The University of Nebraska Medical Center held White Coat ceremonies in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff this week to recognize new students in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry. In a symbolic ceremony, students donned white coats signifying the beginning of their health career and took an oath of professionalism.
The UNMC College of Pharmacy, which held its ceremony Aug. 20 for 66 news students, also celebrated 100 years of pharmacy education.
The UNMC College of Medicine held ceremonies in Omaha Aug. 22 for 132 medical students — the largest class in 30 years. The increase from 120 students is in response to a predicted shortage of physicians and a national call by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to expand student enrollment. It also is the first class to use the new Sorrell Center, UNMC’s new medical school facility.
The UNMC College of Nursing held its Nightingale White Coat Ceremony Aug. 22 at its locations in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff. During the ceremony, 123 nursing students recited an oath of professionalism and signed a pledge. This is the first year the college held its ceremony. Previously, nursing students had taken part in induction ceremonies.
The UNMC College of Dentistry held its White Coat Ceremony in Lincoln Aug. 22, for 68 new dental and dental hygiene students. The School of Allied Health Professions will hold ceremonies in the fall.
Donations from UNMC alumni helped pay for the white coats students received, and will wear until graduation. Donations also help pay for student scholarships and student programming.
Below are the colleges, hometowns and names of the students who participated in White Coat ceremonies.
UNMC College of Pharmacy
Arapahoe — Kale Breinig
Ashland — Amanda Gilbert
Bellwood — Melissa Eickmeier
Bloomfield — Jeremiah Bertschinger
Burwell — James Bird
Castana, IA — Jenna Mann
Columbus — Kyle Clarey
Conway Springs, KS — Margaret Hitzeman
Council Bluffs, IA — Robert Wise
Crete — Hope Mulgrew
Dakota City — Amber Cizmic, Nicholas Eckert
Elkhorn — Laurel Robinson
Elm Creek — Grant Meier
Elsie — Nicole Sis
Fremont — Amanda Cohee
Grand Island — Halie Schneiderheinz
Hastings — Beth Smith
Humphrey — Christine Korth
Indianola — Jeanie Bayliss
Kansas City, MO — Lovejot Choong, Loree Weese
Kearney — Tyler Kozal, Danielle Reinke
Lincoln — Jolyn Anderson, Tara Behne, Anna Foley, Lonna Hughes, Robert Kurasawa, Nicholas Lehmann, Dzuan Nguyen, Anthony Podany, Rita Yousif
McCook — Tyler Lawson
Nairobi, Kenya — Laura Orwe
Omaha — Andrew Bendlin, Ross Bergt, Elizabeth Brenner, Paul Kallman, Elizabeth Miller, Zachary Monono, Sara Prince, Daniel Schroeder, Corinne Shields, Jennifer Thiele, Jolene Tiller
Papillion — Eric Sundsboe
Prague — Kendra Kuncl
Royal — Jordan Curtis
Rushville — Sharla Janssen
Saint Edward — Susanne Crumley
San Diego, CA — Bernadette Ueda
Schuyler — Megan Kehrli
Seward — Megan Hrnicek
Shenandoah, IA — Marion Max
Sidney — Emily Matthews
Sioux City, IA — Sarah Stalheim
South Korea — Jaeyeon Kim
South Sioux City — Rebecca Strong
Springfield — Rebecca Hayes
Treynor, IA — Robert Andersen
Ulysses — Anthony Hruska
Wahoo — Edward Rastovski
West Point — Amy Uher
Winger, MN — Jeremy Gieseke
Wisner — Rebecca Pierce
UNMC College of Medicine
Ainsworth — Scott Wewel
Alliance — Kylee Stanley
Atkinson — Jeremy Peterson
Beatrice — Elizabeth Penner
Bellevue — Derrick Antoniak
Benedict — Jillian Fickenscher
Bertrand — Nathan Harms
Broken Bow — Matthias Albin, Daniel Sittler
Burchard — Nicholas Wischmeier
Carlton — Leann Heinrichs
Chadron — Megan Pelton
Columbus — Daniel Recek
Coleridge — Jeremy Stone
