Joe Sisson, M.D., has been named interim chair of the University of
Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine. The appointment,
effective Jan. 1, was announced today by James Linder, M.D., interim dean
of the UNMC College of Medicine.
“Dr. Sisson has had a tremendous impact on the College of Medicine through
his teaching, clinical service, research and administrative leadership.
We are fortunate that he can bring these skills to service as the interim
chair of the department,” Dr. Linder said.
Dr. Sisson succeeds James Armitage, M.D., who earlier this fall announced
he would step down as department chair after leading the department for
10 years. While Dr. Sisson serves as interim department chair, he will
continue to serve as chief of the UNMC Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Section.
As interim chair, Dr. Sisson will support the department’s ongoing faculty
recruitment initiatives. He also plans to continue the ongoing implementation
of the department’s research initiative, which parallels the campus plan
to increase research funding.
“My role is to ensure that the department continues to make progress.
As interim chair, my primary objective is to ensure a smooth transition
from Dr. Armitage’s leadership to that of a new chair,” Dr. Sisson said.
The search for a permanent chair will be led by John Tinker, M.D., chair
of the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology who is actively seeking applicants
for the permanent chair position.
“We have cast the net widely and continue to receive applications from
all over the United States,” Dr. Tinker said. “The committee is preparing
to invite several individuals for first-round interviews.”
The interviews will begin in December and extend through January.
The UNMC Department of Internal Medicine is made up of more than 100
UNMC faculty members who also may also be affiliated with the University
Medical Associates primary care clinics, and the Omaha Veterans Administration
Medical Center. The department includes general internal medicine and 11
subspecialty sections: cardiology; diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism;
dermatology; gastroenterology and hepatology; general internal medicine;
geriatrics and gerontology; infectious diseases; nephrology; neurology;
oncology and hematology; pulmonary and critical care medicine; and rheumatology
and immunology.
Dr. Sisson, 46, earned his undergraduate degree in 1975 from the University
of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, and his medical degree in 1979 from the
University of Iowa, Iowa City. He did his residency in internal medicine
from 1979 to 1982 and a fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care
medicine from 1983 to 1986, at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
From 1986 to 1987, he studied at the National Institutes of Health Pulmonary
Branch as visiting scientist. In 1987, he joined UNMC as assistant professor
of internal medicine, and was promoted to associate professor in 1995.
In 1997, he became section chief of the UNMC Pulmonary and Critical Care
Medicine Section.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach 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 $31
million in research grants and contracts were awarded to UNMC scientists
during the past fiscal year. In addition, UNMCs educational programs are
responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska
than any other institution.