Dr. Culross named associate director of IAE

Beth Culross, Ph.D., has been named an associate director on the Interprofessional Academy of Educators (IAE).

Dr. Culross, assistant professor and director of the Learning Resources Center in the UNMC College of Nursing, joined UNMC 10 years ago and joined the IAE in the fall of 2017. Her background is in post-acute care, and she was the 2015 Nebraska March of Dimes Nurse of the Year.

“We are excited to have Beth join the academy’s leadership team,” said Geoffrey Talmon, M.D., the academy’s director. “Her perspective on the needs of boots-on-the-ground educators, focus on simulation, and broad range of talents from clinical practice to her affinity for the use of educational technology will make her an invaluable asset to academy members and all faculty at UNMC.”

Once joining the IAE, Dr. Culross became involved in the simulation, curriculum and medical humanities interest groups. But her initial emphasis was on the “interprofessional” aspect.

“My intention was to be involved more interprofessionally and get to know more of my colleagues in the other colleges,” she said. “That’s one of the best things about the academy — working with a wide variety of people and seeing some different points of view.”

Her work with the medical humanities group and Steve Langan, interim director for medical humanities at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), also allowed her to expand her interprofessional efforts to that campus, as well.

“The IAE allows us, as educators, to learn from each other, share ideas, develop best practices and make sure that the opportunities that we’re providing for our students are the best they can be,” Dr. Culross said. “We have a lot of different expertise across UNMC and UNO.”

One of her goals as she moves into the leadership position will be to expand the academy’s efforts throughout UNMC’s 500-mile campus.

“Let’s make sure that we’re not forgetting our colleagues across the state,” Dr. Culross said. “The academy has already started ‘taking the show on the road,’ but I’d like to see that continue and have more involvement from our other campuses.

“As educators involved in the academy, the networking that we have and the collegiality that we’re building with each other, makes us feel that we are a UNMC campus of educators,” she said. “Being part of the IAE makes me feel that I can represent the College of Nursing in an important way to continue to advance interprofessional opportunities at UNMC.”