George Mason University College of Health and Human Services alumnae (left to right): Dr. Carrie Sutter, Terri Siggins, and Dr. Becki Sutter.
by Talia Wujtewicz
Three College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) alumnae were honored at this year’s Celebration of Distinction event, held on Thursday, April 25th.
Drs. Caroline and Rebecca Sutter jointly received the Alumnus Service award for founding and leading the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics and Dr. Theresa (Terri) Siggins was honored as this year’s CHHS Alumna of the Year.
The MAP Clinics are a network of nurse-managed clinics that provide free health care services to the uninsured, immigrant, and refugee communities within Fairfax and Prince William counties. Using a bridge care model, they connect patients to permanent medical homes. The MAP Clinics have served over 12,000 patients to date and provide more than $1 million annually in free healthcare services to our communities in Northern Virginia.
In addition to their teaching responsibilities in the School of Nursing, the Sutters work on-site at the MAP Clinics providing direct patient care and supervising more than 500 students that have rotated through the clinics as part of their field placements.
Rebecca and Carrie Sutter are both two-time graduates of George Mason University, and have been teaching in the School of Nursing for seven years. They were both named Nurse Practitioner of the Year consecutively in 2016 and 2017 by The American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
“Mason encourages innovative thinking and allows ideas to blossom into initiatives that make a difference,” said Carrie Sutter. “The MAP clinics are one of those initiatives and I am proud of the work that is done in the clinics to improve the health of the most vulnerable in our communities. We are especially proud of the hands-on learning opportunities in the MAP clinics that prepare our students to enter the healthcare workforce.”
“We are thankful to everyone who has supported the vision of the MAP Clinics and the work we do every day,” said Rebecca Sutter. “Thank you to President Cabrera, Provost Wu, and Dean Louis for investing in the mission and seeing the benefit to the University. Thank you to the MAP Clinic faculty and staff, whose work day in day out truly improves the health of our most vulnerable community members.”
Dr. Terri Siggins was honored as the CHHS Alumna of the Year. Siggins is a three-time Mason alumna, with master’s degrees in nutrition and education, and a PhD in Education. She currently serves as the program manager at the Fairfax Food Council, where she provides leadership, connects partners and stakeholders, conducts research, and ensures grant deliverables are met. She also volunteers for the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. Throughout her career, Siggins has worked in nutrition, consulting, and academia, including as adjunct faculty at George Mason in 2006.
"It was a great honor to share the stage with so many fellow George Mason alumni making a difference in their communities and fields of study,” said Siggins. “While each of us were honored for our individual achievements, it was also a night to recognize George Mason University, and that the knowledge gained and lifelong connections made during our time there has allowed each of us to contribute to the greater good in a diverse range of fields.”
Since 1975, the Alumni Association has celebrated the achievements of Mason alumni at the annual Celebration of Distinction awards program. The program has evolved from a reception honoring four alumni, to one of the premiere Alumni Association functions each year.