively promote membership in the Association.
  • Participate and represent the Association at various events and activities supported by the KUMC Alumni Association
  • Identify and recruit volunteer leaders and financial support for the Association

Terms of Office

  • Terms begin at the first board meeting of the year
  • President: two-year term
  • President-elect: two-year term
  • Immediate Past President: two-year term
  • Treasurer: two-year term, appointed by president
  • Membership and Elections Chair: two-year term
  • Member-at-Large positions: three-year term
Alumni Relations