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Hooding ceremonies mark scholar-to-professional transition for graduates in four programs
Four School of Health Professions programs held hooding and awards ceremonies for their graduates in May, adding another tradition to the memory-rich commencement season.
Here are a few takeaways from the ceremonies.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program held its first hooding ceremony in 2024, making the May 16 event the second in the program’s history.
Communication Sciences and Disorders professor wins Award of Honors at Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention
Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education Angela Kennedy, SLPD, CCC-SLP, received the Award of Honors at the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, which was held in San Antonio in May.
The Award of Honors is awarded to speech-language pathologists and audiologists who have been members of TSHA for at least 10 years, while contributing significantly to TSHA and demonstrating outstanding leadership and professional excellence.
Occupational therapy and PA programs celebrate white coat ceremonies
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Master of Physician Assistant Studies programs held white coat ceremonies in May to highlight their students’ transition to the clinical phase of their respective programs.
The OTD Class of 2026 gathered on May 9 for their white coat and recognition ceremony, which featured awards and recognitions of leadership, research and scholarship in addition to the traditional donning of the white coats.
MS in Imaging Sciences program achieves three-year programmatic accreditation in radiologic technology, celebrates inaugural graduating class
The Master of Science in Imaging Sciences program received programmatic accreditation in radiologic technology from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) in April.
The accreditation award is for a period of three years — the maximum length for an initial accreditation, said Jamie Tucker, EdD, RT (R)(CT)(ARRT), assistant professor and MS in Imaging Sciences program director.
OT faculty present at American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference
Department of Occupational Therapy faculty presented at the AOTA INSPIRE | 2025 Annual Conference and Expo held April 3–5 in Philadelphia.
Assistant Professor Mei-Ling Lin, PhD, OTR, co-presented “Exploring the Global Pandemic of COVID-19 on the Transition to OT Graduate Programs” with Roland Martinez, OTR, a recent graduate of the OTD program.
Medical Laboratory Sciences program faculty and students win multiple awards at state conference
Medical Laboratory Sciences Assistant Professor Tiffany R. Wafford, MTSM, MLS (ASCP)CMSBBCM, began her two-year term as president of the Texas Association of Clinical Laboratory Science at the organization’s annual meeting on April 11.
Wafford also received the TACLS Member of the Year Award.
Physical therapy class of 2026 marks transition to clinical phase of program with white coat ceremony
During their white coat ceremony symbolizing the transition from the classroom to the clinical phase of their program, students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2026 received one more lesson from their keynote speaker.
Assistant Professor Selina Morgan, PT, DPT, NCS, shared her practice of choosing one word to focus on each year. This year, she told the students, her word is “gratitude.” She encouraged the students to focus on what their patients need — and to be grateful for their guidance.
Respiratory care alum credits program with helping him achieve his dream of becoming a physician
For Martin Valdes, MD, RRT, the path to become a physician would take him to a heart failure intensive care unit as a respiratory therapist and through a hurricane.
A second career brings a season of firsts for Master of Science in Imaging Sciences student
After 15 years working in the environmental consulting field, Laura Baird was ready for a change.
“I worked with endangered species, wetland survey and bird surveys — with a lot of alone time and hiking, which I love,” she said.
PT faculty present at American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting
Department of Physical Therapy faculty presented research and led educational sessions at the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting.
Held Feb. 13–15, APTA-CSM drew thousands of attendees to Houston. At the conference, Assistant Professor Anjali Sivaramakrishan, PT, PhD, was awarded the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Balance and Falls Special Interest Group Research Award.
Respiratory care class of 2026 receives white coats — and encouragement — at ceremony
With family and friends filling Holly Auditorium, the Respiratory Care Class of 2026 celebrated the responsibility that comes with caring for patients during their white coat ceremony on Feb. 7.
Honoring the people who have supported them along their respiratory care journey was a major theme of the ceremony. Faculty repeatedly reminded students of that crucial support, which was on display when parents, children, spouses, friends and other loved ones helped students into their white coats on stage.
Communication Sciences and Disorders professor selected for a 2025 Presidential Excellence Award
Assistant Professor Catherine Torrington Eaton, PhD, CCC-SLP, will receive a 2025 Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence–Emerging.
“The recognition of the work that I do put into teaching is quite an honor because it is the common theme to pretty much of all my activities,” Eaton said. “Students are involved; we’re figuring out a way for the next generation to do better patient-centered care.”
Respiratory care students, faculty participate in pulmonary lab for first-year medical students
In what has become an annual interprofessional education experience, Department of Respiratory Care faculty and students participated in a pulmonary clinical skills lab for first-year medical students.
Emergency Health Sciences faculty present research at national meeting
Department of Emergency Health Sciences faculty presented research abstracts on topics ranging from whole blood transfusion to robotically guided intubation at the 2025 National EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) Annual Meeting, held in San Diego in January.
Faculty and fellows of the department presented nine research abstracts at the meeting.
Respiratory care student to receive award from Southern Association of Health Professions Deans
Respiratory Care master’s student Brianna Guerin has been awarded the Southern Association of Health Professions Deans 2024 Student Leadership Award.
Receiving the prestigious award is gratifying because it validates the effort she has put into the program and preparing for her career, Guerin said.
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology student receives prestigious scholarship at national conference
Helping people communicate is a calling for second-year Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology student Devin Lukachik. A nationally certified health care interpreter, Lukachik discovered speech-language pathology while studying Spanish and linguistics as an undergraduate student.
“I think most people don’t realize just what a huge range of things SLPs can do,” he said.
PA studies program hosts international student in clinical experience collaboration
When she thinks back on the four weeks she spent in San Antonio in the fall of 2024, Chloe Brincoveanu will likely remember much more than the Alamo.
Brincoveanu, a student of the physician associate program at Keele University in Staffordshire, England, recently spent a month in a clinical rotation experience hosted by the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. Her visit was made possible through a collaboration between the school and Keele University.
Stephen Harper named EMS Leader of the Year
Stephen Harper, MD, deputy medical director of the San Antonio Fire Department and medical director of several emergency response departments in the area , has been named Texas EMS Leader of the Year.
Respiratory care students take third place in national Sputum Bowl at AARC Congress 2024
A team of respiratory care students took third place in the Sputum Bowl — a national quiz-style competition — at the American Association for Respiratory Care Congress 2024.
Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Activities in 2024
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