Cozad — Kimberly Acker
Creighton — Brian Jundt
Crofton — Jenna Steffen
David City — Robert Daro
Dawson — Catherine Giffee
Doniphan — Katherine Wilcox
Elkhorn — Grant Boschult, Mark Hightower, Ashley Huff, Anja Perlebach, Jakeb Riggle
Elma —Bret Hays
Ewing — Joshua Thoendel
Firth — Brittany Evans
Fremont — Nathan Anderson, Chelsea Bloom, Linden Fornoff, Joshua Wewel
Grand Island — John Higgins
Grant — Russell Swan
Hastings — Jesse Goetz, Margaret Sheehy
Holdrege — Emily Kraus
Kearney — Aaron Persinger, Michael Swerczek
Lexington — Horacio Alvarez Ramirez, Melissa Van Pelt
Lincoln — Samuel David, Andrea Gutsche, Victoria Hall, Andrew Heckman, Nancy Hong, Tara Kirkpatrick, Khang Le, Anthony Marsh, Andrew Moellering, Abraham Olude, Laura Peterson, Robert Plambeck, Jaime Seeman, Kimberly Shubert, Ali Steckelberg, Dawn Strauch, Leigh Sutton, Julie Thompson
Madison — Jonathan Fullner
McCook — Stuart Frazier, Jessie Spencer
Merna — Jonathan Jacobsen
Morrill — Tyler Dickey
Norfolk — Kyle Smith, Clayton Thor
North Bend — Deann Settles
North Platte — Brigid O’Holleran, Jeffrey Songster
Oakdale — Andrew Linnaus
Ogallala — Brian Harris
Omaha — Runa Acharya, Eric Bonness, Scott Cameron, Robert Corn, Christopher Danford, Matthew Dennis, Timothy Donovan, John Evans, Christopher Gartin, Meghan Gaule, Theresa Hahn, Emily Hill, Andrew Huss, Sarah Jacobitz-Kizzier, James Keblesh, Jordan Lacy, Elizabeth Lehn, Frank Lin, Thomas Magruder, Kingsley Okafor, Anastassia Persidsky, Christopher Peters, Clint Pettit, Michael Pichler, Valerie Prescher, Jessica Prusa, Timothy Rush, Adam Sutton, Shaun Thompson, Lauren Volentine, Nicole Westercamp, Andrea Wilson
O’Neill — Gina Hoesing, Travis Ptacek, Nicholas Wittry
Paxton —Kallie Schneider
Pender — Shea Welsh
Platte Center Dena Brock
Sidney — Michelle Dorwart
Spalding — Hilary Miller
Stratton — Michael Carter
Sutherland —Elizabeth Bay, Daniel Kalin
Valparaiso — Genna Eller
Wahoo — Eric Hain
Phoenix, AZ — Brian Keegan
Del Mar, CA — Brian Friend
San Diego, CA — Benjamin Cloyd
Washington, D.C., — Jill LaGrange
Elliott, IA — Bryant England
Iowa City, IA — Stephen Mohring
Nampa, ID — Jeremy Hartley
Kansas City, MO — James Maliszewski
St. Louis, MO — Adrian Epstein, Bradley Witbrodt
Billings, MT — Mariah Smith-Miloff
Rapid City, SD — Ryan Edwards
Yankton, SD — Scott Kindle
San Antonio, TX — Marissa Salazar
Marshfield, WI — Meredith Carpenter
Nairobi, Kenya — Sassen Kwasa
UNMC College of Nursing (Omaha)
Bellevue — Kate Nichole Bloemer, Young Cha McVay, Janet Maria Robinson
Hartington — Staci Christine Burbach
Neligh — Leah Brianne Anderson
Omaha — Kristen Elizabeth Augustyn, Nechole Antoinette Beale, Jessica Elaine Bosn, Jennifer Anne Boyle, Elizabeth Ann Christensen, Kristina Marie Conley, Quynh Phuong Dinh, Sarah Christine Dixson, Elizabeth Kae Fatte’, Brooke Elyse Jelden, Kimberly Marie Klein, Melinda Carol Love, Sarah Renee Melenka, Amanda Lynn Miller, Stephanie Lynn Mumm, Esther Nonye Okamkpa, Katherine Marie Parizek, Christine Marie Petersen, Katrina Rose Schultz, Laura Nicole Stopak, Heather Marie Surmeier, Erin Marie Vickers
Papillion — Vanessa Jeanette King, Chelsey Elizabeth Leiting
Paxton — Alexanne Sithay Barger
Plattsmouth — Tiffany Kay Doering
Seattle WA — Crystal Marie Modde
UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division
Arapahoe — Julie Wendland
Bellevue – Heather Bradley
Byron – Maggie Marquart
Clearwater – Cassandra Thiele
Crete – Gerardo Cordova
Liberty – Shelby McGuire
Lincoln – Allison Canny, Jessica Cheever, Jamie Connor, Callie Duryea, Deborah Hazen, Hannah Hoebelheinrich, Marinda Kolar, Sarah Musil, Allison Pettit, Roseanne Schmidt, Katie Teel, Ngoc Loan Tong, Dieu-My Tran
