Paul Paulman, M.D., and Audrey Paulman, M.D., will be retiring from their UNMC faculty positions after more than 60 combined years of calling the med center home.
But they will continue to write their well-respected textbooks. They will continue to help teach future health care providers. They will explore new volunteer opportunities.
Paul arrived at UNMC in 1982, when he and Audrey moved from a practice in rural Nebraska. (Both Drs. Paulman, who met in medical school, have rural backgrounds.) Initially becoming a private practitioner in Omaha, Audrey followed Paul to the med center in 1996, becoming a provider and then taking on a role at UNMC’s student-run SHARING Clinics.
“There are a lot of logistical problems with being two physicians in a small town,” Audrey said. “Your call schedule is ‘Paul/Audrey/Paul/Audrey.’ As a family, there was not much time off.”
When the pair came to Omaha, Paul still had a strong rural commitment, Audrey said, and felt he could best serve his rural ties and commitments by educating physicians for rural Nebraska.
“It sounds ‘noble,'” Audrey said with a laugh. “It was the truth.”
“The things that attracted me were the opportunity to work with the students and the rural doctors,” Paul said. “Also, there was autonomy to innovate and to do more outreach to rural communities and those in need.”
Paul is known to say that UNMC is part of “the University of Nebraska, not the University of Douglas County.” In his time at UNMC, he worked tirelessly to maximize the institution’s impact across the state.
“Our job is to serve the citizens of the state,” he said. “The state doesn’t stop at the county line.”
He ran the Rural Family Medicine Preceptorship Program, which sends medical students out into rural Nebraska. He started a rural experience for second-year students. He was part of the genesis of the SIM-NE program, which uses mobile simulation units to provide rural outreach for emergency medical services, “who are critical health care infrastructure people for the smaller communities,” Paul said.
All these programs will continue, he said.
Audrey described her medical center career as much more of a practice model.
“I have worked with the SHARING Clinics, mainly working with financial sustainability, and we worked to launch the Faculty Association for the Society of Student Run Free Clinics here,” she said.
Audrey also was integral in the opening of the GOODLIFE Clinic, part of UNMC’s student-run SHARING Clinics, in 2002.
When UNMC hosted the national organizational and kickoff meeting for the Society for Student-Run Free Clinics in 2013, she said it was a career highlight.
UNMC also hosted the organization’s first independent meeting in 2018, and the founding meeting of the Student Run Free Clinics Faculty Association.
“We invited people from across the country to Omaha in February,” she said. “It was a great meeting, they had so much fun, and the med center just shone.”
Dr. Audrey Paulman officially retired on Monday. Dr. Paul Paulman will retire March 1.
They plan to staff the SHARING Clinics in retirement, and perhaps also become SIM-NE trainers.
“Building workforce across the state, that’s what UNMC is here for,” Audrey said. “That’s our job.”
Apparently, even in retirement.
To the Paulman’s,
It was a joy working with both of you. Paul- thank you for the help and guidance you rendered for fostering simulation on our campus. Your contributions are too numerous to enlist and so are the downstream beneficial ramifications. Not to forget your great sense of humor. Few couples can match your immense contributions and ardent support of everything UNMC. Glad to know you both will be around. Enjoy your well- deserved retirement and a big thanks
Chandra Are
Dr. Audrey Paulman, you will be missed! The care you provided to both of my elderly parents, the support you gave me when we transitioned each to hospice, I will always be indebted to you and your kind, gentle, and straightforward heart. You are leaving mighty big clinical shoes to fill. Best of luck to you and your husband as you enter this next adventure!
Congratulations Audrey and Paul. You’ve done an exceptional and inspiring job for UNMC and the State. I know that you will continue to contribute, but in different ways. Best of luck and wishes. Hal Maurer
Congrats guys. Take some train rides and explore during your retirement. I won' t say good bye as I know you both will visit us. Take Care.
Thanks for your wonderful commitment to UNMC past, present, and future!
Congrats to you both! We have left big shoes to fill!
Congrats to both of you. I have truly enjoyed working with you on many endeavors. As they say, “light that fuse and enjoy the ride!”.
Congrats to both of you. I have truly enjoyed working with you on many endeavors. As they say, “light that fuse and enjoy the ride!”.
Congrats to both of you. I have truly enjoyed working with you on many endeavors. As they say, “light that fuse and enjoy the ride!”.
UNMC will not be the same without you two. Thanks so much for all you have done to educate generations of students and your dedication to serving the underserved! You have both been so wonderful to me and I will miss seeing you. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
Congratulations to both of you! Enjoy your much deserved retirement!
Best wishes for you on your retirement. Its a full time job. Dan Halm
Congratulations from an old residency pal. You both have done a magnificent job and Nebraska is better for it. Enjoy sleeping in if you can even do that anymore! Patrick Tranmer
We were so fortunate to have Dr. Audrey as our doctor for 33 years. We miss her so much.