Nominated by her peers, Dr. Duong was selected for her exceptional commitment to student mentorship, leadership development, and the advancement of organized dentistry. Additionally, her dedication to treating individuals with special needs and complex medical conditions extends to the classroom, where she mentors students, residents, and faculty members at ATSU-ASDOH’s Center for Advanced Oral Health.
“Dr. Duong has remained active at the student, constituent, regional, and national levels of the AGD, building relationships with members across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to expand opportunities for the students she advises,” said Marc J. Worb, DDS, FAGD, AGD president. “Duong has also introduced students to the care of patients with special needs, broadening their clinical perspectives and reinforcing the values of compassion and advocacy in Practice.”
“Her genuine care for students, combined with her leadership and dedication, has left a lasting impact on countless individuals,” said Mackenzie Otter Schneider, DMD, award nominator. “Without her influence and encouragement, I would not have been as involved in the AGD today.”
In addition to this recognition, Dr. Duong has also been recognized with fellowships from the Special Care Dentistry Association, the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
After completing his dental education at ATSU-ASDOH and a pediatric residency at the Alaska Native Medical Center, Dr. Lefler spent time working in private practice before making the decision to return to tribal health. Dr. Lefler’s path back to the rural Flathead Reservation reflects
ATSU-ASDOH’s longstanding commitment to training dentists who serve communities in need.
This past May, most of our library team traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Medical Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference. As the flagship event for health sciences information professionals, MLA offered an exceptional platform for our staff to engage with peers and thought leaders from medical libraries nationwide.
Beyond the robust professional development, the conference provided a vital opportunity for an in-person “staff retreat”— a rare and meaningful gathering for our ATSU library team, whose members span three different states. Enhancing this collaborative experience, the team toured the Medical College of Wisconsin Medical Library to exchange insights with local colleagues, and enjoyed a cultural outing together at the historic Pabst Mansion.
Our librarians were also active drivers of the conference’s educational mission, sharing their expertise through dynamic immersion sessions, paper presentations, and poster sessions.
Immersion Sessions
Our staff took on leadership and organizational roles to facilitate deep-dive collaborative sessions:
Laura Barkema moderated a panel for the immersion session “Got Curriculum? Scaffolded Instruction to Support Student Learning and Growth,” exploring strategic ways to map library instruction to evolving student milestones.
Maud Mundava co-organized two major sessions:
“It’s Not Just Paperwork: Reimagining Evaluations as Collaborative Conversations,” which provided practical frameworks for modernizing performance evaluations, self-assessments, and professional growth.
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go: Career Pathways in Health Sciences Librarianship,” a vital career development program connecting attendees with librarians representing diverse professional trajectories.
Paper Presentations
Sharing formal research and data-driven insights, our team presented two compelling papers:
Mohammad Aslam presented “Designing Effective Interfaces to Optimize User Experience in Academic Libraries,” highlighting and evaluating modern design principles that streamline how patrons interact with library technology.
Leslie Golamb and Hal Bright shared their research, “Medical Librarianship in the 21st Century: A Bibliometric Analysis of Four Core Journals,” mapping trends and shifts in the profession’s academic literature.
Poster Presentations
A huge congratulations to Dot Winslow, Laura Barkema, and Hal Bright on their below poster winning 1st Place in the MLA 2026 Annual Meeting Research Awards:
Dot Winslow, Laura Barkema, and Hal Bright presented “Beyond the Desk: Using a Targeted Email Campaign to Boost Student Engagement and Success in PA Clinical Rotations,” demonstrating how proactive outreach directly impacts student outcomes during critical clinical phases.
Building Community & Welcoming New Professionals
ATSU staff also dedicated time to fostering professional community and supporting peers:
Dot Winslow co-facilitated MLA’s Storytelling Roundtable. This session created a supportive space for library personnel to share workplace challenges, exchange resources, and build collective resilience and camaraderie.
Maud Mundava served as an official host for the invitation-only New Member and First-Time Attendees Program & Breakfast, welcoming newcomers and providing essential guidance and networking support to the next generation of medical librarians.
Looking Ahead
The extensive engagement and contributions of our library staff at MLA underscore ATSU’s ongoing commitment to professional development, institutional excellence, and staying at the absolute forefront of medical librarianship. We are incredibly proud of their achievements, the collaborative spirit they demonstrated in Milwaukee, and the positive impact they continue to make on our university and the broader profession.
Christopher D. Ingersoll, PhD, LAT, ATC, FACSM, FNATA, FASAHP, FNAP, senior associate dean and chair, Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, delivered the distance learning commencement address. Gail M. Whitelaw, PhD, clinical professor, clinic director, and clinical audiologist, The Ohio State University, presented the residential commencement address.
At each ceremony, ATSU-ASHS Dean Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MS, MPH, welcomed guests and graduates, while ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, and O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses, also delivered remarks.
Watch the distance learning commencement ceremony here, and watch the residential ceremony here.
The award honors chapters that demonstrate excellence across several areas, including leadership development, advocacy and awareness, service to the community, promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and professional growth opportunities.
Led by faculty advisor Ivonne Maldonado De la Rosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, instructor, ATSU-ASHS’ Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) department, the ATSU-ASHS chapter earned the distinction as the state’s only Gold Chapter Honors winner.
“This distinction places our chapter among the top in the nation and reflects the exceptional commitment, collaboration, and leadership of our students and faculty,” Dr. Maldonado De la Rosa said.
The NSSLHA is a national organization made up of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in the field of CSD. The organization offers students a wide variety of leadership opportunities, scholarships, awards, and advocacy resources.
In addition to their doctor of osteopathic medicine degrees, seven students graduated with master of public health degrees.
Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, president and CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers, delivered the ceremony’s commencement address. Dr. Rhee was also presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Other speakers included ATSU-SOMA Dean Sharon J. Obadia, DO, FNAOME, ’97, O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses, and Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO, FACOFP, ’11, who delivered the Board of Trustees greeting.
Jeffrey L. Alexander, PhD, FAACVPR, ACSM-CEP, professor, Health Sciences, served as the ceremony’s grand marshal, while the commencement address was delivered by Kyle Smith, DO, EdD, FACP, FASDIN, ’23, founding medical director and clinical assistant professor, Tarleton State University.
Additional speakers included ATSU-CGHS Dean Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM EP-C, PN-1, FACSM, Gaylah Sublette, MBA, president, ATSU’s Missouri campus, and Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO, FACOFP, ’11, who delivered the Board of Trustees greeting.
Dr. Geoghegan was recognized at an awards ceremony on Apr. 27 at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. She was honored with the award for her excellent community engagement and patient care.
The milestone recognized 16 students and their transition from didactic and clinical training in Arizona to full-time clinical training at locations across the country, reflecting the dedication they have shown throughout their first year.
The Sullivan County Health Department Board of Trustees and Administrator Deborah Taylor announced the appointment. Hillerman will serve in the interim role through July 31, at which point she will officially assume the permanent administrator position following Taylor’s retirement.
Hillerman joins the Sullivan County Health Department with a public health and nursing background spanning nearly 30 years, including 26 years devoted specifically to public health service. Her professional experience includes work in communicable disease management, epidemiology, emergency preparedness, women, infants, and children services, public health initiatives in educational settings, and regional leadership responsibilities.
