Serving as a faculty volunteer has a dual purpose for Frank DeVries, M.D.
“It’s a combination of keeping in touch with the OB/GYN residents and keeping up to date on high-risk skills,” Dr. DeVries said. 
But his partnership with UNMC’s OB/GYN department extends beyond working with residents. Dr. DeVries, who takes an active interest in the well-being of the department, also participates in the UNMC call schedule inwhich he and other OB/GYN physicians rotate overnight, on-call duties.
For his work with residents and support of the OB/GYN department, Dr. DeVries received the December Volunteer Faculty of the Month Award from the UNMC College of Medicine.
A native of Douglas, Neb., Dr. DeVries graduated from UNMC in 1987 and completed his residency at the University of Loyola, Chicago. After returning to Omaha to be closer to family and friends, he started working in private practice out of Clarkson in 1991. Dr. DeVries became a volunteer faculty member in 1996.
Being a volunteer faculty member is intellectually stimulating, he said, especially when the opportunity arises to examine high-risk patients he may not see at his private practice. From caesarean sections to the most basic techniques of care, Dr. DeVries passes on his experience with patients to his residents.
“I try to get them involved with patient care and to understand not only basic management of the patients, but how to coordinate the medical and surgical components,” Dr. DeVries said.
The OB/GYN department appreciates Dr. DeVries for his service and willingness to step up his involvement when they need him most.
“At the time of the Clarkson-University hospital merger, Dr. DeVries served as the hospital service chief and played a key role in assuring a smooth transition,” said John Repke, M.D., chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology. “To this day, Dr. DeVries has supported the academic department through his leadership and clinical service.”