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The alumni commons of the Sorrell Center will welcome College of Medicine alumni this weekend who will come back to see the college’s state-of-the-art new home. |
Many people recognize those words as a famous line from the movie, “Field of Dreams.” But, the words are equally appropriate at UNMC this year, as many alumni are expected to flock back to campus over the course of the next couple months to view the new Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education.
Two events take place this week at the Sorrell Center. On Friday, a dinner will be held to honor the 22 members of the Edward A. Holyoke, M.D., Ph.D., Society. Members of the society donated $100,000 or more to the Sorrell Center project.
On Saturday, all College of Medicine alumni are invited to return to campus for an opening celebration for the Sorrell Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“The Sorrell Center wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our generous alumni,” said Kim Cuda, director of alumni relations. “More than 1,000 College of Medicine alumni and UNMC faculty contributed to the project. There’s never been another fundraising campaign on our campus that compares to this. It shows how loyal and appreciative our alumni are.”
Saturday’s event will include tours from 9 to 10 a.m. and 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. At 10:15 a.m., Willis Maddrey, M.D., executive vice president for clinical affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, will deliver the 2008 John S. Latta Centennial Lectureship.
Dr. Maddrey is a close personal friend of two of UNMC’s leading physicians — Michael Sorrell, M.D., professor of internal medicine and the individual for whom the Sorrell Center is named, and John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine.
Dr. Maddrey, who also is an internal medicine professor, will talk about the continuing dilemmas surrounding drug-induced liver injuries. Following Dr. Maddrey’s lecture, a luncheon will be held in the Truhlsen Campus Events Center on the first floor.
Reservations can be made by calling 888-725-8664 or 402-559-4385 or e-mailing alumni@unmc.edu.
Later this summer, on Sept. 19-20, the UNMC Alumni Reunion will take place. Like last year, the reunion will bring together alums from four different UNMC academic units — the colleges of medicine, nursing and pharmacy and the School of Allied Health Professions. Prior to 2007, each unit held its own separate reunion.
Once again, the theme of the Alumni Reunion will be “One Class — World Class,” Cuda said.
“We think it captures perfectly what we are trying to accomplish,” she said. “It reflects that all our health professions are intertwined. We think it’s important that we bring all our alumni together at the same time, so they can better interact with each other.”
With the Sorrell Center being showcased at this year’s reunion, Cuda is optimistic that attendance will surpass last year’s event in which nearly 500 alumni and friends came to Omaha.
“For a successful reunion, it’s critical that we recruit class coordinators for the various classes being honored,” she said. “We’ve done our best job ever in lining up class coordinators. We have nearly 60 coordinators this year, which is almost double the number we had last year.”
This year’s alumni reunion will honor the classes of 1943, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003 and those who graduated more than 50 years ago.
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Willis Maddrey, M.D., executive vice president for clinical affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, will deliver the 2008 John S. Latta Centennial Lectureship on Saturday as part of the alumni event for the opening of the Sorrell Center. |
A reception will be held for all attendees between 4:30 and 6 p.m. in the Truhlsen Campus Events Center followed by reunion parties and dinners for the honor classes at a variety of locations around town. The College of Nursing History Museum will be open both days for tours.
Attorney Nick Taylor will kickoff activities on Saturday, Sept. 20, with a presentation on philanthropic tax advantages. This will be followed by a trolley tour of Omaha. In addition, UNMC alumni can enjoy free admission on Sept. 20 at the Joslyn Art Museum and the Durham Museum. An open house will be held at the newly renovated Bennett Hall, which will be the new home of the School of Allied Health Professions.
The evening will culminate with the UNMC Alumni Celebration and Awards Dinner at the Holiday Inn Central, 3321 S. 72nd St. Festivities will include a video of alumni reminiscences, a tribute to alumni award recipients and a special recognition of Half Century Club members (those graduating 50 or more years ago).
Current alumni presidents and the year they graduated include: College of Medicine — James Reilly, M.D., 1985; College of Nursing — Joyce Black, M.S.N., 1981, Ph.D., 1999; College of Pharmacy — Staci Hubert, Pharm.D., 1994; Physical Therapy — Nicholas Reiss, D.P.T., 2000 and 2005; and Physician Assistant — John Barta, 1976.
For more information or to register for the reunion, go to www.unmc.edu/alumni. Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Holiday Inn Central, 888-HOLIDAY (888-465-4329). People reserving rooms before Sept. 14 will receive the special UNMC alumni rate of $79 per night.