Healthcare Award Named for Longtime Scranton Professor
Daniel J. West, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Health Administration and Human Resources, received a shadowbox on April 3 at The University of Scranton American College of Healthcare Executives of Eastern Pennsylvania Student Chapter Healthcare Symposium, recognizing that the ACHE of Eastern Pennsylvania had named an award in his honor. Dr. West is shown, left, with James Dalkiewicz, chapter president of the ACHE of Eastern Pennsylvania; and right, with Marie Clemens, chapter secretary and chief communications officer.The American College of Healthcare Executives of Eastern Pennsylvania presents only two annual awards, recognizing both an outstanding senior executive and an up-and-coming careerist.
While the former previously had a namesake, the latter prize recently attached itself to a longtime University of Scranton professor and department chair.
The newly renamed Daniel J. West, Jr., Ph.D., LFACHE Early Careerist Award was unveiled Oct. 23 at the ACHE of Eastern Pennsylvania Symposium at DeSales University.
Dr. West, professor emeritus in the Department of Health Administration and Human Resources, was unable to attend the symposium. However, the ACHE of Eastern Pennsylvania planned a surprise presentation April 3 at the organization’s Scranton student chapter event.
Organizers presented Dr. West with a detailed shadowbox, complete with pictures, mementos and a written tribute.
“Dan West has had an exemplary career, dedicated to academic excellence and the field of healthcare administration,” states the message inside the shadowbox. “His commitment to The University of Scranton, to students and early careerists, and to ACHE, both regionally and nationally (and in fact, internationally) is well-known.
“His support and participation was vital to completing the merger of the NEPA Chapter into the Eastern PA Chapter of ACHE. And while he could have certainly transitioned off the board at any time over the past few years, he continues to be an active and insightful advisor to us all.”
Dr. West, who holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the Pennsylvania State University, has had an extensive career in healthcare management, including serving as a CEO for a hospital, medical practice and several businesses. He joined The University of Scranton faculty in 1990 and, in addition to being a professor, he was the Health Administration and Human Resources Department chair for 20-plus years.
Dr. West has planned and conducted dozens of study abroad tours for graduate students and faculty, spanning Bolivia, China, Haiti and Slovakia, to name a few countries. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Trnava University in Slovakia in 2019.
Dr. West has served on numerous University and external committees and his dedication to Scranton was recognized in 2021, when he received the John L. Earl III Award for his service to the University, the faculty and the wider community.
