Across the country, the advances in healthcare and associated technology are bringing to the doors of health professions programs in higher education institutions the need to recruit, admit and retain students, to examine curriculums, and to seek qualified faculty members. At Texas State University this fall 2006 the College of Health Professions saw an increase of student numbers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with the undergraduate student numbers up 11.6% over last fall semester. Increases in the undergraduate students have been noted across the College of Health Professions with significant increases in students enrolled in the Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Information Management and Social Work majors. Total student enrollment at Texas State this fall is 27,503 increase over last fall’s enrollment of 27,129.

The CHP recognized faculty at the annual Awards Day Program this past spring in teaching Dr. Eileen Morrison, Associate Professor of Health Administration and Ms. Laura Summerhill, Lecturer of Social Work, in scholarship Dr. Don Shaw, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and in service Dr. Mary Tijerina, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Mr. Robert Mooney, Associate Professor of Health Administration.

In addition, the CHP recognized faculty for years of academic services. For 10 years, Mr. David Henton, Lecturer of Social Work, Dr. Karen Knox, Associate Professor of Social Work, Ms. Jackie Moczgemba, Associate Professor of Health Information Management, and Dr. Wayne Sorensen, Associate Professor of Health Administration.

For 15 years, Dr. Catherine Hawkins, Professor of Social Work, Dr. Barbara Melzer, Professor of Physical Therapy, Dr. Oren Renick, Professor of Health Administration, and Dr. Jim Summers, Professor of Health Administration.

For 20 years, Dr. George Burke, Professor of Health Administration, Dr. Lynda Harkins, Associate Professor of Respiratory Care, Dr. Michael Nowicki, Professor of Health Administration, and Dr. Barbara Sanders, Professor of Physical Therapy.

For 25 years, Ms. Sue Biedermann, Associate Professor of Health Information Management, Dr. Dick Mallard, Professor of Communication Disorders (not pictured), Dr. Gregg Marshall, Associate Professor of Respiratory Care, and Mr. Robert Mooney (not pictured), Associate Professor of Health Administration.

Texas State’s President Denise Trauth recognized CHP’s faculty with 30 years of academic services. The faculty included: Dr. Karen Brown, Professor of Social Work, Mr. David Falleur, Associate Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science, Mr. Phillip Kostroun, Associate Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science, Mr. Robert Mooney, Associate Professor of Health Administration, and Mr. Billy Wharton, Instructor of Respiratory Care.