2023 Alumni Award Winners
They provide excellent patient care, help train future health leaders, work to diversify the health workforce and serve as leaders in their specialties: They are Des Moines University’s 2023 Alumni of the Year and Rising Star Award honorees.
“In their contributions, achievements and leadership, these distinguished individuals demonstrate the power and value of a DMU education,” says Krystal Kruse, assistant director of alumni relations. “Through their expertise and selfless service to others, they truly make our world a better, healthier place, and the university is so proud to honor them.”
Alumni of the Year and Rising Star Award honorees are selected by the DMU Alumni Association Board of Directors and university leadership. Award recipients must be:
- in good standing as members of their respective professional state or national organization and the DMU Alumni Association;
- demonstrate excellent service to DMU, its students and their profession; and
- demonstrate a record of service to their community on a local, state and/or national level.
Below are this year’s honorees.
College of Osteopathic Medicine 2023 Alumnus of the Year:
Thomas Cavalieri, D.O.’76, MACOI, FACP, AGSF
Thomas Cavalieri, D.O.’76, MACOI, FACP, AGSF, the College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumnus of the Year, is the senior vice provost of the Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences of Rowan University and chief academic officer of Virtua Health in Stratford, New Jersey. He has strengthened the osteopathic profession as a longstanding member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Board of Deans executive committee and a member and past chair of the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. He is the past chair of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, which provides assessment services for the osteopathic profession. He currently serves on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education board, which accredits all graduate medical training programs for physicians in the United States.
Cavalieri began his career in medical academia after working in private practice for about a year. He helped create one of the nation’s first formal fellowship programs in geriatrics. He is the founding director of the Center of Aging (now the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging) and was appointed to the New Jersey Commission on Aging. He has received numerous awards during his career, including the 2023 Dale S. Dodson Award of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, given to a current or past leader of an osteopathic college who has made significant contributions to the advancement and support of osteopathic medical education.
Thomas Cavalieri sees his many contributions to health care and medical education as opportunities to focus on his “why” — caring for patients.
“When you’re in academic medicine, whatever you do, it all impacts on caring for patients,” says the senior vice provost of the Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences of Rowan University and chief academic officer of Virtua Health in Stratford, New Jersey. “I became a physician because I want to improve the human condition. In academic medicine, you can do that in three ways. You can care for patients at the bedside, which I still do today. You can inspire the next generation of physicians. And you can engage in discovery and innovation through research.”
Cavalieri also has strengthened the osteopathic profession as a longstanding member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Board of Deans executive committee and a member and past chair of the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. He is the past chair of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, which provides assessment services for the osteopathic profession. He currently serves on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education board, which accredits all graduate medical training programs for physicians in the United States.
“D.O.s bring a holistic view of the patient, an emphasis on primary care and manipulative skills that are recognized as value-added to the health care of our nation,” he says. “That’s why it’s been so exciting to be the dean of a school that helps create the type of physicians our nation needs.”
Cavalieri had been in practice for about a year when the dean of the newly created University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine invited him to join its faculty as a general internist. The school’s faculty practice plan allowed him to combine his love of patient care with teaching.
“I’ve been ever grateful for that opportunity because it created a pathway for me to have a lifelong career in academic medicine and caring for patients in an environment that was very stimulating,” he says.
In the early 1980s he “jumped at the chance” to develop his expertise in geriatrics and help create one of the nation’s first formal fellowship programs in the specialty. He obtained research grants and wrote dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on end-of-life care and geriatric assessment. He is the founding director of the Center of Aging (now the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging) and was appointed to the New Jersey Commission on Aging.
“Academics is about innovation. For me, that was developing a career path to becoming a geriatrician and training medical students and physicians in the field,” he says.
He’s helped fuel innovation in academic medicine in other ways, from developing new curricula, introducing clinical and research opportunities for students early in their training and increasing interprofessional, team-based medical education. He and his colleagues have worked to recruit more diverse students and faculty.
Cavalieri was appointed dean of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. In 2013, he oversaw its successful reorganization as the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. He was tapped for his current role in 2023 after Rowan University formed a new academic partnership with Virtua Health, South Jersey’s largest health system. As senior vice provost, he oversees the undergraduate and graduate education and research programs of Virtua Health College’s three schools — osteopathic medicine, nursing and health professions, and translational biomedical engineering and sciences.
He has received numerous awards during his career, including the 2023 Dale S. Dodson Award of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, given to a current or past leader of an osteopathic college who has made significant contributions to the advancement and support of osteopathic medical education.
“My experiences at Des Moines University gave me an amazing foundation and put me on a trajectory to pursue a career that to this day I love,” he says.
College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery 2023 Alumna of the Year:
Tiffany Hauptman, D.P.M.’98
Tiffany Hauptman, D.P.M.’98, the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Alumna of the Year, is a podiatric physician and chief of staff at Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. She began her career as a seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics teacher and coach in Iowa, but her attendance at a sports medicine conference changed her course to podiatric medicine. She graduated from DMU with the CPMS Leadership Award and the Timothy Holbrook Memorial Award for Excellence in Orthopedics. She opened a practice in Mount Pleasant that joined Great River Health in 2016.
