CAHS Distinguished Alumni

Dr. A.U. Bankaitis earned her PhD from the University of Cincinnati in 1995. She quickly became the leading expert on infection control in the hearing industry early on in her career, and for the past 25 years has been educating the allied health professional masses in that area including audiologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers. A.U. currently works as Vice President of Oaktree Products, Inc. which is the leading provider of clinical supplies to the hearing care industry. She also serves as a member of professional organizations such as the National Academies of Practice, Missouri Academy of Audiology, and the American Academy of Audiology. Beyond infection control, A.U. applies her experiences as a medical audiologist, researcher, and business executive to offer solutions for the benefit of the profession and the patients we serve. Throughout her career, she has created free resource information on different clinical issues including hearing instrument considerations for amplified stethoscope users and on-ear capabilities of personal sound amplification products through her blog or the resource section of the Oaktree Products website. She was recently awarded the prestigious Samuel F. Lybarger Industry Award by the American Academy of Audiology for her research, engineering, and technological achievements within the field of Audiology. A.U. is a recognized resource to the hearing industry. Her strong clinical background as a medical audiologist along with her business competencies in strategic development and implementation allow her to offer practical solutions to audiology providers and business owners.

Cynthia Blocksom currently works as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the College of Allied Health Sciences where she earned her Master’s in Nutrition Science in 1979. A large part of her career was spent working for the City of Cincinnati in a variety of roles that include Interim Assistant Health Commissioner, Supervising Management Analyst, Health Activities Coordinator, Senior Administrative Specialist and WIC Nutritionist. In 2002, Cynthia was appointed by Ohio Governor, Robert Taft, to serve a five year appointment to the Ohio Board of Dietetics where she contributed to continuing education, rules review, professional development and probable review panels. In 2010, Cynthia joined Northern Kentucky University as part time faculty before moving to her current role as an adjunct instructor at UC. Cynthia has been heavily involved in her profession through membership and leadership in professional organizations. She is the current State Policy Representative for the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Public Policy Liaison and Reimbursement Committee Chair for the Greater Cincinnati Dietetic Association. She also currently participates in the Cincinnati Health Department Institutional Review Board, UC Coordinated Practice Committee, and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Cynthia has been recognized for her work and contributions over the years. She received the Ohio Dietetic Association Member Merit Award in 1994, the Award for Teaching Excellence from the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges in 2003, and the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Dietician of the Year Award in 2016. Cynthia believes her education and experiences she’s acquired through graduate school and employment at UC have been key to her success in the Nutrition profession.  

Dr. Will Chan earned his BS in Advanced Medical Imaging Technology from UC in 2003. He then went on to receive his MD in 2009 from the UC College of Medicine, completed his Anesthesia Residency in 2013 at UC Health, and his Interventional Pain Medicine Fellowship in 2014 from Case Western Medical Center. Will is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and also works as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Cincinnati. In addition to his work, Will is a member of multiple professional organizations including the Ohio Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the North American Neuromodulation Society, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia. Will also currently serves as a Chronic Pain Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee Leader, a Belize Mission Trip Anesthesia Leader, and a Mock Interview Preceptor at the UC College of Medicine. Will is a dedicated clinician, teacher, and leader. He received the Patient Experience Award in 2017 and was most recently recognized with the Cincinnati “Top Doctors” Award for Pain Medicine.

Lauree Handlon is currently the Director of Data Quality and Reimbursement at Cleverley + Associates, where she has worked since 2002. Partnering with 50+ hospitals, physician groups, and health systems annually, Lauree primarily analyzes third-party contractual arrangements for strategic pricing, payment assessments, and regional comparisons. She conducts frequent regulatory research and monitors data integrity by identifying anomalies in the Medicare public claims and client data while also providing Medicare prospective payment system, chargemaster guidance, and coding and billing education. In addition to her work, Lauree has presented numerous educational sessions for the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the Ohio Health Information Management Association (OHIMA), and other related professional organizations. She has written several articles regarding provider payment issues and revenue cycle topics. Lauree is a dedicated leader having served on multiple professional committees. She is a past president and delegate for OHIMA. She is a past president of the University of Cincinnati MHA Alumni Council as well as a past president of the Ohio State University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Society. Currently, Lauree is serving as the 2023-2024 President of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Lauree completed her Master of Health Administration at UC in 2017 and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. As a seasoned educator delivering content on end-to-end revenue cycle, coding, reimbursement methods, and healthcare finance with significant mentoring, coaching, management, and leadership experience, Lauree seeks to utilize her skills, knowledge, and passion to support and advance the future of healthcare. 

