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Photo: Music students and wind instruments When JMU students, faculty members and alumni look at the world, they see people. Some work to improve health care delivery through strenuous scholarship and clinical experiences. Others work to strengthen community life. They address poverty, oppression, social injustice and human rights. They volunteer to raise monies to fight disease and fund research. Madison's compassion, coupled with innovative and collaborative approaches through education, research and service is truly changing the world.

The Stories ...

East meets west to improve clients' health

In the field of dietetics, some consider Anu Kaur ('99M) a pioneer because of the unique blend of Eastern and Western philosophies that she uses to improve clients' health and wellness … Read More

Getting kids healthy

Shannon Dougherty ('10, '11M) Shannon Dougherty did not spend her Spring Break like most college students. She wasn't on a beach in Cancun or visiting old high-school friends, but she still had a great time. During the first part of … Read More

Project Climb

Tom Moran, assistant professor of kinesiology, is striving to increase JMU's interaction with the community by meeting the needs of children and adults with disabilities in sports and recreation Project CLIMB, Children Learning to Improve Movement Behaviors, gives children with disabilities one-on-one attention and assistance from JMU's Adapted Physical Education program students. … Read More

Just what the doctor ordered

JMU research on treating diabetic ulcers Research at JMU could lead to breakthrough for treating diabetic ulcers and bedsores. Dr. David Jaynes and his students have been working on a procedure that involves observing proteins collected from such wounds to determine treatment effectiveness … Read More

The People ...

Carolyn Abitbol, M.D. ('67)

Professor of Pediatrics, Clinical Director of Pediatric Dialysis

Ordering a pizza may seem rather ordinary, unless you're a child unable to eat pizza due to a medical condition. Carolyn Abitbol knows firsthand the joy that first pizza can bring, and she also knows … Read more
Andy Bacon ('00)

Raising funds for cancer research

Every 12 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer. Andy Bacon ('00) believes in going to extremes to help broaden that time frame. This triathlete and experienced mountain climber has found a way to … Read more
Margaret Bagnardi

ISAT professor of nursing, champion of excellent patient care

Little more than a year after coming to JMU, nursing professor Margaret Bagnardi is changing patient care in Harrisonburg. In collaboration with Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Margaret empowers nurses … Read more
Dan Cole ('87)

Running to fight cancer

Vice president of sales and business for Consumer Electronics Association, Dan is an accomplished motivational speaker and sales trainer. He is also a runner with a purpose. In 2007, Dan became … Read more
Dr. Mark Dertzbaugh ('82)

Chief of Business Plans and Programs, USAMRIID

In his work at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Mark spends his days coordinating programs that enable researchers to develop medical defenses against biological warfare … Read more
Gay Finlayson ('76)

Advocate for the autistic

Gay Finlayson ('76) is described as a woman with gumption. It's an apt description for the health educator and family specialist for the Center for Development and Disability at the University of New Mexico in … Read more
Judith Flohr

Kinesiology professor

Judith Flohr has always believed that a vital part of a woman's sense of self stems from her physical well being. "If you have confidence in your physical self," she explains, "then that confidence will make … Read more
Mark Gabriele ('95)

JMU Assistant Professor of Biology

For Mark Gabriele, changing the world comes one small breakthrough at a time with each look into a microscope. When the JMU graduate and professor isn't spending his days researching the development of the human auditory system, he can be found in the classroom … Read more
Dr. Joann Grayson

Psychology professor

Dr. Joann Grayson is a champion for abused and neglected children. She has initiated more than 11 prevention programs in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community, including a tutoring program that … Read more
Kim Hartzler-Weakley ('00, '07M)

Director, Office on Children and Youth

Are you who you want to be? Kim asks teens to focus on that goal when times get tough. "I want to get them to see something positive and envision something to live for, to look forward to, so they don't … Read more
Vida Huber (1937-2005)

Associate Dean, College of Integrated Science and Technology Professor of Nursing

A child of parents who operated a nursing home, Vida Huber learned early in life the meaning of service to others. So profound was her satisfaction from caring for others, she made it her life's work. … Read more
Katie King ('97)

