For Jim Turpen, Ph.D., it’s all about the students.
Retirement event set
The UNMC Departments of Academic Affairs and Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy will honor Dr. Turpen with a retirement event from 2-4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Private Dining Room C of University Tower. Remarks will begin at 2:45 p.m.
“The students — that’s what draws us to higher education,” said Dr. Turpen, who is retiring this month after 34 years at UNMC.
For the last half of his career, Dr. Turpen has been the principal investigator on the second largest research grant in UNMC history.
His grant — from the Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) — was unique for UNMC. Dr. Turpen wasn’t studying a particular disease. Rather, his charge was to “grow” more students who want to make research their career.
The moustache
As Dr. Turpen begins his next chapter, his distinctive handlebar mustache will no longer grace the halls of the medical center on a daily basis.
The ‘stache got its origin shortly after Dr. Turpen arrived at UNMC in 1983. To help celebrate the River City Roundup Parade, then-Chancellor Charles Andrews, M.D., urged UNMC employees to grow some facial hair.
A native of Sheridan, Wyo., Dr. Turpen came to UNMC with a plentiful supply of cowboy DNA in his system. He answered Dr. Andrews’ call to action.
Nearly 35 years later, the handlebar lives on and embodies Dr. Turpen’s playful spirit.
“It grows really slowly,” he said.
The handlebar survived one threat when Dr. Turpen and two other faculty members with facial hair participated in a fundraising venture at UNMC. In a reverse format, the person who raised the most money had to shave his facial hair.
Dr. Turpen made sure his razor didn’t have to come out by making a sizeable donation to the eventual winner – Bill Chaney, Ph.D., a now retired faculty member in biochemistry and molecular biology.
He found these students in Nebraska’s undergraduate colleges and universities. The students learned about research by being assigned to investigators at UNMC, Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Currently, nine Nebraska schools are participating in the program.
Since the grant began in 2001, a total of 381 INBRE Scholars have gone through the program. When you look at the numbers, the successes leap out. Of the 381 students:
- 104 went on to graduate school;
- 99 went on to professional school;
- 26 joined the scientific workforce; and
- Two students landed faculty positions in the University of Nebraska System.
Over the past 16 years, the grant was renewed several times and netted more than $64 million in funding. The current renewal is for $17.5 million over five years and runs through 2020.
“The most important thing we learned is how sharp these students are,” Dr. Turpen said. “We’ve got talent in Nebraska.”
An embryologist, Dr. Turpen served as professor in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy and as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.
When the media asked challenging questions on the issue of using embryonic stem cells in research, Dr. Turpen was frequently the calming voice of reason.
“He’s the Rock of Gibraltar,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., former vice chancellor for research, called Dr. Turpen his “go-to guy who always delivered.”
At age 72, Dr. Turpen will remain active in retirement. He will continue to be a clown for the Shriners — something he’s enjoyed for the past 21 years — and is entering his second year as chair of the Shrine Circus in the Omaha area. He hopes to join the Roadrunners group that drives families to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis .
He exits UNMC as a legendary figure in building the research enterprise.
“Jim was an outstanding associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. As the research integrity officer for UNMC, he is both thorough and fair. And to replace him, it requires that three faculty members divide his work between them to get it all accomplished. That speaks to the role he has established and the job he has completed in an exceptional manner.”
“Jim is a member of our academic community who will be very much missed on the UNMC campus. He has so faithfully fulfilled many faculty and administrative roles that it will take several people to replace him! His dedication and hard work have attracted considerable resources to UNMC and have led to the education of many health science graduate and professional students. We all wish him the best in whatever adventures he pursues in the future!”
“Jim Turpen has been a unique asset to UNMC. His research was top-tier: innovative, thoughtful, published in the best journals, and highly respected by his peers. His extraordinary teaching and administrative gifts, his concern for his students, his foresight and his vision, are the principal reasons for the astonishing success of the UNMC INBRE program. For me, and for his other UNMC colleagues, he was always the “go-to” guy, and he always delivered. He is irreplaceable, and he will be sorely missed.”
“Whenever I hear ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow,’ I think of Dr. Turpen. Maybe, it’s because he is a Shriners’ clown. For someone who started his research activities as a world expert on blood and immune cell formation in frogs, he has most certainly had an interesting career. All of us thank him for his great efforts and service, in multiple roles, for UNMC. We wish him a long and happy retirement.”
“Jim Turpen has been a centerpiece for many years at UNMC, but also widely known across many Nebraska university campuses because of his role as the INBRE principal investigator. Jim's commitment to student education and achievement has been a guiding star for him professionally, and it's something that is rooted in his core. When he sees students succeed, he rejoices with them and values having been part of their journey. His leadership and administrative skills are second-to-none. His affable character mixed with eagle-like ability to see the big picture without missing the details will be greatly missed.”
“When I was asked to replace Jim as PI of the NE-INBRE, Jim said I needed two years’ time because the NE-INBRE is a ‘gorilla’ with a lot to learn. What I did not appreciate during this time was that I would get to know Jim, the person. UNMC will be losing a true leader and a man of integrity. These are rare qualities that we will miss when he retires next month. Salutes to a GREAT career!”
Jim,
Congratulations on a great career. You have made such an impact on so many youth in the science fields. I am grandparenting Wednesday afternoon and won't be able to make the retirement tea, but will see you at the next NCLC meeting. Happy Holidays!!
Carol
UNMC and the Nebraska INBRE-member institutions will miss you dearly. We wish you all the best in the next chapter of your life.
Congratulations on your retirement Dr. Turpen. It is much deserved. Thank you for your guidance and support the last couple of years. I feel lucky to have learned from you. Pat
Gonna miss you Jim. Happy trails!
Jim, I want to thank you for your friendship over 34 years to include our interactions from your earlier studies while "raising frogs" in the 3rd floor Wittson Hall refrigerators to the later years in our mutual activities in Academic Affairs. I do wish you all the best in retirement! Pete
It will take a dozen faculty to replace Jim Turpen. Good luck Jim!
Congratulations to you on a well-deserved retirement. You have always been great to work with and I will miss your warm smile.
Jim, you leave UNMC with an unbelievable legacy. Enjoy retirement to its fullest.
Jim, Thank you for making yourself available and always providing clear analysis and guidance. I wish you peace and happiness in your retirement.
Enjoy your well-earned retirement, Jim! Thanks for all you've done for UNMC.
Thank you Dr. Turpen for your dedication to teaching and enthusiasm for your work. You will be missed.