Michael Wadman, M.D., a key figure in the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine emergency medicine program for more than 20 years, has been selected as the new chair of the UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine.
The appointment, which is subject to approval of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, would be effective on Oct. 15. It was announced today by Bradley Britigan, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine.
“Dr. Wadman was selected from a very competitive, highly talented pool of applicants,” Dr. Britigan said. “He has a well-deserved reputation for excellence that he has earned over the years through his work at UNMC in the department and more recently leading our graduate medical education programs.
“He is an outstanding clinician who is also committed to achieving excellence in our education and research missions. At a time when major changes are taking place in emergency medicine in our community, his knowledge of the local emergency medicine environment also is a major plus.”
“I am excited to have Dr. Wadman take on leadership of the Department of Emergency Medicine,” said Daniel J. DeBehnke, M.D., M.B.A., CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “He has been an amazing leader here at UNMC. His commitment to patient care, discovery and training the next generation of providers is unwavering. I am proud to call him a colleague.”
Dr. Wadman joined the UNMC faculty in 1994 as assistant professor and was elevated to associate professor in 2004 and professor in 2014. In 2003, he was the founding director of UNMC’s emergency medicine residency program, and he continued in this role for seven years.
“I would like to thank Dean Britigan for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to serve as the second chair of the department and to follow Bob Muelleman in this role,” Dr. Wadman said. “Our department is central to the clinical mission of Nebraska Medicine-UNMC. We are truly the front door of the hospital, setting the trajectory of quality outcome s and setting the tone for patient experience for a significant number of patients entering our hospital.”
Dr. Wadman’s immediate goals for the department include:
- Seeking new ways to provide high quality care for the increasing number of patients coming to the ED;
- Supporting faculty research interests and facilitating collaboration with other departments and institutions;
- Continuing to focus on education, including contributions to the new undergraduate medical curriculum and the education of residents; and
- Enhancing outreach to rural emergency medicine providers across the state.
What others are saying:
“I was very happy when I heard Dr. Wadman will be the next chair of the department of emergency medicine. The department has come a long way, but it has a long way to go, and I think Dr. Wadman is the right person to lead the department at this time. Dr. Wadman has proven leadership skills and has been successful in all of his leadership roles. Dr. Wadman is not only well respected by the ED physicians and staff, but by his peers across the organization.
Robert Muelleman, M.D., professor and chair, department of emergency medicine
“I think it’s a great decision. Mike will make an excellent chair and do a great job for the emergency medicine department and Nebraska Medicine. We had a strong group of candidates, so it really speaks well for Mike that he was selected. It’s impressive what he brings to the position – clinically, scholarly and administratively. Mike is very accomplished and I look forward to working with him as a fellow chair.”
Craig Walker, M.D., professor and chair, department of radiology, and chair of the search committee for the emergency medicine chair
The Wadman file
- Earned undergraduate degree (B.A.), University of Chicago, 1988
- Earned medical degree, UNMC College of Medicine, 1992
- Emergency medicine internship, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 1992-93
- Emergency medicine residency, Truman Medical Center, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1993-95
- Associate dean for graduate medical education and as the designated institutional official (DIO), 2013-16. (NOTE: He plans to step down from this position once a replacement is determined.)
- Vice chairman of education, department of emergency medicine, 2008-16
- Four funded grants during past 11 years
- Reviewer or editor/co-editor for seven professional journals or organizations
- Two-time recipient, UNMC Emergency Medicine Department’s Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching
- Educator of the Year Award, emergency medicine residency program, 2006-07
- Special Recognition Award for Research, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Marvin Dunn Poster Session, 2007
- President, Nebraska State Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), 2003-04
- Chair, Educational Debt Subcommittee, ACEP Academic Affairs Committee, 2014-15
- Vice chair, UNMC Faculty Council, 2014-16
- Invited presenter at 35 conferences
- Author or co-author of more than 90 scientific articles, abstracts or book chapters
Big shoes to fill
Dr. Wadman succeeds Robert Muelleman, M.D., who has headed emergency medicine for the past 18 years and started the UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine in 2007. Dr. Muelleman will remain on the faculty as professor, emergency medicine, and is in line to be president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the certification board for emergency physicians, in two years.
Dr. Britigan, said, “The ability to recruit someone of Dr. Wadman’s caliber as chair is a tribute to the outstanding department that Dr. Muelleman has built over the last 18 years. He grew the department from a division within the department of surgery to a nationally recognized department of emergency medicine. At this time of leadership transition, we would be remiss if we did not recognize and thank Dr. Muelleman for his commitment to the department and UNMC.”
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