Golden Alumnus
A Previous UNM Alumni of the year award recipient who continues to make contributions to the profession of Physical Therapy in New Mexico. This may occur in a variety of ways and the nominee may contribute to the physical therapy profession by means of:
Barbara Bradley-Fuller Awarded 2008 – Class of 1976 – One of the first graduates of the program and the First Female PT graduating from UNM Physical Therapy program.
Pat Bartels Awarded 2009 – Class of 1988 - Was the NM APTA President representing NM Nationally and locally. She has been a huge supporter of the UNM program, even after her retirement.
Elisabeth Thomson Awarded 2010 & 2014 – Class of 1984 - is a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 24. She assumed office in 2017. Her current term ends on December 31, 2024. She is currently the Chair of Health Human & Services committee and has been an advocate for PT at the state level for many years.
Sahreem Luergan Awarded 2011 – Class of 2000 - Worked tirelessly as member of NMAPTA, stepped in to teach Prosthetics for two years, was a speaker at our induction ceremony and assisted our program whenever asked. She is a physical therapist at the VA. She was an active CI with us until her retirement.
Rick Murdoch Awarded 2012 – Class of 1982 -Started teaching as adjunct faculty my second year out of school. I was the Burn therapist and they needed someone to teach the burn section.
Then Fred Rutan became ill and he recommended me to take over the teaching of the classes he taught, mainly the modalities and therapeutic exercise classes. I continued teaching them for about 4 years, until Burk took over those classes. I continued as a guest lecturer in Burks class to cover Modalities in Wound Care. The program the expanded the Burn/Wound care section and I taught Wound Care From 1993 until I retired from the Hospital and my contract with PT school was not renewed. I also Was the first faculty member to Start utilizing High Fidelity mannequins for teaching. Presented at the International Meeting on Medical Simulation, Creating a Multidisciplinary Simulation Program. This evolved into the utilization of Standardized Patients for patient scenarios, I was the first to incorporate these patient actors into the Acute care classes. Developing the scenarios for 4 different situations. I taught the Acute care section from 2001 until I retired from the hospital and my contract was not renewed. I also have provided Guest lectures for the OT program. Including some lectures on Burn care and on Kinesiology and anatomy of the lower extremity. All in all I have held some sort of teaching position continuously from 1985 until I retired from the Hospital.
I held a Faculty Position at PIMA Medical Institute from 1985 – 1992 for the Physical Therapy Tech program.
I have also been a guest lecturer for the Universities Advanced Nurse Practice program, the UNM Center on aging on the topics of Wound Care and Arthritis.
Other activities have included my years working with and assisting in coaching the various adult wheelchair basketball teams and assisting my brother with the coaching of the youth wheelchair basketball program. I have volunteered with the New Medical Reserve Corp. Assisting with aide stations for various events around the state. As well as volunteering with HOSA (Health Occupation Student Association) to help with high school students that have and interest in healthcare occupations. This is a National organization the provides mentoring and competitions for skills in various fields, including Physical Therapy and Athletic Training.
I also work many years with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, both as the Therapist for the MD Clinic at UNMH and the volunteering with the program speaking at many of the MD meetings locally and then fabricating all the ramps and installing them, to make campus at NM School of Mines in Socorro accessible for the MD Summer Camp held there.
Other endeavors include, starting a medical device company that utilized red and infrared light to enhance healing. I was co-owner and CMO for the company. This resulted in me being the co-contributor to a patent (Visible Light Modulation of Mitochondrial Function in Hypoxia and Disease). Involvement with a Joint Venture Research project; Synergin and Sintex – “CNTF in the Treatment of ALS” . I administered the testing of the TQNF test and recorded results 1993 – 1995.
Dr. Leslie Morrison Awarded 2013 – Class of 1978 - Worked in PT until she was called to return to school for her medical degree. Her career brought her back to UNM as a Pediatrician and eventually working in to administration of the HSC. She retired as Vice Chancellor Emerita HSC Academic Affairs. She supported and assisted the PT program through it all and never forgot her roots.
Dr. Lynette Gilmore Awarded 2015 – Class of 2009 – Lynnette has dedicated herself to working in rural and medically underserved communities in New Mexico and Arizona. She has a focus on working with Native American population.
Jay Stoltzfus Awarded 2016– Class of 1984 - Jay has dedicated himself to serving DD Waiver clients in the Albuquerque Area. He was an active CI with us for many years and a guest lecturer.
John Renna Awarded 2017 – Class of 1992 - Was a CI for over 30 years and led an adaptive sports program for spinal cord injury clients through his affiliation with the VA.
Dr. Reena Tenorio Awarded 2018- Class of 2013 – Reena began her weightlifting career in 2013 and currently holds a 5th overall National ranking in the 53kg weight-class. In 2017 Dr. Tenorio partnered with Barbells for Boobs and has since been supporting the ‘Right to Know’ and ‘Resources After Diagnosis’ programs as a representative weightlifting athlete, assistant coach and DPT. Her future goals are to start her own private practice in the HQ of Barbells for Boobs with treatment emphasis for athletes and breast cancer survivors while representing ‘Barbells for Boobs: Academy of Weightlifting’ team/Team USA in international weightlifting competitions.
Scott Hubbard Awarded 2019 – Class of 2004 - Scott has provided pediatric physical therapy across many settings and is a leader for health promotion for children with disabilities across New Mexico. Scott founded the Zia Freewheelers Adaptive Cycling Program for kids of all different abilities, encourages family involvement and builds community health promotion.
Dr. Michelle Jilek, Capt. USAF Awarded 2022 – Class of 2017 – In 2019, Capt. Jilek personally trail blazed the first-ever embedded physical therapy clinic at her duty station, Langley Air Force Base. She has utilized her specialized training in spine injury to treat high-G induced spine injury in fighter pilots…Fighter pilots withstand up to 9x the force of gravity during certain combat maneuvering, and Capt. Jilek has developed specific treatment protocols to reduce incidence of spine injury in this population.
Dr. Lea Carver Awarded 2023 – Class of 2004 She was the first to say yes to our residency and was in our inaugural group of clinical sites allowing us to gain an orthopaedic residency in NM. She was actively employed our graduates (both DPT and resident graduates). She is the owner and president of Langford Sports and Physical Therapy, an innovative private practice clinic that exemplifies excellence in physical therapy service and leads through her affiliation with Desert States Network. She has also provided support to our program as a teaching assistant in anatomy, contributing to the 2018 strategic plan, supporting our orthopedic clinical residency and has been a CI.
Bettina Brown Awarded 2024 - Class of 2006 - She is a therapy manager at UNM SRMC and is the President of the New Mexico Physical Therapy Licensing Board. She is proactively working to improve the function of the board and did a great job providing a very insightful and inspiring lecture to our students