Steven Wengel, M.D., who has served has interim chairman of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry for the past 16 months, has been named chairman of the department.
The appointment, which was effective July 1, was announced by John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine.
“Dr. Wengel has done an outstanding job over the past year as interim chair of psychiatry. Now, as chair, his ability to work with people and solve problems will be a tremendous asset in bringing the department through complex times. I’m confident the department will flourish under his leadership,” Dr. Gollan said. “I look forward to moving forward with Steve to work on the critical issues in behavioral health.”
An Omaha native, Dr. Wengel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1981 and his medical degree in 1986 from UNMC. He did his psychiatry residency and geriatric psychiatry fellowship at UNMC and joined the UNMC faculty in 1991 as assistant professor. He was elevated to associate professor in 1998.
Dr. Wengel said he is excited to be named chairman and enthusiastic about taking on the new challenge. “We have a superb group of faculty who are excellent teachers and clinicians, and researchers,” he said. “It’s a very collegial, cohesive group. I want to build on these strengths.”
Dr. Wengel said the department of psychiatry has a number of outstanding programs. These include
- A very active psychopharmacology research group;
- A rapidly developing child and adolescent psychiatry research group;
- The University Drug and Alcohol Program, which provides methadone maintenance and other substance abuse treatment;
- Partnerships with a number of community agencies;
- The combined residency program with the Creighton University Department of Psychiatry, which includes 32 resident physicians.
Future plans being investigated, Dr. Wengel said, include subspecialty clinics, such as a refractory mood disorder clinic for people with bipolar disease or depression who are not responding to conventional treatment, and a forensic evaluation service to provide psychiatric evaluations for the legal system.
“We have several faculty members who have won local and national teaching awards. Our medical students score above the national average on board exams,” Dr. Wengel said. “We want to continue to build on those results and continue to strengthen our teaching programs for students and residents.”
UNMC will continue to collaborate with state officials to help shape Nebraska’s mental health referendum, Dr. Wengel said. “Nebraska’s mental health programs, like those in many other states, must be modified to better meet the needs of its citizens,” he said. “We have been providing input to the state and working with community providers to help plan mental health reform for the state. It is important work that will impact the delivery of mental health services for the present and for generations to come.”
Dr. Wengel said the department of psychiatry plays a key role in meeting the community’s psychiatric needs, especially those of underserved individuals.
An active researcher, Dr. Wengel has helped author more than 30 publications in scientific journals as well as three book chapters. He has made presentations at 10 scientific meetings and served as a reviewer for three journals.
His clinical and research interests include the diagnosis and treatment of dementia, mood disorders and other psychiatric problems affecting older adults, as well as the psychiatric complications of Parkinson’s disease and the pathophysiology and management of delirium.
Among his numerous awards, Dr. Wengel received the Chancellor’s Council Silver “U” Award in 1999, the Frank J. Menolascino Award for excellence in teaching in 1994 and 1996, and the Cecil Wittson Award for outstanding performance in 1990.
He has recently served as chairman of the Medical Student Education Committee at UNMC and was a member of the College of Medicine Admissions Committee. He currently serves as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Medical Scientific Committee.
The UNMC Department of Psychiatry is made up of 17 faculty members and 50 staff. It is primarily housed in the former Lutheran Hospital building at 515 S. 26th St.