University Times

Ronald N. Roth, associate professor and chief of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Pitt's School of Medicine has been appointed medical director of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). As medical director, Roth is responsible for making all the medical decisions on protocols for paramedics, coordinating prehospital care and overseeing paramedic training and education. Roth had served as associate medical director for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS since 1991.

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Paul Paris, professor and chairman of emergency medicine at the School of Medicine, will serve as executive medical director of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS.

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Berrylin J. Ferguson, associate professor of otolaryngology in the School of Medicine, was re-elected chair of the research committee for American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.

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Denise Charron-Prochownik, assistant professor in nursing and public health, was named a recipient of the 2001 Nightingale Award for Nursing Research. This award honors individuals who demonstrate excellence in nursing research and who have made significant contributions to patient care.

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Charron-Prochownik, who also is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital, has focused her research on developing, evaluating and disseminating theory-based, developmentally appropriate information regarding reproductive health awareness for teens with diabetes to empower them to make informed, healthy choices.

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Kathryn Puskar, associate professor in the School of Nursing, has been selected as president-elect for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). The largest national association of psychiatric nurses, APNA provides leadership to advance psychiatric-mental health nursing practice; improve mental health care for culturally diverse individuals, families, groups and communities; and shape health policy for the delivery of mental health services.

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William B. Kory, associate professor and chair of the geography department at the Johnstown campus, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Pennsylvania Geographical Society. The award was given Nov. 9 as the society held its annual meeting at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown. Nearly 100 geographers attended the meeting. This was the second time that the Johnstown campus hosted the PGS conference.

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University Athletics director Steve Pederson has been named a recipient of the General Robert R. Neyland Athletic Director Award, annually presented by the All-American Football Foundation for outstanding administrative achievement in collegiate football.

Pederson was honored at the Foundation's Banquet of Champions Nov. 29, at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, N.J.

The first five years of Pederson's tenure have been characterized as the most ambitious in the history of Panther athletics. Last year the Pitt football team moved into its state-of-the-art practice facility, the UPMC Sports Performance Complex, and this fall began playing its games at Heinz Field.

The Panthers, who participated in the 1997 Liberty Bowl and 200 Insight.com Bowl, will play in this year's Dec. 20 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando.

Pederson was instrumental in the development of the Petersen Events Center. The venue will serve as the home of Pittsburgh's men's and women's basketball teams and will be ready for the 2002-03 season.

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Edwin Clemens, former Bradford campus Advisory Board member and Second Decade Campaign co-chairman, will receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction, Bradford's highest honor.

Each year Pitt-Bradford presents the Presidential Medal of Distinction to someone who has either volunteered his or her time for several years; supported the college either financially or with expertise or advice; served the college's service region through community, government or business affiliation, or has made distinctive achievements in his or her field that have affected Pitt-Bradford.

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Natasha Sokolovich has been named director of business development, a newly created position, of Pittsburgh Clinical Research Network (PCRN).

PCRN, which was formally launched in 1998 by UPMC Health System, provides a broad range of traditional clinical trials project management services including patient recruitment and retention services.

Sokolovich, who holds a J.D. from Pitt's School of Law, will focus on marketing a "preferred panel" of clinical investigators in selected therapeutic areas in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. This panel is drawn from medical investigators within UPMC including its owned and affiliated community-based medical practices. In addition, she will be responsible for marketing PCRN's recently established subject recruitment and retention service, which is available to federally-funded UPMC investigators, researchers seeking federal funding and industry sponsors of clinical trials

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Jonathan Gondor has been appointed assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and associate professor of music at the Johnstown Campus.

Gonder earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in music performance from the University of Western (London) Ontarion and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan.

Prior to coming to UPJ, Gondor was vice president for academic and student affairs at Sullivan Community College, Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. Previously he had served as professor of music, chair of music, dean of humanities and director of student services at Laurentian University in Northern Ontario.

Gondor will oversee academic support services, including the college's Learning Resource Center, and serve as adviser for students with undeclared majors. Additionally, he will be involved in academic integrity cases, academic orientation, and freshman support initiatives, as well as conduct training sessions for academic advisors.