New SHARING award named for Ricki Otten

Ricki Otten, a 38-year UNMC employee who died in 2020, was a driving force behind the UNMC SHARING Clinics, a student-run program designed to provide free and low-cost health care to underserved populations in the Omaha area. This year, the SHARING clinic established the Ricki Otten Award to annually honor a faculty preceptor who shows as much love and passion for helping students — and patients — as Otten did.

Ryan Mullane, DO, assistant professor of nephrology, second from left, was presented the inaugural Ricki Otten Award by Kevin McGuire, assistant professor of medical laboratory science, medical student Will Miklavcic, medical student Paul Wurtz, and William Hay, MD, clinical associate professor of family medicine and director of SHARING Clinics.

Ryan Mullane, DO, assistant professor of nephrology, was honored last month with the inaugural Ricki Otten Award. Dr. Mullane served as faculty provider more than any other physician in the past year.

"He has been an amazing example of how we, as future providers, can give back to our community in the same exemplary way," said pharmacy student Shelby Butts.

"Dr. Mullane’s positivity is irreplaceable, and students find that his encouragement and welcoming personality help keep morale high and energy levels even higher on longer clinic nights," she said.

Dr. Mullane said: "It's a great privilege to work with the students caring for our patients; their empathy, hard work, and intelligence are inspiring, and they give me a lot of hope for our future."

Dr. Mullane’s dedication to the SHARING Clinic also was noted when he was recently honored with an Office of Community Engagement Faculty Advisor in Excellence Award.

"Precepting in the SHARING Clinic is one of the best parts of being at UNMC," he said.

Otten was a longtime faculty member in the College of Allied Health Professions, who was known as an outstanding teacher. And, she was known for giving of her time and of herself through frequent volunteering and mentorship at the SHARING Clinic.

"Her work with the UNMC SHARING clinic not only enhanced its success but helped promote the development of other student-run clinics across the country," Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Professions, said in 2020.