Hauptman served on the CPMS Alumni Council and then became a CPMS representative on the DMU Alumni Board of Directors when the university merged its three colleges’ alumni councils into a unified board. Beyond her medical practice, she is active in the Daughters of the American Revolution and serves as a location coordinator for Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that organizes wreath-laying ceremonies to honor American veterans of all wars who are interred at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 3,700 additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. In that role, she works to obtain donations so that the graves of the 107 veterans buried at a local cemetery will have a wreath in December, when the ceremonies occur.
Tiffany Hauptman taught seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics and coached track, softball, volleyball and basketball for three years, but then her attendance at a sports medicine conference changed her course.
“I’d always wanted to help people, and that conference made me realize I needed to be in health care,” she says.
Hauptman had worked as a student athletic trainer as an undergraduate at Luther College, so she initially leaned toward sports medicine.
“But the more I shadowed podiatric physicians and learned about podiatry, the variety of patients who needed podiatric care and the huge variety of ways to treat people, the more I realized that would probably be a good fit for me,” she says.
She applied at a handful of podiatric colleges. A big factor in her choosing Des Moines University’s College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery was its curriculum, which continues to have podiatric and osteopathic students take first-year classes together.
“It was highly interactive. The students worked together as a team, including studying and in small groups with the osteopathic students,” she recalls. “I continue to work with other health care providers to serve patients, especially with conditions like diabetes that affect more than one organ system or body part.”
Hauptman graduated with the CPMS Leadership Award and the Timothy Holbrook Memorial Award for Excellence in Orthopedics. After completing a podiatric surgical residency at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa, she opened a practice in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 2016, her practice joined Great River Health as Southeast Iowa Podiatry. She is serving a two-year term as chief of staff at Henry County Health Center. She says her experience in education and coaching has been useful in medical practice.
“It’s important for me to explain to patients and for patients to understand what is going on with their feet, why it’s happening and the reason for my treatment recommendation. I feel strongly that if patients can understand that, they’ll have a much better chance of following my recommendation,” she says.
Hauptman is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Iowa Podiatric Medical Society, including as a past board member. She stayed connected with DMU, too, serving on the CPMS Alumni Council. When the university merged its three colleges’ alumni councils into a unified Alumni Board of Directors, she stayed on as a CPMS representative. She also has contributed financially to the university for many consecutive years.
Beyond her medical practice, Hauptman is active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, including as state officer for Iowa. DAR is a service organization for women who are directly descended from a person who fought for the United States’ independence. An ancestor on her father’s side, Elias Seymour, fought in the Continental Army for the state of Connecticut.
“I grew up hearing stories about how my ancestors helped to make this country, so that’s been ingrained in me,” she says.
Hauptman also is a location coordinator for Wreaths Across America. This nonprofit organization coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies to honor American veterans of all wars who are interred at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 3,700 additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. She works to obtain donations so that the graves of the 107 veterans buried at a local cemetery will have a wreath in December, when the ceremonies occur.
“The program has grown exponentially, with volunteers and donors across the country,” she says. “It’s something I’m proud to be part of.”
College of Health Sciences Alumna of the Year:
Laurie Hughell, M.S.P.A.S.’04, M.P.H.’06, PA-C
Laurie Hughell, M.S.P.A.S.’04, M.P.H.’06, PA-C, is the 2023 College of Health Sciences Alumna of the Year and a physician assistant at the Iowa Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in Urbandale, Iowa. She joined the center in 2004 and has since used her extensive experience in rheumatology to treat complicated musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions while striving to improve patients’ quality of life. She brings to her role additional expertise from a geriatric fellowship and a master’s degree in public health from DMU.
Hughell is a longtime guest instructor for students in the university’s physician assistant and physical therapy programs and precepts PA students at her practice. She is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, the Association of Rheumatology Professionals, the Rheumatology Association of Iowa and the Iowa Physician Assistant Society. She’s done some speaking and publishing through Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and providing educational programs, professional advancement services and resources for these professionals. She also has lobbied on patient care issues, access and reimbursement policies in Washington, D.C., and at the Iowa Capitol.
Laurie Hughell, M.S.P.A.C., M.P.H., PA-C, a 2004 graduate of Des Moines University’s physician assistant program in practice at the Iowa Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in Urbandale, Iowa, was named the 2023 College of Health Sciences Alumna of the Year. She also is a 2006 graduate of the university’s Master of Public Health degree program.
The honor is given annually to one graduate of each of DMU’s three colleges who is a member in good standing of their respective professional state or national organization and the DMU Alumni Association; demonstrates excellent service to DMU, its students and their profession; and demonstrates a record of service to their community on a local, state and/or national level.
Fascinated at an early age by how the human body works, Hughell readily embraced the academic and clinical rigor of the university’s physician assistant studies program, which changed from a bachelor of science to a master of science curriculum in her first year there.
