Shelley Smith, Ph.D., director of the developmental neuroscience department at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, was named the inaugural recipient of the Bruce A. Buehler, M.D., Professorship. Bob and Myrna Krohn established the professorship through a donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation. Dr. Buehler was the director of MMI from 1983 to 2007.
The 2013 American Orthopaedic Association Austrian-Swiss-German (ASG) Traveling Fellows visited the UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation June 15-18 as part of a month-long expedition in which they went to 11 orthopaedic departments across the U.S. and Canada.
The College of Medicine has announced its House Officers of the Year Awards. Recognized were:
- Paul Kolkman, M.D., surgery;
- Nolan May, M.D., orthopaedic surgery; and
- Malachia Trout, medicine/pediatrics.
The House Officer of the Year Award is selected in voting by students, house officers and faculty from the College of Medicine. The award is presented annually to a house officer who displays outstanding qualities as a physician, scholar and teacher, and as someone who stands out as an inspiration to students and as a source of pride for colleagues, teachers and members of the community.
Nolan May, M.D., received the Frank P. Stone, M.D., Award for Resident Academic Excellence at the orthopaedic surgery graduation banquet on June 22 at the Hilton Omaha. Other awardees at the event included:
- Eric Samuelson, M.D. – John F. Connolly, M.D., Award for Outstanding Resident Research;
- Scott Vincent, M.D. – Award for Outstanding Junior Resident; and
- Matthew Mormino, M.D. – Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching.
Seven researchers in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine were recognized for exceptional achievements in research during the annual Research Awards Grand Rounds presentation. The recipients included:
- Mark Rupp, M.D., professor, division of infectious diseases, received the Career Investigator Award. His research focus is in the area of infection control and Staphylococcus aureus;
- Benita McVicker, Ph.D., assistant professor, division of gastroenterology and hepatology, received the Basic Science Research Award. Her primary area of research interest is in the mechanisms of alcoholic liver injury;
- Kathryn Lazure, M.D., house officer V, gastroenterology, received the Fellowship Research Award. She has initiated research projects in gastroenterology, both asa resident and a fellow;
- Adam Wells, M.D., house officer III, received the Resident Research Award, given for demonstrated excellence in a specific research project;
- Michael Duryee, research coordinator, division of rheumatology and immunology, received the inaugural Daughton Award, given to a non-faculty employee for exemplary professional activities;
- Marshall Davis, M3, received a Student Research Award; and
- Matthew Varon, M3, received a Student Research Award. The awards are given for initiative and exemplary work on research projects.
Registration is now open for the 2013 CityMatCH Conference "Nothing But the Best: Quality and Innovation in Urban MCH (Maternal Child Health)," which takes place in Savannah, Ga., from Sept. 23-25. CityMatCH, the national organization of Urban Maternal Child Health leaders, is located within the UNMC Department of Pediatrics. Please visit the CityMatCH website for registration information or contact Denise Pecha at 402-552-9500
UNMC, UNMC Physicians and The Nebraska Medical Center joined forces to participate in the 2013 Douglas County Relay for Life. Together the team raised $8,587 to support the American Cancer Society. The event, held June 8 at Elkhorn South High School, was the first opportunity for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to present as a major donor.
Steve Caplan, Ph.D., biochemistry and molecular biology, is featured in a recent issue of ASBMB Today, published by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The question-and-answer article discusses Dr. Caplan's career as a novelist and his military experience, as well as his research focus. Dr. Caplan's third novel is slated for release at the end of this year.
Jyothi Arikkath, Ph.D., and Anna Dunaevsky, Ph.D., of the developmental neuroscience department at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, both recently received Nebraska Experimental Program for Stimulating Competitive Research (EPSCoR) grants. The transdisciplinary seed grants help junior investigators get their start in the research world.
The UNMC Human Genetics Laboratory had an unannounced inspection by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in June as part of CAP's ongoing quality review program. Three doctoral level CAP inspectors followed accreditation checklists for "Team Leader," "Laboratory General," "Cytogenetics" and "Molecular Pathology" during the inspection of the laboratory. An independent inspector employed by CAP also did a separate inspection of the entire lab. The four inspectors identified no deficiencies, and the inspector's summation report stated: "This laboratory has done extremely well in terms of quality work following the guidelines of CAP." This inspection will accredit the UNMC Human Genetics Laboratory for another two years. The Human Genetics Laboratory has been continually accredited by the College of American Pathologists since 1974. The Human Genetics Laboratory is also accredited by CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)