UNMC for the record

American College of Rheumatology recognizes UNMC’s Dr. England
Bryant England, M.D., assistant professor of rheumatology in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Fellow Award. The award is given to clinical and research fellows who are nominated while in a rheumatology fellowship training program, in recognition of their meritorious performance throughout their training. The award includes a stipend of $1,500 and a glass award recognizing the honor. Dr. England and nine other recipients will be recognized during the annual meeting in San Diego in November.

Chancellor meets with UNMC Step-Up participants

Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., far right, meets with Step-Up participants — from left, Vic’Taijha Blakey, Brianna Miller, Arsene Kasusa, Gabriel Schueth and EliJahiana Parker.

A celebration was held Aug. 9 to acknowledge the 2017 participants in UNMC’s eight-week Step-Up Program. UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., attended the event and presented each participant with a thank-you letter to mark the completion of on-the-job training in various departments, including otolaryngology-ear, nose and throat, facilities management and planning, the chancellor’s office and human resources. Dr. Gold spoke to the Step-Up graduates of his own experiences and offered words of encouragement. The participants also were presented with a certificate of completion and a selection of UNMC-themed gifts, courtesy of the UNMC Bookstore and the UNMC Department of Human Resources.

UNMC’s Blum named to leadership position in AMGO
Richard Blum, director of the Olson Center for Women’s Health and administrator for the UNMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been named president-elect of the Association of Managers of Gynecology and Obstetrics (AMGO), an organization that promotes interaction among managers of departments of obstetrics and gynecology in medical schools throughout North America. Blum, who has been a member of AMGO for 25 years and has served on its board for 10, began his term in May. He will serve until May 2018, at which time he will become president of the organization for a one-year term ending in May 2019.

Dr. Shepherd to participate in panel discussion on film Aug. 22
John Shepherd, M.D., director of the Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation at UNMC, will be part of a panel presentation following the film, “Notes on Blindness,” on Aug. 22 at Film Streams in Omaha. The panel discussion will include Otis Rollins, an Outlook Nebraska associate and machine operator who experienced vision loss in his 20s, Tracy Grothe, a professional counselor dedicated to supporting the mental health needs of people with disabilities, and Bekah Jerde, assistant director of Radio Talking Book Service, who will moderate. The movie is about John Hull, writer and theologian, who became totally blind in 1983 after decades of steady vision deterioration. Hull’s documentation of his experience going blind is the focus of the movie.

Volunteer Services’ book sale set for September
Volunteer Services is hosting its semi-annual book sale Sept. 6-8 at the Durham Outpatient Center West Atrium. The sale will run from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Proceeds from the sale are used to support ongoing special projects for patients, such as red nose clown supplies, hospitality cart supplies, DVDs and other special requests.