Dan Connealy, a third-year medical student from Chadron, recently was sworn in as the 2006 University of Nebraska Medical Center Student Senate president. As president, he also will serve as the UNMC student representative on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
“This is a very exciting time to be a student at UNMC,” Connealy said during the Jan. 26 inauguration ceremony. “The campus is growing at a pace that’s almost unimaginable.”
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., administered the oath of office to Connealy and third-year medical student Michael Furasek of Lincoln, who will serve as Student Senate vice president. The 2006 Student Senate leadership team also includes: Josh Priluck of Omaha, secretary, and Drew Klinkebiel of Holbrook, treasurer.
Dr. Maurer also administered the oath to incoming Student Senate members, who Connealy said: “have the unique opportunity to chart the direction of this campus over the next couple of years.”
As president, Connealy wants to help increase faculty and staff salaries in order to retain the “excellent teachers and staff that we have.” He also wants to increase the Student Senate’s campus exposure, redesign its Web site, boost student social activities and continue the student’s quest to build a swimming pool on campus. “We are a beacon for promoting healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Dr. Maurer said Connealy and this year’s Student Senate will be instrumental in helping UNMC leaders address legislative issues, improve faculty and staff salaries, work with a university wide fund-raising campaign, as well as address campus issues.
“We have been blessed with outstanding student regents,” Dr. Maurer said. “Serving on the Student Senate is the counterpart of serving on the Faculty Senate. These are two bodies I pay close attention to.”
Connealy succeeds Nick Behrendt, a fourth-year medical student from Omaha, as Student Senate president.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology, ophthalmology and arthritis. UNMC’s research funding from external sources is now more than $72 million annually and has resulted in the creation of nearly 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state.