Last week state Sen. Jim Smith toured UNMC and met with medical center leaders. Below we learn more about Sen. Smith.
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State Sen. Jim Smith, center, shares a laugh with Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., left, and Cathleen Piazza, Ph.D., during the lawmaker’s visit to UNMC last week. |
- Name: Jim Smith
- Hometown: Papillion
- Legislative district: District 14
What stood out about your tour of UNMC
I was very impressed by the fact that the research conducted at UNMC is so far-reaching. UNMC has truly become a leading research institution affecting more than just the greater metro-Omaha area and positively impacting people all over the world.
What are the biggest health care issues that face the state and how do you see UNMC helping the state confront these issues?
Understanding the changing health-care system in light of federal legislation, slowing the escalating cost of Medicaid and addressing the shortage of health-care workers, particularly in Nebraska’s rural areas, are some of the greater challenges facing the state. UNMC is a leader in health care in Nebraska and has embraced that role by being proactive in educating policymakers, such as myself, on these difficult issues.