Following May 25’s graduation ceremonies for the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, and Pharmacy, the remaining five schools at Loma Linda University hosted commencement on June 15: Allied Health Professions, Behavioral Health, Nursing, Public Health, and Religion.
For complete coverage of the 2014 graduation season, please see the June issue of LLUH TODAY next week. To see prior News of the Week coverage of the May 25 graduations, read here.
Think you know how many graduates were granted degrees this year? Head on over to this week’s trivia question.
Speakers, June 15
Kathryn Icenhower, MSW, spoke to graduates of the schools of Behavioral Health and Religion.
Terry Swenson, DMin, MDiv, chaplain for Loma Linda University, addressed School of Nursing graduates.
Donna Peterson, ScD, MHS, dean and professor of global health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, delivered the graduation address to the School of Public Health.
Dora Borilla, DrPH, MPH, assistant vice president for strategy and innovation, and associate director of the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, LLUH, spoke with graduates of the physical therapy program, then with the remaining graduates at a second ceremony for the School of Allied Health Professions.
LLU honorees, June 15
Loma Linda University honored several individuals during the June 15 ceremonies.
Allan Handysides, MBChB, who recently retired after 15 years as health ministries director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, was granted the Doctor of Humanitarian Services during the second School of Allied Health Professions graduation ceremony. Handysides served as a Board of Trustees member for LLUH during the same time period. He is presently involved in creating and teaching several modules of the MS in health professional leadership in the School of Allied Health Professions.
Arthur Kroetz, PhD, MA, assistant dean for educational support services and associate professor of radiation technology, School of Allied Health Professions, received the University Distinguished Service Award during that school’s commencement. Kroetz has taken a lead role in helping to integrate digital technologies into classrooms at Loma Linda University, as well as educating faculty and staff on how to best use them.
Janet Kroetz, MN, chief patient care director for Loma Linda University Medical Center East Campus Hospital as well as LLU Heart & Surgical Hospital, was presented the University Distinguished Service Award during School of Nursing commencement. Kroetz is also an assistant professor of nursing and currently serves as interim chief patient care director for Loma Linda University Medical Center. Kroetz is working with the School of Nursing to develop a post-baccalaureate certificate program in nursing administration. She is married to Arthur Kroetz, and they represent a rare instance in which a husband and wife are co-awardees in the same year.
Janelle Pyke, MA, assistant professor of general studies and special assistant to the provost for academic administration, Loma Linda University, received the University Distinguished Service Award during the School of Public Health commencement. For 20 years, Pyke served as director of university records, leading the transition from paper to digital for her department. In 2010, she joined the LLU office of the provost and currently focuses on policy development and management, curriculum review, and international programs.
School honorees, June 15
Individual schools also honored people on the 15th. They included the following.
Delia Lang, PhD, MPH, MA, research associate professor and program director, department of behavioral science and health education, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, was named LLU School of Behavioral Health Alumna of the Year.
The late Peter Strutz, PhD, MA, former chair and professor of psychology, LLU School of Behavioral Health, was posthumously granted the LLUSBH School Distinguished Service Award. His daughter, Judith Strutz-Vanderwerff, DDS, MSEd, was on hand to receive the award on his behalf during the combined School of Behavioral Health and School of Religion commencement ceremony.
Angela Shen, ScD, MPH (LLU School of Public Health, 1997), senior advisor for vaccines and immunizations, maternal and child health division, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, D.C., was named School Alumna of the Year for the LLU School of Public Health.
Jayakaran Job, MD, DrPH, professor of global health, biostatistics/epidemiology, and population medicine, LLU School of Public Health, and professor of preventive medicine, LLU School of Medicine, was bestowed with the Faculty Distinguished Service Award during the School of Public Health commencement.
Julie Pifer, coordinator for the office of academic programs, LLU School of Public Health, received the Staff Distinguished Service Award during the school’s commencement.
Ehren Ngo, MS, associate chair and assistant professor of cardiopulmonary sciences, and program director for the BS in emergency medical care program, LLU School of Allied Health Professions, was named Faculty of the Year for the school.
Benjamin Siapco, MS, laboratory technical consultant for Adventist Health International, received the School Distinguished Service Award during School of Allied Health Professions commencement. Siapco retired from Loma Linda University Medical Center in 2012.
Willa Hilgert Hedrick, MA, was named LLUSAHP School Alumna of the Year. Hedrick and her husband worked in mission service in the Philippines before returning to the U.S., where she served at Kettering Medical College, Dayton, Ohio, and distinguished herself in research while there.