Lookin’ at U: Danielle Beebe

Each Thursday, we randomly feature a medical center employee.

This week, we learn more about:

• Name: Danielle Beebe
• Hometown: York, Neb.
• Years of service at UNMC: One year

Tell us what you do at UNMC.
In short, public relations and education. I’m a communications specialist in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, so it’s my job to share the achievements of our team. Many of the things I create, such as an annual report and web content, are used as recruiting tools to attract top talent to our institution. I also have a small hand in education by creating interactive lessons that are accessible to all department members on our online learning portal.

“Innovation” is one of UNMC’s brand values. Tell us about a time you’ve seen innovation at UNMC.
Since some of these examples are still in their inception phase, I can’t be too specific. However, they include UNMC’s first human physiology lab currently being created by Alicia Schiller, Ph.D., the use of a 3D printer to create clinical and teaching tools by Nick Markin, M.D., and researching the outcomes of using a virtual reality heart as an education tool by instructor Walker Thomas. It has been a huge blessing in my life to witness these inspirational achievements on a daily basis. It raises the bar for me, personally and professionally.

Additionally, I’m proud to be part of the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance, which is a group of individuals from all walks of life and roles on campus who volunteer their time to promote an accepting culture. The group is only a couple years old but already has shown incredible progress in building a community and providing educational opportunities that establish a foundation of knowledge where there otherwise might have been none.

What is your favorite winter activity?
A couple years ago I bought a fat-tire bike with the sole purpose of getting outdoors in the cold months and tearing it up on snowy, wooded trails. I live near Chalco Hills Recreation Area, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity to leave thick bike tire tracks in fresh snow. I recommend it!

List three things people may not know about you.

• I’ve taken off in more airplanes than I’ve landed in. That’s a clever way to say I went skydiving with my mom right after I graduated college and was jobless. Being jobless was scarier than jumping out of the plane.
• I proposed to my wife in a grocery store.
• I recently indulged a years-long dream to be a lumberjack of sorts. I bought an axe and watched YouTube videos to learn how to split wood. I acquire logs and split them in my back yard to burn in our fireplace. It’s the fastest way to turn a bad day into a good one.