New coordinator’s goal: ‘Better providers and happier people’

Catherine Medici-Thiemann, PhD, coordinator for UNMC’s Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, is building programs that aim to make students feel included not just at UNMC but in the health care field and biomedical sciences as a whole.

Dr. Medici-Thiemann has a PhD in history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been teaching classes there in history, gender studies and the medical humanities since 2012. She previously served as coordinator of Creighton’s Academic Service Learning program.

Though Dr. Medici-Thiemann still teaches at UNL, she applied for the coordinator role at UNMC because of the opportunity it offered to engage in advocacy and student programming.

“This position combined my interest in gender work and advocacy with my interest in medical humanities,” she said. “I want this work to help future health care providers be better providers and happier people.”

The center offers guidance to a variety of student groups engaged in gender and sexuality topics (including the Student Pride Alliance, EMPOWER and Reproductive Health Advocates), advocates for pregnant and parenting students and supports students facing discrimination based on gender or sexuality. The center also is launching Safe Space training later this fall, which teaches participants to be informed and active allies to the LGBTQ+ community.

One of Dr. Medici-Thiemann’s current goals is to develop partnerships across campus to promote opportunities for students to get involved with the center and connect with resources. She hopes to support the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion training throughout each student’s academic journey.

“I want our students to feel like there is a space for them at UNMC no matter their background or experience,” she said. “I want them to feel confident that there is a place in their profession for someone of their identity, no matter what it is.”

Students can complete a brief survey to provide input on future programs and activities they’d like to see from the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center and get involved by emailing Dr. Medici-Thiemann or visiting the center’s website.