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Bruce Buehler, M.D. |
Bruce Buehler, M.D., whose leadership helped elevate the Munroe-Meyer Institute into one of the top programs in the country for genetics work and treatment of developmental disabilities, plans to step down from his dual role as MMI director and chairman of the UNMC Department of Pediatrics on Oct. 1.
Dr. Buehler, who turns 64 next month, has served as director of MMI for 24 years and as chairman of pediatrics for 16 years. He will continue to serve on the full-time faculty.
During his tenure, he has helped orchestrate a remarkable period of growth for MMI, as employment has gone from 70 employees in 1983 to 250 today and the MMI budget has soared to $21 million today compared to $3 million in 1983.
“Bruce has been instrumental in bringing MMI to its current level of high regard nationally,” said Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor. “He has recruited a number of outstanding faculty for a variety of programs important to Nebraska, including the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. He also has been a strong proponent of research development, and he travels the state to provide genetic services to all parts of Nebraska.”
Dr. Buehler first arrived at UNMC in 1981 as associate professor of pediatrics and pathology and director of the Hattie B. Munroe Center for Human Genetics. He and another geneticist, Warren Sanger, Ph.D., were basically the genetics program. Their offices were located in an old house on 41st Street.
“At our first meeting, Bruce put a pencil on my desk, and it immediately rolled off — the floor had a 15 percent slope to it,” Dr. Sanger said. “We also came to a mutual understanding about the fact that part of my salary was used for his recruitment. During our second meeting, we made a mutual pledge that we would make the genetics program a state-of-the-art program.
“After that, we both worked an average of 60-70 hours per week to develop the lab and clinical programs and make it known that contemporary genetics services were available. Since then, we have been blessed to have many talented genetics personnel join our group and enhance our efforts.”
Dr. Buehler was only the second full-time director at MMI. Paul Pearson, M.D., served as the first director from 1968 to 1982.
As chairman of pediatrics, Dr. Buehler oversaw 76 faculty and 70 staff members. His work was praised by College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D. “Bruce has provided stellar leadership of the department for the last 16 years,” Dr. Gollan said. “Over the years he has built an outstanding department consisting of 18 sections. The relationships he has fostered with Children’s Hospital and Creighton University have created a solid base for the department and will pave the way for the future development of pediatrics in the region.”
Two separate search committees will be formed in the near future to begin the process of identifying a new director for MMI and a new chairman of pediatrics, Dr. Maurer said.
Dr. Buehler remembers well when he was offered the MMI directorship by then UNMC Chancellor Charles Andrews, M.D. “Charlie said you have one year to make it work or we’ll close it. I asked him if I have to wear a tie, Charlie said, ‘No.’ I said my wife (Jean) doesn’t like to go to meetings. Is that a problem? Charlie said, ‘No, my wife doesn’t either.'”
Dr. Buehler said MMI was called “the Castle on the Rhine — because no one goes there.” His first act as director was to call the Nebraska Department of Special Education. “I told them to give me 10 people who hate MMI,” he said. “We brought them in for two days, and they tore us apart.”
Working with this input, Dr. Buehler developed a new blueprint for how to make MMI a better resource for the state. “We wanted to bring genetics over to MMI, and we wanted to make MMI part of the educational model on campus,” he said. “The other thing we wanted to do was to take our programs to the rest of the state. We needed to do some windshield time.”
As more genetics faculty were recruited, the number of clinics in greater Nebraska began to climb. Today, UNMC pediatricians and MMI geneticists travel weekly to see thousands of special needs patients in four Nebraska cities — Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney and Scottsbluff — as well as two South Dakota cities — Rapid City and Pierre.
Thanks in large part to the financial support of the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation, MMI has been able to realize tremendous growth with Dr. Buehler at the helm. MMI has experienced $21 million in construction of building additions — all without any state funds. Annual clinical revenues now exceed $8.5 million, and with 45,000 patient visits in 2006, MMI has become one of the largest clinical genetics programs in the country.
“Of all the things that have happened, the thing I’m most proud of is that we’ve brought services to Nebraska, so that now there is no reason for any person with special needs to have to leave the state,” he said. “It’s been a team effort involving schools, government, the foundation and UNMC administration. They’ve given me the resources to allow me to go out and recruit superb people, and then I just try to get out of their way.”
Dr. Buehler earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Florida. He did his pediatric internship at the University of Chicago School of Medicine and his fellowship in pediatrics and genetics at the University of Florida. From 1971 to 1974, he was a senior flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to coming to UNMC in 1981, he served four years on the faculty of the University of Utah College of Medicine.
