The Office of Alumni Relations is interested in updates from all of Rush University's alumni.
Please contact Alumni Relations at alumni@rush.edu to update your contact information and share your life changes and accomplishments since graduation. You may also send your updates to the Office of Alumni Relations by mail at 1700 W. Van Buren St., Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60612.
Be sure to include your program of study and year of graduation.
Since graduating from Rush, Victoria Sallas, Speech Language Pathology MS 1983, earned her Type 73 and is currently working at New Horizon Center for the developmentally disabled in Chicago. In December 2006 she earned a Certificate in Assistive Technology from UIC.
Mary Katherine Krause, HSM MS 1994, has been appointed associate vice president for university relations at Rush University Medical Center. Krause serves as the point person for managing the image and branding of Rush University. As an assistant professor in HSM at Rush, Krause has served as course director for the “Ethics for Health Care Managers” course and co-course director for the “Professional Skills” course. She has received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship and the Faculty Award for Community Service. Krause is also the 2007-2008 president of the Near West Cook chapter of Women in Management.
Sarah Begor, HSM MS 1996, recently joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association as a project manager in the Office of Clinical Affairs in Chicago. Working with medical directors at BCBS plans across the country, Begor leads a variety of projects with a primary focus on quality improvement.
Jennifer Bever, HSM MS 1997, is director of education for Sg2 University. There she creates, coordinates and delivers educational curricula for health care executives, physicians and other organizational leaders. Bever currently focuses on private label educational offerings — partnerships between Sg2 and health care organizations to create on-site, tailored programs. Based on her expertise, Bever publishes articles and podcasts and has been quoted in industry magazines, including Medical Economics, The Journal of Medical Practice Management and the American Journal of Orthopedic Surgery.
Courtney Menna, Speech Language Pathology MS 1997, is currently a business manager for Four Corners Tavern Group. She is the proud mother of three little girls — Sofia, Libby and Josie.
Tia (West) Carroll, Audiology MS 2000, wed Ryan Carroll on Oct. 14, 2006. The happy couple and their dog (Rosa) moved to the San Francisco Bay area, where she works as an audiologist at Kaiser Permanente. Tia is also pursuing her AuD from PCO School of Audiology.
Vilija Garbonkus, HSM MS 2001, is the executive vice president for business development of TJG Commercial, where she serves as a health-care real-estate specialist. Vilija guides clients through all phases of property leasing by building key relationships that facilitate new business opportunities. Her strengths include real estate acquisitions, leasing strategy and overall market analysis. This encompasses focusing on the health care market, quality of the physical environment, tenant mix and tenant improvement requirements, management and implementation.
Jessica (Dent) Meier, Speech Language Pathology MS 2001, got married on Sept. 30, 2006. She has been working for the Joliet Public Schools for four years in a K-5 building. She also works in acute care at Hinsdale Hospital, LaGrange Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital with adults.
Amy Ariss, AuD, Audiology MS 2003, AuD 2005, played an active role in establishing the innovative Balance and Mobility Center, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Currently, the center is a one-of-a-kind facility breaking ground in the field of rehabilitation. Ariss is lead service line therapist for the Balance and Mobility Center.
Recently, she helped develop a program called "Too Fit To Fall." This project incorporated The Balance and Mobility Center, The Scottsdale Fire Department, and the centers for older adults in the area. Based on the prevalence and cost associated with falling, there was a national mandate to help prevent and decrease fall risk. CBS featured the program on the evening news. "We were all surprised to get national media attention. I was thrilled though, because it was an opportunity to increase awareness of the risk for falling and inform patients that it is not normal to be dizzy or imbalanced at any age," commented Ariss. ABC's Healthbeat also picked up the story. Click here to read the article from ABC News.
Angela Barsamian, Clinical Nutrition MS 2009, is a clinical dietician at Rush Oak Park Hospital.
