Megan Rolfzen, MD, is the 2020 recipient of the Department of Anesthesiology’s Brad Paulson Award. Nominators cited her intelligence, work ethic and integrity.
The Department presents the Brad Paulson Award annually to an outstanding senior medical student who exemplifies the qualities which made Dr. Paulson a superior anesthesiologist, and his untimely death a loss to the specialty. Dr. Paulson exemplified dedication to learning, technical skill, genuine caring and rapport with his patients, and a high level of personal integrity. He earned the respect, admiration and affection of his colleagues. The fund, now supported by the Department of Anesthesiology, was created in 1989.
Dr. Rolfzen—known as Megan Thacker throughout medical school—graduated from UNMC in 2020 with high distinction, and begins an anesthesiology residency in July.
"Meg has been a fantastic medical student, will certainly make an outstand
ing physician, and we are all so happy that she will be joining our program," said Charles Walcutt, MD, director of medical student education. "She is such a quick learner and really great with patients. You only need to meet her once to realize how dedicated she is to everything she does. Her qualities made her an easy choice for the award this year."
In medical school, Dr. Rolfzen decided to pursue the anesthesiology specialty after working alongside Katie Goergen, MD, associate residency program director, in making an educational video for anesthesiology trainees. Intrigued, Dr. Rolfzen went on to shadow several faculty members.
"It was from there that I came to appreciate the team atmosphere in the operating rooms that was reminiscent to former athletic teams I had been a part of," said Dr. Rolfzen. "Ultimately, it was the marriage of mental dexterity and procedural action that compelled me to further pursue anesthesiology."
Dr. Rolfzen and her husband, Ryan, were both Division II collegiate athletes—though they didn’t meet until Dr. Rolfzen started medical school at UNMC in 2016. Meg played soccer at Augustana University in Sioux Falls South Dakota, and Ryan played basketball at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. They met at a gym where Ryan was a strength coach, and still spend their free time working out together.
"It’s an honor to be thought of in such a capacity to win this award," Dr. Rolfzen said. "I’m incredibly grateful for the mentorship that led me to this field and am looking forward to forming relationships that will define my future trajectory. I can only hope to aspire to contribute in ways that were as meaningful as Dr. Brad Paulson’s."