Retired UTMB faculty member pledges to establish two endowed presidential scholarships in the School of Allied Health Sciences; Ruth Morris was the first chair of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department

FOR RELEASE: Oct. 19, 2006

Ruth E. Morris will create the Beatrice Brotzman Endowed Presidential Scholarship and contribute to the Ruth Morris Endowed Scholarship to boost the endowment to the presidential scholarship level. All UTMB scholarships endowed with contributions of $50,000 or more are designated as presidential scholarships.

The Brotzman scholarship will support exceptional students enrolled in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences distance education program. The scholarship is being established in memory of Beatrice Brotzman, an original member of UTMB’s School of Allied Health Sciences faculty. Brotzman joined the Department of Medical Technology, the predecessor of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, in 1968. She was an associate professor when she died in 1980. Medical technology was one of the five charter programs in the School of Allied Health Sciences, and UTMB’s was the first academically based medical technology program in the Southwest.

Friends, faculty and former students helped establish the Morris scholarship, which became fully endowed in 2003. Morris stepped down as chair of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department in 1987, after holding the post for 19 years. She joined UTMB in 1967, the same year the UT System Board of Regents approved the establishment of the School of Allied Health Sciences at Texas’ oldest academic health center. Morris retired in 1990 and is currently a professor emerita.

Vicki S. Freeman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, said that Morris, even in retirement, has remained dedicated to the department. “These presidential scholarships from Ruth demonstrate the kind of commitment and support that universities can only dream of in their faculty, past or present,” Freeman said. “Ruth’s resolve to continue helping students at UTMB clearly shows how much she cares. We are grateful and fortunate to have Ruth as a benefactor.”

Added Charles H. Christiansen, Ed.D., dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, “Ruth Morris’ generosity will help current and future clinical laboratory sciences students fulfill their dreams of becoming key members of the patient care team. She should be applauded for her dedication to ensuring a quality education for tomorrow’s health professionals.” Christiansen is the George T. Bryan Distinguished Professor.

Graduates of clinical laboratory sciences programs play vital roles in diagnosing illnesses by processing patients’ medical tests and allowing health care professionals to make timely medical decisions. Clinical laboratory scientists also examine unclear medical test results and work with nurses, physicians and other health care providers to ensure the tests’ validity.

A longtime UTMB supporter, Morris has contributed to other scholarship initiatives at the university, including the School of Allied Health Sciences Competitive Academic Scholarship Fund and the UTMB Retirees Association Academic Scholarship Endowment.
 

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