Debra Romberger, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, announced the department’s 2023 Advocacy Award recipients on May 18.
The award is presented to faculty members, house officers or trainees that exemplify excellence in advocacy in the public interest.
Marcus Snow, MD, assistant professor in the division of rheumatology, received the faculty Advocacy Award for his work with the American College of Rheumatology.
“He has truly made enormous contributions in regional and national advocacy efforts that have improved the care of rheumatology patients both here in Nebraska and beyond,” said Ted Mikuls, MD, professor in the division of rheumatology. “Rheumatology care in Nebraska and across the U.S. has improved as a direct result of Dr. Snow’s efforts.”
Natasha Gallett, MD, third year med-peds resident, received the House Officer Advocacy Award. Dr. Gallett has established a continuity clinic experience for adolescent health care; recruits patients from the LGBTQIA+ population. In addition, she provides gender-affirming care.
She also created an LGBTQIA+ curriculum for residents, has testified before the Nebraska Legislature against bills that would ban gender-affirming care and is a member of Nebraska Medicine’s Trauma Informed Care & Culture task force.
“To say that Dr. Gallett is an inspiration to others would be an understatement,” said Allison Ashford, MD, med-peds program director and assistant professor in the division of hospital medicine. “Since the day she has stepped foot on our campus, she has promoted and supported the voiceless and disadvantaged in our community.”
Natasha Hongsermeier-Graves, MD, a recently graduated UNMC medical student, received departmental recognition for leading efforts to eliminate the use of the race-based eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) calculation at Nebraska Medicine.
After two years of these efforts, Nebraska Medicine recently changed to an eGFR calculation that doesn’t include race.
“She has been a champion of change and has successfully brought about a better way to care for patients,” said Ryan Mullane, DO, assistant professor division of nephrology.