Congratulations to our staff and faculty who were honored this spring with numerous awards and recognitions by their professional organizations and colleagues.
Department of Communication Science and Disorders
William S. Evans Named 2025 Health Sciences Ascending Star
William S. Evans, associate professor for the Communication Science and Disorders Department, was awarded the 2025 Health Sciences Ascending Star, an honor established to recognize highly productive, creative mid-career faculty members in the six schools of the health sciences. An official news release from Pitt Health Sciences is forthcoming.
Nancy Gauvin Named Community Engaged Scholarship Forum Collaboration Champion
Nancy Gauvin, associate dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement and assistant professor for the Communications Science and Disorders Department, was awarded Community Engaged Scholarship Forum Collaboration Champion. This award recognizes a member of the Pitt community or a community partner who has made significant contributions to the University’s culture of collaboration and further sustaining or supporting the institution’s commitment to strengthening communities through teamwork.
Department of Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Science
Thomas E. Platt Elected to CAAHEP Board of Directors
Thomas E. Platt, chair and professor for the Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Science, was elected as a member of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Board of Directors. As a commissioner, he is representing the National Association of EMS Educators and his three-year term begins in July.
On being elected to the Board of Directors, Platt said, “I am looking forward to serving with this amazing group of folks who review and recommend accreditation actions and other activities that help to ensure protection of the public through quality education.”
Department of Health Information Management
Bambang Parmanto named Highly Ranked Scholar; Leming Zhou Named Top Scholar
Bambang Parmanto, professor and chair of the Health Information Management Department, and Leming Zhou, associate professor and director of the Master of Science in Health Informatics, were recognized by ScholarGPS for their publications, scholarly contributions and global impact. These rankings highlight the most influential scholars, research institutions and important publications in various fields, disciplines and specialties.
Parmanto was ranked as a Highly Ranked Scholar, one who ranks in the top 0.05% globally, being #1 in mHealth the past five years, and #4 in mHealth over his lifetime. Zhou was ranked as a Top Scholar, in the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide, being #10 in mHealth and #14 in Development Studies the past five years, and #43 in mHealth over his lifetime.
On being recognized, Parmanto said, “I am deeply honored to be recognized as the #1 global scholar in mHealth (mobile health) and digital health over the past five years, and #4 in lifetime impact, based on the quality and influence of my scholarly publications. I’m also proud to share that my colleague, Dr. Leming Zhou, is ranked among the top 10 in this field. This recognition reflects not only our individual contributions, but also underscores the University of Pittsburgh’s and our department’s leadership in mHealth, digital health and the broader field of health informatics.”
Department of Physical Therapy
James Irrgang Named Highly Ranked Scholar
James Irrgang, chair and professor for the Physical Therapy Department, was recognized as a Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS. His ranking included #7 in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, #14 in Physical Therapy and #21 in Ligament publications.
Charity Patterson Appointed to Board of Directors; Awarded Arnold Alumni Medal
Charity Patterson, professor for the Physical Therapy Department and director of the SHRS Data Center, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Society for Clinical Trials. The society is a scientific, educational and charitable organization established to advance human health through excellence in clinical trials.
On being appointed, Patterson said, “Being elected to the Board of Directors for the Society of Clinical Trials is very exciting for me. The Society is a professional ‘home’ for clinical trials methodologists. I hope to contribute to the strategic planning for the Society including making membership and meeting attendance more accessible to other clinical trials experts from diverse disciplines such as data managers, clinical research associates and research ethicists.”
Patterson was also awarded the 2025 Norman J. Arnold Alumni Medal, an award designed to recognize outstanding alumni of the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health whose work have made a difference to the profession and in the health of an identified community or population.
On being awarded, Patterson said, “Winning the Arnold Alumni Medal is such an honor. The education I received from the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health was exceptional and laid the foundation for my career as an academic biostatistician.”
Pamela Dunlap Awarded 2025 Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member
Pamela Dunlap, associate professor for the Department of Physical Therapy, was awarded the American Physical Therapy Association 2025 Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member. The award acknowledges an outstanding new faculty member who is pursuing a career as an academician and has demonstrated excellence as exemplified by the professional career of Margaret L. Moore.
On being awarded, Dunlap said, “Receiving the 2025 Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member from the American Physical Therapy Association is an honor that also represents meaningful recognition from a professional community I respect. It reflects the collective efforts of mentors, colleagues, students and patients who have shaped my journey. This award affirms the impact of my work and strengthens my commitment to evidence-based care, education and lifelong learning in physical therapy.”
Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition
Kristen Koltun Awarded American College of Sports Medicine Fellowship
Kristen Koltun, assistant professor in the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, has been awarded fellowship in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). ACSM Fellow members have demonstrated high standards of professional development and shown a commitment to the goals and long‑range activities of the college. The purpose of fellowship is to recognize commendable service to ACSM; to encourage continued service to the College in a leadership role with ongoing dedication; also, to recognize distinguished achievement in sports medicine and related disciplines. Koltun was formally recognized at the ACSM Honors event as part of 2025 ACSM Annual Meeting on May 30 in Atlanta.
Timothy Suchomel Named Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association; Educator of the Year
Timothy Suchomel, associate professor and director of the Master of Sports Science program, was named Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The purpose of the Fellowship is to promote excellence and leadership within the NSCA by recognizing high standards and extraordinary professional development. Since continued service to the NSCA is essential to the organization’s growth, all successful candidates will have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the mission of the NSCA. Individuals who earn NSCA Fellowship must demonstrate a deep and ongoing interest in the long-term goals and activities of the organization and are encouraged to provide continued, active leadership service to the NSCA if FNSCA status is awarded.
Suchomel was also named NSCA Educator of the Year. Honoring contributions to the teaching and clinical application in the field of strength and conditioning, the Educator of the Year Award recognizes the top minds of the industry. Recipients have advanced the education of general strength training and conditioning, exercise and sport science, or enhanced the education discipline with the NSCA.
On being awarded as a Fellow and Educator of the Year, Suchomel said, “I am both humbled and honored to have been named a Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Educator of the Year. The current fellows are individuals who I look up to as leaders in the field and I look forward to continuing to serve the organization that has done so much for my career. I’d also like to thank my current and previous students who I have had the privilege of mentoring. Your hard work and passion for the field has challenged me and led me to become a better educator. “
Corey Ratsch Named 2024-2025 Clinical Preceptor of the Year
Corey Ratsch, clinical preceptor in the Athletic Training program, was awarded 2024-2025 Clinical Preceptor of the Year in May.
Ratsch is a certified athletic trainer with UPMC Sports Medicine, currently working with the PENS Elite Hockey Organization at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. He’s been a dedicated clinical preceptor with the Athletic Training program since fall 2022, and this award recognizes his outstanding contributions to student learning and clinical excellence.
Nominated by recent Pitt AT graduate Jessica Dare, she shared, “I feel so lucky to be going through such an integral time in my final semester with a mentor like Corey. He is the first person to celebrate my successes, but also the first to help me learn the lessons of my failures. Through all of this, he has inspired me to want to do the same for the next generation of athletic trainers when I am practicing. Pitt’s Athletic Training program is so lucky to have preceptors like Corey!”
Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Richard Schein named 2025 Sam McFarland Mentor Award
Richard Schein, senior research operations manager and research scientist for the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, was awarded the 2025 Sam McFarland Mentor Award at this year’s Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) conference in June. This award is given recognition to those who have influenced, counseled and nurtured others in the field of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology.
On being awarded, Schein said in Mobility Management, “I’m deeply humbled to receive the Sam McFarlane Mentorship Award. This recognition is incredibly meaningful because of what it says about the people who I’ve had the privilege to be around. I’ve been very fortunate to have mentors in my own life; some of them are on this call as well. To those I’ve worked with, you’ve taught me just as much, if not more. I share this recognition with all the students, colleagues, collaborators and this incredible community, who have challenged and inspired me over the years. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. Taking the time to invest in people, I think, is one of the most powerful things we can do.”
Mark Schmeler named 2025 Colin McLaurin Distinguished Lectureship Award
Mark Schmeler, associate professor for the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology and vice-chair for Clinical Services and Policy, was awarded the 2025 Colin McLaurin Distinguished Lectureship Award at this year’s RESNA conference in June. This award recognizes a scholar and leader who has made substantial and innovative contributions to the field of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology through research, education, and/or practice.
On being awarded, Schmeler said in Mobility Management, “I’m completely honored to receive the Colin McLaurin Lecture award. It’s overwhelming, and I want to thank RESNA, I want to thank all the members and people who nominated me for this award. I’ve been a member of RESNA since the very beginnings of my career, and I have found the organization to be an essential part of who I am as a person and a professional. I hope that I can give the lectureship some justice — based on previous people who’ve received the award, I’ve listened to them and they are very, very deserving. I’m completely honored.”
