Becky Neiduski, who joined Elon earlier this year as head of the School of Health Sciences, was honored earlier this month.
Becky Neiduski, dean of the Elon University School of Health Sciences, was awarded the Nathalie Barr Lectureship by the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and delivered her lecture, “Extending Our Reach” at the annual ASHT conference on Friday, Oct. 13 in Anaheim, California.
The Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award is among ASHT’s highest honors, recognizing and honoring a member of the society who has made significant original contributions to hand rehabilitation that support the ASHT mission, values, and vision.
The lecture included three objectives: an analysis of generational differences as they relate to the subspecialty of hand therapy; application of self-determination theory towards collaboration and mentoring within the practice of hand therapy; and identification of ways that Generation Y and Z may impact our education and outreach opportunities through technology.
The lecture was dedicated to Neiduski’s students, and based on her experience educating students and clinicians, she suggested “to extend our reach to future generations of hand therapists, we need to get out of the way. Step aside as not to impede their progress, but carefully support them, advocate for them, and protect them as they pursue the journey towards competence. Allow them to make mistakes and learn from them. Afford them grace by sharing our own struggles and vulnerability. And give our newest members, the students in our clinics, and our pre-hand therapist colleagues the opportunity to test ideas that are different than ours.”
DNeiduski has published and presented extensively in the area of flexor tendon injury and repair. She has served as ASHT’s Research Division Director and Annual Meeting Program Chair as well as on the board of directors of the American Association of Hand Surgery. Honored with the ASHT Paul Brand Award of Professional Excellence in 2014, Neiduski has educated therapists in Guatemala, Romania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, and has contributed to medical missions in Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cambodia.
In addition to the Nathalie Barr Lectureship, Neiduski also gave the International Committee Invited Lecture at the ASHT meeting entitled “23 trips, 8 countries, & 58 students: Lessons Learned Around the World.”