Professional Notes: January 2026
Professional Notes is a round-up of awards, presentations, papers, and other professional achievements of SLU faculty, staff members, and students.
Faculty and Staff
Tori Boyer, DNP (Nursing) was recently recognized by the American Nurses Association for her contributions to the nursing profession. This national acknowledgment highlights Boyer’s leadership as part of the ANA’s focus on emerging voices shaping the future of nursing. Her work centers on advancing pediatric care, strengthening nursing education, and translating evidence-based practice into real-world clinical and academic settings.
Kenya Brumfield-Young (Criminology and Criminal Justice) won the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Innovations in Teaching Award and has received funding to attend ACJS’s national meeting in March. She has also been invited to present at the Junior Faculty Development Workshop to be held at the conference.
David Brinker (MOCRA) was named among "100 Notable Alumni" as Aquinas Institute of Theology celebrates its Centennial.
Esmeralda Aharon (Office of Ignatian Mission in Medicine) was recognized by the Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler during the annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. In addition to this honor, the Office of the Mayor of the City of St. Louis, Cara Spencer, issued a proclamation designating Sept.16, 2025, as Esmeralda Aharon Day in the City of St. Louis. The Honorable Daniela Velázquez, Alderwoman for the 6th Ward, also presented a resolution recognizing Aharon, a veteran, scholar, and champion for justice for her extraordinary achievements, visionary leadership, and tireless activism.
Sarah Conroy (Marketing and Communications) received two national awards from the University Photographers' Association of America's (UPAA) Annual Photo Competition. She was awarded second place in both the Online Photo Essay and the News and College Life categories. Additionally, Conroy received two awards from the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards in the Photography category.
Wendy Stav, Ph.D. (Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy) mentored breaking research on assessment of wounded soldiers at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center in Texas. The research focused on a new assessment tool to determine the level of function in soldiers with upper extremity burn injuries using an occupation-based approach. Two manuscripts, An occupation-based review of outcome measures used to assess hand function after burn injury and Concurrent validity of the suitcase packing activity in the assessment of upper extremity functions after burn injury, were published.
Anne K. Sebert Kuhlmann, Ph.D. (Behavioral Science and Health Equity) co-authored the research article "Exploring Adolescents' Menstrual Hygiene Management Needs: Findings From Students in St. Louis, Missouri Charter Schools" in the 'Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Journal.'
Anne K. Sebert Kuhlmann, Ph.D., (Behavioral Science and Health Equity) Enbal Shacham, Ph.D. (Behavioral Science and Health Equity) and Kenan Li, Ph.D. (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) published the research "Availability, accessibility, and functionality of public restrooms in the City of St. Louis, Missouri" in the 'Health & Place Journal.'
Katie Sniffen, Ph.D. (Physical Therapy and Athletic Training), Leslie Hinyard, Ph.D.; Paula Buchanan, Ph.D. co-authored with others "Treatment and Cost Characteristics of Athletic Training Services in Secondary Schools for Knee and Ankle Cases" in the Journal of Athletic Training.
Jason T. Eberl, Ph.D. (Health Care Ethics) co-authored an editorial in the American Journal of Bioethics, “The Need for Accreditation Standards for Clinical Ethics Fellowship Programs,” which he was invited to write as President of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors. Dr. Eberl also published a commentary in the same journal, “Lockean Death Redux,” as well as a co-authored commentary with two SLU alumni entitled “Bioethics as an Emerging Moral Tradition and Some Implications for Adversarial Cooperation,” in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Erica K. Salter, Ph.D. (Health Care Ethics) recently co-authored two peer-reviewed research publications: “Parents (of Minors) are Not Surrogates: Acknowledging the Unique Space of Parents" in Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, as well as a first-of-its kind manuscript exploring the ethical issues encountered by health care providers in a pediatric post-acute care setting in the Journal of Pediatrics: Clinical Practice alongside community partners at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital and HCE PhD student Allison Bajada. Further, she was an invited speaker for the University of Louisville Health Care Ethics Speaker Series, presenting “Child Participation in Decision- Making: From Adult-Centered to Child-Centered Models” in September 2025.
Oluwatoyosi (Olu) Owoeye, Ph.D. (Physical Therapy and Athletic Training) had several new publications from his lab's Pickleball for Health Project and his collaborative work with an IOC-funded expert panel on the Female, Woman and Girl Athlete Injury Prevention (FAIR) consensus. The articles were: Understanding Injury Patterns and Predictors in Pickleball Players: A Nationwide Study of 1,758 Participants; The more you play, the better you feel: a dose–response analysis of pickleball and mental wellbeing in U.S. adults; Prevention strategies for lower extremity injury: a systematic review and meta-analyses for the Female, Woman and Girl Athlete Injury Prevention (FAIR) Consensus; and Modifiable risk factors for lower-extremity injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis for the Female, Woman and Girl Athlete Injury Prevention (FAIR) consensus.
