Distinguished Alumni

Photo of the winners of the Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2024-2025 in front of Progression Statue

(Left to right) Nancy Creaghead, Sandra Soto, Angela King (not pictured: Kyle Nordrum)

Each year, the College of Allied Health Sciences will award one alumnus from each department with a Distinguished Alumni Award. Please join us as we continue this exciting tradition.

2024-2025 Class

  • Nancy Creaghead, PhD, '78
  • Angela King, MSW, '12
  • Kyle Nordrum, DPT, '15
  • Sandra Soto, '04
Learn more about Distinguished Alumni

Distinguished Alumni Award Criteria

  • Graduate of the University of Cincinnati in one of the following departments: clinical and health information sciences, communication sciences and disorders, rehabilitation, exercise and nutrition sciences, or social work more than 10 years ago.
  • Has made a significant contribution in his or her chosen profession through practice, teaching, administration, education, research, writing, organizational work involving health care or an innovation in health care.
  • Current employees of the University of Cincinnati are not eligible for consideration

Class of 2023 - 2024

  • Henna Muzaffar, PhD, RDN, '03, '06  
  • Cynthia Blocksom, MEd, RDN, '79   
  • A.U. Bankaitis, PhD, '95 
  • Sui-Fung "Will" Chan, MD, '03 
  • Lauree Handlon, MHA, '17 

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Cynthia Blocksom, MEd, RDN, '79 

Class of 2023

  • Lisa Kluchurosky, M.Ed., ’87 
  • Carol Leslie, PhD, ’80 
  • David Maxwell, MS, RRT, ’21 
  • Pamela McKie, LISW-S, ’87 

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Jason Asic ’07

Class of 2022

  • Antonia Caldwell, MD ’12
  • John Greer Clark, PhD ’82
  • Kersha Deibel, MPH, MSW ’09
  • Rosalyn Milenkiewicz M.D., MHI ’17

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Eric Deaton, ’19

Class of 2021

  • Tonya Bates, RHIA ’11
  • Lauren Bland, PhD ’95
  • Robyn McHugh, PT, DPT ’04
  • Karen Rumsey, MSW, LISW-S ’10

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Terri Hollenkamp ’83, ’85

Class of 2020

  • Scott Peters C.N.M.T., ARRT(N) ’96
  • Eric Deaton ’19
  • Bharti Katbamna, PhD ’89
  • Suzanne Summer ’01

Class of 2019

  • Brian Driscoll ’89
  • James Gruber ’75, ’77
  • Janice Habel, MT (ASCP) ’83
  • Donna Murray, PhD, CCC-SLP ’01

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Tom Herrmann, EdD ’77, ’86, ’95, ’97

UC Alumni Association Mosaic Award: Harrison Blackmond, AuD ’70, ’712018

Class of 2018

During the college's 20th anniversary in 2018, 20 individuals were given the 20 in 20 award at the 20th Anniversary Celebration. This honor replaced the Distinguished Alumni Awards for 2018.

Recipients of this honor are as follows:

  • Beth Bextermueller
  • Genise Caldwell, MA, CCC-SLP, ’05,’07
  • Susan Carlson, MSW,LISW-S
  • Sarah Couch, PhD, RD
  • Nancy Creaghead, PhD, CCC-SLP
  • John Gatch
  • Donald Harrison, MD
  • Terri Hollenkamp MA, CCC-SLP,’83,’85
  • Elizabeth King, PhD
  • Laura Kretschmer EdD
  • Colin MacPherson MD (1924-2004)
  • Lizanne Mulligan, PhD,PT
  • Jean Sepate MSW,LISW-S, ‘83
  • Becky Smith, MEd, RD
  • Rose Smith, DPT, MEd, PT, SCS, ATC
  • Paul Steele, MD
  • Nancy Talbott, PhD, MS, PT
  • Jeanette Taylor, PhD
  • Alan Vespie, MEd, CNMT, RT(N), ‘12
  • Tina Whalen, EDD, DPT, MPA, PT

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Erin Head

Class of 2017

  • Julie A. Dooling, '13, '15
  • Gene K. Balzar '80, '83
  • Allison E. Baker-Kuhn '13, '15
  • Amy Banks '06
  • Miriam Crenshaw '83

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Nancy Nevin-Folino

Class of 2016

  • Alan Vespie, MEd,CNMT, RT(N), 82', 97'
  • Ian McKay, PhD, 76', 91'
  • Nicholas Ollberding, PhD, 08'
  • Elizabeth Dulaney-Cripe, MD, 05', 09'
  • Gregory Stewart, PhD, 81', 12'

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Jean Sepate, 70', 83'R

Class of 2015

  • Dana Harley, PhD, MSW, LISW-S, '03
  • Julie Honaker, PhD, '99, '06
  • Debra Lierl, Med, RRT, '75,
  • Thais C. Morata, PhD, '90
    Lauren Niemes, Med, RD, LD, '83
    Micahel Sclafani, DPT, CSCS, '13

UC Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award for CAHS: Judith A. Marlowe, PhD, FAAA, CCC-A '71

Class of 2014

  • M. Kay Brown, MSW, '71, '02
  • Dawn Paulson, MJ, RHIA, 09
  • Harrison Blackmond, AuD, 70', '71
  • Shareen Lee, 07'
  • Nancy Nevin Folino, MA, 83'
  • Kent Martin, 10'

Class of 2013

  • Sandra Tattershall, '76
  • Lawrence R. Suddendorf, EdD, MT, (ASCP), 71’ 80', 86'
  • Erin Head, 10'
  • Jean Sepate, 83'
  • Nancy Emenaker, 89'
  • Bethany Dugan, 06'

Class of 2012

  • Ann W. Kummer, PhD ’86
  • Kyle Combs, 08'
  • Pierce Boyne, 07'
  • Julie Kenniston, 10'
  • April Martin, 09'
  • Jason Roberts, 07'

Class of 2011

  • Ruth Clinton, LISW-S, 78'
  • Marein de Jong, PhD, 02'
  • Wayne A. Secord, PhD, 80'

Recent Graduate Achievement Award Recipients: 

  • Christine Schumacher, RHIA, 07'
  • Lynzie Schulte, DPT, 05'
  • Tamara J. Ward, RD, CSO, LD, 08'

Class of 2010

  • Polly A. Elmlinger, RHIA, 07'
  • Judith A. Hughes, BS, CNMT, 67'
  • Judith Marlowe, Ph.D., FAAA, 71'

Young Alumni Achievement Award Recipients:

  • Fonnie G. Lawson, 00'
  • Erin A. Wagner, MS, 06'