Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., has a lot of territory to cover on UNMC’s 500-mile campus. In the last week of August, he traveled to Scottsbluff to meet faculty, staff and students, as well as community leaders and media.
Accompanying him were Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, Louise Laframboise, Ph.D., director of the college’s undergraduate program, and Sarah Carlson, development director of the University of Nebraska Foundation.
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From left: UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.; Todd Holcomb, Ed.D., president of Western Nebraska Community College; Susan Wilhelm, Ph.D, assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division; Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing; Louise Laframboise, Ph.D., director of the college’s undergraduate program; and Sarah Carlson, development director of the University of Nebraska Foundation. |
The visit included meeting with community leaders to talk about challenges as well as opportunities to expand programs and partnerships. The group met with: Todd Holcomb, Ed.D., president of Western Nebraska Community College; Todd Sorensen, M.D., president and CEO of Regional West Health Services; and John Mentgen, who will succeed Dr. Sorensen.
They also met Shirley Knodel, vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer for Regional West Health Services, and Hod Kosman, president and CEO of Platte Valley Bank.
Dr. Gold said UNMC has a responsibility to the state and is dedicated to serving the state. “We understand the economic vibrancy of a community depends on many things, including access to health care,” he said.
He said he was grateful for the warm reception by the community. “It was exciting. I got to meet a lot of people. We wanted to initiate a dialogue and share ideas on how to do things better and what we aren’t doing that we can be doing.”
While talking with nursing faculty and staff, the former pediatric heart surgeon related his philosophy of what it means to be a health professional.
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Lisa Moravec, assistant professor of dental hygiene and UNMC College of Dentistry West Division Site Coordinator (middle), shows UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., and College of Nursing Dean Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., the Health Center of Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska where UNMC students and faculty provide care to the underserved. |
“I learned quickly that before parents would put their newborn’s life in your hands, they cared about your knowledge and skill set, but they also cared about whether you cared about them,” Dr. Gold said. “Life is about our families and friends and conveying a message to patients that you care and that you have someone’s back.”
In a room full of 75 bright-eyed nursing students, he said at the end of the day, what it’s really about is the relationship health professionals build with patients and the community.
“When you walk across the stage, it’s a very magic moment,” he said. “And it’s a magic moment when you tell parents everything is going to be okay. You will be an ambassador of the University of Nebraska Medical Center the rest of your career.”