Faculty from SLU’s Departments of Nutrition and Dietetics and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences presented at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE), highlighting strategies for effective collaboration between registered dietitian nutritionists and speech-language pathologists to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and diabetes. The session’s authors included Martha Blaess, Ph.D., (Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences) The presentation was moderated by Rabia Rahman, Ph.D., (Nutrition and Dietetics) underscoring SLU’s commitment to interprofessional, person-centered education and practice.
Sara Steele, Ph.D., (Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences) was invited to teach a short course at the annual convention of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association in Washington DC. The course title was "Maximizing possibilities for language sample analysis in the school setting: Reducing time and increasing efficiency."
Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D. (Nutrition and Dietetics) and others presented "The TRANSforming power of nutrition and physical activity: Exploring the lived experiences of transgender and gender diverse athletes in strength sport" sat the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference Expo in Nashville in October. The abstract was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(10)Supplement A63.
Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D. (Nutrition and Dietetics), Katie Heiden-Rootes, Ph.D. (Medical Family Therap), Rabia Rahman, Ph.D., (Nutrition and Dietetics), Genevieve Del Rosario (Physician Assistant Education), Katie Sniffen, Ph.D. (Physical Therapy and Athletic Training), Ashley Schmuke, Ph.D. (Nursing), Kristi Richter (Social Work), Rowan Hollinger (Doisy College Health Sciences student), and Shelly Dalton, Ph.D. (Medical Family Therapy) presented the poster "Advancing transgender health education for health professional students: A faculty fellowship model for capacity building and curricular change" at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference Expo in October 25. The abstract was published abstracted in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(10)Supplement A17.
Members of the School of Social Work will represented at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Annual Conference, where Ph.D. students and faculty shared their latest work at one of the field’s premier research gatherings.
Doctoral. students and faculty presented research on a wide range of timely topics, including trauma among incarcerated adults, intimate partner violence in older adults, suicide prevention for military personnel, culturally responsive practice models, emotional reactivity among juvenile offenders, rural social work, and financial capability.
Presenters include Ph.D. students Harly Blumhagen, Charvonne Long, Hannah Shanks, Amanda Alberino, Shraddha Bandaru, Vibol Kong, and Dimitra Galbierz, along with faculty Jesse Helton, Ph.D.; Monica Matthieu, Ph.D.; Michael Vaughn, Ph.D.; Brandy Maynard, Ph.D.; Julie Birkenmaier, Ph.D.; and Maria Morrison, Ph.D.
Nori Katagiri, Ph.D. (Political Science) was invited to the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, to present his work on democratic leadership, open internet policy, and economic growth. The conference was titled "Open Internet, Open Economy: Unlocking Innovation and Competitiveness” and organized by the Institute's Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet.
Sydney Eckell (Academic Advising) and Amelia Marsh (Academic Advising) presented at NAFSA Region IV Conference on Supporting Advisors Through “Speak Their Language” Session. Their main point being best strategies on supporting international students and how to create a cohesive relationship and partnership with the OIS office.
Katie Sniffen, Ph.D. (Physical Therapy and Athletic Training) attended the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT) World Congress in Maynooth, Ireland, and delivered a presentation titled, "Athletic Training and Public Health Practice: Bridging Individual Care and Population Health." Sniffen was also featured on the WFATT Podcast, Let's Chat.
Benjamin Looker, Ph.D. (American Studies), spoke on a panel of curators, artists, and researchers addressing urban history and preservation, at an October 2025 conference at Kalamazoo College titled “Learning in/from Place and Community.” The gathering concluded the multi-year Humanities Integrated Locational Learning (HILL) project, an initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. A portion of the project involved visits, in 2023 and 2024, of Kalamazoo College students to SLU's campus and surrounding urban environs.
Mamoun Benmamoun, Ph.D., (International Business) served as a panelist at the Washington University Olin School of Business Wealth Management Conference. He joined industry leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of wealth management and innovation in financial services. The event brought together academics and professionals for thought-provoking discussions on leadership, technology, and the evolving financial landscape.
Farzana Hoque, M.D. (Hospital Medicine ) was invited by the Department of Internal Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine to deliver Grand Rounds on “The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Medicine.” The session drew an audience of more than 125 faculty, residents, and medical students, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence in enhancing physician performance and patient care.
Katie Sniffen, Ph.D. (Physical Therapy and Athletic Training) was featured in the Sept/Oct issue of the NATA News as the inaugural chair of the new National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Athletic Training and Public Health Committee.
