CHS Honors 2025 Award Winners
Fahringer encourages others to give
By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director
One overarching theme seemed to emerge from the College of Health Sciences’ annual Hall of Fame and Awards ceremony Wednesday night.
Each of the three honorees mentioned it in one way or another. They all credited the CHS faculty and staff with getting them to this point, saying in their own words how the College shaped them into the person they’d become.
Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, opened the ceremony.
“This is one of the most memorable nights of the year,” he said. “Every year, it’s just as special as the last.”
Faculty, staff, alumni and friends came out to The Signature Club at Lansdowne Wednesday night to honor the latest award recipients: David Fahringer, MSPH, PA-C Emeritus, the CHS Hall of Fame inductee; Aaron Sciascia, PhD, LAT, ATC, PES, SMTC, FASSET, the Young Alumni Award winner, and Trey Cline, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, F-AAA, winner of the second annual CHS Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award.
Fahringer, professor emeritus here in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies in the College of Health Sciences, has only continued to improve upon his impressive legacy of pedagogy.
He has taught in the Physician Assistant Studies Department since 1994. Since then, he has also served in the Physician Assistant Education Association in the following areas: on the Membership Committee, PAEA graduate advisory to the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Chair of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.
“Think of a servant leader,” said Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C and Professor and Chair for the Department of Physician Assistant studies. “Kind. Thoughtful. Always available. Generous with his time and mentorship.”
In 2007, Fahringer also became one of the four founders of the International Academy for Physician Associate Education (IAPAE). In 2010, he started the first PA program in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia with George Washington University-Medical Faculty Associates at the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Science.
Fahringer returned to the University of Kentucky in August 2012, and became the Associate Program Director until June 2020, when he became the Program Director of Post Graduate Education in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies before his retirement.
A graduate of Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (1973), Southern Nazarene University (1975), UK’s Physician Assistant program (1988), and the College of Public Health (1992), Fahringer said this award announcement came as a surprise.
“I have attended many of these,” Fahringer said of the Hall of Fame ceremonies. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be one of the recipients.”
For someone who has given so much to the University, he also took this time to encourage people to give today, on One Day for UK. “Give to the scholarship of your choice,” he said. “I encourage you all to get involved in giving.”
Sciascia, currently the Clinical Outcomes and Research Director at Lexington Clinic, previously served as an associate professor for Eastern Kentucky University's CAATE-accredited Master’s in Athletic Training program and spent 13 years as the coordinator of the Shoulder Center of Kentucky.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Kinesiology degree, graduate certificate in Clinical and Translational Science, and a doctorate from the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program, all from the University of Kentucky.
Sciascia has been previously honored as Clinical Athletic Trainer of the Year and with the Award of Merit from the Kentucky Athletic Trainers’ Society and the Founders' Award from the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists (ASSET). He is also a past President of ASSET and holds the distinction of Fellow within the Society.
“He’s quite a phenomenal person,” said Tim Uhl, PhD, ATC, PT, FNATA and Professor in Physical Therapy. “One of my greatest doctoral students, and I am so proud of all he’s done.”
Sciascia is an Affiliate Member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and a Distinguished Fellow of the Athletic Training Academy within the National Academies of Practice. He has produced multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to function, evaluation and treatment of the shoulder and scapula, and he speaks at various venues annually. He has co-edited two textbooks and serves as an associate editor for the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training.
Sciascia credited his success to his CHS professors.
“I’m still shocked,” he said. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about all the (CHS) family. They told me what I needed to hear, and not what I wanted to hear. They excel at that.”
Cline, a clinical audiologist at UK HealthCare for the past 12 years, received his bachelor’s degree from CHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and his doctorate in audiology from the University of Louisville. He most recently earned his PhD from UK in gerontology with clinical interests in diagnostic audiology, including central auditory processing disorders and appropriate rehabilitation technique.
Cline has the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. He specializes in diagnostic audiology, electrophysiology and hearing aids — and he has been helping develop CHS’ newest program in Audiology.
“We look forward to his continued contributions,” said Karen Badger, PhD, MSW and Vice Dean and Professor for Health and Clinical Sciences.
“It’s my honor to be up here,” Cline said. “It’s really a reflection of the integrity and character of the people of this College. They provided guidance to me. They took an interest in me. Without them, I don’t have the opportunity to stand up here in front of you and accept this award.”
It all added up to yet another special day for CHS.
“The Mission of the College of Health Sciences is to improve the health of the people of the Commonwealth, and every day, these wonderful alumni are living this mission,” Lephart said. “They are amazing examples of the talent produced in this College, and they are role models for us all.”