The Alzheimer’s Association Omaha Chapter has recognized Omaha native William Burke, M.D., a psychiatrist in the combined Creighton-Nebraska Department of Psychiatry, for his dedication to the association and his involvement in research of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association serves, communicates and advocates the needs of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Burke has been involved with the association for eight years serving as a member of the board of directors and as medical advisor.
Dr. Burke is a professor and director of research for the department of psychiatry and the section of geriatric psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
He currently is involved in a 100-center, 26-week study of Exelon, a newly developed Alzheimer’s drug. Currently, there are two FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs on the market — Cognex and Aricept — both drugs tested in clinical trials at UNMC. A second study is being done at UNMC to evaluate the effect of Aricept and a second medication, Zoloft, on the behavioral complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Burke earned his bachelor’s degree from UNMC in 1976 and his medical degree in 1980. He served an internship in internal medicine at UNMC from 1980-81 and did his residency training in psychiatry from 1981 to 1984 at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
From 1984 to 1985, Dr. Burke served as assistant professor of psychiatry at UNMC. He then returned to Washington University to serve two years there before rejoining the Creighton-Nebraska Department of Psychiatry in 1987 as associate professor. He was elevated to professor status in 1995.
He was named director of the section of geriatric psychiatry in 1989 and director of research in 1992. He also heads the UNMC Memory Disorders program, which evaluates persons with significant memory problems.