Anthony Breitbach Ph.D. (Interprofessional Education) was interviewed by colleague James Gardiner, MSc., CATC, CSCS, Yoga Practitioner on the Let’s chAT podcast previewing his workshop at the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy World Congress in Dublin, Ireland. He also discussed his professional journey and how AT’s mindset, work ethic and collaborative skills bring value to Interprofessional care teams.
Students
Faith Townsell (College of Arts and Sciences student) took part in Obama-Chesky Voyager Summit with Barack Obama and the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. Townsell was with all 99 other scholarship recipients, where they learned about their paths to leadership and how to create change in a globalized society.
Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D. (Nutrition and Dietetics), Katie Heiden-Rootes, Ph.D. (Medical Family Therap), Rabia Rahman, Ph.D., (Nutrition and Dietetics), Genevieve Del Rosario (Physician Assistant Education), Katie Sniffen, Ph.D. (Physical Therapy and Athletic Training), Ashley Schmuke, Ph.D. (Nursing), Kristi Richter (Social Work), Rowan Hollinger (Doisy College Health Sciences student), and Shelly Dalton, Ph.D. (Medical family therapy) presented the poster "Advancing transgender health education for health professional students: A faculty fellowship model for capacity building and curricular change" at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference Expo in October 25. The abstract was published abstracted in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(10)Supplement A17.
Suhjin Lee (Public Health & Social Justice student) presented her research results at the recent Society for Neuroscience Conference in San Diego. Her abstract was selected for oral presentation at the "Mechanisms of Axon Guidance and Neurite Development Across Species and Models" nanosymposium. The title of her scientific presentation was "CtBP1 mutation regulates early neurite formation".Lee's research mentor is Uthayashanker Ezekiel, Ph.D. (Clinical Health Sciences).
Emily Quartarone (American Studies doctoral candidate) gave a paper at the Midwest Modern Language Association conference, held in Milwaukee in Nov. 2025. Quartarone’s paper, on a panel exploring “American dark film” of the 1950s, was titled "Hate for Love of Country: Exploring Patriotism, Racism, and Masculinity in ‘Bad Day at Black Rock.’”
The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) held its 59th Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY from October 17 to 21, 2025. NAME is the professional organization for forensic pathologists, medical examiners, and medicolegal affiliates. The meeting draws attendees from around the United States and the world.
SLU School of Medicine forensic pathology faculty, who serve as medical examiners in the Office of the Medical Examiner for the City of St. Louis, had ten abstracts accepted at this meeting, including three for platform presentation.
Several SLU M2 medical students presented at the NAME conference.
SLU M2 Medical Students
- Samuel Cunniff: “Manner of Death and Ethical Dilemmas in Perinatal Pediatric Deaths”
- Anne Nelson: “Death due to Arthrogryposis and Associated Comorbidities: A Case Report”
- Tia Tran: “Little Bullets but Big Impacts”
- Eric Lu: “Anesthesia-Related Deaths: A Case Series”
- David Valencia: “A 25-Year Retrospective Study on Bridge/Overpass-Related Deaths in St. Louis”
- Michelle Kao: “Sudden Cardiac Death from an Anomalous Origin of a Coronary Artery: A Rare but Critical Diagnosis”
- Dashiell Wuller “Methamphetamine Use in Asthma Exacerbations: A Multiple Case Study”
SLU Faculty and City Medical Examiners
- Katie Hanson, M.D. (Pathology)
- Tatiana Bihun, M.D. (Pathology)
- Joseph Prahlow, M.D. (Pathology)
- Kanayo Tatsumi, M.D. (Pathology)
Faculty and students from SLU’s Departments of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Occupational Therapy collaborated on Snack Buddies, a feeding program supporting children with autism spectrum disorder at City Garden Montessori. The program emphasized nutrition, mealtime participation, and social communication, reflecting a strong collaborative partnership between faculty and graduate students across SLU’s Doisy College of Health Sciences. At the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Conference in Washington, D.C., the project was presented by Martha Blaess, , Ph.D. (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) Christine Rose (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) and Olivia Thompson (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences student), illustrating how interprofessional teamwork can support positive outcomes for children with ASD.
Charles S. Love, Ph.D. (Healthcare Ethics Ph.D. student) has had his paper, Slow Trauma: Reframing Concepts of Moral Injury in Trauma Informed Ethics Consultation, accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Ethics. In addition, he presented three papers over the summer. Buenos Dias Asclepias, a commentary on Nichole Flores’ hermeneutic of justice applied to healthcare ethics was presented at New Wine for New Wineskins, Notre Dame, IN; Bitter Lessons in Trauma-Informed Care for Healthcare Ethics Consultation, was presented at the From Bitterness to Disappointment and Back symposium at the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; and The Tübingen Keystone in the Arc of Communio-Ecclesiology presented at The Legacies of Nicaea I and Vatican II: An Inheritance Unfolding Conference a Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.