UNMC, Creighton receive national community service award

Left to right: Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor, Rubens Pamies, M.D., UNMC vice chancellor for academic affairs, the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., president of Creighton University, and Cam Enarson, M.D., vice president, Creighton University Medical Center Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine.

For their significant contributions to local and statewide communities, Omaha’s two academic medical centers have been awarded the prestigious Outstanding Community Service Award for 2003 from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Creighton University Medical Center and UNMC were recognized by the AAMC for their outstanding efforts in meeting the medical needs of people not served by traditional health-care systems.

The schools were chosen among 125 medical schools in the nation, and this is the first time two medical schools have shared the award. The award was presented Saturday, Nov. 8 at the AAMC gala in Washington, D.C.

Reaching out For more details on community service, health care programs operated by UNMC and Creighton, see the attached fact sheets. UNMC fact sheet Creighton fact sheet

“Nebraska residents are fortunate to have two service-oriented academic medical centers in their communities,” said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D. “Creighton University School of Medicine and University of Nebraska Medical Center supply essential health services to the medically underserved, while providing students with the clinical training and experience necessary to become competent, compassionate physicians.”

“It’s especially gratifying to be recognized by your peers,” said Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor. “The award is a testament to our strong commitment to reaching out to people in need. UNMC faculty, students and staff are among the very best and are dedicated to improving the health of Nebraskans. The award also symbolizes the dedication of our many community partners across Nebraska, who also deserve to share in this recognition.”

Audio clips Listen to a collection of audio clips about UNMC’s service to the community.

Harold M. Maurer, M.D., talks about UNMC’s and Creighton’s dedication to community service (18 seconds).

Rubens Pamies, M.D., talks about the importance of UNMC and Creighton students learning to give back to the community (15 seconds).

Harold M. Maurer, M.D., talks about UNMC and Creighton students and Nebraskans benefiting from community programs (11 seconds).

Rubens Pamies, M.D., talks about the breadth of the community service projects (19 seconds).

“We’re delighted to share this award with our friends and colleagues at Creighton,” said Rubens Pamies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Nebraska has a long history of volunteerism. It’s that same spirit of volunteerism that permeates throughout the state and extends to the students and faculty at UNMC. It’s a mindset that we ought to do something for our neighbor — a feeling that we’re responsible for each other’s well being.”

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska ranks No. 1 in the seven-state Midwest region in terms of volunteerism. In Nebraska, 36.2 percent of the population above the age of 16 volunteers. In addition to Nebraska, the region includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.

“We are pleased to receive national recognition for our community service efforts by the Association of American Medical Colleges, and we are honored to be the first Jesuit institution to receive the award,” said the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., Creighton president. “Creighton’s School of Medicine has been reaching out to provide health care to underserved communities since it was founded 111 years ago. This award reflects the expert and compassionate care given by Creighton health-care providers to those who have limited access to medical care. Through this award, we want to recognize and publicly thank our valued community partners with whom we collaborate to deliver a wide array of medical outreach programs.”

Cam Enarson, M.D., Creighton’s vice president for Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine, said, “Creighton health-care providers are dedicated to serving those in need and encouraging disadvantaged youth to consider health professions. In addition, 100 percent of Creighton medical students volunteer for community service initiatives during their four years of medical education. Last year, Creighton served more than 460,000 patients who otherwise may not have received care.”

Creighton and UNMC foster individual programs, and they also have collaborated on a number of fronts. For example, UNMC and Creighton, in collaboration with the State of Nebraska, have worked together to develop a comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness plan for Nebraska. The plan is considered a model for other states.

When the poison center at another hospital announced it was planning to
outsource its calls to a large regional call center, a partnership involving Creighton, UNMC, The Nebraska Medical Center and the State of Nebraska stepped in with funding and personnel to make sure Nebraska would maintain this fundamental community resource.