40 outstanding students recognized in College of Allied Health Sciences

East Carolina University’s College of Allied Health Sciences recognized 40 outstanding students Nov. 8 during the university’s homecoming and allied health sciences’ 40th anniversary.Surgeon receives research recognition.

Each department chose students based on grade point average, service to the community and leadership abilities. Last year’s 40 outstanding alumni presented the awards to the students.

The department of clinical laboratory science honored Gregory May of Coraopolis, Pa.

The department of communication sciences and disorders honored Lauren Everett of Fayetteville, Katie Maloney of Kinston, Kelly Taylor of Richmond, Va., Anna Mowry of Wilmington, Holly Howell of Pinetown, Julie Slack of Denton, Kristin King of Jacksonville, Donna Lawrence Wolfe of Morehead City, Kristin Evans of Buxton, Jennifer Lineberry of King, Bruce Mock of Wilmington and Kristal Mills of Trenton.

The department of health services and information management honored Rhonda Lofton of Goldsboro, Christopher Norris, Meredith Bruce of Rocky Mount and Bradford Stevens of Kitty Hawk.

The department of occupational therapy recognized Kelly Grayburn of Winterville, Kelly Gleason of Raeford, Rachel Hill of Bynum, Emily Parker of Cary and Courtney Cosentino of Matthews.

The department of physical therapy honored Whitney Woodhull-Smith of Durham, Kate DeJesus of Akron, Ohio, Kali Phillips of Charlottesville, Va., Antionette Lemkes of Hendersonville, Wesley Isom of Taylorsville, Monica Burnette of Raleigh, Amanda Smith of Reidsville, and Sara Stanley of Greenville.

The department of physician assistant studies recognized Blair Holloway of Charlotte and David Propst of Lenoir.

The department of rehabilitation studies honored Tamette Farrington of Durham, Allen M. Thomas of Raeford, Jordan B. Duke of Goldsboro, Brooke M. Lyerly of Salisbury, Eric K. Mason of Washington, Jade Reynolds of Winterville, William L. Atherton of Boston, Mass., and Beverly Sheaffer of Chapel Hill.

The College of Allied Health Sciences, established in 1967, is the largest provider of allied health professionals in the state. About 60 percent of the college’s 788 students are at the master’s and doctoral levels.

About 190 people attended the event including the first dean of the then-School of Allied Health Professionals, Dr. Edwin Monroe of Greenville. The event was sponsored by the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation.

Monroe, described as a “living legacy” by current Dean Stephen Thomas, said the school was just a “speck” when it started accepting students in 1968.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. The school was needed because at the time there were only two physical therapists, one retired occupational therapist and a few scattered laboratory medical technicians who were mostly trained on-the-job across eastern North Carolina.

“We’ve come a little ways since then,” Monroe said.

Mike Roberts, a 1981 medical technology graduate who is now vice president of LabCorp, talked about the journey from college to career. He asked students to appreciate the education they get from ECU; understand what mentors mean in your life; take risks; continue learning; and understand with privilege comes responsibility.

“What you learn here will expand well beyond these walls,” Roberts said.

Eileen Rodri Carter, a 1981 physical therapy graduate and MBA graduate, is president and owner of Comprehensive Rehab of Wilson Inc.

She said allied health professionals represent 37 percent of the health care workforce and provide the bulk of diagnostic and therapeutic care.

“No matter what track you come from, the team becomes larger and the world becomes smaller,” Carter said.