Internal Medicine undergraduate education update

UNMC’s medical school curriculum prepares students to meet the health care needs of patients through clinical practice, biomedical science and research, problem-solving and compassion. While those core tenets remain in place, David O’Dell, M.D., director of undergraduate education for the Department of Internal Medicine, said the curriculum is always changing.
 
“The program changes with advances in medicine,” said Dr. O’Dell, UNMC’s first Educator Laureate. “It’s evolutionary change vs. dramatic change.”
 
Among the changes to the Internal Medicine undergraduate education program this year are some new faces in leadership positions.
 
Nathan Anderson, M.D., assistant professor division of general medicine, is now the Junior Internal Medicine Clerkship Director. 
 
“Nate brings a wonderful skill set to his new position and we have great confidence the Clerkship will thrive under his leadership,” said Dr. O’Dell, who will continue to serve in a supportive role in the clerkship.
 
Scott Neumeister, M.D., and Jennifer Parker, M.D., both associate professors in the division of general medicine, will continue in their essential roles in the clerkship.  Dr. Neumeister is the primary instructor for the junior small groups “High Impact” curriculum, lectures twice per week and coordinates the OSCE.   Dr. Parker lectures and leads the EKG curriculum. 
 
Rae Witt, M.D., assistant professor division of general medicine, is taking on a new role as Internal Medicine’s Career Specialty Track Director in Phase 3 of the new medical school curriculum. In this role, she will help mentor the senior students who have chosen to pursue a career in Internal Medicine. 
 
Jill Zabih, M.D., assistant professor division of general medicine, will be the director of the Internal Medicine Capstone month, a critical component of Phase 3. 
 
“We look forward to the efforts of these very talented clinicians and their impact on our graduates,” said Dr. O’Dell, who is also the new Phase 3 director for the College of Medicine’s curriculum. In addition, he will help coordinate the junior year leadership transition and Internal Medicine’s undergraduate clinical activities as well as develop new clinical experiences for senior students.