Joseph Anderson, MD, professor and vice chair of radiology, arrived at UNMC for his residency on July 1, 1971. He retires June 30, 2021. Which means, aside from two years in the Navy, and a year internship in Michigan, he will have been on this campus for 50 years.
He said he wasn’t trying to time it out exactly like that. It just worked out.
There have been many changes over those 50 years. “The campus has changed markedly since I came here,” Dr. Anderson said. There were fewer buildings, then. Things weren’t as new and nice.
“But it also has some drawbacks,” Dr. Anderson said. The campus, in 2021, is huge. There’s a lot more walking if you want to get anywhere.
“It’s OK if you’re young,” Dr. Anderson joked. “If you’re older it can get a little troublesome.”
But Dr. Anderson has never been tired, his chair, Craig Walker, MD, said: “He’s just got a tremendous amount of energy. The work ethic is unbelievable.”
WL Harrison, MD, confirms it: “No matter how hard I worked Dr. A worked harder,” Dr. Harrison said. “He was here no matter how early I came to work and was still here no matter how late I stayed.”
And his influence was immense.
While Matthew DeVries, MD, was in private practice, he, “traveled from town to town and met people in various hospitals and radiology departments around the state, one theme echoed over and over and over. Many of the docs and most of the ultrasound technologists would always start a conversation with ‘I hear you’re from the medical center, is Dr. A still working there?’ I would say ‘Yep, he’s still doing what he does best. . .’ To which they would reply, with great pride, sharing stories and reminiscing about how amazing of an educator he was and how much he meant in their professional careers.”
“He made a huge impact on my education and career, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from him and later be his colleague,” said Lucy Muinov, MD.
Kim Michael, director of diagnostic medical sonography education, said her students appreciated Dr. Anderson, and offered comments like, “He always knew when we had a bad day in clinic or just were in need of a pick-me-up. He would make us laugh with his dry humor.”
Dr. Anderson said working with allied health students was one of his favorite parts of the job.
But even the folks who have been around the block turned to Dr. A, Dr. Walker said: “Joe was a senior staff person when I arrived and I’ve been in the department for 30 years.”
“He’s been a valuable mentor,” Dr. Walker continued. “I really trust Joe’s advice.”
A retirement party will be scheduled later this year.
Congratulations Dr. Anderson & thank you for all you have done for the Department of Medical Imaging & Therapeutic Sciences!
Congrats on a great career, Joe. Enjoy the next chapter.
Congratulations Dr. Anderson! I enjoyed reading about your remarkable career.
Congratulations, Dr. A! We are so glad you will be sticking around the department to teach – would not be the same without you here!
Congratulations Dr. Anderson! Thank you so much for everything you've done, especially for students, in a storied career!
Congratulations, Dr. Anderson. Have a wonderful retirement. You deserve it. Thanks for the many years of your outstanding teaching to our allied health students. I appreciate all your efforts. You have always been the best!!
Thank you Joe. You have been a pillar of expertise that has supported the care delivered to countless patients. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you. My best wishes for your retirement.
Joe, I have always been proud of you. You were a tremendous amount of support to me.
Congratulations Dr. Anderson! Enjoy retirement with family and friends.
Dr. Anderson, we appreciate you and love who you have been to all of us who have trained under you. You will be missed!
Thank you Dr. Anderson and congratulations on your retirement. Your influence on those you trained cannot be overstated.
Dr. Anderson,
I can’t begin to tell you how much you influenced my 30+ year career in ultrasound. I still find myself using some of your sayings – “normal is boring”. And I’m still amazed of how you pulled a stack of films out of your filing cabinet for the Diagnostic Film Review class and could remember the patient’s history without reviewing notes. You helped me to become a better sonographer and to never stop learning or mentoring. Thank you so very much! I am sorry I missed your retirement and the celebration of your contributions to the radiology field.