News briefs

UNMC Student Senate officers for 2018-19 are, from left, Scott Mulder, Sarah Hotovy, Keith Ozanne and Jessica Wiens.

UNMC Student Senate elects student officers

Second-year students Sarah Hotovy and Keith Ozanne, both in the UNMC College of Medicine, will serve, respectively, as UNMC Student Senate president and vice president for the upcoming school year. A third College of Medicine student, Scott Mulder, will serve as treasurer.

Hotovy, of York, Neb., also will represent UNMC as a non-voting member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Student Senate officers for 2018-19, and their hometowns, are:

  • President: Sarah Hotovy (York, Neb.) – Second-year College of Medicine student
  • Vice President: Keith Ozanne (Lincoln, Neb.) – Second-year College of Medicine student
  • Secretary: Jessica Wiens (Grand Island, Neb.) – College of Public Health master's degree student
  • Treasurer: Scott Mulder (Sioux Falls, S.D.) – College of Medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology graduate student

Family Medicine welcomes four Nebraska Medicine providers to faculty

A new academic year brings four new faculty members to the Department of Family Medicine. Established Nebraska Medicine providers Jeffrey Akerson, M.D., Patrick Anderl, M.D., Chad Moes, M.D., and Brynn Lastovica, M.D., joined the UNMC Department of Family Medicine faculty in July of this year.

Here's some background on these new faculty members:

  • Jeff Akerson, M.D., is a UNMC medical school graduate and completed the residency program at Lincoln Family Practice. Dr. Akerson provides primary care at the Bellevue Clinic.
  • Patrick Anderl, M.D., is a UNMC medical school graduate and a graduate of the UNMC Family Medicine Rural Training Track Residency program. Dr. Anderl practices at the Bellevue Clinic.
  • Chad Moes, M.D., a UNMC medical school graduate and UNMC Family Medicine Residency Program, serves the west Omaha community at the Village Pointe clinic.
  • Brynn Lastovica, M.D., is a graduate of both the UNMC College of Medicine and UNMC Family Medicine Residency program. Dr. Lastovica provides care in Omaha at the Chalco clinic.

"The Department of Family Medicine is proud to expand our diverse and knowledgeable faculty pool to assist in the training of more than 70 family medicine residents all while providing the extraordinary care to patients under the Nebraska Medicine umbrella," said Michael Sitorius, M.D., chair of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Weaver primary author on WHO guidance document

Meaghann Shaw Weaver, M.D., assistant professor in the division of pediatric hematology/oncology at UNMC and division chief of pediatric palliative care at Children's Hospital & Medical Center, was a primary author on a World Health Organization guidance document on pediatric palliative care titled "Integrating palliative care and symptom relief into paediatrics: A WHO guide for planners, implementers and managers."

A 2009 UNMC College of Medicine graduate, Dr. Weaver also has a master's degree in public health. This was a global initiative and is the first WHO pediatric palliative implementation standard.

The document is available online. 

Joe Evans, Ph.D., named NABHO Professional of the Year

Joe Evans, Ph.D., clinical director of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska and professor of psychology and pediatrics at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, was chosen as a recipient of the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations (NABHO) 2018 Professional of the Year Award.

Dr. Evans received his award on Sept. 20 in Lincoln at the NABHO Behavioral Health Conference.
The award is given to individuals demonstrating the highest professional qualities that make them a role model for other professionals in the behavioral health field. Criteria include:

  • Demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities, integrity and a commitment to supporting their peers and building alliances that strengthen Nebraska's behavioral health system of care and the people it serves;
  • Works to increase public knowledge on behavioral health issues; and
  • Exemplifies the Code of Conduct of their profession.

Dr. Mailliard elected  to ACG Board of Governors

Mark Mailliard, M.D., professor, internal medicine-gastroenterology and hepatology, has been elected to the American College of Gastroenterology Board of Governors. The ACG Board of Governors, comprised of 77 governors from across seven different regions in the U.S. and abroad, is an important aspect of the college. It provides a dual-conduit to both the ACG leadership, including the officers and the board of trustees as well as to the grassroots ACG membership.

Dr. Davies appointed to national preparedness board

UNMC's Dele Davies, M.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies, was appointed to the National Preparedness and Response Science Board (NPRSB) in July.

The NPRSB is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and guidance to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and to the HHS Secretary on preventing, preparing for, and responding to adverse health effects of emergencies.

"It is an honor to be asked to serve alongside such a distinguished group of physicians and scientists on this national advisory board," Dr. Davies said. "At any given point in time, there are numerous possible biologic, chemical or other emergencies that can have serious consequential impact on our nation. The work of the committee helps guide and support the significant ongoing efforts to prevent and mitigate these threats."

Dr. Davies is among 13 voting members on the board with a broad range of expertise in science, medicine, and public health and nearly 20 ex officio members from agencies across the federal government with a vested interest subject matter expertise important to the work of the board.

A nationally recognized expert in pediatric infectious diseases, Dr. Davies joined UNMC in 2012. His research interests are in infectious diseases, especially perinatal infections caused by Group A and B streptococcus. He has previously been involved in many local, national and international planning for potential outbreaks of highly infectious diseases, including serving on the advisory board of the CDC National Center for Infectious Diseases Board of Scientific Counselors and as a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases.

Graduate Medical Education Research Conference set for Oct. 17

The UNMC Office of Graduate Medical Education will host its First Annual Graduate Medical Education Research (GME) Conference on at 5 p.m. on Oct. 17 in the Truhlsen Events Center.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase the incredible research that residents and fellows are conducting right here at UNMC. On the national landscape, UNMC may be one of the few universities to host such an event, which includes all graduate medical education training programs.

House officers will be provided with the opportunity to present their research in all avenues ranging from clinical outcomes, basic science, education, business, health policy and humanities. They will be presenting their research projects in either poster or oral formats.

All are welcome to attend. Food and drink will be provided, and no RSVP is required! Awards will be given to residents/fellows for the best poster and oral presentations.

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