Thomas Hand of East Wichita was named to the University of Dallas honor roll for the spring 2017 semester for earning a semester GPA of 3.03.49. Hand is majoring in history and economics. Justin Rorabaugh of East Wichita was among 684 graduates who received degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during the summer commencement ceremony Aug. 12 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Rorabaugh earned a master of education from the office of graduate studies. Via Christi Health has named Ed Hett, MD, as its chief clinical officer following the retirement of Karl Ulrich, MD, in June. Hett, who has been a practicing Wichita physician since 1984, will continue to work directly with employers through the ACO and maintain his part-time clinical practice at Via Christi Clinic.As Via Christi’s CCO, he will work closely with Ziad Haydar,
MD, senior vice president and chief clinical officer for Ascension. Aaron Austin has been named associate vice president for Student Affairs, Student Life at Wichita State University. The appointment was made by Teri Hall, WSU vice president for Student Affairs. Austin will begin his duties on Monday, Sept. 18. Austin, 43, will supervise the areas of Student Involvement, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Conduct and Community Standards. He will also work closely with Academic Affairs to increase student engagement in and out of the classroom. Austin earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University before earning a master’s in higher and post-secondary education at Arizona State University. Austin received an Ed.D. from Texas Tech University in 2017. Wichita Hoops has announced that Carlos Perez, Jr., has been appointed to the newly created position of vice presi-
dent of basketball operations. Perez, former general manager of Wichita Hoops, will oversee all boys’ and girls’ basketball related operations conducted within the Wichita Hoops facility, along with events across the United States. Perez has a strong background in tournament management and operations, having spent numerous years organizing and conducting elite level basketball events. Wesley Healthcare has named Judith Messer, RN, MSN, a nursing executive with more 17 years of leadership experience, as its new chief nursing officer. Messer, who grew up in the Kansas City area, is currently chief nursing officer at Medical City Alliance (HCA) in Fort Worth, Texas, and also is responsible for operations at that hospital. There, she also served as chief staffing officer and patient experience officer. Messer earned both her master of science in nursing administration and bachelor of science in nursing from
the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas. She also was a recipient of the Frist Humanitarian Award in 2008. KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc. (KSDS) has announced that Julie Prater has been named development director. Prater will raise awareness and support for KSDS that provides guide dogs for the visually impaired, service dogs to assist individuals with physical disabilities and facility dogs that assist professionals in the field of education, counseling, health care, retirement or the legal system. KSDS is fully accredited with Assistance Dogs International (ADI). Prater most recently served as executive director for Kidzcope, where she helped raise awareness for children’s grief support groups. She has also served in various leadership positions in the Junior League of Wichita, where she put her talents to work on projects such as the “Pinches & Dashes” cookbook launch. She has
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