For more than a century, graduates of the UNMC College of Nursing have made an impact on the lives of Nebraskans and those around the world.
Now during the coronavirus pandemic, College of Nursing alumni are playing major roles in their communities as the heads of local health departments around Nebraska.
This year, the appointment of Lindsay Huse, DNP, evoked pride as she was named the new director of the Douglas County Health Department. Huse is a UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division (Scottsbluff) alum and earned her BSN at UNMC.
Dr. Huse recently toured UNMC and called the visit an amazing opportunity to see how the university has grown. "It makes me very proud to have gone to UNMC," she said.
Several other directors of health departments earned their degrees at the College of Nursing.
The director of the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department, Pat Lopez, earned her MSN at UNMC. Teresa Anderson, director of the Central District Health Department, earned her master’s degree from the Omaha Division, and Julie Rother, director of the Northeast Nebraska Health Department, earned her RN to BSN online. Paulette Schnell, director of the Scotts Bluff County Health Department, earned her MSN from the West Nebraska Division in Scottsbluff.
The college prides itself on its highly-ranked programs — BSN, MSN, DNP and PhD programs and its tri-fold mission of education, patient care and research.
Many other leaders in the nation and around the world earned their nursing degrees from the college.
"Each of these alumni and so many more showcase the leadership, innovativeness and sharp scientific acumen our graduates demonstrate," said Juliann Sebastian, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. "I am grateful to faculty and staff and to our clinical partners for working together to educate the nurses of the future, whatever their specific roles may be.
"We wish each of the health department leaders we mentioned all the best during this challenging time for public health and applaud the work they have been doing throughout the pandemic to use science in promoting health for all."