Four members of faculty and staff were recently honored with President’s Awards for their hard work and service to National University of Health Sciences at ceremonies in Illinois and Florida. 

Sarah Kelly, DC ’99, MSACP ’21, Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at NUHS-Florida, and Izabela Dubak, Registrar, received the President’s Quality Service Award. President Joseph P.D. Stiefel, MS, EdD, DC hand picks each award recipient based on four criteria: those who consistently demonstrate a positive outlook on life and upon his or her work, those who go beyond the call of duty to help colleagues and students, those who are genuinely happy, pleasant and easy to work with and lastly, those who consistently provide top quality service to National University of Health Sciences. 

Dr. Kelly was humbled and honored to receive the award, especially in a room full of people she works with. 

“It does take a village and this award truly is a reflection of those I work with,” she said. “I am passionate about taking care of others and help the students learn to deliver effective patient care while being compassionate. I also focus on being “human-centric,” which means genuinely caring about the people I interact with (even if I don’t always agree with them) and being vested in their success. The rest flows from there.” 

Dubak expressed her sincere appreciation for the recognition. 

“It is truly an honor for me to have received the President’s Quality Service Award. I am grateful to the people that have helped me achieve this award, especially my team. I will continue to strive for excellence in higher education,” she said. 

Dr. Stiefel also awarded Michelle Jourdan, DC, ’99, Professor of Clinical Sciences at NUHS – Florida, and Sandra Rogers, PhD, Dean of the College of Professional Studies, with the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Stiefel chooses individuals deemed deserving, with input from the executive office. 

Dr. Jourdan said she is honored to receive the award, which would not be possible without the continued support of her NUHS colleagues from both the Illinois and Florida campuses.  

“As one of the first Clinical Science Department faculty awarded a position for the NUHS Florida site in 2011, I have witnessed the exponential growth, success and advanced standings of many students, interns, faculty, and clinicians,” Dr. Jourdan said. “In truth, I am inspired each day and am truly proud to be part of a culture, collaboration, and teamwork responsible for developing our next generation of chiropractic physicians.” 

For Dr. Rogers, the recognition is both humbling and invigorating. She said it is a testament to the unwavering commitment she’s poured into her responsibilities. 

“The moment I learned about this honor, I was deeply moved and further inspired to advance the goals of National University of Health Sciences. It’s important to note that this award is not just a reflection of my efforts, but a collective achievement belonging to my exceptional team. I firmly believe that I am only as good as my team, and their dedication and collaboration have been instrumental in reaching this milestone,” she said.  

She added that within NUHS’s enriching and synergistic environment, she is continuously driven to foster cutting-edge education, resulting in a profound sense of fulfillment intricately woven into her steadfast commitment to facilitating student success.  

“The opportunity to collaborate alongside exceptional faculty members and to skillfully prepare students for their professional journeys significantly enhances this deeply rooted purpose and satisfaction,” she said.