2012 recipients
College of Health Sciences Alumna of the Year
Marcia Hammers, B.H.A.'88
As a senior health care consultant at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Marcia Grassman Hammers works with large employers to analyze and address factors driving the health of employees and their families as well as costs. She joined the company in 1988 and has held a variety of positions in which she has worked to monitor data and trends, recommend strategic initiatives and new product ideas, and drive continuous quality improvement for Wellmark customers.
Hammers joined the DMU College of Health Sciences (CHS) Alumni Board in September 2008. When alumni leaders and the University reorganized its three college alumni boards into a unified board of directors in 2011, she became its first president. An ardent advocate for both students and alumni, she is a mentor for DMU students and has served on the CHS Golf Outing Committee, which raises scholarship funds for CHS students. Hammers was recently appointed by President Angela Franklin to serve on the University’s Strategic Planning team. She has been a consistent member of the University’s President’s Society and CHS Leadership Society, which recognize the University’s most generous donors.
Prior to joining Wellmark, Hammers worked at Mercy Health Center of Central Iowa as manager of Mercy’s Ankeny, IA, Medical Clinic as well as a unit nursing director, patient care coordinator, nurse and relief team leader. A graduate of the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, she is a certified health consultant, fellow of the Academy of Healthcare Management, licensed Iowa health insurance producer and a licensed registered nurse.
College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumnus of the Year
Anil Sahai, Ph.D., D.O.
Anil K. Sahai has practiced in internal medicine at the Webster City, IA, Medical Clinic, a private multispecialty group practice, since 1983. He also is chair of internal medicine and director/chair of the Critical Care Committee at Hamilton Hospital, Webster City.
Sahai serves DMU and Iowa’s medical students in multiple ways. A member of the DMU Board of Trustees since 2006, he has been an adjunct clinical associate professor at DMU since 1987 and a preceptor for the University of Iowa internal medicine residency program since 1994. He accepts three DMU students at a time for monthly rotations and provides them with housing. Sahai has been a consistent member of the University’s President’s Society and COM Leadership Society, which recognize the University’s most generous donors.
A man of many talents, Sahai earned his master’s degree and doctorate in biomedical engineering at Iowa State University before enrolling at DMU. He completed his residency in internal medicine in a cooperative program among Iowa Methodist Medical Center, the University of Iowa and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Des Moines. Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians, he holds a patent for a medical dispensing system and served on a dean’s advisory council for Iowa State’s College of Engineering. He’s also active in the Indian community across the state.
College of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Alumnus of the Year
Eric Barp, D.P.M.’01
Eric Barp practices with the Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines and serves patients at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Broadlawns Medical Center, Lakeview Surgery Center and Madison County Memorial Hospital. A diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, he is board-certified in rearfoot reconstructive and ankle surgery, and in foot surgery.
Barp is an enthusiastic supporter of DMU and its students. An adjunct assistant professor in the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (CPMS), he frequently takes students on rotations, and lectures on campus to classes and student organizations. He played a key role in creating a new three-year podiatric residency program with Iowa Health System in Des Moines. For many years, he has been a consistent member of the University’s President’s Society and CPMS Leadership Society, which recognize the University’s most generous donors.
After graduating from DMU, Barp completed his residency at Broadlawns Medical Center, Des Moines, where he was chief resident. In 2005, he was chair of the membership committee of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, trauma section. Barp currently serves as vice chair of chief of staff at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. He is also a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a member of the State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners, which is a governor-appointed position.
Past recipients
| Year | COM | CHS | CPMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Charles A. Finch, D.O.’94, FACOEP | Pam Harrison Chambers, PA-C ’92, M.P.H. ’01 | William Hal Hatchett, D.P.M.’00 |
| 2010 | Bernard Feldman, D.O.’80 | Sarah M. Pavelka, M.H.A.’01 | K. Linda Bratkiewicz, D.P.M.’91 |
| 2009 | Nirmalendu K. Pandeya, D.O.’69 | Kari R. Smith, D.P.T.’98, ’04 | Nicki L. Nigro, D.P.M.’89 |
| 2008 | Lester Goldblum, D.O.’79 | Jodi L. Cahalan, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., PA-C’93 | Michael S. Lee, D.P.M.’96 |
| 2007 | Alison A. Clarey, D.O.’72 | Louis M. Velazquesz, PA-C’02 | Christopher Hendrix, D.P.M.’96 |
| 2006 | Roberta Wattleworth, D.O.’86 | Susan Schooler, PA-C’02 | George R. Vito, D.P.M.’88 |
| 2005 | Robert E. Suter, D.O.’89 | Scott J. Leum, D.P.M.’95 | |
| 2004 | Joseph P. McNerney, D.O.’80 | V. Kathleen Satterfield, D.P.M.’91 | |
| 2003 | Larry Baker, D.O.’77 | David J. Caldarella, D.P.M.’90 | |
| 2002 | Stanley Gallagher, D.O.’76 | ||
| 2001 | Teresa Hubka, D.O.’89 | ||
| 2000 | Arnold Aaron, D.O.’61 | ||
| 1999 | Martin Diamond, D.O.’60 | ||
| 1998 | Gerald Cooper, D.O.’69 | ||
| 1997 | Max T. McKinney, D.O.’69 | ||
| 1995 | Richard Brown, D.O.’60 | ||
| 1994 | Arthur Angove, D.O.’62 | ||
| 1993 | Richard Kotz, D.O.’56 | ||
| 1992 | Gilbert Bucholz, D.O.’58 | ||
| 1991 | Rusty Wright, D.O.’29 | ||
| 1990 | Murray Goldstein, D.O.’50 | ||
| 1988 | Sara Sutton, D.O.’53 | ||
| 1987 | William G. Anderson, D.O.’56 | ||
| 1986 | Eugene Sikorski, D.O.’56 | ||
| 1985 | Louis Eske, D.O.’54 | ||
| 1983 | Patricia Cottrille, D.O.’51 | ||
| 1982 | Myron Magen, D.O.’51 | ||
| 1981 | Joseph R. McNerney, D.O.’37 | ||
| 1980 | Harry Elmets, D.O.’46 | ||
| 1979 | Dale Dodson, D.O.’51 |