Alumni updates

Farheen Akbar, master’s in public health ’10, joined the National Institute on Aging’s Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation as a scientific program analyst.

Taj Azarian, doctorate in epidemiology ’15, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Daniel Bagner, doctorate in clinical psychology ’07, was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor of psychology at Florida International University. He recently received his first R01 grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to fund his research program.

Samantha Cutler, bachelor’s in health science, communication sciences and disorders ’11, received the 2015 Member Honors Award for Outstanding Service to the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. She is a master’s candidate in speech-language pathology at Nova Southeastern University.

Sandie Ha, doctorate in epidemiology ’15, is a postdoctoral fellow in the epidemiology branch of the Division of Intramural Population Health Research at the National Institutes of Health.

Melissa Hall, doctorate in audiology ’10, and Dyanne Herrera, master’s in public health ’09, were named UF Outstanding Young Alumni at a ceremony held in April. Hall is a clinical assistant professor in the PHHP department of speech, language, and hearing sciences. Herrera is the chief of the Office of Assessment and Evaluation in the Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Audrey Hazamy, doctorate in communication sciences and disorders ’15, is an assistant professor in the department of speech and communication arts and sciences at Brooklyn College.

Ching-I Hung, doctorate in communication sciences and disorders ’15, is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of communication sciences and disorders at Temple University.

Averi Belle Hinaman

Averi Belle Hinaman

Brian Hinaman, master’s in occupational therapy ’01, and Tiffani Hill Hinaman, bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders ’02, welcomed their first child, daughter Averi Belle Hinaman, on April 10, 2015.

Melanie Quitos Howell, bachelor’s in occupational therapy ’03, finished the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy’s certification course and is now a certified lymphedema therapist working in an outpatient hospital setting.

Roberta Isleib, doctorate in clinical psychology ’85, writing under the name Lucy Burdette, has published “Fatal Reservations,” the sixth book in her Key West food critic mystery series.

Consuelo Kreider, doctorate in rehabilitation science ’13, was named a member of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Academy of Research Excellence. She is a research assistant professor in the PHHP department of occupational therapy.

Chad Neilsen

Chad Neilsen

Chad Neilsen, master’s in public health epidemiology track ’09, recently accepted the position of director of infection prevention and control for UF Health Jacksonville. In addition, he has been assigned as an individual mobilization augmentee to the Epidemiology Consult Service within the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.

Emily Plowman, doctorate in rehabilitation science ’05, joined the PHHP department of speech, language, and hearing sciences faculty from the University of South Florida, where she directed the Neuromotor Speech and Swallowing Restoration Laboratory.

Allison and Joey Trainor with son Joseph

Allison and Joey Trainor with son Joseph

Allison (Alie) Trainor, master’s in public health ’13, recently accepted a position with the UF Health Cancer Center. She and her husband Joey welcomed their first child, Joseph Richard Trainor, on July 23, 2015.

Jessica Velazquez-Lopez, bachelor’s in health science ’00, master’s in rehabilitation counseling ’01 and master’s in occupational therapy ’12, received the UF Fieldwork Educator of the Year Award from the Florida Occupational Therapy Educational Consortium. She is a therapist at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.