New members join Interprofessional Academy of Educators

The 2018 inductees into the Interprofessional Academy of Educators include: Back row, from left, Sandra Sasse, Judith Neville, Sara Bills, Cathleen Peterson-Layne, Keely Cassidy, Julie Gregg and Travis McCumber. Front row, from left, Karen Gould, Yun Saksena, Ana Yuil-Valdes, Annie Wildermuth, Cheryl Bagley Thompson and Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler.

Sixteen faculty and staff members were inducted into UNMC’s Interprofessional Academy of Educators (IAE) in a Sept. 13 ceremony. In addition, five students and residents were initiated into the group of associate members (learners).









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The 2018 associate inductees into the Interprofessional Academy of Educators include, from left, Health Hubbard, Kyle Drehmel, Laura Newton and Ryan Geisert.

The IAE honors new members who exemplify dedication to teaching and have a passion for furthering UNMC’s educational mission.

Geoffrey Talmon, M.D., director of the academy, said, “I am excited to welcome the next group of passionate educators, faculty, staff and learners to the academy. They are joining a group of more than 90 of their peers whose talent and dedication aims to make the learning experience and environment at UNMC the best in the world.”

To meet this vision, the IAE has created a vibrant community of educators with representation from every college on campus. The academy is interprofessional by design, meant to connect educators with similar interests regardless of their college or campus.

The opportunities for collaboration are one of the things Laura Newton, a student in the M.D. program and one of the newly-inducted associate members, is most excited about.

“Membership in this group represents a unique opportunity to impact the future of health care by collaborating with educational leaders not only in medicine but across fields, which I believe reflects the interdisciplinary teamwork essential to our vocation,” she said. “I especially look forward to working within IAE’s Medical Humanities Interest Group to develop innovative partnerships within our community that incorporate more of the healing arts into our art of healing.”

Being inducted is both a distinct honor and a dedication to serving the community. Each member gives back to UNMC through an annual service requirement. Interest groups are designed to bring together educators with similar interests, allowing members to share their talents with one another, develop expertise, and foster scholarly collaboration. Each group is expected to work together in order to accomplish a minimum of two outcomes per academic year.

“It is wonderful to be part of a research-intensive university where teaching excellence is also valued,” said Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler, Ph.D., D.Litt., associate dean for academic programs in the College of Nursing and one of the new inductees. “The IAE presence as well as the activities it leads and supports signal to all university members that the mission of the university rests on three equally important legs – education, research and practice/service. I am excited to be part of the IAE as a microcosm of UNMC and join other faculty who have chosen to make their passion as educators both visible and ongoing.”

For more information on the Interprofessional Academy of Educators, visit the academy website.

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