Legislative staff members tour UNMC

Shelley Schwarz, legislative aide to Nebraska state Sen. Rita Sanders, put her hands over a lifelike open wound and applied pressure. 

“Like this?” she asked.

Schwarz was one of 12 Nebraska legislative staff members who toured UNMC on Sept. 15. 

“It’s great to see the way tax money is distributed and the things they’ve done to make our state better,” Schwarz said. 

Led by UNMC leaders, the staffers toured the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and took in the artwork at the Chihuly Sanctuary, given by Suzanne and Walter Scott and designed by nationally known artist Dale Chihuly. 

“I thought that was amazing,” Schwarz said. 

They also toured the Davis Global Center and experienced the iEXCEL program’s state-of-the-art technology. 

Bryson Bartels, legislative aide for Nebraska state Sen. John Arch, called the tour incredible and informative. 

“There’s always health-related legislation that comes through in January,” Bartels said. “The more I can educate myself, the better I can understand the legislation, the bills and the things that UNMC feels strongly about.” 

The afternoon included lunch with UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, presentations at the Wigton Heritage Center and “Stop the Bleed” training at the Center for Nursing Science. 

Schwarz said she enjoyed the hands-on training experience.

“I come from an education background, so doing is always better than hearing,” she said. “For me, the most important part of learning is actually experiencing it.” 

Staffers also visit the other University of Nebraska campuses as part of the listening tour.