Alumni Awards

2009 Spirit of Philanthropy Honoree

Jane M. Geradot

Jane Gerardot left rehabilitation health care and administration for a law career more than 20 years ago. Yet the physical therapy field remains so close to her heart that she still maintains her license to practice.

In the early 1970s, Jane earned her bachelor of science in physical therapy and master’s degree in allied health education on what is now the IUPUI campus. For 18 years afterward, she worked as a physical therapist, health care administrator, and owner of a physical therapy and rehabilitation practice. Her time as a student and a professional affected her deeply, and her generosity toward the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences reflects her desire for future alumni to have equally rewarding experiences.

Jane is frank in discussing her former profession. “Rehabilitation — including all the related therapies — is the under-recognized and under-utilized arm of medicine,” she said. “My gift (to SHRS) is a gesture of my support and encouragement to a field that deserves more for research and education.” Jane’s physical therapy education played a significant role in her character and career development. She hopes her contributions to SHRS demonstrate her gratitude.

2006 Spirit of Philanthropy Honorees

Louise E. Goggans, Med.Sc.D.

Health & Rehabilitation Sciences is honored to recognize the contributions of Dr. Louise Goggans. Dr. Goggans received all of her degrees at Indiana University and worked as Clinical Director at Regenstrief Health Center and then at Wishard Hospital for 25 years, retiring in 2002. She has been a marriage and family therapist as well as a registered dietician with a community spirit that has included directorships of such agencies as the Children's Bureau, Indiana Affiliate of the American Diabetics Association, YWCA, and Community Center of Indianapolis. In 1976 Dr. Goggans received the Indiana Distinguished Citizen Award from the Indianapolis Bi-Centennial Committee. She serves in 2007 president of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Board, is a member of the school's Dean's Council, and has endowed the Dr. Louise Goggans Lectureship to promote the social interaction of family and the relationship to wellness.

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Foundation

Health & Rehabilitation Sciences is pleased to honor the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Foundation for its work in partnering to establish a center of excellence in Indiana to research patient needs for rehabilitation care. The Indiana Center for Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering Research (ICRSER) is envisioned to be physically housed in a new facility attached to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, thus promoting more integration between research and clinical care. The Foundation has taken the leadership role to design architectural renderings of the necessary space, engage with IUPUI schools and research centers in developing a vision, and embark on a capital campaign to secure the necessary funding. The Foundation's efforts include embracing multiple community constituencies that will better integrate ICRSER with the present and emerging health care needs and economic costs of injury and disability.

2005 Spirit Of Philanthropy Honorees

Rock Island Foundation

Health & Rehabilitation Sciences is honored to recognize the Rock Island Foundation and specifically Edgar Joseph who championed the first gift to the Indiana Center for Rehabilitation Sciences & Engineering Research. The Rock Island Foundation has pledge annual unrestricted support for the next 4 years to improve the quality of life, enhance human health and advancing Indiana's BioCrossroad's initative.

When introduced to this new center of excellence focused on mobility and addressing functional limitation, pathology & impairment as well as health services reasearch, Ed simply replied, "Just glad I can do my part to make better knee replacements" The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, as well as the Indiana Center for Rehabilitation Sciences & Engineering Research acknowledge the foresight of the Rock Island Foundation and its trustee Edgar Joseph. The philanthropic spirit is truly exemplified as this gift has recently leveraged a $1 million allocation from the Department of Defense.

Anita Slominski

Health & Rehabilitation Sciences is honored to recognize Anita Slominski who improved the quality of life with those with cerebral palsy. Through her generosity, Anita funded the staff position of clinical fieldwork coordinator empowering the work of clinical rotations for students in Occupational Therapy.

Anita Slominiski was employed by the Indiana University Medical Center for 40 years (1946-1986). As an employee, Anita Shaped the field of Occupational Therapy through demonstrated scholastic excellence, professional contribution and specifically the distinction of receiving the AOTA merit award. The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy recognizes Anita Slominiski for the establishment of the Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator and the Anita Slominiski Fellowships for first year student with clinical interest in Occupational Therapy.

2004 Spirit of Philanthropy Honorees

Frances C. Ekstam

Through the generosity of Physical Therapy program alumnus Frances C. Ekstam, Indiana University Department of Physical Therapy will be the beneficiary of the Patricia Rae Evans Fellowship, a first year fellowship of Doctorate students. Ekstam's generosity enables the School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences to continue recruit the best and the brightest students for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy. As the founder of the Physical Therapy Degree program, Ekstam has educated, motivated and continues to inspire alumni.

Ekstam has been honored in numerous ways, including naming a laboratory, a fellowship and most recently a professorship. The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences is grateful for her foresight, code of ethics and professionalism.

Sheila Daneen Ward

In 1962, Dr. Sheila Daneen Ward began her relationship with Indiana University. Ward was recruited from the Harvard School of Medicine to direct the nutrition component of the NIH clinical Research Center and to teach in the Dietetic Internship.

She earned her Ph.D. in Medical Science (D.M. Sc) at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Her research dissertation examined the familial and environmental determinants cholesterol level in children and in doing so, she paved the way for women of achievement in the Medical Sciences.

Through her generosity, the Dr. Sheila Ward Dietetic Fellowship will be awarded to a dietetic internship graduate to pursue a master's degree in the study of clinical nutrition. Ward has also endowed a Professor of Oncology in the School of Medicine.

2003 Spirit of Philanthropy Honoree

Patricia Rae Evans

Through the generosity of a Physical Therapy Program alumnus, Patricia Rae Evans (BSPT '62), Indiana University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program students will soon be the beneficiaries of a newly endowed professorship named in honor of the program's founder, Professor Frances C. Ekstam.

The endowed professorship will allow IU to recruit a distinguished physical therapy academic to join existing faculty and continue the Program's reemergence as a state, region and Big 10 leader. Indiana University is currently one of only 65 institutions in the United States to award the professional doctorate in Physical Therapy, and was the first of the three accredited programs in Indiana to do so.