In Memoriam: Kelly H. Austin

Aug. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- We are profoundly saddened to announce that employee and friend Kelly H. Austin passed away unexpectedly on August 17, 2011, from complications related to a previously undiagnosed arteriovenous malformation. She was in Rhode Island at the time, vacationing with her husband and fellow Dade Moeller employee Sean M. Austin. Kelly managed our Radiation Safety Academy training operations and worked in the Gaithersburg, Md., office.

After graduating cum laude from Dickinson College (Penn.) in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Kelly returned to the state of her birth, Maryland, and began a 17-year career with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health (NIH). While working at NIH in Bethesda, Md., Kelly worked on her Master of Science degree in Radiation Science at Georgetown University and graduated
with distinction in 1993. She managed and contributed to numerous important projects while at NIH and served in many roles, including Supervisory Health Physicist, Clinical Center Unit Chief, Radiation Safety Operations Section Assistant Chief, and Training Program Specialist.

In 2005, Kelly joined the Radiation Safety Academy in Gaithersburg, Md., which became part of Dade Moeller in 2007. She managed Dade Moeller’s high-visibility training services, including operations online and at training centers in Gaithersburg, Las Vegas, and Acton, Mass.; developed our highly successful Medical Radiation Safety
Officer course; and ensured the satisfaction of the thousands of students who relied on the Academy for their radiation-related education and training. Wishing to add depth to her already-impressive expertise, Kelly worked diligently to become certified by the American Board of Health Physics in 2006. She served as a consultant
and temporary Radiation Safety Officer to several clients in the Mid-Atlantic area and had been serving as the Radiation Safety Officer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. She was a member of the Health Physics Society as well as its Baltimore-Washington Chapter.

Dade Moeller benefited greatly from Kelly’s professionalism and her daily commitment to ensuring the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment through her work. She maintained a high level of excellence and expected the same from those with whom she interacted. Kelly was well-loved for her positive attitude, warmth, and generous smile. To honor Kelly, Dade Moeller has established a scholarship program in her name through the Health Physics Society.

Our deepest condolences are with Kelly’s husband Sean, their two daughters, Marlie and Morgan, parents Henry and Jane Helweick, and brother Mark Helweick and his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

UAMS Vascular Anomalies Research Foundation
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
4301 Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Online condolences may be expressed to Kelly’s family at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kelly_austin.