Faculty Service and Accomplishments
Lt. Col. Allison Ferro, PhD, served as the Army Nurse Corps Historian, co-editing the official 125th Anniversary Journal Supplement, contributing to the 25-year history publication and chairing the 125th Anniversary Fundraising Committee – helping preserve and celebrate the Corps’ enduring legacy. She also served in the American College of Healthcare Executives as both a local chapter participant and national faculty member. She further supported her community through extensive volunteer service at her church, including work in the food pantry, children’s ministry, seasonal events and the rummage sale. This diverse and impactful service has made for a truly rewarding year.
Lt. Col. Christine “Christie” Downs, PhD, contributed to the International Banking, Economics, and Finance Association Summer Conference, held in Denver from June 30 to July 1. As the invited session chair for the “Banks, Firms and Households” panel, she led discussions featuring researchers and practitioners from leading global financial institutions and engaged with fellow session chairs and participants representing organizations such as the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Spain, enhancing the visibility and reputation of both the U.S. Army and Baylor University within the international academic community. In addition, Lt. Col. Downs facilitated formal interview training for Finance and Economics PhD candidates entering the academic job market as part of the Western Economic Association International’s 2026 Graduate Student Workshop, supporting the professional development of emerging scholars and fostering ties with the next generation of academic researchers. Lt. Col. Downs also served as the Army-Baylor Investment Club’s academic advisor, and she taught a monthly Personal Financial Readiness seminar to Medical Center of Excellence service members and civilians, helping individuals make informed life decisions from retirement planning to strategic investing.
Lt. Col. Tiara Walz, PhD, was selected to be the Army Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) for the 2026-2029 Convocation Years with ACHE. She is part of the District 6 of Governance in ACHE, serving alongside other regents in the Federal Sector (to include the Veterans Affairs, Air Force and Navy). She continues to serve as the Graduate Education Manager for the Army Healthcare Administrators (70A) working with the Consultant to the Office of the Surgeon General on developing the next generation of healthcare leaders in the Army. In the fall of 2025, she presented her and her colleagues’ research at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference on barriers to physical activity in the veteran population. In the spring of 2026, she presented her team’s research at the AUPHA Annual Meeting on graduate GPA inflation (with Lt. Col. Ferro as the lead author) and the value of oral examinations in competency assessment in the new age of artificial intelligence. She continues to be involved with CAHME accreditation activities and was awarded the fellow distinction this year.
Lt. Col. Ryan Labio embraced his role as residency director, prioritizing the final site visits in FY25, adding new Navy MTFs as residency sites, personalizing the slating process for didactic year students, and streamlining deliverables for residents. Wanting to learn from all of the professors in the program, Lt. Col. Labio observed at least one class session from each course, with keen interest given to Dr. Black’s macroeconomics course, Lt. Col. Ferro’s systematic review elective, Lt. Col. Walz’ Influential Communication Techniques and Public Speaking elective, and the first two iterations of the Foundations of AI short course. Lt. Col. Labio supported students in various extracurricular activities throughout the year, including rehearsing and traveling with the UCLA Case Competition team, training with the Bearathon 2026 runners, and volunteering at the San Antonio Food Bank. Lt. Col. Labio also continued his volunteer work to the installation Exceptional Family Member Program and the Miracle League of San Antonio.
