June 11 – Gary Susser, a trial attorney and vocal activist supporting stem cell research, will present at the Omaha Science Café at 7 p.m. at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Susser, who appeared with his wife, Judith, on “60 Minutes,” will discuss how he and his wife exposed the dangers of stem cells being sold over the Internet by profiteers. The Sussers’ child Adam suffers from cerebral palsy, so the Sussers investigated an online purveyor of stem cell treatments. David Crouse, Ph.D., president of the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures and emeritus professor of UNMC, also will present at the event.
June 13 – A groundbreaking ceremony for the UNMC College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery will be held at 10:30 a.m. The building will be located to the east of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education.
June 17 — Jason Glanzer, Ph.D., a research associate in the department of oral biology at the UNMC College of Dentistry, will present at the Lincoln Science Café at 7 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott, 808 R St. He will discuss his efforts to find a compound that would make chemotherapy drugs work better by selectively targeting cancer cells. In 2005, Dr. Glanzer’s daughter, Abby, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to undergo both surgery and radiation. Three years later, the cancer returned and Abby again had surgery followed by chemotherapy. It was during this time that Dr. Glanzer began to look into ways to improve chemotherapy treatment. Today, Abby is 9 years old and doing extremely well.
June 18 – Remarks and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. for the Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program. Remarks will be in the Commons Area of the Durham Research Centers. Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on the sixth floor lobby of the Durham Research Center II.
June 18 – Retirement reception for Myrna Newland, M.D., director of UNMC’s Equity Office, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Alumni Commons of the Sorrell Center. RSVP by June 12 to Jenni Koll at 402-502-4915, jkoll@nufoundation.org.
June 19-21 – The second finalist for the UNMC chancellor position – Daniel Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for health affairs and dean of medicine at the University of Florida Health Science Center in Jacksonville – will visit the UNMC campus. Dr. Wilson will give a public presentation at 4 p.m. on June 20 in the Durham Research Center Auditorium. Members of the university community and members of the public are welcome to attend to hear him discuss his vision for UNMC.
June 25 – Retirement reception for Robert Wigton, M.D., associate dean for graduate medical education, 2-4 p.m., Linder Reading Room, Sorrell Center. RSVP by June 21 to Sharon Secora, 559-8878, ssecora@unmc.edu.
June 26 – Retirement reception for Nancy Woelfl, Ph.D., director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine, 3-5 p.m. in the McGoogan Library.
July 13 — The OwL Ride, the largest annual night bicycle ride between Chicago and Denver,will take place at 10 p.m., beginning at the Old Mattress Factory, 501 N. 13th St. This year’s ride offers bikers a choice of a 7-mile short course or a 16-mile extended route. The ride benefits the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, which supports much-needed services for adults with disabilities in the Omaha metro area. Log on to owlride.org to register. Cost is $30 for riders 19 and older, $10 for 18 and under when registering with an adult.