Dr. Parker to lead general internal medicine division

Jennifer Parker, MD, has been named the UNMC Division Chief of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Parker has been acting division chief since September 2021.

“After a national search, it became clear that Dr. Parker was an ideal person to lead the division forward,” said Debra Romberger, MD, chair of the Internal Medicine Department. “I look forward to her contributions to the leadership of the division and department.”

Dr. Parker joined UNMC as med-peds staff in 2003 and served as the med-peds program director from 2005 to 2018. She graduated medical school from UNMC and completed her residency training in combined med-peds at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she also served as chief resident.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of general internal medicine physicians and advanced practice providers,” Dr. Parker said. “I certainly feel humbled by the responsibility of the position, and I am grateful to Dr. Romberger for her support and leadership. 

“The GIM division provides excellent clinical care and superb student and resident education. I look forward to continuing to support these efforts while helping faculty develop their scholarly interests and pursuits.”

Dr. Parker is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. She works closely with the residents both as a staff member and as a mentor. She has a combined med-peds clinic at the Nebraska Medicine Fontenelle clinic and staffs resident clinics at Fontenelle and the Midtown clinic.

Dr. Parker has received multiple teaching awards, including the Top Teachers in Internal Medicine Award, UNMC Outstanding Teacher Award and the Hirschman Golden Apple award for medical student teaching. She also is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians. Her clinical interests are preventive care for all ages, transition care for youth with chronic medical problems, chronic care management and diagnostic dilemmas.

Dr. Parker said she enjoys spending her free time with her husband and three children, traveling and exploring the great outdoors. She often can be found cheering on her kids at hockey rinks and soccer fields, and the family loves taking their golden retriever hiking.