Hani Haider, Ph.D., professor in the department of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation and director of the Biomechanics and Advanced Surgical Technology Laboratory, was presented the International Standards Organization (ISO) Committee Chairman’s Award at the 2014 ISO Annual Meeting in Seoul, South Korea. The award was given by John Goode of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who chairs the International ISO TC 150 Committee which develops testing standards for all medical devices. Dr. Haider was recognized as the award’s first recipient for his “personal contributions (to the committee) and international standards development.” He has previously been recognized internationally for his expertise in orthopaedic implant simulation and for developing testing standards through two awards from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International in 2005 and 2010, and others for advanced surgical technology development.
Grooming young women for careers in orthopedics, engineering
On Saturday, Nov.15, the UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation hosted its first Perry Initiative outreach program in Omaha. The Perry Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of inspiring young women to pursue careers in orthopaedics and engineering, two fields that currently have an uneven distribution of men versus women professionals. High school students from the Omaha area received hands-on experience practicing suture techniques (pictured above) and fracture care and learning to repair ligaments. In addition, four local orthopaedic surgeons and one local engineer gave presentations on careers in orthopaedic surgery or engineering, and how they achieved their professional and personal goals. The one-day program was held in the Sorrell Center and was free to all participants.
Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum seeking abstracts
UNMC and the Creighton University Medical Center have issued a call for abstracts for the 46th Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum (MSBRF), to be held on Feb. 28. The deadline for abstract submission is Dec. 5. Abstract submission information is available here, including guidelines for abstract submission, pre-registration form, hotel information, sample judging forms, online registration and more detailed information about the forum. MSBRF provides an exciting opportunity for young researchers from the health sciences, graduate, intern and resident programs throughout the Midwestern region to present their work in the biomedical sciences. It also provides an opportunity for them to have their work reviewed and evaluated by faculty outside their own institution. Each abstract submitted to the forum is subject to the same type of peer review applied to the selection of manuscripts for publication in major scientific journals.
Laurie Williams, Regan Small named Nurses of the Year
The March of Dimes hosted its annual Nurse of the Year Awards Nov. 6 at the Embassy Suites in LaVista. This prestigious event celebrates nursing excellence and recognizes leaders in nursing from across Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. This year’s event was co-chaired by Rosanna Morris, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer.
Two of our nurses – Laurie Williams, Transplant Services and Regan Small, Medical/Surgical Unit lead nurse at Bellevue – were honored with the 2014 Nurse of the Year Award.
“Personally, I think this was a tremendous honor to be recognized amidst all the nurses who have done so much for the patients and families,” Williams says. “Even though our program is not the biggest in numbers, no one can do it like we do and that takes commitment and passion from all the members of the hospital that interface with our transplant patient population. So this award belongs to them all – especially Dr. (Byers) Shaw and Dr. (Michael) Sorrell who had the foresight to make it all happen!”
Small was awarded in large part due to her research on nurses’ perceptions of ethical issues in academic hospitals, which she presented at the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Conference in Hong Kong this July. “I’m very honored and surprised,” Small says. “Being the first nurse to win this award from the team at Nebraska Medicine – Bellevue is pretty neat. I want to thank Rosanna Morris and Sue Nuss for all their support of my research.”
Nebraska Medicine also had several other nurses recognized. Brooke Veer, AICU staff nurse; Vickie Hunter, Transplant Service Line care coordination manager; and Dara Schlecht, Telemetry Unit-North nurse manager, were honored as outstanding nurses, while Jessica Semin, 8 Telemetry clerk tech, was awarded for excellence and advocacy as a student nurse.
Howard Liu, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and director of Faculty Development Programs, received a 40 Under 40 Award from the Midlands Business Journal. The award honors 40 Greater Omaha, Council Bluffs and Sarpy County entrepreneurs, executives and professional men and women under the age of 40. Attending the 13th annual in support of Dr. Liu were, from left: Jeanne Lincoln, Megan Blusys, Linda Love, Jenny Liu, M.D., Dr. Liu, Jill Westfall, Ann Kraft and Tom O’Connor.
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is spearheading the Northern Great Plains Personalized Breast Cancer Program. This collaborative effort is designed to provide top-notch breast cancer treatment to patients across the U.S. Great Plains region, most of whom live in remote areas, far away from major medical centers that have first-class equipment and staff. See more information here.
Two family medicine physicians, Jeffrey Akerson, M.D., and Lucille Woodard, M.D., are now seeing patients at the Nebraska Medicine – Bellevue Clinic. The clinic is located on the second floor of the hospital’s medical office building in Suite 250. The doctors join the plastic surgeons and oncologists currently utilizing the four-year-old space. They provide comprehensive care for newborns through the elderly, including acute care, standard physicals, well care and chronic illness management. For more information, contact 402-595-1978.