Pamela Carmines, PhD, professor of cellular and integrative physiology, and executive associate dean, UNMC Graduate Studies, is retiring May 7. She first came to UNMC in 1993, meaning she’s lived in Omaha longer than anywhere else in her life. She doesn’t plan to leave now.
Omaha — big enough, but not too big — has become home.
Campus invited to retirement tea
Dele Davies, MD, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for Graduate Studies, and the Office of Graduate Studies are hosting a retirement tea for Dr. Carmines May 3. The campus is invited to attend 2-4 p.m. at the Olson Atrium in the Wigton Heritage Center or via Zoom at this link. Remarks will begin at 2:45 p.m.
So has UNMC.
Dr. Carmines first came here to grow, to establish her independence.
"When I told my department chair in New Orleans I was taking a job here, he very clearly stated, ‘You do realize if you go there, you will have to compete with me.’
"Of course, that made me even more determined," Dr. Carmines said.
At UNMC, her new department chair, Irving Zucker, PhD, was the ideal combination of encouraging and hands-off.
Dr. Carmines became a mentor herself. There is nothing like popping champagne after a successful dissertation defense, she said, or when a student's research unveils something "no one else in the world knows yet."
She assumed leadership roles. Dr. Carmines completed Drexel University College of Medicine’s prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) Program for Women. As part of that program, she led the effort to develop Seguidor™ — an online platform that gathers information from many campus sources to guide graduate student progress toward degree completion.
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| Pamela Carmines, PhD — who, just saying, has made four holes-in-one |
And Dr. Carmines played golf. All who know her know she loves the game. She once played in a foursome with a Nobel laureate, resulting in a collaboration and his co-authorship on one of her papers.
"Playing golf led to UNMC having a writing center," she said. She played against, and then had lunch with, the writing director at the University of Nebraska Omaha’s English department. That lunch led to further conversation, which led to a UNO satellite writing center on UNMC’s campus.
Deals do get done on the golf course.
She put in a lot of time, a lot of effort, and derived a lot of satisfaction throughout her career. "I’ve made a lot of good friends at the university and around the world," she said.
The UNMC Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UNMC College of Medicine Dean’s office and UNMC Graduate Studies are supporting the Dr. Pamela Carmines Symposium on Renal Physiology, set for June 10.
Now, retirement. She’ll look forward to getting into a car and driving to see family if she feels like it, or agreeing to meet a friend without having to check her calendar first. She’s getting a puppy.
Her last day at UNMC is May 7, but that’s a Saturday. Her real last day is that of the graduate studies convocation, May 6. It was nice of them to schedule it on her birthday. It will be a fitting goodbye.
Congratulations Pam on a very successful career at UNMC. Enjoy your retirement. Hal Maurer
I want to personally congratulate Pam for her outstanding research and service contributions to the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology. From the day she drove up to UNMC in he Mazda Miata convertible to the present, Pam has provided a benchmark to which future faculty, mentors and administrators should aspire. I wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement and know that this is not the last we will hear of Pam Carmines….Irv Zucker
Congratulations on retirement!
Congratulations! As a nephrologist, you have made important contributions to the field, and I will miss your having your leadership and counsel on campus!
❤️❤️❤️ I am so proud of my sister!!!
Congratulations to you, Dr. Carmines, on your well-deserved retirement. You have been such an inspirational leader at UNMC and a wonderful colleague. I am grateful to you for so many reasons, and am looking forward to the opportunities we will have to celebrate your many successes over the next days and weeks. Thank you for all you have done for UNMC and for the truly wonderful example you have set for so many during your amazing career.
Dr. Carmines is a great colleague and friend. You are going to be missed by so many people, including all those careers you've graced with your presence. I know – I am one of them. I am a better person having worked with you!
I wish you all the best in your retirement, Dr. Carmines. It has been a pleasure working with you these oh-so-many years.
Wishing you all the best in your well-deserved retirement, Pam!! Thanks for being such a wonderful example of how to do science well, and to have fun while doing it.
All the best and my wishes for a long active life in retirement.
E. Silva, MD, PhD
I’m so proud of all my daughter’s accomplishments.
Thank you for your service to UNMC faculty and graduate students! You will be missed!
It was always a pleasure to work with you, Dr. Carmines. Good luck on that fifth hole in one!
Dr. Carmines- you are the reason I am here today in my current position! Thank you so much for helping me make MY dream come true. You are truly an exceptional human being. I plan to keep in touch!
Congratulations from UNO, Dr. Carmines!
Congratulation, Pam! Enjoy your golf!
Congratulations Dr. Carmines! Thank you for being such a wonderful mentor during my Ph.D. My best wishes for your retirement!
Great article. Anxious to see you soon
Pam: Unfortunately, we will be OOT at a meeting on May 03 so will miss your reception. I am truly grateful for your many years of service on the UNMC COM Promotion and Tenure committee both as a member for 6 years and then as vice chairperson for the last several years. Your many contributions to UNMC have been exceptional and you will be missed greatly. Have a wonderful retirement and find many new golf courses. PETER
Thanks Dr. Carmines for your tremendous support of graduate students through the years. You will be missed!
Pam, Congratulations from the Class of 73 at PHS. We are having a 50th reunion and would love to see your smiling face. Please email back to let me give you details.