University of Central Florida
03/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/30/2026 13:43
9 UCF Experts Inducted to National Academies of Practice
Nine experts from two colleges within UCF's Academic Health Sciences Center were elected into the Class of 2026 Distinguished Fellows of the National Academies of Practice.
The prestigious recognition is awarded to scholars who have made outstanding contributions to advance practice, education, research and policy in a healthcare profession and who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to interprofessional practice.
UCF's inductees and their respective academies are: Mindi Anderson (Nursing), Morris Beato (Physical Therapy), Susan Dyess (Nursing), David Eddins (Audiology), Julie Feuerstein (Speech-Language Pathology), Kristine Gauthier (Nursing), Valerie Martinez (Nursing), Jacqueline Towson (Speech-Language Pathology), and Asli Yalim (Social Work).
The awardees were inducted during the National Academies of Practice Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on March 14.
College of Nursing Fellows
College of Nursing's inductees. (Photo by Melanie Cedeño-Lopez)Mindi Anderson
Mindi Anderson, interim associate dean of academic affairs and professor at the College of Nursing, is one of the world's leading experts in healthcare simulation. Her research, which has established best practices in healthcare simulation education, includes developing and evaluating simulation experiences to prepare healthcare students for clinical practice. She is also part of an interdisciplinary team at UCF whose research has contributed to multiple patents to advance simulation and training.
Susan Dyess
With over 30 years of academic, clinical, and administrative experience, Professor Susan Dyess is a nationally recognized leader in interprofessional education, curricular design and holistic nursing. An expert in aging, vulnerable populations and quality, safety and patient outcomes, she has played a pivotal role in advancing interprofessional learning through institutional councils, statewide initiatives and community-based partnerships. Previously, she held senior academic leadership positions that strengthened cross-disciplinary education and fostered student success through innovative models.
Kristine Gauthier
Kristine Gauthier, assistant dean for clinical affairs in the College of Nursing, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who collaborates on interdisciplinary teams to improve health outcomes for underserved pediatric populations. Her collaboration extends into academic settings with curriculum development and research to address childhood health and wellness. In addition to her UCF appointment, Gauthier leads a national center on child health and safety where she collaborates to develop resources, metrics, policies and research.
Valerie Martinez
As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Valerie Martinez collaborates across disciplines as a researcher and educator to improve health outcomes for children and families. In her role as director of the advanced practice in UCF's doctor of nursing practice program, Martinez has designed courses and simulations to prepare future nurse practitioners to collaborate effectively across health professions. Her research seeks to generate evidence to improve care across healthcare professions.
(From left to right): Asli Yalim, Julie Feuerstein, Morris "Rick" Beato and David Eddins (not pictured Jacqueline Towson).College of Health Professions and Sciences Fellows
Morris "Rick" Beato
Morris "Rick" Beato, a clinical associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, has extensive experience in multidisciplinary clinical settings, including the UCF Huntington's Clinic. He educates physical therapy students in IPE competencies and has received multiple national and state awards for teaching and professional service. His scholarly contributions include multiple collaborations in neurology and geriatrics. He is the director of the UCF and Orlando Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program.
David Eddins
Professor David Eddins is a nationally recognized certified clinical audiologist in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Eddins is the founding director of the Communication Technologies Research Center at UCF, an interdisciplinary center that focuses on hearing technologies, simulation, auditory neuroscience, voice and aerodigestive systems, and simulation and virtualization. His contributions to the interprofessional community include extensive research, mentoring and editorial service focused on improving diagnostics and treatment in hearing, speech and voice.
Julie Feuerstein
Assistant Professor Julie Feuerstein is a speech-language pathologist, educator and clinical researcher who leads interdisciplinary initiatives uniting professionals in speech-language pathology, physical therapy and assistive technology. Her research and service in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders are centered around improving systems of care for young children with complex communication needs. Feuerstein's expertise spans early intervention, augmentative and alternative communication, and implementation science.
Jacqueline Towson
Jacqueline Towson is a speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders committed to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Towson has published and presented extensively on her research focusing on dialogic reading, early language and literacy and training. She has led multiple large-scale interdisciplinary projects, designed to deliver statewide training to ensure the use of evidence-based practices in serving children with high-intensity needs.
Asli Yalim
Associate Professor Asli Yalim has served as the School of Social Work's Interprofessional Education Research Liaison since 2024. She develops and leads IPE activities that integrate wellness content into her coursework, creating experimental learning opportunities that foster collaboration across different professions. Yalim has collaborated on several funded projects, including an interprofessional, evidence-based virtual program to prevent burnout, suicide and mental health conditions among healthcare workers.
Additionally, six UCF faculty members from the Colleges of Health Professions and Sciences and Nursing were elected as new professional members. Membership is extended to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and dedication to interprofessional healthcare.
UCF's new professional members and their respective academies are: Frances Armstrong (Nursing), Jonathan Decker (Nursing), William Hanney (Physical Therapy), Ilana Logvinov (Nursing), Ayse Malatyali (Nursing), and Shari Norte (Athletic Training).
UCF's new distinguished fellows join 17 previously inducted faculty, 11 from the College of Health Professions and Sciences and six from the College of Nursing
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