Faces of Opportunity – Eric Meyer-Reed

For some, the journey to medical school takes a winding turn. Such is the case for third-year UNMC medical student, Eric Meyer-Reed. At 34, he isn’t the typical student.

Not just because of his age. Meyer-Reed also is a licensed alternative medicine provider specializing in Chinese acupuncture. After graduating from the master’s program at the Five Branches Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Santa Cruz, Calif., Meyer-Reed began working in a rural area of California.

Eric Meyer Reed

Most of his patients were Hispanic whose cultural traditions support alternative medicine treatment. Meyer-Reed noticed many of his patients suffered from diabetes related complications. He watched as it often took weeks for his patients to see a primary care provider.

“Observing the traditional health care system, I noticed the shortage of primary care providers serving the rural Hispanic community. As an acupuncturist, I was only able to do so much to care for my patients ailments,” Meyer-Reed said. “Because I wanted to do more for them, I decided to go to medical school.”

He said he was attracted to UNMC in part because it offers education and clinical experiences close together on the same campus.

“I saw the vision of where UNMC is going,” Meyer-Reed said. “The incredible resources, technology, renovated anatomy lab, the Sorrell Center, virtual microscopy, library, all were impressive.

“What I wanted in addition to all of those benefits was a school where I had extended family and where my immediate family would be comfortable. My in-laws live in Omaha and my wife and I really enjoy being part of this community.”

Ballot initiative forum The College of Medicine Class of ’63 provides scholarships for males, women and minority students. These valuable and necessary awards could be negatively impacted with the passage of an affirmative action ban prohibiting consideration of gender, race, ethnicity and national origin in public education, public employment and public contracting. UNMC’s Faculty Senate will sponsor a forum on the ballot initiative that will include representatives from both sides of this issue. Join the discussion Oct. 29 in the Wittson Hall Amphitheater room 3034 from noon to 1 p.m.

As a recipient of the College of Medicine Class of ’63 Scholarship for male students, Meyer-Reed is able to continue his medical school education and develop a passion for caring for Nebraska patients.

“I’m so grateful for the scholarships I have received at UNMC. Being an older student, with a wife and two young daughters, it means I am able to afford my education and spend less time re-paying supplemental student loans,” he said. “Private donations from alumni and other groups is a great testament to the value of an UNMC education.”

Meyer-Reed said diversity is an important part of his educational experience. He believes his different perspectives and experiences are an addition to his medical school class. As Nebraska becomes more diverse, Meyer-Reed said he has the opportunity to care for Hispanic patients and improve his medical Spanish translation skills.

“I like the diversity in our class and I think UNMC has done a great job of recruiting people from different backgrounds, different places and with different life experiences,” he said. “As our community becomes more diverse, as physicians, we will have to treat people from various populations. Having an education that prepares us for ‘the real world’ is extremely valuable.”

Meyer-Reed will spend this year rotating through several medical specialties. While he hasn’t selected a field for residency, he already knows he will apply to one of UNMC’s programs.

“All of the specialties of medicine I’m interested in, UNMC has excellent residency programs in all of them,” he said. “I’m excited to call the Omaha area my home.”