Wallace Thoreson, Ph.D. – Outstanding Mentor of Graduate Students

Wallace Thoreson, Ph.D.

Wallace Thoreson, Ph.D., vice chair of research & Gilmore Professor, ophthalmology and visual sciences, College of Medicine, will receive the Outstanding Mentor of Graduate Students at the annual Faculty Senate Awards ceremony, at 3 p.m., April 23, in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.

Dr. Gold to speak at meeting

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., will give his annual address to the faculty, titled “Healthcare 2050,” at the annual faculty meeting at 3 p.m., April 23, in the Durham Research Center Auditorium. A reception hosted by Chancellor Gold will follow the event.

The ceremony will be broadcast through ZOOM and can be accessed from desktop computers or at the following sites at UNMC’s non-Omaha campuses:

  • College of Nursing-Lincoln, Room 336
  • College of Dentistry-Lincoln Dixon Auditorium, Room 1145
  • College of Nursing-Kearney, Health Science Education Complex, Room 102
  • College of Nursing-Norfolk, Room 189
  • Scottsbluff – College of Nursing, Regional West Medical Center, Room B132
  • Name: Wallace Thoreson, Ph.D.
  • Title: Gilmore Professor, UNMC Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience; vice chair and research director, Truhlsen Eye Institute
  • Joined UNMC: 1993
  • Hometown: Columbia, Mo.

How many graduate students do you work with?

Two.

What are the greatest rewards of mentoring?

The greatest rewards for me are to see students grow in ability and confidence as they progress through their studies and master increasingly challenging intellectual, technical and analytical skills.

Describe a moment when you realized your influence made a difference in someone’s career.
It’s hard to think of a specific moment. I enjoy seeing a student give a polished and well-received talk at a national meeting. I am gratified when students have their choice of good opportunities for post-docs and other opportunities after graduation. More generally, I have enjoyed seeing students and post-docs move on to positions and careers in which they find personal and professional fulfillment.

List three things few people know about you.

  • Weather permitting, I commute to UNMC by bicycle.
  • On Saturdays, instead of football, I prefer watching professors give history lectures on CSPAN3.
  • I collect butterflies photographically rather than mounting their dead carcasses on Riker mounts (as I did when I was a child).

6 comments

  1. Lisa Laurent says:

    Congratulations Dr. Thoreson! You are a wonderful role model for all of us.

  2. Alex Wiesman says:

    Very well deserved! Congratulations Wally!

  3. Tom O'Connor says:

    Congrats, Wally. I have no doubt that you are an awesome mentor! Keep up the great work.

  4. Ted Roche says:

    Congratulations, Wally!! This is a wonderful reflection of your impact on your students. Great Honor!

  5. Nancy Camras says:

    Congratulations 🎉🎈🎊🍾

  6. Jerrie Dayton says:

    Congratulations Dr. Thoreson. This is wonderful news.

Comments are closed.