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t m c » p u l s e | n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 36 36 ACCOLADES PHILIPPA ASHFORD, MSN, R.N., nurse manager of the assessment and stabilization unit at The Menninger Clinic, has been named a 2015 Outstanding Nurse by the Texas Nurses Association – District 9. Ashford has practiced nursing for more than 30 years and has devoted the majority of her career to caring for patients who have a mental illness. Among her many accomplishments that this award recognizes, Ashford co-developed an algorithm that mitigates medical deterioration due to the severity of alcohol withdrawal. SUSAN BLANEY, M.D., deputy director of Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, was recently elected to serve as chair of the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Advisory Committee on Childhood Cancers (ACCC). Blaney, who has been a member of the committee for three years, will serve a two-year term. The ACCC advises CPRIT's Oversight Committee on issues surrounding childhood cancer. In collabo- ration with pediatric oncologists throughout Texas, the committee provides information and opportunities for innovative research as it relates to the treatment, care, prevention and control of childhood cancer. ORLANDO DIAZ, M.D., interventional neurora- diologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, was named president of the South American Society of Interventional Neuroradiology (SILAN). SILAN promotes the growth of neuroradiology by train- ing health professionals from around the world in advanced neuroradiology techniques and practices. Diaz, who directs the Interventional Neuroradiology Fellowship Program at Houston Methodist Hospital, will be in charge of running SILAN's international meetings during his two-year term as president. GERARD E. FRANCISCO, M.D., chairman of physi- cal medicine and rehabilitation at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School and chief medical ocer at TIRR Memorial Hermann, received the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Distinguished Member Award for his invaluable service to the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Francisco, who managed the rehabil- itative care of wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giords, is collaborating with Rice University and University of Houston researchers to develop a brain-robot device designed to help stroke survivors who can no longer manipulate their arms and wrists. LYDIA KAVRAKI, PH.D., Noah Harding Professor of Computer Science and a professor of bioengi- neering at Rice University, has been named the winner of the 2015 Award for Technical Leadership by the Anita Borg Institute. The institute, which promotes the progress of women in technology, will present the award to Kavraki at the 2015 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. The award recognizes women who demonstrate leader- ship through contributions and achievements that increase the impact of women on technology. JANE MAHONEY, PH.D., R.N., received the 2015 American Psychiatric Nursing Association's Award for Excellence in Research. The award recognizes Mahoney for successfully implementing evi- dence-based nursing practices at Menninger based on translational research into practice. Her role as coordinator of Menninger's nurse internship program was also touted, highlighting leadership in educating nurses in the field of mental health. As the principal investigator for Menninger's nursing research, her research interests include patient safety, clinical outcomes and understanding the illness experience of patients. MICHAEL J. MCBRIDE, FACHE, was named president of suburban hospitals by CHI St. Luke's Health (CHI St. Luke's), eective Nov. 9, 2015. He will focus on CHI St. Luke's six suburban hospitals (The Woodlands, Lakeside, Sugar Land, Patients Medical Center, The Vintage, Springwoods Village) by working with each hospital's leadership team to advance strategic initiatives and improve opera- tional eciencies. With more than 25 years of health care administration experience, McBride joins CHI St. Luke's from SCL Health, where he served as pres- ident and CEO of St. Mary's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. LORIE SHOEMAKER, DHA, R.N., MSN, was named by CHI St. Luke's Health as its chief nursing ocer. In this role, she will work directly with the three CHI markets included in Texas: CHI St. Luke's Health in Houston, CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial in Luin and Livingston, and St. Joseph Health System in Bryan/College Station. Shoemaker joins CHI from Palomar Health, where for more than 28 years she fulfilled progressive management positions—most recently promoted to System Vice President of Palomar Medical Center from her role as Chief Nursing Executive for the system, which she held for 10 years.