MCKINNIES HAS A ‘PASSION FOR TEACHING’
By Pete Rosenbery
Richard McKinnies, an associate professor and director for the School of Allied Health’s Radiologic Sciences and Radiation Therapy program, says he always knew that he wanted to be involved in the health care field.
His work as an “effective educator” with a “student/patient focused teaching philosophy,” his research efforts, and professionalism with colleagues, are among several reasons for McKinnies’ selection for the College of Applied Sciences and Arts’ 2016 E.J. and Mary C. Simon Distinguished Faculty Award. McKinnies received a monetary award, plaque, and gave a speech at the annual CASA Honors Day ceremony on April 9.
A three-degree SIU Carbondale alumnus, McKinnies, who has been at SIU Carbondale since 2005, earned his bachelor’s degree in 2003 in the same program that he now teaches.
“This is a humbling experience. It’s definitely an honor to represent CASA in this way,” he said. “I know I represent a lot of great faculty, so to be presented with the award really makes me feel honored. When you consider the number of great faculty who are in CASA, it’s a pleasant surprise to find out you were selected.”
McKinnies initially wanted to go into the university’s physician assistant program but a prerequisite at that time was a minimum of five years health care experience. He opted to pursue a radiologic sciences degree with an eye toward a later physician assistant career, “but the road obviously led me in a different direction than what I expected.”
E.J. Simon was dean of the college from its inception in 1951 until his retirement in 1970, and both he and his wife, Mary C. Simon, remained strong supporters of the university and CASA. E.J. Simon died in 1989; Mary Simon passed away in 2011.
Kathryn B. O’Leary, a former student and now a medical dosimetrist at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., said McKinnies’ enthusiasm for the radiation therapy field “was shown clearly through his teaching.”
“Not only was his passion for the field of radiation therapy obvious, his passion for teaching was obvious as well,” O’Leary wrote. “Mr. McKinnies was extremely determined to ensure that all of his students would succeed. He is an extraordinary teacher who does not simply teach, but makes sure his students have a solid understanding of the material he presents them with. He was always willing to come in early, stay late, or do whatever it would take to make sure his students receive the help they needed. It is because of educators like Mr. McKinnies that students become eager to learn and inspired to succeed.”
Another common theme among nomination letters is the compassion McKinnies provides to students.
“Showing a level of compassion and caring for the students starts building that level of understanding for what it is going to take for their cancer patients, and what they have to do on a daily basis when they are treating these patients,” McKinnies said. “It’s more than just physically giving them the treatments they need. It’s also dealing with their emotional state and being able to be that shoulder, if you will, for the cancer patients.
“I always tell the students that no matter how bad your day is, your day is going to be better than what their (patients) day is because of what they are going through,” McKinnies said. “They have just received the big ‘C’ word and they are scared to death. We have to be strong and professional the entire time we are out there, show compassion, and that we care about the patient’s wellbeing.”
The nomination notes that in the last five years 98 percent of McKinnies’ radiation therapy students have passed their national American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exams on their first attempt, which is above the national average. The achievement is one McKinnies is particularly proud of, because the national tests are not easy.
McKinnies’ present research is investigating issues associated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease, and certain head and neck cancers in 50- and 60-year-olds who have never smoked and who do not have a high alcohol intake history. McKinnies’ research team is also looking into how informed people are, particularly college students, about the issue. Other research includes employee incentives in the health care industry, human resource issues in employee selection and recruitment in health care, and the aging workforce.
McKinnies also earned a master’s degree in Workforce Education and Development in 2006, and a master’s degree in medical dosimetry in 2011, both from SIU Carbondale.
McKinnies said Steven C. Jensen, professor emeritus and Scott Collins, professor of radiologic sciences and director of the School of Allied Health, have been two of his mentors, and played a significant part in his education and in becoming a faculty member.
McKinnies said that for Honors Day, he expects to discuss what he believes it takes for student success. He believes it comes down to drive, hard work, and students making sure they are committed to whatever they do, and giving it their all.
There is another important factor, he said.
“Don’t be so focused on getting to an end point, but enjoy the journey. That’s important,” he said. “Life is short enough; if you are not enjoying what you are doing I think you are missing part of the point and what really makes life a success for a person when it is all said and done.”
McKinnies, a native of Du Quoin, lives there with his wife, Jaymee, and their children, Brayden and Aubrey.