Awards & Accolades
Lisa O'Neill, associate director of research and education at the Arizona Center on Aging
David Labiner, professor and head of the Department of Neurology
Congratulations to these recent honorees.
O'Neill Named National Health and Aging Policy Fellow
Lisa O'Neill, associate director of research and education at the Arizona Center on Aging, has been selected as a 2019-20 Health and Aging Policy Fellow, joining 11 other professionals in health and aging from around the country.
The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program "aims to create a cadre of leaders who will serve as change agents in health and aging policy to ultimately improve the health care of older adults." The program is run by the National Program Office in the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University.
O'Neill, who holds the chair of the Arizona Governor's Advisory Council on Aging, said she is interested in expanding her skills "related to advocating for older adults and creating effective and efficient policy to help improve their lives." As a fellow, she will participate in a six-week orientation in Washington, D.C., to learn about the federal legislative process and agencies that oversee health and aging policy.
University Honored by ASEE Division for Service to Student Veterans
The University of Arizona has been given the 2019 Engineering Excellence for Veterans Award by the Military and Veterans Division of the American Society for Engineering Education. The University was recognized in June at the organization's annual conference in Tampa, Florida.
The American Society for Engineering Education aims to advance "innovation, excellence and access at all levels of education for the engineering profession." Its Military and Veterans Division focuses on active-duty military engineers and military veterans pursuing engineering careers.
The award recognizes the University's "outstanding support of veterans" who are transitioning out of the military and into engineering careers. The University was one of three institutions to receive the award. Awardees were selected based on national rankings related to support for student veterans. The University is ranked at No. 52 out of 137 in Military Times' Best for Vets: Colleges 2019 and at No. 80 out of 140 in U.S. News & World Report's Best College for Veterans 2020.
Since 2007, the University's Veterans Education and Transition Services has provided resources to help student veterans achieve academic success. VETS has become a national model for similar centers at other institutions.
Labiner Honored by Arizona Epilepsy Foundation
David Labiner, professor and head of the Department of Neurology, has been given the 2019 Commitment to Epilepsy Award by the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona. He was honored last month at the foundation's 2019 Waves of Change for Epilepsy Gala in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
The foundation develops public education programs to increase awareness and improve health care for people affected by epilepsy. About 77,000 people in Arizona have epilepsy.
Labiner, a neurology physician at Banner – University Medicine, specializes in epilepsy and seizure disorders and sees patients at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and at Banner – University Medical Center South. He also holds clinics statewide, volunteers as a speaker to support groups, and holds local conferences to present the latest research on epilepsy medical treatment.
Labiner is past president of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers.
We want to know about your good news. If you, your team or a colleague has won any major awards, been honored nationally or internationally, or accomplished some other major feat that deserves recognition, let us know about it.
To submit your news, please send us an email with the following information:
- Name of the person, team or unit receiving the honor with full UA titles.
- Information about the award/honor and the organization that granted it. Please include a link to the official announcement of the award/honor.
- When the honor was announced and when it will be presented (or was presented).
- A photo of the honoree. If others appear in the photo, please provide their names and identifying information, such as their UA title or other affiliation.
Questions? Contact Lo Que Pasa at uaatwork@email.arizona.edu.