Leaders applaud, recognize campus COVID-19 efforts

The communities that we serve continue to recognize and thank the med center for “stepping up” in so many ways in responding to a myriad of areas related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our campus leaders also have repeatedly applauded the med center’s consistent "can-do" attitude throughout the pandemic. Despite challenges, the med center has continued its mission-critical work to educate learners, advance science, care for patients and engage with the larger community — both across the state and globally.

“Kudos to our students, staff and faculty for the work they are– and have been — doing throughout the pandemic,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “I’m honored and proud to work alongside each of you as you’ve advanced your education, shared science-driven data with Nebraskans and beyond, educated and trained future health care workers, advanced our research knowledge and taken care of one other by adjusting our safety guidance as needed – all while juggling the challenges and changing dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“UNMC is an incredible resource, and an amazing place to work and learn.”

The list below is not inclusive but rather a random sampling of how colleges, units and departments have gone above and beyond during the pandemic. Help us fill in the gaps and — in the comments below — give a shout out to other colleges, departments and units that should be recognized.

• Health care teams for continuing to deliver “serious medicine AND extraordinary care” across our community.
• The Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and the UNMC Emerging Pathogens Laboratory for COVID-19 monitoring and testing, including asymptomatic COVID-19 testing on the Omaha campus.
• Business and finance’s procurement team for quickly securing and distributing thousands of surgical masks and KN95s.
• UNMC experts for providing critically important guidance for small and large businesses, athletic organizations, K-12 schools and so many more.
• Human Resources for helping campus units implement the COVID-19 vaccine policy. 
• The McGoogan Health Sciences Library for distributing more than 2,100 mask extenders since January. More than half of these were printed in the McGoogan Library Jim and Karen Linder Maker Studio; the rest were obtained from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Student Health, Employee Health and student health partners on each campus for their partnership and guidance regarding campus health issues, including COVID-19 protocols.
• Faculty within the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, UNMC College of Public Health and the Global Center for Health Security for their expertise, guidance and community engagement throughout the pandemic.
• Environmental Services for setting up cleaning stations at 250 locations across the Omaha campus during the pandemic and for providing deep cleanings where requested and more frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces.
• College of Public Health students for providing COVID-19 contact tracing.