Donna Nyght, DNP’10, MS’93, BSN’77, CRNA
Serving as chair of the KU Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education since 2007, Dr. Nyght is concluding her successful career after 20 years on the faculty at the KU Medical Center. Congratulations to Dr. Nyght on her retirement!

Katie Brown, EdD, MS'94, RDN
Katie is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Health Professions Alumni Award. She and the other Alumni Awardees will be honored at a recognition ceremony on September 27, 2024, during KU Medical Center's annual Alumni Reunion Weekend.

Jason Rucker, PhD'14, MS'02
Dr. Rucker is a winner of the J. Warren Perry Award from the Journal of Allied Health. The editorial board selected the article he co-authored, "Beginning with the End in Mind: A Product Evaluation of Integrated Clinical Education Courses," as the best manuscript to appear in its fall 2023, winter 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 issues. Dr. Rucker, who holds both a Master’s and PhD from the School of Health Professions, serves as a clinical associate professor for the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training.

Linda D’Silva, PhD’16
Dr. D'Silva ntroduced rehabilitation methods to an area where the number of head and neck cancer patients is among the highest in the world. As part of her Fulbright visit, she was invited to speak to doctors in the Mangalore, India, region about the team and care practices at KU Medical Center. Read more about visit. 

Lauren Ptomey, PhD'13, MS'11
Dr. Ptomey is the recipient of the 2024 Early Career Achievement in Health Professions Alumni Award. Lauren and the other Alumni Awardees will be honored at a recognition ceremony on September 27, 2024, during KU Medical Center's annual Alumni Reunion Weekend.

Lauren is also the 2024 recipient of the University Scholarly Achievement Award. Watch her video.

Kelly McLeod, OTD'19
Dr. McLeod was published in the Advances in Neonatal Care, the official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Titled "The Safety of Body Wraps on Skin-to-Skin Care in the Neonatal Population," the article is based on her research into using body wraps within the neonatal intensive care unit and was the first study of its kind to be completed.

Jessica Whitfill Johnson, AUD'21
A recent issue of Kansas Alumni magazine features an article about Jessica Whitfill Johnson, a graduate of our doctoral program in audiology. It details her path from childhood hearing loss to helping people facing hearing challenges of their own today.

Joan Legler Schmutz, BS'57
July 23, 2024

Edra Gandee Edwards, BS'59
August 4, 2024

Karen L. Iselin, BS'63
March 6, 2024

Stephanie Streck Watson, BS'74
July 15, 2024

Christine Besser Gaughan, BS'75
July 22, 2024

Randall G. Stearns, Certificate of Emergency. Mobile Intensive Care Technology'76
July 4, 2024

Vicki S. O'Connor, Certificate of Medical Record Administration'80
July 11, 2024

Susan E. Brown, BS'90
July 28, 2024