USU Faculty Member Receives BHSU 2023 Alumni Special Achievement Award

Dr. Krista Highland, clinical psychologist and associate professor at USU, received the 2023 Alumni Special Achievement Award from their alma mater, Black Hills State University.

Dr. Krista Highland, Associate Professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology, Military and Emergency

Medicine, and Medicine in the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University (USU), received the

2023 Alumni Special Achievement Award from Black Hills State University (BSHU). (Photo courtesy of Dr.

Krista Highland)

December 19, 2023 by Hadiyah Brendel

Dr. Krista Highland, clinical psychologist and associate professor at USU, received the 2023 Alumni Special Achievement Award from their alma mater, Black Hills State University. 

Highland, who holds faculty appointments in the Departments of Anesthesiology, Military and Emergency Medicine, and Medicine in the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University (USU), received the BSHU award as “one of the highest performing faculty mentors at [USU]”, noting how their “commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accountability has spurred much of the work at the Uniformed Services University.”  

Three of Highland’s five niblings were old enough

to ride alongside Highland in the parade and helped

throw candy to the crowd. (Photo courtesy of Dr.

Krista Highland)

Highland, who is originally from Rapid City, South Dakota chose to attend BHSU, which is about an hour away in Spearfish, to stay close for a sibling who was still in elementary school at the time. Highland earned their Bachelor of Science degree in biology and psychology from BHSU, followed by a Master of Arts degree in psychology and their PhD in Clinical Psychology, both from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Afterwards, Highland completed their predoctoral internship at the University of Washington’s Level I Trauma Hospital - Harborview Medical Center focused on behavioral medicine, neuropsychology, and rehabilitation psychology. Highland then completed their postdoctoral fellowship at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Following their fellowship, Highland worked at the USU Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, now the Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative, before accepting a role at the USU Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management and later becoming associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. 

“That was right up my alley with my research and clinical experiences,” Highland says. Their role as a faculty member and sponsor took on from there.  

As a clinical psychologist and statistician, Highland’s research, teaching, and community activities emphasize health equity and justice, particularly in terms of healthcare optimization in gender affirming healthcare and pain management. 

In addition to their faculty positions, Highland engages in several programs and committees on the USU campus. Highland is the co-faculty advisor with Dr. Seth Schobel for Spectrum, the LGBTQIA+ student interest group at USU. 

Highland says they are “deeply grateful and proud” to be a part of Spectrum, which has “developed, implemented, and sustained the majority of LGBTQIA+ affirming curriculum and training, policy improvements, and community engagement and support” at USU.  

Project ASPEN, which Highland co-developed with two Spectrum students, Ensign Lance Culjat and 2nd Lt. David Johnson, is a train-the-trainer program that focuses on implementing inclusive language. Highland estimates around 50 champions have been trained at USU, with more than 400 learners participating in the training at USU and beyond. 

Highland also co-leads education and training with 2nd Lt. Karly Steffens on structural competence and responsibility in both the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Nursing. The workshop brings knowledge and skills on how a clinician’s narrative of the patient experience “can entrench the negative impact of systemic racism and sexism.” 

Highland is also chair of the LGBTQIA+ Affirming Curriculum Task Force, which addresses harm in the curriculum at USU. “The curriculum has changed quite a bit,” they say. “We joined forces with the Addressing Racism in Medical Education/Medicine (ARMed) Task Force, led by Dr. Lisa Harris.” 

As a result of the collaborations between the two Task Forces, anyone at USU delivering a lecture can access an Equity and Justice Checklist for curriculum content development and dissemination. 

On receiving the award, Highland says it was “one of the best surprises'' of their lives. The award ceremony took place on October 6 at BHSU’s Alumni Awards Luncheon, where Highland’s father and partner were in attendance. 

The following day, Highland participated in BHSU’s homecoming parade. Three of Highland’s five niblings were old enough to ride alongside Highland in the parade and helped throw candy to the crowd.  

Highland was also introduced on the 50-yard line at halftime during the homecoming football game. And BHSU will exhibit a banner featuring Highland in front of their university until the fall of next year. 

Featured on the cover of BHSU’s Fall 2023 Alumni Magazine was another BHSU alumni, Army  Colonel (Dr.) Brett Theeler. Theeler is chair of the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine at USU, and earned his BS from BSHU. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from his alma mater.