This award goes to a pioneer in higher education who never lost sight of her vision... which is making sure that we are educating and training the next generation of health clinicians and human service professionals to serve people with disabilities.
Dr. Shirley Szekeres, is the former Dean of the School of Health and Human Services at Nazareth College. She oversaw major growth including expansion of community partnerships, new clinics
and the expansion of the speech language therapy, art therapy, and music therapy clinics.
She now serves as the director of the new York Wellness and Rehab Institute, which educate students in holistic, person-centered, evidence-based care while providing needed wellness and rehabilitative services to individuals with acquired and developmental disabilities.
We had the pleasure of working with Shirley and others in the community on the curriculum committee for the new Institute at Nazareth College.
Shirley asked us to participate to be sure the needs and issues facing those with IDD were heard and represented.
The Institute and Shirley are real gems in our community.
Shirley Szekeres holds a Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh. Her career spans more than 40 years beginning at the Rehabilitation Institute of Pittsburgh where she was a therapist, researcher and director in programming for individuals with language and cognitive disabilities.
Dr. Szekeres has published more than 25 book chapters and journal articles and given numerous state and national presentations related to the diagnosis and treatment of language and cognitive disabilities.
She came to Nazareth College in 1991, serving as chair, teacher, and clinical supervisor in the speech-language pathology program. In 2004, she became the first dean of the School of Health and Human Services (SHHS). During her 10-year tenure as dean, she oversaw major growth including expansion of community partnerships, new programs In Creative Arts Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Public Health, and new clinics for physical therapy, occupational therapy as well as significant expansion of the speech-language therapy, art therapy, and music therapy clinics.
Dr. Szekeres has promoted interprofessional education within the School supporting the development of programs such as the I-span for teaching individuals with autism and an IPE course, and has led the Collaborative Practice Steering Committee, which sets interprofessional policy and procedures for campus clinics. In June of 2015, Dr. Szekeres stepped down as dean to become the first director of the York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute, a concept that had been her vision and passion for more than five years.
The York Institute provides room for further expansion of clinical services including space for nursing and social work. Its mission is to educate students in holistic, person-centered, evidence-based care while providing needed wellness and rehabilitative services to individuals with acquired and developmental disabilities.
