James O'Dell, M.D., elected to ACP mastership

The American College of Physicians has elected James O’Dell, M.D., as a recipient of its Masters recognition for an outstanding and extraordinary career — the organization’s highest award.

Drs. Tape, O’Dell honored

Tom Tape, M.D., and James O’Dell, M.D., recently were honored with a Mastership in the American College of Physicians (ACP), during its annual scientific conference in San Diego.

The ACP, which is the largest specialty organization in medicine that represents internal medicine specialists, bestows the Mastership for recognition of outstanding and extraordinary career accomplishments. It includes teaching, clinical medicine (research or practice), improvements in health care, contributions to the medical literature and to ACP officers on completion of their term.

“The department of Internal Medicine is thrilled to have Drs. O’Dell and Tape join the elite ranks of those recognized as Masters in the ACP,” said Debra Romberger, M.D., Henry J. Lehnhoff Professor & Chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. “Only those internists who have a major impact on the care of adult patients are given this distinction. The state of Nebraska now has five physicians who have achieved this recognition from ACP and four of them are here at UNMC. Dr. Rowen Zetterman and Dr. Lyn Klassen have previously achieved this status as well.”

“It’s a tremendous honor from a physician organization that I’ve had a huge amount of respect for through my career,” said Dr. O’Dell, chief of the University of Nebraska Medical Center division of rheumatology and immunology and chief of rheumatology at the Omaha VA Medical Center. “I’m particularly excited to be inducted as a master at the same time as Tom Tape. It’s been tremendous. It’s an honor for me.”

Dr. O’Dell’s made a difference in education as the residency program director of internal medicine for 33 years, won a number of teaching awards, he’s active in research and been active in national societies, including president of the American College of Rheumatology.

“When you’re a physician, you have a tremendous privilege to have people come to you, put their faith in you,” Dr. O’Dell said. “You don’t want to let people down and want to make sure you’re providing the best care possible and you want to address questions research-wise so you give better care next year or in the next decade.

“The majority of internists in the state trained in our residency program. It’s an awesome responsibility so we can continue to meet the obligation to give best care possible with the emphasis of always keeping the patient first,” he said.

For three decades, Dr. O’Dell has been involved in advancing treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through research. His work has been published in prestigious journals like the New England Journal of Medicine.

One of his major discoveries was a less expensive combination of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs which provides the same clinical benefits as much more expensive biological treatments. The drugs are used worldwide by patients.

Tom Tape, M.D., chief of the UNMC division of general internal medicine, said Dr. O’Dell is well-known nationally among rheumatology physicians. “Many people can attest to his excellence. He’s exhibited outstanding achievement and service to the American College of Physicians and as residency director has done a lot to promote scholarly work to residents.”

Dr. O’Dell is thankful for the many who have influenced him.

“Nobody has a successful career without many, many mentors and collaborators. I’m very grateful,” he said.