Joel Bessmer, M.D., earns House Officer of the Year Award


Joel Bessmer, M.D., chief resident of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s department of internal medicine, is the recipient of the “House Officer of the Year” award. The award was presented to Dr. Bessmer at the annual internal medicine banquet held June 6.


All junior and senior medical students, house officers and full-time faculty members were solicited for votes. The award was based on voting by students, house officers and faculty from the College of Medicine, and upon supporting material submitted by the nominee’s colleagues.


Dr. Bessmer was selected for his outstanding qualities as a physician, scholar and teacher. In recognition of the honor, he received a certificate, a $200 savings bond and his name on the “House Officer of the Year” plaque that hangs in the library of medicine at UNMC.


Dr. Bessmer, a native of Plainview, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Kearney State College in 1988 and a medical degree at UNMC in 1993. In 1994 he entered UNMC’s residency program in internal medicine and in 1996 was named chief resident.


He is currently the director of University Medical Associates’ Turner Park health-care center in Omaha and a general internist at University Medical Associates’ Plattsmouth health-care center.