The University of Nebraska Medical Center awarded Ruth Koepke, of Blue
Hill, the 1999 J.G. Elliott Award. She received the award during UNMCs
commencement ceremony in Omaha this month.
The J.G. Elliott Award is given annually by UNMC to recognize an individual
whose contributions to the state exemplify education, research and improving
the health status of specific Nebraska communities or populations. Koepke
was recognized for being a steward to the health of rural Nebraskans. She
has spent the past 25 years as a community volunteer involved in education,
economic development and rural health initiatives.
“I am extremely grateful to be receiving this award. It’s a humbling
feeling to receive an honor that means so much to UNMC and those in the
state’s health care industry, Koepke said. I hope to be a good advocate
of what this award is all about.
“The J.G. Elliott Award has been given to some tremendous individuals
who have been major contributors to the health of Nebraska’s citizens.
I am truly honored to be placed in the same category as people such as
Dr. Lewis Harris. Dr. Harris is co-founder of Harris Laboratories and recipient
of the 1998 J.G. Elliott Award.
A native of Blue Hill, Koepke graduated from the Mary Lanning School
of Nursing in 1963 and attended Hastings College. She has worked as a registered
nurse in a rural county hospital, a long-term care facility and a family
practice clinic.
In the past, she has worked with the UNMC Rural Health Education Network,
served on the UNMC Board of Counselors and been a key member of the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Rural Revitalization and Development.
She developed the South Central Rural Health Education Network Scholarship
Assistance Fund for high school juniors to attend UNMC’s Summer Health
Professions Workshop and continues to work with high school counselors,
businesses and community leaders to enhance health science student recruitment
in Nebraska’s high schools.
Most recently, she has been involved with the South Central Health Alliance,
which is working to pass legislation that will make it illegal for children
under 18 to possess or use tobacco products. She also participates in the
Nebraska Turning Point dialogue on public health.
Some of Koepke’s past recognitions include the Outstanding Achievement
in Leadership and Youth Award, the Outstanding Rural Health Achievement
Award and most recently the Connecting Nebraskans Award from the Nebraska
Development Network.
“She has served the health of Nebraskans long and well, and continues
to do so,” her nominator wrote. “She has been a force in maintaining available
medical care in Blue Hill and the area.. Ruth’s efforts to serve her Blue
Hill-Webster County area have contributed to all of Nebraska by helping
focus attention to the health care needs of greater Nebraska.”
Koepke and her husband Jerry, a Blue Hill community banker, have been
married 35 years. They have two sons, David and John, who live in Arizona.
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. More than $34 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.