This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2019 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.
The New Investigator Award
New Investigator Awards go to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past two years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other national sources.
New Investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity such as publishing their research and/or presenting their findings at national conventions.
- Name: Meaghann Weaver, M.D.
- Title: Chief, UNMC Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics
- Joined UNMC: 2016
- Hometown: Langley, Virginia
Research focus:
Palliative care and hospice care for children
The goal of my research is: To apply the principles of family theory, whole-child perspective and community-based participatory research to improve the quality of life and symptom burden for children with chronic, complex or critical illness.
My research will make a difference because: In my field, translational research is the process of eliciting child voice (patient-reported outcomes) and family perspective to design and implement interventions to improve the human experience. The ultimate outcome and measure of my work is the alleviation of suffering — whether that is physical suffering such as complex symptom burdens, spiritual/existential suffering, decisional suffering, relational suffering or suffering related to health equity/health systems.
The best advice I’ve ever been given is:
- Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8)
- Stronger together — teamwork and sincere collaborations are absolutely essential in medicine
Three things you may not know about me are:
- I recently published a children’s storybook, “The Gift of Gerbert’s Feathers” (Magination Press 2020), and I have been increasing my visits to the zoo in contemplation of the next animal-themed children’s book.
- All of my tattoos incorporate my daughter’s name, Bravery — she’s such light and love.
- My parents were missionaries in Liberia, Kenya and Ghana — I credit my commitment to community health to their legacy work.
The Department of Pediatrics and the Child Health Research Institute congratulate Dr. Weaver on this well-deserved recognition. She provides a critically important service and her research is essential in the field of pediatric palliative care.
Congratulations, Meaghann! You inspire us all!