Creighton School of Pharmacy and Health Professions shines with award-winning faculty and student
Faculty excellence: Abbis Jaffri, PhD, PT, MS, honored with prestigious national award
Abbis Jaffri, PhD, PT, MS, Fulbright Scholar and assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, has been named a 2025 recipient—from among more than 100,000 American Physical Therapy Association members—of the Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member. He is the first Creighton University professor to be honored.
A passionate advocate in the field of physical therapy, Margaret Moore was a significant player in advancing the profession through her fierce support of advanced academic training in the field. The award, named in her honor and sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), recognizes new faculty who embody Moore’s example of scholarly research, excellent teaching and commitment to service.
Amber Schwarting, PT, BS, DPT’23, nominated Jaffri and credits his mentorship for her professional growth. She says that Jaffri empowered her as a leader and researcher.
“I learned every aspect of research, from data collection to manuscript writing from Dr. Jaffri,” Schwarting says. “His invaluable experiences greatly benefit students,” she continues. “When he narrates stories from his various practice settings, it leaves a lasting impact on students and enhances their understanding of the content he is teaching.”
“While I learned from several professors, Dr. Jaffri stands out as the most impactful, serving as a lifelong mentor,” she adds, noting that his students voted him Educator of the Year in 2022, after just two years at Creighton.
Jaffri, whose own path to physical therapy was rooted in a desire to help others live more fulfilling lives through applied care, believes teaching gives him a deep, lasting “impact on the profession and ultimately healthcare systems and public health.”
“Physical therapy is a cornerstone of physical rehabilitation, which is a critical component of global healthcare,” he says. And “what I love most about being a PT professor is the opportunity to inspire students, blending hands-on clinical expertise with innovative teaching to foster their growth.”
Jaffri encourages his students to pursue magis, or more, by striving for excellence in their academic journeys and in the treatment of their patients. It’s a principal that has governed his own life, though by a different name—yohsin, which is Arabic for thoughtful self-cultivation and seeking excellence in one’s actions. He believes the Jesuit value of magis “aligns with Islamic traditions, as reflected in the famous saying of the first Imam in Islamic tradition, Imam Ali Ibne Talib: ‘The worth of every human lies in their yohsin.’”
If earning the Margaret L. Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Award is any indication, Jaffri’s yohsin must be strong. “Receiving this award is a tremendous honor” and affirms “my dedication to innovative teaching, impactful research and mentorship,” he says, a trifecta that he passes on to his students so they, too, can make an enduring impact in the lives of their patients and to the physical therapy practice.
Student distinction: Mikayla Grocki named Mary McMillan Scholar
Recent graduate Mikayla Grocki, PT, DPT‘25, has been awarded the Mary McMillan Scholarship Award, one of the highest honors in the field of physical therapy student achievement. This marks the second year in a row a Creighton student has received the award—a rare feat that speaks volumes about the caliber of Creighton’s programs, the faculty it employs and the students it attracts.
Grocki, who also received the Midwest Deans Legacy Scholarship, was recognized not only for her academic prowess but for her deep commitment to leadership and service. According to Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Amy Friedman Wilson, PharmD, “Leadership is a defining characteristic of Mikayla’s approach to her studies and professional development,” as evidenced by her service as co-chair of the Joint Effort Food & Entertainment Committee for the Arthritis Foundation, time on the department’s Curriculum Committee and University’s Athletics Board, participation in the Creighton University Student American Physical Therapy Association and Interprofessional Geriatric Organization and commitment to helping fellow PT students thrive as a tutor for first years.
Grocki “exemplifies the principles of service, interprofessional collaboration and leadership,” Wilson says.
Among her many accomplishments, Grocki received the PT Leadership Guild Magis Award for her local service, which included working in the Together Food Pantry and for the Top Soccer program as well as a myriad of campus events.
She was also honored with the PT Emerging Student Research Award for her collaborative work with Rashelle Hoffman, PT, DPT, PhD, director of the Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency and assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy.
Their research focused on the effects of high-intensity interval training on functional outcomes in older adults—work that reflects Grocki’s passion for geriatric care. That same vibrant passion led to her being awarded the prestigious Jensen Leadership Endowed Scholarship, designated for third-year physical therapy students specializing in geriatrics.
Hoffman believes that Grocki’s “exceptional ability to juggle multiple commitments, combined with her strong leadership skills, will play a pivotal role in advancing the physical therapy profession in the years to come.”
Grocki’s journey into physical therapy began with a personal setback: a high school soccer injury. The compassion and creativity her physical therapist demonstrated during her recovery were life-changing, she says. “She inspired me to create a personal legacy of success in this profession by showing how important it is to dig far beneath the surface of a diagnosis for patients and truly discover their goals and dreams,” Grocki says. “I hope to be that light in my future patients’ lives.”
A culture of excellence and mutual inspiration
This July, Jaffri and Grocki will receive their respective awards at the APTA Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C. The pair reflect a vibrant culture within the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions—one where exceptional teaching and student success go hand in hand. Faculty members serve as educators and mentors who cultivate curiosity, leadership and compassion. In turn, students like Grocki help shape the future of healthcare. And together, they embody Creighton’s commitment to academic excellence, service and the formation of professionals who lead with both skill and heart.
