Joan McDowd Honored by American Stroke Foundation

Rose Award for Philanthropy and Community Leadership to Psychology professor

Joan McDowd, a professor of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is being recognized by the American Stroke Foundation with its major annual award.

McDowd, a foundation board member and former acting executive director, will share the 2015 Rose Award for Philanthropy and Community Leadership with Bob Frazier, longtime foundation chair. McDowd also serves as Director of the UMKC Consortium for Aging in Community.

The award will be presented to McDowd and Frazier at a May 5 luncheon at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center. Additional information about the luncheon is available at AmericanStroke.org

McDowd served as the acting executive director of the foundation for more than three years, stepping into this role as a volunteer when the need arose. Under her leadership, the foundation opened two new wellness centers and increased its capacity to serve stroke survivors and their families.

“I was introduced to the ASF by a colleague who worked there. Watching stroke survivors work so hard on their way back toward independence made me very respectful of their efforts, and I wanted to help in any way possible,” McDowd said.

The Rose Award recognition began in 2011 in honor of Shirley Rose, co-founder of the American Stroke Foundation, recognizing her life-long commitment to community service.

The American Stroke Foundation, founded in 1997, provides a unique, post-rehabilitation experience for stroke survivors, offering classes and wellness programs that are designed to address survivors’ physical, cognitive, social and emotional well-being in a comfortable, welcoming, non-clinical environment. The organization also provides classes and support groups for caregivers that are designed to address their specific concerns.

Frazier began his career as a teacher and then became principal and president of Bishop Miege High School. His career transitioned to the health care industry where he worked as a senior level administrator and an interim hospital CEO. He recently retired as board chair of the foundation after leading the organization to financial stability and an expansion of services.


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