It is hard for me to believe that is already the week of Thanksgiving! For many, our celebrations of this American holiday this year will be very different, just like most things since the start of the pandemic. As we pause to think about the things for which we have gratitude, this newsletter highlights some of mine. The department is grateful to have a leader like Dr. Jim O’Dell who was recognized in early November at the American College of Rheumatology annual (virtual) meeting with their Gold Medal award—the highest recognition of a rheumatologist in their organization. Seeing all the UNMC presentations at this meeting is one aspect of Dr. O’Dell’s impact in developing a division doing important research while also delivering wonderful clinical care and education here at home. Congrats to Dr. O’Dell and the division!
I give thanks for our newest division-Hospital Medicine- being led by Dr. Chad Vokoun, as the inaugural Division Chief and for our existing General Internal Medicine division led by Dr. Tom Tape who will have their focus on outpatient medicine and population health strategies. Both groups of internists are essential to our teaching mission and clinical care. Each division will be able to focus on the scholarly activity that underlies their clinical work. Dr. Vokoun is at the beginning of helping his team further develop their vision and Dr. Tape has let us know he will be retiring in the fall of 2021 and a search for a new division chief will be starting soon.
I am thankful for the public health advocacy being done by so many in the department. You are doing your part in reminding others about what we have to do to contain the virus. I lift up the excellent letter in the Omaha World Herald written by our PCCM fellows and attendings that so many of you signed to drive home the importance of masks, social distancing, hand washing, and staying home when not feeling well. While it gets tiresome to say the same things over and over (Dr. Rupp and our ID faculty have done this is so many ways in a variety of settings) and sometimes there is nasty pushback, stay the course with your coaching of patients, students, family, friends, and neighbors. I admire the creativity in advocacy that I have seen.
Please scroll through to the end of the newsletter so that you see not only the good news about the various recognition faculty, trainees, and students have received but the helpful tools on education faculty development as well as resources provided for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Thanks to all who join us for our monthly department meetings by zoom on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 5pm. If you have topics you want to see covered in those meetings, please let me know. The next meeting is December 17th.
I am every grateful for what each of you does in your role in the Department of Internal Medicine. I hope this upcoming holiday weekend provides you with some time for rest and relaxation (I know several will be here at the hospital working and thank you for that service). Blessings as we journey through the end of this calendar year and look to what 2021 may hold.
Internal Medicine Message From the Chair
