Med center turns out strong and proud for parade

UNMC and Nebraska Medicine came out in force for the July 16 Heartland Pride Parade.

Organizers estimated that about 150 people from the med center marched in the annual event. Kari Zelenka, organizational excellence lead at Nebraska Medicine and president of the UNMC & Nebraska Medicine LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance, said she believed it was the most participation ever from the med center.

"We were very pleased with the turnout," she said.

See images from med center colleagues at the Heartland Pride Parade on this Flickr album.

Zelenka said the growth in med center participation mirrored the growth of the event as a whole.

"It’s a testament to how much the city has grown in its diversity and inclusion over the past several years," she said. "There were more groups and companies marching than I’ve ever seen and more people at the festival — both attending and staffing booths. It’s wonderful to see how Omaha is continuing to grow in its diversity and inclusion."

Emily Glenn, associate director of the UNMC McGoogan Library and a past president of the alliance, said the large med center turnout "made me feel that there are many people at UNMC who are allies and are willing to stand up with other folks."

Both Zelenka and Glenn were struck by the large number of UNMC leaders who attended the event and marched with the med center contingent.

"That was probably one of the ‘proudest’ moments I felt, coming into Pride," Zelenka said. "These are our leaders, the people who make decisions and a difference at our institution. And they are here supporting us."

Sheritta Strong, MD, UNMC assistant vice chancellor of inclusion

Leaders at the event included, among others:

• UNMC College of Public Health Dean Ali S. Khan, MD, PhD;
• Mark Rupp, medical director of infection control and epidemiology at Nebraska Medicine and chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases;
• Ashley Wysong, MD, chair of dermatology;
• Matt Pospisil, Nebraska Medicine vice president of operations;
• Ada Wilson, Nebraska Medicine vice president, chief inclusion and diversity officer ; and
• Sheritta Strong, MD, UNMC assistant vice chancellor of inclusion.

One leader, Frank Lococo, vice president of marketing and communications and executive sponsor of the alliance group, said it was "heartwarming to see people from our respective organizations and the greater community come together to send a message that Omaha and Nebraska are making strides in creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive place to live and thrive."

Zelenka said she enjoyed pointing out the leaders out to other marchers who didn’t know them.

Glenn also was inspired.

"When a leader comes out, it shows they think it’s important to show themselves as supporting a community," Glenn said. "Leaders who take the time to do that send a strong message for Nebraska Medicine and UNMC."