College of Health Announces Structural Changes and New Academic Unit Leadership
by UAA College of Health |
The College of Health underwent a structural transformation this fall, approved by the University of Alaska Board of Regents in August, 2023. The changes are aimed at fostering collaboration, streamlining operations, and ensuring an equitable distribution of programs, faculty, and staff across unit leadership.
The School of Allied Health is now divided into two distinct units—the School of Allied Health (SAH) and the newly established School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences (SPaTS).
The former SAH programs have been split between these two units, with SAH now overseeing Fire and Emergency Services, Certified Nurses Assistant, Medical Laboratory, Pharmacy Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Technology, and Surgical Technology. SPaTS is home to programs such as Dietetics and Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Hygiene/Dental Assisting, and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER).
In a move that enhances interdisciplinary synergy, the newly created School of Justice and Human Services now houses the Department of Human Services and the Justice Center, fostering collaboration between related disciplines.
Additionally, we are pleased to announce several new leadership appointments within each of the academic units within the COH:
Dr. Donna Aguiniga was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Social Work. She first joined UAA in 2013
after serving four years as a faculty member at Western Illinois University. She earned
her doctorate in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and has a Master
in Social Work from Boise State University. Her practice experience includes child
protective services and rural community mental health. Aguiniga is passionate about
community-engaged research and service and served as the Associate Director and then
Interim Director of the UAA Center for Community Engagement & Learning from 2018-2020.
She also co-developed and coordinated the Dialogues for Public Life program at UAA
from 2014-2022, providing training to faculty, staff, students, and community members
in facilitating community dialogues. Aguiniga’s research interests include private
adoption, child welfare, poverty, family functioning, and social work education.
Dr. LeeAnne Carrothers recently appointed as the Assistant Dean of the School of Preventive and Therapeutic
Sciences, initially joined UAA's academic community in 2009 as an adjunct faculty
member, and has fulfilled a range of faculty and leadership roles since then. Carrothers
brings with her a wealth of knowledge, holding degrees in Zoology, Physical Therapy,
and Clinical Psychology. With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare, both
in clinical practice and academia, she has been instrumental in nurturing the next
generation of healthcare professionals. Her dedication extends to the Physical Therapy
profession and active contributions to the Alaska Physical Therapy Association. Carrothers
previously led the School of Allied Health since 2018, serving as an interim director,
director, and assistant dean, overseeing numerous allied health programs. She will
now apply her leadership expertise to SPaTS, where she will supervise programs related
to rehabilitation therapies, dental, and HPER.
Dr. Travis Hedwig was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Population Health Sciences. He first came to
Alaska as an undergraduate practicum student with Hope Community Resources in 1999,
where he lived and worked in a group home in Kodiak with adults who experience developmental
disabilities. He has been connected to our UAA campus community since 2002. In addition
to being a UAA alumnus, Hedwig worked at UAA as an adjunct professor, postdoctoral
fellow, term faculty, and tenure track faculty. He was promoted to the rank of Associate
Professor and granted tenure in 2022. Hedwig has over 20 years of applied health research
experience in Alaska and the circumpolar north. This work is built upon years of relationship
and trust building borne out of shared concern for the health of all peoples and communities
in Alaska.
Bridget Mayorga, was appointed the Assistant Dean of the School of Allied Health. Mayorga joined
UAA in 2019 with over 25 years of experience in medical imaging and education. Her
extensive career history encompasses clinical work at Alaska Regional Hospital and
St James Mercy Hospital, along with educational roles such as Assistant Professor
at various institutions and Program Director at the UAA School of Allied Health and
the School of Radiologic Science- St James Mercy Hospital. In her current capacity,
Bridget oversees the School of Allied Health and manages the Diagnostic Medical Sonography
program. As a dedicated healthcare educator, she recognizes her responsibility in
providing high-quality educational opportunities to address the growing demand for
healthcare professionals in Alaska's community.
Dr. Cary Moore, the newly appointed Associate Dean of Clinical Health Programs in the Dean's Office,
holds a PhD in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University and boasts over
25 years of experience in the field. Moore has been an integral part of the UAA community
for six years, serving as a dedicated faculty member in the UAA/Creighton University
Occupational Therapy Program and actively participating in the Alaska LEND Program
and Alaska Interprofessional Distance Learning Consortium. Her strong commitment to
interprofessional healthcare education and collaboration is evident through her completion
of a fellowship in interprofessional education at the Creighton Center for Interprofessional
Practice, Education, and Research, her contributions to the UAA College of Health
IPE committee, and her ongoing efforts to establish a new center for interprofessional
education within the UAA College of Health. Moore takes an active role in professional
associations, including her current position as the President of the Alaska Occupational
Therapy Association and her membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Dr. David Moxley was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Justice and Human Services. He brings considerable
expertise in the development of human service systems and organizations across the
globe. He has contributed to systems development across the United States for the
care and support of people facing serious mental illness, disability, and/or infectious
disease. His focus involves environmental resilience in helping people advance their
quality of life, particularly in the areas of housing, vocational development, employment,
and transportation. Moxley has worked in Africa, Australia, Israel, and Russia in
developing social work and human services education within regional universities.
He is nationally recognized for his contributions to advancing social justice and
human services. Moxley has an extensive record of externally funded research, and
is currently leading two projects funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration
for a total of $3 million.
Please view the College of Health unit and leadership organizational chart to learn more about the new COH structure.
CATEGORIES
TAGS
ACADEMIC UNITS
- Department of Human Services
- Division of Population Health Sciences
- Justice Center
- School of Allied Health
- School of Nursing
- School of Preventive & Therapeutic Sciences
- School of Social Work
PARTNER PROGRAMS
CENTERS & INSTITUTES
- Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce
- Center for Human Development
- Child Welfare Academy
- Interprofessional Health Sciences Simulation Center
MEDIA INQUIRIES / STORY LEADS