Academic Affairs’ Impact in Education Awards ceremony was held Feb. 7
On Feb. 7, the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs held the Impact in Education Awards ceremony, recognizing UNMC’s finest educators. James O’Dell, M.D., and Paul Paulman, M.D., were both honored as the 2018-19 Educators Laureate.
To see photos from the event, click here.
Other winners included:
- Innovative Practices in Education Award: Danish Bhatti, M.D., assistant professor, UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences
- Inspirational Mentor of Educators Award: Shannon Boerner, M.D., assistant professor, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine
- Interprofessional Education Scholar Award: Elizabeth Beam, Ph.D., assistant professor, UNMC College of Nursing Omaha Division
- Research in Education Scholar Award: Kendra Schmid, Ph.D., professor and interim chair, UNMC Department of Biostatistics
- Valor in Educational Service Award: James Newland, M.D., emeritus professor, UNMC Department of Pathology & Microbiology
- Visionary Leadership in Education Award: Karen Gould, Ph.D., vice chair of education and associate professor, UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy
Dr. Mikuls is senior author on new study
Ted Mikuls, M.D., a rheumatologist in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, is senior author on a study in “Seminars in Arthritis & Rheumatism.” Five other UNMC faculty, all with Omaha VA affiliations, are co-authors. The study shows that post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans with rheumatoid arthritis is associated with increased inflammation. Data from the study strongly suggest that post-traumatic stress disorder acts as an inflammatory stimulus in the context of rheumatoid arthritis, leading to more severe disease. To read the article, click here. The study also is featured in MedPage Today.
Bartee appointed to Nebraska State Historical Society
Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external relations for UNMC, has been appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts to the Nebraska State Historical Society, an independent Nebraska state agency and membership organization directly governed by a 15-member board of trustees. The agency also is known as History Nebraska.
The board includes 12 elected trustees (four from each of the state’s three congressional districts), who serve staggered three-year terms. Three trustees (one from each congressional district) are appointed by the governor. They also serve staggered three-year terms.
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes, and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. The mission of the organization is to collect and preserve the state’s history and to make it available to all.
Retirements announced
The UNMC Department of Human Resources has released a list of 12 retirements spanning the period between Jan. 1 and Aug. 16. The list includes six faculty members. Four of the retirees have more than 30 years of service. Leading the way with 40 years of service is John Kugler, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist in the College of Medicine. He is followed by Richard Coke, D.D.S., College of Dentistry, with 37 years; Don Leuenberger, business and finance, with 35 years; and Rodney McComb, M.D., pathology/microbiology, with 34 years.
Here’s the complete list of retirements:
- John Kugler, M.D., College of Medicine, pediatrics cardiology, will retire Aug. 16 (start date July 1, 1979).
- Richard Coke, D.D.S., College of Dentistry, adult restorative, will retire May 1 (start date Feb. 1, 1982)
- Don Leuenberger, business and finance, retired Jan. 5 (start date Jan. 1, 1984)
- Rodney McComb, M.D., pathology/microbiology, retired Jan. 16 (start date July 1, 1984)
- Mark Sjogren, facilities management and planning-architecture/engineering, retired Feb. 1 (start date Oct. 9, 1989)
- Kathleen O’Malley, pediatrics endocrine, will retire Feb. 16 (start date July 21, 1997)
- Melinda Murdock, anesthesiology, retired Jan. 1 (start date July 3, 1997)
- Lorrinda Osberg, College of Dentistry-Lincoln Clinic Administration, will retire March 1 (start date Dec. 1, 1998)
- Mercedes Crawford, College of Public Health Health Services, Research & Administration, retired Feb. 6 (start date May 31, 2002)
- Lynne Willett, M.D., pediatrics newborn medicine, retired Feb. 12 (start date July 1, 2010)
- Frank Driscoll, D.D.S., College of Dentistry, growth and development, retired Jan. 1 (start date Jan. 25, 2016)
- Ross Crist, College of Dentistry, D.D.S., growth and development, retired Jan. 11 (start date Sept. 15, 2016)