Each Thursday, we randomly feature a medical center employee.
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Mark Smith |
- Name: Mark Smith
- Hometown: Omaha
- No. of years at UNMC: Eight
What is your best memory from your time at UNMC?
A family I’ve worked with for several years is in the process of receiving needed services for their daughter and their experience in getting this service likely will benefit families with similar issues, which is really satisfying for me personally.
Our four brand values are leadership, commitment to excellence, working together and being a trusted resource. Pick one and tell us a time you witnessed it embodied at UNMC.
I’d have to cite leadership. This past year is the first year the Munroe-Meyer Institute has accepted a family member as trainee in our Maternal and Child Health Bureau-sponsored leadership training curriculum. Watching her acquire skills in this innovative role with the goal of working in the disability field showed me UNMC’s overall commitment to leadership and innovation.
List three things people may not know about you.
- I am an avid bicyclist; I average about 3,500 miles per year.
- One of my grandfathers traveled the country and the world as a professional wrestler and twice wrestled for the world title.
- I come from a large family; I have six siblings and more than 40 first cousins.
What a refreshing story! I'm happy and proud to hear about how committed UNMC/MMI are to meaningful help for vulnerable people and their families.
We love WWE at our home. So….in regards to your grandfather, what was his name/which wrestler was he?
Sue – in response to your question, my grandfather was known as Irish Pat McGill. He wrestled in the twenties and thirties, back in the days when it was an even more rugged sport; his signature move was the step-over toe hold.. He wrestled Strangler Lewis twice for the world title, but lost both times. He was a terrific athlete, a very big guy, and as strong and as tough as they came. We lost him on New Years Eve, 1969 after a long illness.