It is great that March has arrived! With it comes the excitement of Match Day when we will learn who our new residents will be come July. Plus, there is the excitement of the official start to spring (even if the weather does not always feel like it).
There are many items of good news in the newsletter—Internal Medicine faculty recognized with campus-wide research awards in a recent ceremony, the coveted Top Teachers list for residents and students as well as our fellowship programs, faculty selected for AOA and American College of Physicians fellow status, and faculty and residents inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Congratulations to all!
Despite many positive events, the start to 2023 has also been a time of great sorrow. We lost Dr. Diana Florescu, a treasured Infectious Diseases faculty. Dr. Florescu accomplished so much in her career and was appropriately the Scientist Laureate (UNMC’s highest research award) this year. She will be remembered for her excellent clinical care, mentorship, research and zest for life that was seen in her wonderful ballroom dancing. The Dr. Diana Florescu Infectious Diseases Clinical Research and Education Excellence Fund has been created at the University of Nebraska foundation and you can find more info in the newsletter if you would like to contribute.
The department has a new Instagram account @UNMC_IM starting this month. You can find a form to use to let us know news you would like to share. We also have a staff recognition program and I encourage you to learn about this and how you can recognize our amazing staff. The newsletter also mentions several faculty development opportunities as well as ways you can help with earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria or support sustainable development in the Sudan (with a local car wash).
March 30 will begin the first annual UNMC Giving Day through the University of Nebraska foundation. This is your opportunity to support a variety of programs across the campus, including programs in our department. There is an anonymous donor who will release $250 when we reach 10 donors to our new UNMC Internal Medicine Residency fund — stay tuned for more details about how you might choose to help enrich our residency program.
Enjoy March including the fun of college basketball’s women and men’s March Madness—I’m a Kansas native so can’t help putting a plug in for that sport! Take good care of yourselves and thank you for all you do for the department!