November Faculty Features

Cecil B. Drain, Ph.D., dean of the School of Allied Health Professions
Drain was named a fellow of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions in October at the organization’s annual conference in Houston, Texas. A member since 1996, he was awarded the fellowship to recognize outstanding contributions to ASAHP, including service as treasurer from 2002 to 2004. He has been an important part of ASAHP efforts on legislation for the proposed Allied Health Reinvestment Act, which provides funds to encourage individuals to seek and complete allied health education and training.

Drain was appointed dean of VCU’s School of Allied Health Professions in April 1997. He has authored three books, including “The Recovery Room,” the definitive textbook on perianesthesia nursing, now in its fourth edition.

Bryant Mangum, Ph.D., professor, department of English
Mangum wrote the introduction for and edited a new collection, “The Best Early Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald,” which was released by Random House on Nov. 8. The book, which is published in the Modern Library Classics series, includes 10 of Fitzgerald’s early stories, as well as an appendix of nonfiction essays, vintage magazine illustrations and a reading group guide. Mangum has written previous articles and book chapters on Fitzgerald’s work and is the author of “A Fortune Yet: Money in the Art of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Short Stories.”

Alphonse Poklis, Ph.D., professor, department of pathology; affiliate professor, pharmacology and toxicology; affiliate professor, department of forensic sciences
Poklis received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Board of Forensic Toxicology in October at the annual Society of Forensic Toxicology meeting in Nashville, Tenn. The award recognizes his 15-year service as chairman of the board’s Examinations and Education Committee. Poklis, who is only the fourth recipient of this award, was a founding member of the forensic toxicology board, which was established in 1975.

Kelly J. Devers, Ph.D., associate professor, departments of health administration and family medicine
Devers is part of a team of health care researchers that will receive the first-ever Health Services Research Impact Award from AcademyHealth, a national research organization. The award, which will be presented to two winning teams at the 2006 National Health Policy Conference in February in Washington, D.C., recognizes health care research that has made a positive impact on health policy or practice. Devers’ winning team was led by Paul Ginsburg, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Studying Health System Change. Devers was the lead author of the center’s issue brief on specialty hospitals.