His research and educational activities include nearly 100 articles, chapters or abstracts in scientific journals and more than 170 presentations at scientific meetings. He served as president of the American Association of University Affiliated Programs in 1995. He has earned multiple teaching awards at UNMC as well as the Outstanding Achievement Award from the College of Medicine in 1996. He continues to serve as editor of the journal, Pediatric Annals.
Dr. Buehler will continue to teach and see patients. “My health is the best it has been in 15 years,” he said. “I love to teach. I try to communicate in words that people understand, and I try to teach all our medical students to do this. Sometimes I think physicians can talk to people and come across like we’re from outer space.
“Now, I just need to go get some gas in my car, so I can keep driving out state.”
What others are saying …
“I do not know of anyone in the medical profession in the state of Nebraska who has done more to create and promote programs and services for children with disabilities than Bruce Buehler. Dr. Buehler is a man of intelligence, enthusiasm, compassion and a unique determination to find ways to improve the lives of children with special needs and their families. His vision and enthusiastic support of the mission of the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation will be sorely missed!”
Steve McWhorter, chairman and CEO, Securities America, Inc., president, Hattie B. Munroe Foundation
“For nearly 25 years Dr. Buehler has been one of our nation’s most extraordinary advocates for children with disabilities. His work with children, parents and educators has made the Munroe-Meyer Institute a national model for interagency collaboration. Dr. Buehler’s impact on our educational and medical communities has positively changed our services and programs for children with disabilities for generations to come.”
Kenneth Bird, Ed.D., superintendent, Westside Community Schools
“Dr. Buehler is one of the hardest working men I know. A friend since the first day I met him, he is a good listener who is always ready with an answer to a serious question. He has been a member of Scottish Rite for just four years but has contributed to our Language Disorder Program called RiteCareT since he became director at MMI. He is a true asset to the medical profession.”
Curt Edic, general secretary, Omaha Scottish Rite Masonic Center
“Dr. Buehler has been a strong and persistent force in moving the UNMC research agenda forward at MMI and in pediatrics, especially in the areas of genetics, inherited diseases and autism. In addition to his being a well-loved and dedicated pediatrician, Dr. Buehler is a noted researcher with an international reputation for his studies in the area of drug effects in development. I think most of all that I will miss that great Buehler sense of humor.”
Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., UNMC vice chancellor for research
“I was fortunate to meet Bruce when he first started at UNMC and have worked with him on many projects over the years. Having been involved in the adult recreation program at MMI for the past 13 years, I’ve seen first hand how much Bruce cares for people with special needs. He is just a marvelous person to work with. I look at him as being one of my mentors.”
Rick Boldt, president, C. Louis Meyer Foundation, and project manager, business continuity, for UNMC
“Bruce has been a tremendous asset in advancing UNMC’s story to the public. He has hosted several television programs sharing the good news about UNMC researchers and clinicians. He has been involved in community-wide advocacy groups for the developmentally disabled. His statewide clinics are legendary as examples of how UNMC reaches out to our 500 mile-wide campus, the state of Nebraska. Bruce has ‘put a face’ on UNMC’s outstanding education, research and clinical care mission. His legacy in these roles will be exceptional.”
Bob Bartee, UNMC vice chancellor for external affairs
“I can’t describe the admiration I have for Bruce. He is an excellent physician, leader, visionary, teacher and friend. I’m glad he’ll now have the time to do more patient care, teaching and research — his true passions.”
Kim Tyrey, administrative associate for Dr. Buehler
“I consider Bruce to be a good friend, good colleague, good administrator and an outstanding educator and clinician. The only issue I ever had with Bruce was when he continued to introduce me to the first-year student courses as the ‘guy with a tiny Y chromosome.’ This didn’t exactly give me the confidence to do great lectures, but I’ve gotten over it.”
Warren Sanger, Ph.D., professor and director of the MMI Human Genetics Laboratory
“I’ve always considered Dr. Bruce a dear friend. I truly feel privileged to know him. I will always remember my interviews and interactions with Dr. Bruce fondly, and I still love him today as much as I did the first day we met. He is an amazing person.”
Trina Creighton, former KMTV anchor who discovered Dr. Buehler, now working as a broadcasting instructor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
“Our community is a better place because of our good fortune that Bruce decided to spend a significant portion of his career here in Omaha. His dedication to children has improved the lives of literally hundreds of families. He has brought hope and help to many who had been told there is no reason to hope. We will forever be indebted to Bruce for his leadership and vision.”
Gail Werner-Robertson, founder and CEO, GWR Wealth Management LLC, and parent of two autistic children
“Bruce definitely has the ability of not speaking in doctor-ese. He can very easily bring medical terminology down to a level that everyone can understand. It’s a real talent — and that’s what has made him so successful.”
Bob MacDonald, photo-journalist for KMTV and former producer of “LifeQuest”