It was 1980 when Ernest Prentice, Ph.D., a faculty member in the UNMC Department of Anatomy, approached Chancellor Neal Vanselow, M.D., at a reception and suggested that he would be interested in taking on some administrative responsibilities.
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Ernest Prentice, Ph.D. |
Six months later, he was appointed the director of UNMC’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), at that time a 0.10 FTE position.
As he nears retirement, 44 years after coming to UNMC and 37 years after accepting the position that would come to shape his career, Dr. Prentice calls himself a lucky man.
“I came into this field at a time when the federal government recognized that we were not protecting human subjects adequately,” Dr. Prentice said. “There was a dire need to revise the existing regulations and Congress passed new regulations effective in 1981.”
UNMC, in turn, needed to comply with the new, and much more comprehensive, regulations. Dr. Prentice was charged with developing the required IRB policies in order to comply with these new human subject protections.
In 1985, there was a similar recognition in terms of problems regarding the appropriate use of animals in research, and Dr. Prentice was charged with developing UNMC’s first Institutional Animal Care Use Committee (IACUC).
Retirement event Thursday
An event celebrating the careers of Ernest Prentice, Ph.D., and Steve Dixon, D.V.M., will be held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Durham Research Center Atrium. See a profile of Dr. Dixon in Wednesday’s UNMC Today.
When he retires in July as a nationally recognized voice in the field of human and animal research ethics, he leaves nationally known human subject protection and animal care programs in place at UNMC.
“I could not have developed these programs without the support of my very competent and dedicated staff, as well as the senior administration, who always gave me the support I needed,” he said. “We evolved, and UNMC supported that evolution every step of the way. I don’t know of any colleagues anywhere across the county that ever had that continuous level of support.
“To me that reflects a remarkable culture that exists at UNMC; a culture of conscience and compliance, where people do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.
“Everybody at UNMC should be so proud of what we’ve done in the past, what we are doing in the present, and the advances we will make in the future.”
Dr. Prentice said that, although he felt it was time to make a transition, he wouldn’t be retiring if he didn’t feel he was leaving a strong group and exceptional successors.
“We’re going to continue to evolve, because the field continues to evolve,” he said. “There are new therapies. There are new ethical challenges both in human subject research and animal research. I think we have the right people in place for the transition and to be able to continue this evolution.”
What others are saying
“Dr. Prentice has been a pillar of the UNMC community for as long as I can remember, dating back to 1983 when we first met. His contributions to the teaching program in anatomy, particularly head and neck anatomy, were legend. With the advent of the regulatory bodies for human and animal research (IRBs and IACUCs) he assumed a leadership role in the development of these areas here at UNMC and at the national and international levels as well. An internationally recognized expert in research ethics, Ernie brought honor and respect to himself and to UNMC through his work on a number of national commissions and his leadership in national organizations devoted to research ethics and compliance. Ernie is a valued colleague and leader at UNMC and will be missed.”
-James Turpen, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, executive associate dean for graduate studies
“Ernie Prentice is one of a kind. There is likely no other individual who has the depth of regulatory knowledge in human protection, animal welfare, and bio safety. He has helped establish as well as helped us meet and supersede the regulations.”
-Jennifer Larsen, M.D., vice chancellor for research
“Ernie Prentice, Ph.D., has served not only as a local leader in human subjects protections, but a national and international leader as well. For decades he has been at the forefront of this critically important field, widely acknowledged for his expertise and his ability to protect research subjects while simultaneously supporting clinical research, through the practical application of federal regulations.”
-Christopher Kratochvil, M.D., associate vice chancellor for clinical research
Ernie Prentice has been a masterful leader who directed human research activities with the highest level of thoughtfulness, truthfulness and accuracy in dealing with often complex issues. When faced with conflicting values on whether or not research should move forward he was open and thorough to a point and proved always a great listener. I salute the job he has done in making this medical center a special place and a light for others to follow. Certainly his leadership will be missed.
Congratulations on your retirement from UNMC. Enjoy it to the fullest!
Thank you for your many years of service! Happy retirement!
Congrats on the incredible career, Ernie. You've done a whale of a job. Enjoy the retirement!
It has been a great ride! Congrats on your retirement and I hope you truly take the time to enjoy it! Thanks for everything you have taught me over the last "large number of years." I wouldn't be where I am today without your guidance.
Ernie, Congratulations on your well deserved retirement. Great working with you since 1992. I appreciate all the support and friendship. Have a wonderful time and thanks. Steve