Madison – Stacie Brandl
Madrid – Roxanne Hagan
Omaha – Raymond Chase, Ashlee Granger, Brittany Hayduk, Jessica Mai, Kari Masching, Brynn Rasmussen,
O’Neill – Stephanie Miller
Plainview – Tyler Wells
Ralston – Nicole Jochimsen
Seward – Karra Higgins
Valley – Markaya Feldhacker, Emily Fleissner
Wayne – Emlyn Mann
Lake Zurich, IL – Kristin Penney
Angola, IN – Caitlyn Hoeper
Simpsonville, SC – Stephanie Ficht
Sioux Falls, SD – Shandi Johnson
Ft Worth, TX – Stephanie Nun
Broadway, VA – Jennifer Lantz
UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division
Albion — Hillary Borer
Ashton — Emily Jerabek
Beatrice — Megan Smith
Benkelman — Vanessa Shill
Farnam — Megan Larson
Grand Island — Ryan Zulkoski
Gurley — Elizabeth Egging
Kearney — Danielle Fehringer, Sarah (Steffen) Gierhan, Jade Gunther, Tara Kennedy, Kristen Messbarger, Regan Metz, Crystal Nielsen, Lindsey Reinke
Lexington — Myron Nass
Lincoln — Nicole Shaffer, Larua Taege, Joanna Tyler
McCook — Amelia Doak
Orleans — Elizabeth, Nelson
Stuart — Kathleen Schaaf
Weston — Kathryn Bartek
Monroe, GA Emily Ross
UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division (Scottsbluff)
Alliance – Megan Odell
Farnam – Tammy Cox
Gering — Michelle Payne, Kylie Sauter
Lincoln – Aleece Kastanek
Minatare – Marlena Meloney
North Platte – Michelle Cramer
Scottsbluff — Brittany Chlopek
Tryon – Elizabeth Licking
Phoenix, AZ — Kelly Sandford
Arvada, CO — Ericah Netzer
Boulder, CO — Mark Gebert
Centennial, CO – Rachel Franceschi, Rebecca Getz
Fort Collins, CO – Katie Doran
Longmont, CO — Sara Conlin
Loveland, CO — Arba Boci
Superior, CO – Megan McCarthy
Poulsbo, WA — Priscilla Leavitt
Cheyenne, WY — Rebecca Wendell
Torrington, WY — Sarah Voltmer
Wheatland, WY — Tammie Kennedy
Yoder, WY – Candice Lowry
UNMC College of Dentistry (located in Lincoln)
Doctor of Dental Surgery program
Aurora –Aaron Bradley
Cozad — Ashton Hecox
Crete — Casey Gustafson
Culbertson — Sharlene Hock
Elwood — Kole Kugler
Grand Island — Andrew Benson, Wendy Foster
Hastings — Sean Hershberger, Conrad Parks
Hershey — John Huebner
Imperial — Breanna Bjerrum
Kearney — Peter Longo
Lincoln — Katrina Conrad, Brienne Lineweber, Shari Pacquette, Jared Schoettger, Wesley Wright
Neligh — Jonathan Jessen
North Bend — Moira Groh
Ogallala — Justin Weber
Omaha — Daniel Ellingson, Mitchell Kramer, Piper Larson, Kristin Schroeder
Ravenna — Jane Trambly
Raymond — Trevor McGerr
Superior — Joshua Kats
Wayne — Natalie Fendrick
York — Michael Augustine, Miles Berg
Springdale, AR — Corey Nichols
Sabetha, KS — Ragan Frederick
Salina, KS — Ashley Young
Wichita, KS — Rose Nguyen
Huron, SD — Ryan Hajek
Pierre, SD — Patrick Anderson, Karli Larsen
Sioux Falls, SD — Stacy Gould, Cory Peterson
Casper, WY — Miranda Martin, Jenelle Paulson, Brian Rochelle
Evanston, WY — Holly Schamber
Green River, WY — Lori Petersen
UNMC College of Dental Hygiene program
Albion — Betsy Morgan
Chadron — Alexa Miskimins (Scottsbluff division)
Chappell — Megan Akeson
Columbus — Rochelle Wright
Falls City — Abigail Lemerond
Fort Calhoun — Lauren Miller
Grand Island — Michelle Schultz (Scottsbluff division)
Lincoln — Channing Anseth, Jennifer Marshall, Jennifer Olson, Abbie Seitz, Sheena Sullivan, Jenna Topil
Norfolk — Kerri Bohn
Omaha — Erica Asher (West Div), Erica Jasa, Molly Kolar
Ord — Suzanne Melia
Page — Amber Trowbridge
Schuyler — Lindsay Goodrich
Springview — Ryan Rutar
Sterling — Mellisa Keim
Hays, KS — Sara Wasinger
Newcastle, WY — Lisa Bruch (Scottsbluff division)
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 $82 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.
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