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(From left to right) Kim Cuda, UNMC’s director of Alumni Affairs, poses for a picture with Amy Volk of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Dennis Strauss, M.D., president of the College of Medicine’s Alumni Association, and Joe Selig, also from the University of Nebraska Foundation, during the COM’s recent alumni weekend, which was held Oct. 6-7. |
As part of its yearlong 125th anniversary celebration, the UNMC College of Medicine held a two-day party Oct. 6-7 for some of its biggest supporters – the alumni – and more than 150 alums returned to Omaha for the festivities.
“It is very evident that our College of Medicine alumni are proud of the education they received at UNMC, as many traveled a great distance to attend the alumni reunion and 125th Anniversary Celebration,” said Kim Cuda, director of UNMC Alumni Affairs, which orchestrated the weekend’s events. “Alumni are the largest and most loyal permanent constituency we have. We are thankful for their support of the college and its students and appreciate their being such wonderful ambassadors for UNMC.”
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(From left to right) Rex Latta, M.D., class of 1957, son of Dr. John S. Latta, poses with the 2006 Latta Lecturer, Kazunori Kataoka, Ph.D., and John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine, during the COM’s alumni weekend. |
Following breakfast, the alums toured the UNMC campus, making stops in the
McGoogan Library of Medicine, the Lied Transplant Center and the Virtual Microscopy/Gross Anatomy Lab.
A presentation by Gerald Moore, M.D., class of 1971, senior associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Medicine, followed. He talked about the new era in medical education that will be launched with the completion of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education. The Sorrell Center on the northeast corner of 42nd and Emile streets is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008.
Alums interested in learning more about the latest in medical research were able to attend the John S. Latta Lecture and listen to a presentation on nanomedicine by a leading scientist, Kazunori Kataoka, Ph.D., professor at the University of Tokyo.
The alums later went to the Durham Western Heritage Museum and viewed a special 125th anniversary display on the College of Medicine. In the evening, members of the class of 1956 celebrated their 50th reunion with a dinner at the Field Club of Omaha.
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(From left to right) Loren Jacobsen, M.D., and William Buckendorf, M.D., both class of 1967, celebrate the College of Medicine’s 125th anniversary with a champagne toast. Dr. Jacobsen lives in Broken Bow, Neb., while Dr. Buckendorf resides in Springfield, Va. |
Those in attendance saw a video that broke down the history of the College of Medicine by eras. Each era was introduced by a physician or student from that time frame.
Presenters and their eras included: Edward Malashock, M.D., class of 1946, “The Roots of Medical Education: Frontier Days through World War II;” Robert Osborne, M.D., class of 1956, “The Challenges of Post War Expansion;” Carol Drake, M.D., class of 1981, “From College of Medicine to Medical Center;” and Jonathan Henning, class of 2008, “Into the Future.”
Dr. Gollan delivered a brief speech thanking the alums for their support and highlighting new developments in the College of Medicine.
He recognized how the “tandem of a superior structure (the Sorrell Center) and educators” will take the college to new heights, and he thanked volunteer faculty and preceptors for “their countless hours and unwavering support.”
During his speech, Dr. Gollan mentioned that the College of Medicine would be adding 40 new residency spots. He also noted that 10 of the 122 members of UNMC’s current first-year class of medical students were underrepresented minorities.
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Visiting at the alumni reunion and 125th anniverary celebration are (from left to right) Roseanne Gollan, Robert Osborne, M.D., class of 1956; Desta Osborne; and John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine. |
All toasted the College of Medicine, then cheered with the announcement from the mistress of ceremonies, Margaret Bumann of UNMC Public Affairs, that the Nebraska football team was leading in what would turn out to be at 28-14 Cornhusker win over Iowa State.