Bringing the new student health center to campus has brought an Iowa State staff member a Superior Service Award from the Alumni Association.

Richard Patterson, director of the Student Health Center, was given the award for service in the Student Health Center.

Patterson said, “I think it was also recognition of the work I did to bring the issue of needed space of the health center to the students and the university.”

He said he brought the issue to the attention of the students and also interpreted the services that are available to ISU students.

The new student health building, which is being constructed on the northeast corner of Sheldon Avenue and Union Drive, will offer more space and will enable the center to service students better, Patterson said.

“The greatest asset will be that we are doubling the number of our exam rooms. All of our clinical services will be on the same floor, except for physical therapy — that will remain in the Lied Recreation Center.

The Wellness Center will also be moved from Beyer Hall to the new building, Patterson said.

The new building is expected to be finished the first of next May and Patterson said he hopes to move in after the spring term.

One of Patterson’s co-workers, Mary Engstrom, health education supervisor, said Patterson was instrumental in getting the new building.

“The new Student Health Center is largely due to the persistence of Dr. Patterson in compiling data, presenting this data to students, faculty, staff, administrators and the Board of Regents and encouraging students to feel ownership for the proposed student health center,” Engstrom said.

Patterson said he worked on getting support from students and he received affirmation from the Government of Student Body, the Graduate Student Senate and the International Student Council. They helped motivate President Martin Jischke to take the issue to the Board of Regents, who then approved the proceeding.

Engstrom said Patterson has put in untold hours with student organizations to work on bringing the new center to campus. “He’s a health professional with a vision.”

The funding for the building will come from a student fee of $8 per semester for the next 18 years, Engstrom said.

Patterson said he thinks students have an interest in health concerns and that “…students’ willingness to support the new building is a statement as to how they value access to quality, affordable health care. It’s a testimony to the quality of health care we are providing.”

He began his work in 1979 for the Student Health Center with a staff position, and before that he had his own practice for 17 years. Patterson became the director in 1985.

The two other awards Patterson recently received are the American College Health Association’s Allie B. Moten Award and a Regents’ Staff Excellence Award, he said.

Ultimately, Patterson said his job is to keep students in the classroom so they can achieve the academic progress for which they are here.

Feeling very honored for the award, Patterson said, “I’ve felt humbled by this as director to get the public notice for the work that an awful lot of people are doing.”