A new scholarship for public health students was established in the name of two long-term University of Nebraska Medical Center employees at a dinner on Oct. 23.
The Keith D. Swarts and Jayme D. Nekuda Scholarship in Public Health was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Keith's cousin, Carol Swarts, M.D., a 1959 alum and longtime donor to UNMC.
"Dr. Swarts´ generous endowment of a scholarship will support our students and help them achieve their dreams to be exceptional public health practitioners and champions," said Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., dean of the College of Public Health. "Keith Swarts and Dr. Jayme Nekuda have lived a life of excellence and service in our community. They are great role models, along with Dr. Swarts, for our future public health leaders."
The couple has been a pillar of the UNMC community for decades, working to expand the campus, and establish wellness and international programs.
Keith Swarts, special assistant for international programs, Asia Pacific Rim Development Program, has been at UNMC for 43 years. He was the director of business services at UNMC for 40 years and it's often been said that "if you ask him for help, you can consider it done."
He has provided staff support and conducted special projects that had manpower and financial implications for both day-to-day and long-range planning for UNMC. In addition, he was responsible for the auxiliary business departments including bookstore, rental property, risk management, property acquisitions, travel and employee and campus safety.
Swarts served as the liaison between outside legal counsel and UNMC for property acquisitions and medical malpractice lawsuits. He published several articles and served on such national and local boards as the Ronald McDonald House. He also was a participant in Leadership Omaha and the National Business Travel Association.
He was nationally recognized for the implementation of cost-saving and revenue-generating programs at UNMC as well as for the entire university system. He served as a mentor for graduate students selecting independent study during their final semester.
For the past five years he has served as the interim associate vice chancellor for business and finance as well as the interim director of the Asia Pacific Rim Development Program.
Additionally, he and his wife, Dr. Nekuda, have coordinated UNMC's participation in the annual International Student Research Forum for 12 years.
Dr. Nekuda, associate director, human resources, oversees benefits, the wellness program, the child development center, the employee assistance program as well as the campus fitness facility.
She joined UNMC in 1996 as the wellness leader and oversaw wellness programs and the Center for Healthy Living. From 1997 to 2007, she also served as an adjunct professor at Nebraska Methodist College in health promotion. She transferred to human resources in 2008 and became associate director in 2015.
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