The first-ever reunion for graduates of the Radiation Science Technology Education (RSTE) program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will be held July 17-18 on the UNMC campus.
The reunion begins on Friday, July 17, with an open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the UNMC Alumni Center, 518 S. 38th St. On Saturday, July 18, guided walking tours of the UNMC campus will be offered from 3 to 5 p.m. followed by a reception and dinner at 5 p.m. in the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education.
This year marks the 75th anniversary for the RSTE program, said James Temme, associate director of the program. The reunion will provide attendees an opportunity to see RSTE’s new office space on the fifth floor of Bennett Hall as well as the newly renovated clinical areas where the students receive their training, he said.
More than 900 graduates of the RSTE program have received invitations to the reunion, which was the idea of Carol McGlade, a 1982 graduate of UNMC’s RSTE program.
Attendees at the July 18 dinner will hear a brief speech from a longtime Omaha radiologist, Dennis Strauss, M.D., who went to medical school and did his residency training at UNMC and practiced general radiology at Methodist Hospital for nearly 30 years.
“I’m honored to be able to give this talk,” said Dr. Strauss, who is a past president of the UNMC College of Medicine Alumni Association. “There’s no way radiologists could do what they do without radiation science technologists. The UNMC program has improved dramatically over the years. I’m very impressed how the program has evolved. It used to be so fragmented. Now it’s consolidated in Bennett Hall. It’s come a long way.”
There is no cost to attend the July 17 open house and the cost is $35 per person for the July 18 dinner, said Roxanna Jokela, director of UNMC alumni relations. Pre-registration is required for all events to allow for accurate food and facilities planning. To make a reservation, call (402) 559-4354 or toll-free (888) 725-8664 or e-mail alumni@unmc.edu.
“This event has really come together,” Jokela said. “I salute all those people who worked so hard to make it a reality. Reunions are always fun. It will be a perfect opportunity to renew old friendships and make new memories.”
McGlade is hopeful that there will be sufficient interest to eventually form a UNMC alumni chapter for radiation science technologists.
The University of Nebraska Foundation and the UNMC Alumni Relations Office are providing support for the reunion.
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 2,600 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.