Alumni updates
Mark Bowden, doctorate in rehabilitation science ’09, received the 2013 Eugene Michels New Investigator Award from the American Physical Therapy Association. He is an assistant professor in the department of health sciences and research at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Kelly Cederquist, bachelor’s in health science ’10, graduated in December 2012 with a master’s in medical science degree from the Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program. She is excited to begin her career as a physician assistant in transplant surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Sherrilene Classen, master’s in public health ’04, was named professor and director of the Elborn College School of Occupational Therapy in London, Ontario, Canada.
Ben Dawsey Jr., doctorate in audiology ’00, was named the 2013 recipient of the Tony Whitson Award for Clinical Excellence in Audiology by the South Carolina Academy of Audiology. He is the founder of Audiology Associates of Spartanburg where he has provided hearing health services for more than 30 years.
George Giorgianni, master’s in business administration ’71 (health and hospital administration), is the senior director of surgical system sales and business development at Unibased Systems Architecture, Inc. He is responsible for leading sales efforts nationwide of surgery management systems.
Martin Huegel, bachelor’s in physical therapy ’79, received the 2013 Turner A. Blackburn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. He works for UF Health Shands Rehab at the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, and he also serves as the director of rehabilitation for the UF Athletic Association.
Roberta Isleib, doctorate in clinical psychology ’85, writing under the name Lucy Burdette, published “Topped Chef,” the third book in her Key West food critic mystery series. Her next book in the series, “Murder with Ganache,” will be released in February 2014.
Emmett Martin, master’s in public health ’12, was appointed accreditation coordinator for Suwannee and Lafayette County (Fla.) Health Departments. He is responsible for managing and coordinating the accreditation process at both county health departments as the Florida Department of Health seeks national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board.
Pamela K. Matura, master’s in rehabilitation counseling ’81, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education. She is the executive director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7.
Michael D. Means, master’s in business administration (health administration) ’74, retired in December 2011 and is loving life!
Jocelyn Mullins, master’s in public health ’09, was accepted into the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Jennifer Wilson Perigord, bachelor’s in ccupational therapy ’03, had a baby boy, Parker James, on August 18, 2013. He was born four weeks early at 5.4 pounds and 18 inches, but is healthy and growing fast!
Jamie Pomeranz, doctorate in rehabilitation science ’05, an associate professor in the PHHP department of behavioral science and community health, was selected by UF public health students for the 2013 Public Health Award for Faculty Excellence.
Freida Marie Prescott, bachelor’s in occupational therapy ’79, spent 20 years as an occupational therapist in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. She has relocated to Ft. Lauderdale and would love to hear from classmates in the area.
Leslie Gonzalez Rothi, doctorate in communication processes and disorders ’78, received the UF College of Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of an extraordinary academic career of leadership, compassionate care, teaching, research and discovery.
Nermine Khouzam Rubin, master’s in health administration/master’s in business administration ’86, is a principal of Thermal Balance Products, a division of Thermal Technology Services in Clearwater, Fla.
Geoffrey Silvera, master’s in health administration ’10, won the Best Student Poster award at AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting in Baltimore. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of health policy and administration at Penn State University.
Wayne Stephens, bachelor’s of health science in occupational therapy ’78, retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after 37 years of combined federal service with the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and Department of Defense (active duty). He continues to work as a consultant for the federal government on a part-time basis as the president of Workplace Resolutions, LLC. He and his wife Ginger now live in the beautiful north Georgia mountains, close to the historic city of Dahlonega.
Tiffany (Herron) Werhner, bachelor’s in health science (rehabilitative services) ’99, is a licensed mental health counselor in Clearwater, Fla. She is in private practice with a successful collaboration of psychiatrists, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and other licensed counselors, as part of Gulfcoast Behavioral Health.