News briefs

Dr. Cushman-Vokoun appointed to American Board of Pathology committee
Allison Cushman-Vokoun, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, pathology/microbiology, has been appointed to the American Board of Pathology's (ABPath) 2019 Test Development and Advisory Committee (TDAC) for Molecular Genetic Pathology. The TDACs are responsible for developing and reviewing the ABPath certification exam questions that assess and certify a physician's education, knowledge, experience, and skills in order to provide high quality care in the pathology profession.
 
Dr. Cushman-Vokoun is the medical director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at UNMC and the fellowship director of the Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program. An alumna of UNMC, she earned her Ph.D. in 2002 and her M.D. in 2004.
 
She is actively involved and sits on the National Board of Medical Examiners. In this capacity, she is involved in several parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), including Step I of the Standard Setting Panel, the Pathology and Genetics Test Development Committee, and the Interdisciplinary Review Committee. She also is a member of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Personalized Health Care Committee and is chair of the CAP CAR-T and Gene Editing Workgroup.
 
Kari Nelson, Ph.D., becomes UNMC representative for international society
Kari Nelson, Ph.D., graduate medical education research and education program manager, is UNMC’s institutional representative for the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education. The society is an advocate for education research and development in medicine and seeks to influence national research policy. Dr. Nelson's role at UNMC is to facilitate and expand medical student and house officer-driven education research projects. She said she welcomes the opportunity to represent UNMC in this international society and is eager to bring additional collaborators, research ideas, and resources back to UNMC.