Dr. Henna Muzaffar came to the University of Cincinnati in 2002 and completed her BS in Food and Nutrition and MS in Nutrition Sciences in 2005. She then completed her dietetic internship at Loyola University in 2007. She joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009 and earned her doctorate in Nutrition Science there in 2012. Henna is currently an Associate Professor and Eating Disorders and Obesity Certificate Facilitator in the School of Health Studies at Northern Illinois University. Henna specializes in community nutrition and public health research. She has worked with populations of various ages, diverse health and nutrition issues, and in different research settings. She has discovered a niche in conducting obesity related interventions in schools and health disparities research in the community. She has also been engaged in developing, instructing, and co-teaching community nutrition, research methods, nutrition seminars, and health disparities research courses. Outside of work, Henna participates and serves a number of professional organizations. She serves as Chair of the Awards Committee of the Nutrition Education and Behavioral Sciences Research Interest Section of the American Society of Nutrition, Communications Committee Chair for the Nutrition Education for Public Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nominating Committee Chair-elect for the Research Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Program Committee Member of the West-Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Illinois. Throughout her career, Henna has received a number of awards and recognition. Most recently she received the Award for Excellence in Research from Nutrition Education for Public Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2021 and Fisher’s Award for Excellence in Service from Northern Illinois University in 2022. Henna is also passionate about serving her home country, Pakistan, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Human Development Foundation which is a non-profit organization supporting education, human development, and poverty eradication in Pakistan.

Lisa currently works at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio as a Service Line Administrator in Sports Medicine where she has developed and expanded the department to be a national leader in pediatric sports medicine as well as one of the most comprehensive Sports Concussion Programs in the country and the largest in central Ohio. Lisa graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 1987 from the University of Cincinnati before beginning her career in Athletic Training. Lisa went on to receive her Master of Education degree in Exercise Science in 1995 from Ashland University. Throughout her career, Lisa has led a variety of conference presentations and participated in multiple professional organizations as a member and in leadership capacities such as the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Due to her leadership, dedication and excellence in her work, Lisa has received a number of awards and honors. Some of these include Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2004, the Presidential Excellence Award by the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2007, the Athletic Training Service Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2014, and the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2017. In addition to her work, Lisa has participated in many different leadership trainings such as Effective Leadership Series in 2003, Journey to Leadership Excellence in 2016, and Emotionally Intelligent Leader in 2017. She became a certified Leadership and Executive Coach through the Center for Executive Coaching in 2022 and is part of the 2023 Cohort for Leadership New Albany.

Carol Leslie began her career as a Speech Language Pathologist in 1970 after graduating with her Masters in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa. Beginning at St. Christopher Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA, she then moved to the Cincinnati Speech and Hearing Center (now known as Hearing Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati) where she served as speech-language pathologist, department coordinator and executive director. Carol joined the University of Cincinnati community as an adjunct part-time instructor in 1979 and graduated with her PhD in Speech Pathology in 1980. Carol has made an impact in her field through serving in numerous roles in professional organizations such as President of the Southwest Ohio Speech, Language and Hearing Association, President of the Ohio Speech Language and Hearing Association, Vice President for Planning of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, and Program Chair for the national convention of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Through her leadership and dedication to her profession, Carol has earned countless recognitions and honors. These include being recognized in 1978 for outstanding contributions to ASHA Congressional Action Contact Network, Honors in 1979 from the Southwest Ohio Speech, Language and Hearing Association, recognition in 1989 as one of twenty five prominent alumni from the CSD Department at UC, fellow for the American Speech-Language Hearing Association in 1981 and fellow for the Ohio Speech Language and Hearing Association in 1978 and 1982. Additionally, Carol has served on the Board of St. Rita School for the Deaf and participated in related organizations such as the Orton Dyslexia Society.

David Maxwell is a graduate of the UC Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program where he also received a graduate certificate in Health Care Administration. With over 30 years of experience in the medical field, David currently works as the Network Executive Director of Respiratory Services for Kettering Health Network. David began at Kettering in 2010 as an Education Coordinator, progressed to Manger of Respiratory Services in 2013, then Director of Respiratory Services in 2015 to his now current role in 2021. David earned his credential as a Certified Respiratory Therapist in 1992 and his credential as a Registered Respiratory Therapy in 1995. David currently holds his Ohio Respiratory Care Professional License and his Florida Registered Respiratory Therapist License. He was also an Ohio Licensed Nursing Home Administrator from 2000 to 2010. Additionally, David shows his dedication to his field through his active participation in professional organizations. He is a member of the American College of Health Executives, the Lambda Beta Society and the American Association of Respiratory Care.   

Pam McKie is the Chief Program Officer for Best Point Education and Behavioral Health. Her years of experience and breadth of knowledge in corporate and nonprofit sectors aid her in leading over 30+ programs serving over 18,000 children, families and individuals across multiple counties. As a member of the executive team since 2017, Pam has led program growth, innovation, grant/donor cultivation and financial stability up to and through a pandemic and a sizable merger. Pam has demonstrated success in developing, remodeling and restructuring programs/services to address evolving needs and conditions facing children and families. Pam stays abreast of emerging technologies, treatments and trends to guide the work of her teams and to ensure the greatest outcomes are achieved for those served. If advocacy or lobbying are needed, Pam raises her hand. Pam brings a passion for helping people and making the world a brighter place to the forefront of the agency's collective conscience. Prior to her work at Best Point (formerly The Children’s Home and St. Aloysius), Pam held senior leadership roles at Assurex Health (now Myriad Genetics) in Mason, Ohio. She has served on many boards and was a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 44. Pam currently serves as committee chair and board member for the American Association of Suicidology and serves on the University of Cincinnati, College of Allied Health Sciences, School of Social Work Alumni Board. Pam received her undergraduate degree from the Ohio State University and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. Pam’s three decades of experience have helped her lead initiatives and innovations that combat mental illness, youth suicide, addiction and other illnesses.