Ann Kraft, UNMC Public Affairs Phone: (402) 559-6027 February 6, 1998

UNMC Board of Counselors Names New Officers,

Members

The University of Nebraska Medical Center Board of Counselors

has elected new officers and members. The board which is

comprised of about 40 civic and business leaders from communities

throughout the state, acts as an advisory group to the UNMC

chancellor in forming programs to address the health needs of

Nebraska.

Members meet three times a year to hear summaries on UNMC

activities by key administrators and for presentations by faculty

and staff on specific programs in education, research, patient

care and outreach to underserved populations. New members are

appointed to serve four-year terms.

New officers:

CRETE — Chairperson – Jacob Dering, pharmacist

OMAHA — Vice Chairperson – Sonja McCollister, vice

president, Kirkpatrick Pettis

New members:

OMAHA — Jan Davis, director of community services in

Nebraska and Iowa, Peoples Natural Gas;

Dean Rasmussen, president, Grandmothers’

restaurants;

Dayton Wittke, Ph.D., vice president, Omaha Public

Power District;

LINCOLN– Dennis G. Baack, executive director, Nebraska

Community College Association;

Dale Gruntorad, CPA, CVA (certified valuation analyst),

interim president, Lincoln Medical Education Foundation;

Lynn Roper, vice president, consumer markets, Merrill

Lynch;

RED CLOUD– Barbara Sprague, homemaker and

community volunteer;

BUSHNELL– Gerri Linn, CPA, president and chief

executive officer, Kimball County Hospital in Kimball.

UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the

state. Through its commitment to research, education and patient

care, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading

centers for cancer research and treatment and solid organ

transplantation. Nearly $25 million in research grants and

contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually. In addition,

UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more

health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other

institution.