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Kevin Valadares Named Distinguished Professor

Dr. Kevin J. Valadares, associate professor of health services/administration, is the 2009 recipient of the Integra Distinguished Professor Award recognizing significant achievement in teaching, leadership, and service.

A faculty member since 2001, Valadares is program director of the undergraduate program in health services and the Master of Science in Health Administration program.

His highly interactive teaching style and commitment to advising are well known on campus. He has been a leader in using technology to enhance student learning activities in classes he teaches on campus as well as online. He was instrumental in working with the technology team to implement the use of podcasting for the college. He also was the leading advocate for the redesign of two classrooms in the Health Professions Center to facilitate collaborative learning and for the use of tablet computers to support more dynamic faculty-student learning interaction.

Valadares employs service-learning activities in his teaching. A recent study was commissioned by Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel to assess the cost effectiveness and quality of the Evansville area ambulance service. The study provided the city with important information and students with research, public policy, and presentation experience.

Since joining USI, Valadares has authored or co-authored 10 peer review articles and has an additional 10 articles under review or in process. A co-authored book, Ethics and Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, will be published in January 2010 by Health Administration Press. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Health Administration Ethics.

Valadares shares his expertise in ethics and health administration with community organizations. He earned a doctorate in healthcare ethics from St. Louis University in 2003.

The recipient of the Integra Distinguished Professor Award is chosen by colleagues on the USI faculty. As Distinguished Professor, Valadares will receive a grant from Integra Bank, select a student to receive a scholarship in his name next year, deliver the Distinguished Professor lecture during the next academic year, and deliver the address at the fall Commencement in December 2009.

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