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's 2007 Virginia Woman of the Year

In 2004, Katie's father, Bill Lowry, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The Virginia Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was a valuable … Read more
Nathan Lyon ('94)

Chef, host of Discovery Health's "A Lyon in the Kitchen"

If you want to learn how to cook a healthy, mouthwatering meal, Nathan Lyon is just the person to help you out. This JMU alum and cooking enthusiast hosts the Discovery Health cooking show … Read more
Virginia Mann ('06)

Registered nurse

IIn 2005, JMU's nursing students celebrated the 25th anniversary of the program by honing their skills and caring for victims in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath and by training in hospitals throughout the … Read more
Beth McGinnis ('00)

HIV education coordinator

Starting with her days working for the Valley AIDS Network in Harrisonburg, Beth McGinnis has learned all too well the deadly risks women face from HIV. She also knows women have ways to lessen that … Read more
Dr. Margaret Moore ('42)

Pioneering educator and clinician in physical therapy

When Margaret Moore retired from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she left behind an enormous legacy of change. After becoming a physical therapist in 1943, Moore taught at the Medical College of Virginia … Read more
JMU Nursing Student Association

Making a difference

JMU nursing majors live and work by the motto: "Being a nurse means making a difference in people's lives." Members of the JMU Nursing Student Association, led by president Kristina Kirby ('08), are … Read more
Kathleen Pantaleo

Program Assistant, Caregivers Community Network

Those who don't know her well might question Kathleen Pantaleo's midlife decision to leave her job as an annual fund director and go to work at JMU as an assistant in a respite program for family members who care for frail … Read more
Tim Schulte ('94M), ('99D)

Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Clinic and Interprofessional Services for Learning Assessment

Tim has had a long-standing interest in helping people to realize their life goals. He started out as a linguist, teaching English as a second language and later transitioned to working with families through … Read more
Brandon Schultz

Director, Clinical and Consultative Services, Baird Center

He earned a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees during his pursuit to become a school psychologist. And although Brandon says, "It took me a while to learn where I would best fit in, where … Read more
Dr. Brenda Seal

Professor, communications sciences and disorders

Performing roles of professor; researcher; honors program coordinator; author; community sign language instructor; and interpreter for the Virginia Department of Education and Supreme Court … Read more
Dr. Anne Stewart

Professor of Graduate Psychology

Anne Stewart lifts people up. This Madison professor has witnessed firsthand the power of the human spirit and helped nurture it to face down unimaginable tragedy — like the Indian Ocean tsunami … Read more
Dr. Debra Sutton

Health science professor

JMU health science professor Debra Sutton has dedicated her career to the cause of disease prevention and the critical role that education plays in that endeavor. She couples her common sense … Read more
Kathy Thomas ('78)

Childbirth educator, co-chair CoB Campaign Committee

Kathy's contribution to change is very special — she has helped many women bring their babies into the world. After giving birth to her first two daughters, she began teaching prenatal exercise classes for … Read more
Cathy Webb

Pediatric nurse and nursing instructor

Like many pediatric nurses, Cathy knows firsthand that parenting a child with special needs can be overwhelming. But her role as a JMU nursing instructor led her to devise an ingenious way to provide … Read more
Dr. Louise Wilkins-Haug ('76)

Division Director for Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Dr. Louise Wilkins-Haug performs some of medicine's most complex surgeries — operating in utero to correct abnormalities of the fetus or to prolong the development of the fetus prior to delivery. As the … Read more
Mandy Woodfield ('05)

Presidential Management Fellow and health advocate

Mandy says her career in public health and health promotion was inspired by her Madison Experience, beginning with community service-learning, Alternative Spring Break, student government and REACH … Read more
Amy Porter Zacaroli ('88)

Caring for AIDS orphans in South Africa

"What are we really on this Earth to do?" Amy and her husband Alec weren't afraid to ask themselves that tough question. They determined they would make a difference in the lives of people more than 7,000 miles away. The couple founded 25:40, a nonprofit … Read more