The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine recently honored four faculty members for their outstanding work.
Three physicians – Lloyd Holm, D.O., William Thorell, M.D., and Ake Nystrom, M.D., Ph.D. – received Clinical Excellence Awards for their outstanding clinical skills in education, clinical practice and innovation in medicine.
The awards, which were created last year by College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., honor outstanding clinical faculty members who are dedicated to the education and training of medical students, provide compassionate and quality care to patients, and further advances in scientific knowledge through research.
The winners, and their award categories, are:
Excellence in Clinical Education — Lloyd Holm, D.O., obstetrics and gynecology
Dr. Holm, who joined UNMC in 2003, has been an excellent role model for residents and medical students pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology. He serves as student clerkship director, a facilitator for the Integrated Clinical Experience (ICE) program and afaculty adviser for the Luikart Society, which is composed of medical students in all years of training who have an interest in OB/GYN. He also has been instrumental in improving the popularity of the department’s clerkships.
Excellence in Clinical Practice — William Thorell, M.D., surgery
Dr. Thorell’s unique skill sets distinguish him from other physicians. The UNMC College of Medicine alumnus is one of approximately 55 neurological surgeons in the United States who are trained to perform endovascular therapies for cerebrovascular disease. Endovascular therapies have revolutionized the management of intracranial vascular disease such as aneurysms and stroke through the use of minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Innovation in Clinical Medicine — Ake Nystrom, M.D., Ph.D., surgery and orthopedic surgery
Dr. Nystrom has established a unique clinical service that has provided help to patients with debilitating chronic pain and headaches from so-called whiplash trauma to the neck. In the past five years, Dr. Nystrom, in close collaboration with the department of anesthesia, has treated more than 300 patients from seven countries outside the United States.
The fourth award went to Terry Hexum, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, for his teaching skills in medical pharmacology. He received the 2007 UNMC College of Medicine and Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award. The award was created to inspire and foster continued excellence in classroom teaching and honor those who have contributed greatly to the education of aspiring medical students.
Dr. Hexum, who joined UNMC more than 35 years ago, teaches graduate, medical, pharmacy and allied health students. He has garnered a number of teaching awards over the years from the Golden Apple Award to the Faculty Senate’s award for distinguished teaching. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Hexum’s research interests are directed toward understanding the action mechanism of neuropeptides in cardiovascular function with particular emphasis on receptor cross-talk. He has chaired important teaching related committees and played a key role in the development of the current integrated curriculum. He now serves as the course director for the medical pharmacology course.
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 their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.