UW College of Health Sciences Recognizes Alumni for Achievement

A Cheyenne speech-language pathologist, a nurse practitioner who works in Wyoming and overseas, a Sheridan physician, a Cheyenne social worker and a Douglas pharmacist have been selected as 2024 distinguished alumni by the University of Wyoming's College of Health Sciences.

The alumni were honored recently in an awards ceremony that was part of UW's 2024 Homecoming activities. The award recognizes College of Health Sciences' alumni for education and career achievements in medicine, social work, communication disorders, pharmacy and nursing.

Additionally, alumni from the College of Health Sciences' divisions and schools meet with students, visit classrooms and attend social events -- all aimed at engaging and encouraging students, along with faculty and staff, on the advancements in those specific areas of health care.

"As we honor our distinguished alumni, we celebrate not only their individual achievements, but also the collective impact they have made in advancing the health and well-being of the communities they serve," says Michelle Hilaire, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences. "Their dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment to their fields are a testament to the values of our college. These honorees inspire and remind us that our commitment to educating the next generation of health care leaders is not only a privilege, but also a responsibility. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their contributions to our society and the fields."

This year's distinguished alumni are:

Leah Horst, Division of Communication Disorders, Cheyenne

Horst says her choice to pursue a degree in speech-language pathology after reading a single-paragraph description of the field was the best decision she could have made. She graduated from UW in 1994 with her bachelor's degree. She earned her master's degree at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1996.

Horst worked for a year in the Omaha area, primarily in skilled nursing facilities. She found her passion for working with children and their families while working in a birth-to-age-3 center in Milwaukee. Following a move to Cheyenne in 2015, she expanded her focus when she joined Mountain West Speech Services, working with children from birth to age 21. She is a member of the Wyoming Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is currently scholarship chair and president-elect of the Wyoming Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Maria Kidner, Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, Cheyenne

Kidner's nursing educational path included an Associate of Science in Nursing (1987), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1998), a Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (2001) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (2008). Although she started in labor and delivery, Kidner has spent most of her nursing career as a nurse practitioner in cardiology. Along her career path, she got involved in international work, with six months in Guyana and then 12 months in Rwanda.

Additionally, Kidner was Wyoming's second American Association of Nurse Practitioners Fellow and has been instrumental in increasing the number of Wyoming Nurse Practitioner Fellows. She is a published author with her book on advanced practitioner nursing role transition for the International Council of Nurses, and she speaks nationally and internationally on leadership, cardiology and the role of advanced practice nurses.

Brian Menkhaus, WWAMI Medical Education Program, Sheridan

Menkhaus grew up in Laramie and pursued his academic journey at UW, earning two bachelor's degrees in agroecology and natural science, and mathematics. He completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at UW in 2007, after which he was employed as a pharmacist in Sterling, Colo. As a member of the entering class of 2008, he graduated from the Wyoming WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Medical Education Program affiliated with the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2012.

He completed his pathology residency at the University of New Mexico and returned to Wyoming in 2016 to work as a pathologist at Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where he continues to practice. During his time in Sheridan, Menkhaus has built a robust career in both clinical and academic settings. In addition to his role as a clinical pathologist, he shares his knowledge with Wyoming students and future medical professionals. As the histology and pathology lead instructor, he helps to prepare future physicians by teaching first- and second-year Wyoming WWAMI students in Laramie.

Jennifer Mumaugh, Division of Social Work, Cheyenne

Mumaugh has been a licensed clinical social worker for over 15 years, specializing in gender-affirming care in Wyoming. She has delivered gender-affirming training to various organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Wyoming chapter, the Wyoming Guardians ad Litem Program in Cheyenne, local private practices and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

Since graduating from UW's Master of Social Work (MSW) Program in 2009, Mumaugh has remained committed to staying in and serving Wyoming to provide critical mental health services. She has been actively involved with the NASW Wyoming chapter, serving on its board as vice president and volunteering with the local community college gay/straight alliance. She also has been a dedicated preceptor for MSW students from UW for over 12 years.

Gary Shatto, School of Pharmacy, Douglas

Shatto graduated from UW, where he developed a deep appreciation for community and service, in 1976. In 1978, he purchased Shatto's Frontier Drug, an independent pharmacy in Wyoming, where he has dedicated over 45 years to providing compassionate care to his community.

Throughout his career, Shatto has been an advocate for pharmacy, serving as president of the Wyoming Pharmaceutical Association from 1987-88 and contributing to the National Association of Retail Pharmacists on both the legislative and consumer affairs committees. His dedication to public service earned him a seat on the Wyoming governor's advisory committee for the state Medicaid program, where he played a key role in enhancing pharmacy services.

In recognition of his impact, he received the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award in 1992 and led Shatto's Frontier Drug to win the national Good Neighbor Pharmacy of the Year Award in 2018.

About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences

UW's College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.