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From left: David O’Dell, M.D., Edward Fehringer, M.D., and John Gollan. M.D., Ph.D., at the AOA/Faculty Honors Convocation on Tuesday. Drs. O’Dell and Fehringer, along with Susan Boust, M.D., received the inaugural Dean’s Clinical Excellence Awards for 2006. |
The awards, announced Tuesday during the AOA/Faculty Honors Convocation are the result of a generous gift provided to the college by Wayne Ryan, Ph.D., of Streck Laboratories. The awards were created to honor outstanding regular, full-time clinical faculty members who are dedicated to education and training of medical students, provide compassionate and quality care to patients and further advances in scientific knowledge through research.
“These individuals epitomize the outstanding educators, clinicians and researchers we have on campus,” said John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine. “We are grateful for their many contributions to UNMC, the region and the larger world of academic health sciences.”
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Susan Boust, M.D., right, receives the Dean’s Clinical Excellence Award for 2006 from College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D. |
- Excellence in Clinical Education — David O’Dell, M.D.
- Excellence in Clinical Practice — Edward Fehringer, M.D.
- Innovation in Clinical Medicine — Susan Boust, M.D.
David O’Dell, M.D.
Dr. O’Dell has been a “superstar clinician-educator,” his nominator said, since beginning his faculty career at UNMC in the 1980s. Dr. O’Dell has won innumerable teaching awards and has been the central figure in both student internal medicine education, as well as the primary care residency program, which he directs. Last week, Dr. O’Dell was named the first LeeRoy Meyer Professor of Medicine. In addition to his heavy teaching load and oversight of medical education activities, Dr. O’Dell maintains a busy clinical practice.
Edward Fehringer, M.D.
Dr. Fehringer has developed from an “inquisitive, eager student to an accomplished academic physician,” his nominator said. The 1995 UNMC graduate is the only shoulder and elbow fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon in the region he has been identified as the “regional expert” in shoulder and elbow disorders. Based on his strong clinical practice, research efforts and teaching abilities, he has been promoted to associate professor beginning July 1. With a research focus on shoulder diseases, he has published 15 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 11 of these as lead or second author.
Susan Boust, M.D.
Dr. Boust has been a tireless advocate for persons suffering from chronic and persistent mental illness — a population generally underserved by the medical community. In her 17 years with UNMC’s Psychiatry Department, Dr. Boust has risen to the role of a thought leader for behavioral health issues for the state, her nominator said. She formed the first Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program in Nebraska, a specialized, intensive team approach to treating individuals with chronic problems in behavioral health. Based on its success, a second team is being formed. Dr. Boust also has been instrumental in mental health reform planning for the state of Nebraska, including the opening of a new recovery center in Omaha.