From the Chair
The summer is flying by as we are already one month into our new academic year! I hope everyone is finding time to enjoy some of their favorite summer activities. I recognize that the ongoing high number of people out with COVID is complicating schedules and appreciate the continued flexibility of faculty and staff in this time.
We have welcomed new residents and fellows and are excited to have them as a part of the department. There was a wonderful celebration of our residents who graduated back in June and a list of the various awards they received is included in the newsletter. Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Hershberger who was selected by the residents for the Osler teaching award-our top teacher award! In addition to new trainees, we welcome several new faculty. We are so pleased they are here! Please look at those names and as you encounter them in clinical, education or research settings be sure and introduce yourself so that they can become even more connected to others in the department. A reminder that new Faculty Orientation for the Department of Medicine will occur on Monday, August 15th at 12:00 pm in the Grissom Conference Center.
Our faculty have garnered some impressive awards as demonstrated by Dr. Roslyn Mannon’s American Society of Transplantation Senior Achievement Award in Clinical Transplantation and by Dr. Jasmine Marcelin’s selection for a national Gold Humanism Scholar award for participation at the Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators. Faculty are also leading exciting new research and clinical programs (learn about Dr. Vasey’s role in a large national study of post COVID and Drs. Desouza and Mohring’s role in a rural diabetes program funded by The Diabetes Care Foundation of Nebraska). Also, congratulations to the 21 faculty whose promotions became official on July 1st- so wonderful to have their many achievements recognized in this way.
I want to make sure everyone knows that there are new faces in two of the Vice Chair roles in the department. Dr. Roslyn Mannon has taken over from Dr. Mikuls as the Vice Chair of Research. Thanks to Dr. Mikuls for his excellent service to the department in this role! Dr. Kristina Bailey has taken on the role of Vice Chair of Academic Development, and we are pleased to have her leading these efforts.
This newsletter also provides helpful information and links regarding topics that help us better address diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as resources for faculty as they further develop their educational skills. Please take a look at these. I am grateful for those who keep us connected to resources on these important topics.
We have finished our biannual report and you can find it here: imbiennialreport.pdf (unmc.edu). This is a great resource to share with prospective faculty and trainees as way to find out about the department overall and our twelve divisions.
Thank you for all that each of you do to help in the clinical, education, research, and service missions of the department. Make sure you are caring for yourself! Find some time to enjoy the rest of the summer.