Dr. Swanson named to new pathology digital leadership role
Ben Swanson, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology, is the department’s new director of pathology informatics and digital innovation.
“Dr. Swanson exemplifies the spirit of academic health care delivery with his passion for innovation and a deep commitment to translational research,” said Joseph Khoury, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology. “In this new role, Ben will join other outstanding leaders in health care informatics in our department. Through this team, we aim to deepen our service to the community through outstanding laboratory and pathology diagnostics.”
Dr. Khoury’s vision includes optimization of the medical informatics infrastructure for pathology and clinical laboratories, enhancement of personalized medicine and biomarker testing platforms, and incorporation of artificial intelligence tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed.
Dr. Swanson describes his new role as three-pronged: to evaluate the department’s laboratory information system, to speed the transformation of pathology at UNMC into a digital format, and eventually to create a digital pathology fellowship at UNMC. Dr. Swanson is the director of the existing gastrointestinal and liver pathology fellowship.
Mentored scholars program accepting applications
The deadline is approaching for UNMC faculty to apply to join the Clinical & Translational Research Mentored Scholars Program.
The program offers an opportunity for early career faculty to develop into an independent clinical and translational researcher. The program offers a master’s or PhD degree with multidisciplinary didactic education and practical research grant writing training in clinical translational research. The aim is to accelerate faculty in developing a program of research and become productive, independent clinical and translational research investigators.
Scholars in this program can apply for a $25,000 pilot project grant that will support collection of pilot data needed to submit for extramural funding. Since 2007, the CTRMSP program has awarded 20 pilot project grants.
The application deadline is April 28. Access this link for the admission requirements and online application form.