SLU Physical Therapy Student Receives Prestigious National Allied Health Professions Education Award

Saint Louis University (SLU) graduate student in the Program in Physical Therapy Christina Vivit was recently named the recipient of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) Elwood Scholar Award. As the recipient of this award, Vivit was awarded a letter from the ASAHP, a certificate of achievement and $2,000 of scholarship money.

The Elwood Scholar Award is a part of the ASAHP’s Scholarship of Excellence program. Each year, colleges or schools that are institutional members of the ASAHP can each nominate one student who is achieving excellence in their academic program and has significant potential to assume future leadership roles in the allied health professions for an ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence. A varying number of nominees are selected to receive a Scholarship of Excellence (this year there were 12 recipients chosen) and then the selection committee chooses who they determine to be the best nominee of the year and names that student the Elwood Scholar Award recipient. The Elwood Scholar award is named after Thomas W. Elwood, a former director of the ASAHP who retired in 2012.

Vivit was happy to learn she had been selected as this year’s Elwood Scholar, and was even more excited that this recognition was, in part, for passions that she has developed while working towards her degree.

“I was humbly surprised to find out I was the recipient of the Elwood Scholar award,” Vivit said. Sustainability through community health education has been a growing passion of mine throughout the past couple of years in the DPT program, and to be recognized for my community and academic involvement is quite the honor.”

Vivit also acknowledged that her education in the Doisy College of Health Sciences (DCHS) at SLU has been an instrumental part of making her the allied health professions student that she is today and positioning her to have the opportunity to earn such a prestigious honor.

“Aiming to understand one’s community and patients in the most holistic way has been a constant theme in what DCHS promotes to its students,” Vivit said. “Furthermore, evidence-based practice has been a standard set for the entirety of students as this is an essential component to practicing as an allied health professional.”

Doisy College of Health Sciences (DCHS) Dean Mardell Wilson, Ed.D., RD, LDN, was thrilled that the winner of such a prestigious award came from a program within DCHS.

“I can speak for the entire DCHS community when I say we are extraordinarily proud of Christina earning the Elwood Scholar award,” Dr. Wilson said. “For the ASAHP to select Christina as the sole recipient of this national honor among so many talented and worthy students from across the country, truly reflects not only what an exceptional student she is, but also the talented faculty that have helped guide her through her through her journey at SLU.”

Vivit will be invited to the 2018 ASAHP Annual Conference in St. Petersburg, FL in October where the award will be formally presented.

Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.