(Aug. 9, 2024) – I am pleased to announce that Richard Muma, PhD, MPH, PA-C, president of Wichita State University, Wichita, is this year's winner of the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award.
The Kansas Hospital Association established this award to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or other initiatives to improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community. The Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award provides KHA members the opportunity to recognize individuals who have been an agent for change in their community and the hospital industry.
Dr. Muma has significantly impacted the health care landscape in Kansas through his dedication and visionary leadership. He has served in health care for 30 years. His early career as a physician assistant profoundly shaped his approach to leadership and care. Dr. Muma has committed his life and career to educating future health professionals. His tenure at Wichita State University has been marked by strategic partnerships and initiatives that benefit both the university and the wider health care community.
One example of Dr. Muma's visionary leadership is his collaborative efforts with the University of Kansas to establish the Wichita Biomedical Campus. This ambitious project aims to revolutionize health care education, fostering innovative teaching methods and technologies to significantly enhance clinical outcomes across Kansas and the surrounding region. By integrating cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, the campus equips health care professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the complexities of modern medicine.
Another prime example is the establishment of the Molecular Diagnostics Lab, a pivotal initiative launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This high-throughput lab, which Dr. Muma spearheaded, enabled rapid identification, quarantine and treatment of infected individuals. By processing hundreds of tests daily, the lab played a crucial role in keeping businesses, government agencies and schools operational; thereby, maintaining the community's stability during a global crisis.
Through strategic partnerships, Dr. Muma's commitment to improving health care extends beyond campus boundaries. A notable example is the affiliation between Ascension Via Christi and Wichita State's School of Nursing. This collaboration addresses the critical need for a pipeline of qualified health care professionals, ensuring the region has access to top-tier medical care and is well-equipped to meet future health care needs.
Recognizing the physician shortage affecting much of Kansas, particularly rural communities, Dr. Muma spearheaded an admissions partnership with Kansas Health Center-Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. This initiative aims to increase the number of trained physicians, directly improving health care accessibility and outcomes across the state.
Through his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, Dr. Muma has consistently demonstrated an ability to anticipate and address emerging health care challenges. His efforts are not only advancing health care education and delivery but also fostering healthier communities.
Congratulations to Dr. Rick Muma. We look forward to officially presenting this honor during the KHA Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the KHA Annual Convention in Overland Park. I invite you all to join us in honoring Dr. Muma and other health care leaders who will be recognized.
--Chad Austin