PGA golfers to recognize HSC at Charles Schwab Challenge
By Alex Branch
Welcome to the HSC team, Justin Thomas and Harold Varner III.
The PGA golfers will honor University of North Texas Health Science Center Medical Student Kristina Fraser and Center for Geriatrics Director Dr. Janice Knebl on June 11-14 at the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth. Thomas’ caddie will wear a bib with Fraser’s name and Varner’s caddie will wear one with Dr. Knebl’s.
The move is part of a PGA and Charles Schwab plan to recognize 148 North Texas front-line health care workers for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each worker’s name will appear on a different caddie’s bib.
Fraser was part of a HSC team of faculty, staff and students that put in more than 5,600 volunteer hours to test 2,800 people at two Fort Worth test sites. Fraser said she appreciated the recognition of the effort and sacrifices by health workers during the pandemic.
“It was a great surprise to learn that the health providers battling COVID-19 would be honored in such a visible way,” said Fraser, a 3rd-year student at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I am so proud of HSC’s service to our community at the university’s COVID-19 test sites, and I am honored to represent all the HSC students, staff and faculty who made them successful. It was an experience we will never forget.”
Dr. Knebl is a pioneer in the treatment of older adults and an enthusiastic advocate for seniors throughout Texas. She is the founding and long-time medical director at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Dr Knebl raised concerns about long-term care residents and staff and assisted in the initiation of the Tarrant County Long Term Task Force response team.
The Charles Schwab Challenge is held at Colonial Country Club and will be televised on CBS. In a message to honorees, PGA and Charles Schwab officials called it a privilege to recognize the providers.
“These men and women, like yourself, have been working tirelessly since the pandemic began – often at the risk of their own personal health and safety – to meet the needs of those most directly impacted in the Fort Worth area,” the message said.
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