GME names house officers of the year

This month, the Graduate Medical Education Committee named three recipients of the 2020-21 House Officer of the Year Award.

From left, Nora Kovar, MD, Brent Deibert, MD, and Anne Heenan, MD

Awardees were:

• Nora Kovar, MD – Internal Medicine
• Brent Deibert, MD – Ophthalmology
• Anne Heenan, MD – Medicine/Pediatrics

The award is given annually by the committee after nominations from the program directors and voting by faculty, house officers and medical students.

Dr. Kovar’s nominator called her “the whole package” and said she had “exemplified clinical excellence and a commitment to scholarly activity and teaching throughout her residency. More importantly, she is a terrific person with impeccable character and interpersonal skills.”

Dr. Heenan’s nominator called her a “star.” “I personally remember working with her on July 1 of her intern year, which happened to be a weekend day at Children’s Hospital. She was new to the hospital, city and institution. Our patients were hectic and sick. But honestly after that weekend, I remember thinking that this resident has it.”

Dr. Deibert’s nominator called him a “tremendous asset” to the program, saying “he has consistently demonstrated tremendous interest and ability, excellent clinical rapport-building skills, a constant drive to improve himself and get the most out of his training and a strong desire to teach and mentor others.”

“It goes without saying that we all work hard to take care of our patients, but doing our jobs gives us lots of opportunities take care of our colleagues and students, too,” Dr. Kovar said. “Having those groups of people recognize you as someone who does good work means a lot, especially at the end of a year like this one.”

Dr. Deibert said: “This award has gone to so many people that I have looked up to in the past years, and it was such an honor to receive it. It meant so much that the amazing group of residents at UNMC voted for me.”

Dr. Heenan said she was humbled to have been selected.

“I’m impressed daily by the dedication to patients shown by my co-residents, faculty, students, and staff at UNMC and am honored to be recognized by this community,” she said. “I’m so thankful for all the opportunities that have been afforded to me by this program and amazing people that I’ve been able to work with and learn from over the last four years.”