CHS Labs Host Toy Drive to Honor Legacy of Dr. Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker

Olivia Dodge, a senior Human Health Sciences (pre-med) major from Paducah Ky., along with other College of Health Sciences students, have organized a Toy Drive on campus to continue the legacy of Dr. Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker.  

The beloved professor tragically passed away Feb. 11.  

“I wasn’t a Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) student and had never taken a class with Dr. Hidecker, yet I immediately felt welcomed in the All About Communication (AAC) Lab and UK Rehab Makerspace because of her energy and enthusiasm,” Dodge said. “She was deeply dedicated — not just to her work, but to the students who would carry it forward. Always hands-on, she tackled projects and embraced new ideas alongside us. Her passion for her work, her patients, and her students was truly unmatched, and I will never forget it.”  

The students also collaborated with Dr. Parick Kitzman, Dr. Judith Page, and Dr. Janine Schmedding-Bartley to organize the Toy Drive to help support the AAC Lab and the UK Rehab Makerspace Lab. These labs focus on adapting toys to meet the needs of individuals with communication disorders and developmental disorders.  

The lab uses toys to create rehabilitation and habilitation aids for these individuals. They often rely on donations of toys to keep the lab affordable and accessible for those in the community.  

Dodge says it was not “uncommon” for Hidecker to spend her own money on toys when funds and supplies were low. The drive is asking for stuffed animals and for small, battery-operated toys. 

Inspired by Hidecker’s commitment and efforts to keep the lab running, the Toy Drive will run from now until May 1. Donations can be dropped off at the Charles T. Wethington Building (CTW) 123, the CSD Academic Suite in CTW 120, or in the Academic Clinic in CTW 110. 

Many students were inspired and honored to have worked with Hidecker. 

“Dr. Hidecker was so welcoming from the moment I met her,” said Andres Panagiotopoulos, a junior HHS major (pre-physical therapy) from Delaware, Ohio. “I joined the lab my freshman year and she made research so fun. She had the biggest heart and put so much time and thought into creating better solutions for those in need. Her dedication was inspiring, and it was so great to make a difference in not only the community, but the future of healthcare! I will always remember her warm smile and joyful presence every time I saw her.” 

“Dr. H was a shining example of joy in the face of adversity,” said Maddie Ritchie, a senior CSD major from Bardstown, Ky. “Whether serving clients, students, or colleagues, she was committed to seeking creative solutions to problems — all for the betterment of those around her. Her unwavering positivity leaves a legacy not soon to be forgotten by all those she impacted with her life!” 

Dodge said she just wants to encourage people to donate as much as they can.  

“Dr. Hidecker was an inspiration for what my future could look like as a dedicated provider,” she said. “Dr. Hidecker exemplified the kind, passionate, and service-driven provider I aspire to become in my own field.”