At the Iowa Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center, she uses her extensive experience in rheumatology to treat complicated musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions while striving to improve patients’ quality of life. She joined the center in 2004, bringing additional expertise from a geriatric fellowship.
“I work with a great group of physicians and staff, and most of our patients have been with our center for a long time,” she says. “I enjoy getting to know them and their families. I came into rheumatology during a time of vast changes in treatment options, which has been cool.”
She shares her knowledge of the treatment of rheumatic diseases with students in DMU’s physician assistant and physical therapy programs. She is a longtime guest instructor for both programs and precepts PA students at her practice.
“There are not that many rheumatology practices in Iowa. I think students need to see it and be exposed to these patients’ conditions,” she says. “It’s extra work, but it’s been very fulfilling to see students learning over time and then keep in touch with them when they get into practice.”
Hughell is an active member of the American College of Rheumatology, the Association of Rheumatology Professionals, the Rheumatology Association of Iowa and the Iowa Physician Assistant Society. She’s done some speaking and publishing through Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and providing educational programs, professional advancement services and resources for these professionals. She has lobbied on patient care issues, access and reimbursement policies in Washington, D.C., and in Des Moines, including with the Iowa Physician Assistant Society.
“If you’re going to be in a specialty, you have a unique privilege to be involved as an advocate and educator as well as a provider,” she says.
2023 Rising Star Award:
Kelsey Mims, D.P.T.’12
Kelsey Mims, D.P.T.’12, is a physical therapist at BenchMark Physical Therapy in Atlanta and the recipient of the 2023 Rising Star Award, given to DMU graduates of the past 15 or fewer years who have made noteworthy contributions to their industry or community. As a DMU student, she received a full-tuition scholarship from the Glanton Fund. She has since “paid forward” that benefit by working to help diversify the physical therapy profession toward a greater goal — to provide better, more culturally competent health care to all people, especially minority and underserved communities.
"I want to ensure that our patients who are primarily minority are getting equal care and are being treated by people who truly understand them and their culture and their background," she says. "Some of my clinics serve primarily Black American communities, and it was eye-opening to realize some patients aren't sharing the same information with their doctors that they share with me, because there is a disconnect in the level of trust and understanding. That's one of the reasons why I have become more passionate in the push to seek out and hire more minorities. I want to make sure my patients are getting the best care possible."
As a youth, Kelsey Mims thought she’d become an athletic trainer, but a cold, rainy evening of shadowing an athletic trainer at a St. Ambrose University football practice in Davenport, Iowa, changed her path.
“I did not enjoy that experience. But after practice, the trainer did rehab with some players who’d been injured. That was what I had in mind,” she says. “Empowering people to play an active role in making sure their body is healthy through exercise and then seeing that affect them emotionally, mentally and even spiritually is such a rewarding experience.”
After graduating from Des Moines University, Mims joined BenchMark Physical Therapy in Atlanta. Benchmark has nearly 500 clinics in 13 states and is part of Upstream Rehabilitation, the largest rehabilitation organization in the nation. Benchmark’s therapist-partnership model allowed her to become an equity holder in two of the five clinics she manages. She was able to do so in part because, as a DMU student, she received a full-tuition Glanton Scholarship, awarded to students underrepresented in the health professions.
“Being able to go to PT school tuition-free put me at a good place financially. It relieved a lot of stress, and I was able to use money I saved to invest in my clinics as a business owner,” she says. “I truly don’t believe I would have been able to do that so early in my career if it hadn’t been for the Glanton Scholarship. I’m very grateful for that.”
Mims is “paying forward” that benefit in several synergistic ways. She is a leader in BenchMark’s diversity, equity and inclusion student programs committee, which works to foster clinical and professional development. In that role, she partners with historically Black colleges and universities with physical therapy programs to assist minority PT students with résumé-writing, interview preparation and contract negotiations.
She also serves on the executive board of the National Association of Black Physical Therapists Inc., a nonprofit organization with a mission to increase visibility, networking, community service, advocacy, career development and mentorship for Black physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. She chairs the association’s Atlanta chapter.
“Our big push is helping high school and undergraduate students realize physical therapy is a great profession. Minority communities and lower-income school systems don’t always get exposed to all the career options out there,” she says. “Then at BenchMark, we’re working to make sure that once they are in physical therapy school, they have the support they need, they graduate and they see other people who look like them who can be their clinical instructors and maybe their future bosses, so they realize they aren’t alone.”
As a hiring manager at BenchMark and a mentor to students underrepresented in health care, Mims strives to help diversify the physical therapy profession toward a greater goal — to provide better, more culturally competent health care to all people, especially minority and underserved communities.
“I want to ensure that our patients who are primarily minority are getting equal care and are being treated by people who truly understand them and their culture and their background,” she says. “Some of my clinics serve primarily Black American communities, and it was eye-opening to realize some patients aren’t sharing the same information with their doctors that they share with me, because there is a disconnect in the level of trust and understanding. That’s one of the reasons why I have become more passionate in the push to seek out and hire more minorities. I want to make sure my patients are getting the best care possible.”