In memoriam: Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus and Chair Emeritus Shirlyn B. McKenzie
Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus and Chair Emeritus Shirlyn B. McKenzie, PhD, MLSCM, who led the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences for more than two decades, died on Aug. 29. She was 82.
An internationally known leader and educator in the medical laboratory sciences profession, McKenzie served as chair of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences for 24 years, from 1985 until her retirement in 2009. She joined the health science center faculty in 1980 as an instructor and later served as program director of the Medical Technology Program. She was named chair of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences in 1985 and was promoted to full professor in 1995.
Under her leadership, the clinical laboratory sciences program, which is now the Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences in the Department of Health Sciences, gained recognition as one of the nation’s leading clinical laboratory science departments.
“Dr. McKenzie was a gentle giant, in personality and in the medical laboratory sciences profession,” said Professor Emeritus George Kudolo, PhD, CPC, FAIC, FADLM, who retired in September as chair of the Department of Health Sciences. “Dr. McKenzie’s Textbook of Hematology, first published in 1988 and also published in Spanish, increased her worldwide influence in the field of hematology. The second edition of her second book, Clinical Laboratory Hematology, was published in 2009. These textbooks are widely adopted by medical laboratory sciences programs around the world.”
The Shirlyn McKenzie Endowed Professorship Fund in Clinical Laboratory Sciences was established in 2009 through generous gifts from numerous donors who wished to honor McKenzie and the standards of excellence established under her leadership as chair of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The School of Health Professions honors the impact and legacy of her career each year by awarding the Shirlyn B. McKenzie Teaching Excellence Award to a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching.
“I had the opportunity to work directly with Dr. McKenzie from 1994 to 2004 and have the greatest respect and admiration for her and her accomplishments,” said School of Health Professions Dean David Shelledy, PhD, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, FASAHP.
McKenzie received numerous honors in recognition of her contributions to medical laboratory science and education. She was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in 1995 and in 2010, she received both the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award and the Member of the Year Award from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). At the time she received those honors, she had published 27 abstracts, 19 chapters and four books (two in Spanish translation) in addition to numerous editorials, journal articles and article reviews.
She also received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCLS in 2014. McKenzie was a longtime, active member of the society, having served as chair of the scientific assembly, a member of the board of directors and president.
Services:
Visitation will be on Friday, Oct. 3, from 4–8:00 pm at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes with the Rev. Kathi Inglis-Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are by Sunset Northwest Funeral Home.
For more information, please read McKenzie’s obituary.